Every now and then, she glances up to see where he is, watching his body language as he interacts with the students. He hasn’t said or done anything inappropriate that Janie’s seen since their little incident a few weeks before, and now Janie’s starting to question her judgment. Did it really happen? Or was she feeling so badly about herself that day that she imagined it?
He really is a terrific teacher.
And then he’s next to her at her table, checking out her work.
“Looking good, Hannagan,” he says quietly. But he’s not looking at her formula, bubbling merrily over the burner.
He’s looking down her shirt as she’s leaning over.
After class he stops her on the way out the door. “Do you have a slip for me?”
Janie is stumped. “A what?”
“A note?”
“For what?”
“You were late.”
Janie thumps her forehead. “Oh! Um…No, I don’t, but Mr. Wang kept me after class last period. He’ll vouch for me.”
“Mr. Wang, hm?”
“Yes.”
“Hang out here a moment while I call him.”
“But…”
“I’ll write you a note for your next class, don’t worry.” He picks up the phone and dials Mr. Wang’s room.
Mr. Wang apparently confirms that he held Janie after class. The bell rings. Mr. Wang says something else, and Mr. Durbin chuckles. “Is that so.” He listens again. “I’ll say,” he says. He gives Janie a sidelong glance. His eyes come to rest on her chest as he hangs up.
“Okay, you’re off the hook,” he says, smiling. “So, who’s your baby daddy?”
She grins, embarrassed. “That was a little joke,” she says, and wets her lips. “Thanks. Can you write me a note now?”
“Sure,” he says lazily. He reaches for his pen and scribbles on a square sheet of recycled paper. He holds the note out in front of him, so she has to approach to get it. “How’s that sound?” He’s grinning.
She takes the paper. “You want me to read this?” she says.
He nods and scribbles on a second square of paper now. “And this is for your next teacher.”
She reaches for it. “Oh, okay,” she says. “Uh…”
“The first one is some information about a little chemistry party I have every semester at my house, just for the Chem. 2 students. Any chance you can whip up a flyer for me to hand out to everybody?” Janie looks at the paper. “Of course, I’d love to.”
“You look like the type who would be good with computer graphics,” he says. “You know what I mean.” He wiggles his fingers. “Savvy…
with electronics.”
“It must be my geeky glasses that gives me away,” she says smoothly.
“The glasses are nice, Janie. Are they working out for you okay?”
“Yeah, great. Thanks for asking.” She smiles. “I should…probably get to my next class now. Don’t you have a class this period?”
“Nope. This is my free hour.”
“Oh, cool. I’ve been meaning to ask you—Is there a chemistry fair or a competition that you take students to?”
Mr. Durbin taps his chin thoughtfully. “I wasn’t planning to do it this year, because it’s all the way up in the UP at Michigan Tech, but you’re the third person to ask me about it. Are you interested in me getting a team together? We’d have to do it quickly. The fair’s next month.”
Janie’s eyes light up. “Oh, yes,” she says. “I’d love to go!”
“It’s a heck of a drive all the way up there. We’d have to book a hotel.
Is that…um…feasible? I don’t think there are any scholarships available.”
Janie smiles. “I could handle a couple hundred bucks, yeah.” Mr. Durbin eyes her. “I think it could be a great experience,” he says, his voice low and slow.
She nods. “Well, cool! Let me know. And I’ll get that flyer to you soon. You want ten copies?”
“No hurry. The party’s not until the first week of March. Ten copies would be perfect. Actually, make it twelve, in case Finch loses his, like he loses everything else. Thanks, Janie.”
“Anything for you,” Janie says, and blushes. “I mean…you know.” She laughs and shakes her head, like she’s embarrassed. “Never mind.” He’s smiling at her chest. “See you tomorrow.” 2:05 p.m.
Janie sits at her table and sneaks her cell phone out of her backpack.
She fires it up. Sends Cabel a text message to his phone. “Can you get Durbin’s past Chem. 2 class lists?”
A few moments later she gets the reply. “Sure. CU@4?” Janie leans forward and sees him. He winks. She smiles and nods.
3:15 p.m.
Janie calls Captain.
“I may have talked Durbin into taking a group to the chemistry fair. It’s next month. Way the heck up in Houghton.”
“Excellent job, Janie. He’ll have to take a female chaperone with him.
You should be perfectly safe.”
“He’s hosting a party for the Chem. 2 students too. I guess he does it every year in March and in November.”
Captain pauses. Grabs her notes. “Bingo. Call number one was March 5. Call number two was early November. I think we’ve got something here, Janie. Good work.”