A Dark and Stormy Knit (Black Sheep Knitting Mystery) by Anne Canadeo Page B

of shocked students. They dropped their books and ran for cover. Then the bike drove up on a snowy lawn, slipped wildly, bumped over a curb, hit the road on one wheel, and roared into the dark.
    So much for Quentin, Maggie thought.
    Where was Charlotte?

CHAPTER FOUR
    M aggie stood alongside Phoebe on the walkway, catching her breath. She was so overwhelmed and overheated, she barely felt the cold, though each breath made a frosty cloud. Lucy and Dana were outside as well. Dana was on her phone. Maggie could tell she was talking to Suzanne, asking what happened to the campus security.
    Good question. Maggie was just relieved the chase was over and Phoebe had come out of it safe and mostly sound.
    “Some driving. That kid should be in the movies,” Maggie finally said.
    “Quentin is out-of-his-flipping-mind crazy. Charlotte has an order of protection against him. But he doesn’t get it.” Still breathing heavily, Phoebe checked her hair with her fingertips. Her upswept hairdo had flopped to one side, and she pushed it around her head like a hat, then just yanked out the hairpins.
    “Okay, never mind the movies, how about jail?” Lucy suggested as she and Dana joined them. “He’s the very definition of a hazard and a walking, talking public disturbance.”
    “Totally,” Phoebe agreed. “I never got it. I mean, why Charlotte ever hung out with him in the first place.”
    Maggie didn’t, either. Charlotte was bright, talented, and a good student. Maggie would hazard a guess this boy was none of those things. Though opposites did attract, especially at that age. Maybe he seemed exciting, and she was curious about the bad-boy type. Or she’d been flattered by his attention.
    “Where is Charlotte?” Dana glanced around. Maggie wondered, too, but assumed Phoebe knew.
    “I just saw her like a minute ago.” Phoebe spun around, looking for her friend.
    The few students who had watched the chase and Quentin’s dramatic escape had already dispersed. The nearby campus and walkways were empty.
    Phoebe turned and cupped her hands around her mouth. “Charlotte? It’s just me, Phoebe . . . and Maggie. Where are you?”
    They stood together, waiting for an answer. Phoebe looked worried. “Maybe she ran back inside and hid somewhere?”
    “Maybe. I didn’t see her. But there was a lot going on, and it was pretty dark in there,” Maggie replied.
    Lucy started back toward the building. “Let’s go inside and check.”
    “Good idea. I’m freezing out here.” Dana rubbed her arms for warmth as she quickly stepped back into shelter.
    Just as they passed through the doorway, the lights all over the building flashed on. Maggie blinked, the burst of light blinding her for a moment. Large metal fixtures high above made a dull, humming sound.
    “Phoebe? Charlotte? It’s Dr. Finch . . .”
    “And Suzanne,” their friend called out. “Are you guys still in here?”
    “Over here, Professor . . .” Phoebe turned. There was a partition between the teacher and the doorway. Phoebe quickly stepped into a space where Professor Finch could see her.
    Sonya Finch approached quickly with Suzanne and two security guards following close behind. Maggie noticed that a campus security car had also pulled up outside. Two more officers got out and walked toward the open doors.
    “What happened? . . . Where’s Charlotte?” Professor Finch looked flushed and nearly breathless as she hobbled closer.
    “I don’t know . . . I followed her through the last studio, and she ran in here. Quentin pushed me down before I could get through the door,” Phoebe explained. “I thought she was right outside, hiding somewhere. But after Quentin flew off on his bike, she like disappeared into thin air.”
    “Oh . . . that’s too bad.” Dr. Finch stared down, clearly distressed. Then she looked up at Phoebe, taking in her appearance with grave concern. “Are you all right, dear? Do you need a doctor? We’ll get you over to the