Page 95 (1/2)

“We’re conducting a search to replace one of our retiring professors and he’s on our long list”

Gabriel lifted his eyebrows “Oh, really?”

“However, a graduate student hasall the way back to when she was his student in Florence You know her—Christa Peterson”

Gabriel grimaced “Yes, I know her”

“I heard the rumors about what happened in Toronto I also heard that Christa started those rumors and that she’s one of the reasons why you and Julianne are no longer there”

“Julianne was ader to leave Toronto” Gabriel’s affect was decidedly flat

Lucia gave him a friendly smile “Of course I only realized what a problem Christa had been after Jeremy Martin persuaded me to take her Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been inclined to admit her We receive a lot of applications and can afford to be choosy”

Gabriel silasses “It’s come to my attention that Christa is a trouble tendencies wherever she goes She had trouble with Pacciani in Florence, she had trouble in Toronto, and apparently, she had trouble with Katherine Picton in Oxford this su etiquette to our graduate students since it’s obvious they don’t kno to behave in public” Lucia’s tone was absent any a calls like that from anyone, especially from her This semester, my faculty informed me that no one wants to serve on Christa’s exa slandered for harassment”

Gabriel’s look was pointed “They’re right to be worried”

“That was ht, as well Now I’ree to supervise Christa o elsewhere” Lucia tossed her glasses on the desk in front of her “I don’t suppose you have any suggestions?”

Gabriel paused, knowing in that instant that Christa’s academic career rested in his hands He could explain, in detail, what really happened in Toronto and Oxford, and deo for a sexual conquest Such information would no doubt lasses out of his pocket and then put theain, acutely aware of the words Julia (and St Francis) would whisper in his ear

Exposing Christa would also expose himself and Julianne She didn’t want the rumors fed And she deserved to be able to stand in a room filled with academics and be seen for herself, and not as part of a scandal

Lucia was a friend, but not a close one Gabriel didn’t want to revisit every encounter he’d ever had with Christa Peterson, e himself and his wife For her sake, and the sake of her reputation, he decided to try a different tack

“If we put the personal issues aside, I can tell you that Christa’s work for me was mediocre”

“That’s been my impression If you couple that with her behavior” Lucia shrugged “She’s a liability”