"Are you with the police?" she asked. A dull headache bloomed in the spot between her eyes, with a promise to get worse before it got better. Then she remembered he'd said he was there to speak to the class. A police officer wouldn't come to speak to a post-graduate comparative literature class. "I can't help notice you're not from Boston."
A quick upward tip of one corner of his mouth preceded his answer. He tugged at the lapel of his coat to reach inside, bringing out a leather bifold. He opened it and held it out for her to read, and in the dim light all she made out was the "Secret Intelligence Service" across the top. "Though this isn't representative of my purpose here at the university," he added. "It does allow me to assist in the investigation."
"Welcome to Boston," Kip said before her jumbled brain told her this might not be the best time for sarcasm.
He flipped the wallet closed, an almost indiscernible smile tugging at one corner of his lips, and extended his hand to Kip. She snaked her arm free of the blanket and took it, the warmth of the grip a contrast to the cold. He adjusted his hold to avoid the worst of her bandages while still taking her hand. "Grayson Holmes."
She arched an eyebrow. "And you think my name is unusual, Agent Holmes?"
"Agent is an American designation." As he spoke, he unwound the tartan scarf from his collar and draped it around her neck over her hair. The soft cotton was warm, and the subtle aroma of sandalwood and shave cream drifted to her through the cold air.
Kip tugged the ends of the scarf into the blanket, appreciating the gesture. "Thank you."
He didn't acknowledge the thanks, flipping up the collar of his coat in the absence of his scarf. "Might I ask, did you notice anything or anyone unusual before you left the hall?" he asked.
Kip tugged the blanket around her, avoiding with all she had the urge to glance toward the building. "No. Professor Crane began his lecture, but I had to step out."
"Because of your hearing aids…"
She realized, with a hard twist of her gut, what she thought to be shadows in the snow were actually stains of red. Kip blinked and forced her attention away from the scene. "I'm sorry, what?"
"You mentioned in the hall you were having an issue with your hearing aids," he repeated.
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