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will,” Justin said forcefully, laying a hand on Joel’s arm. “And you have to heal. If I took your blood pressure right now, it’d be off the charts.”
    Joel managed a weak smile. “I can picture you wrestling with a blood pressure cuff.”
    Justin barked a laugh. “Let’s try it! Where can I find one?”
    “Seriously, don’t make me laugh,” Joel pleaded. “You can play it out however you want with the college. I know you have the skill. Remember, money is not the object.”
    “And what is?” Justin folded his arms across his chest.
    “Two things. The economic health of the town. And your own principles.”
    “Imagine me having principles,” Justin mused.
    “You know you do.”
    “Maybe I’ll get in touch with them now.” He opened his arms and raised his hands.
    “Bet on it. Use them, and it will be fine, however it turns out.”
    “If you could have any outcome, Joel, what would it be?”
    “I want the criminals out of there, along with the people who covered it up. That amounts to about one third of the employees, as far as we can tell. Is it possible to rebuild a college with just two-thirds of its people? I don’t know, but I’d prefer to have the good people protected and jobs saved for the sake of the town.”
    “That’s what I thought. I will not involve you further, you have my promise. Now get some sleep.”
    Joel’s eyes had already closed.
    Justin stood by the bed, watching Joel’s chest rise and fall, hearing his breaths deepen and lengthen. How can I resolve this without Joel as a sounding board?
    When Joel’s face relaxed in sleep, Justin left the room and ambled down the hall, hands deep in the pockets of his overcoat.
    Who can I trust that has no stake in the college? At the elevator he thought back to his recent dinner in New York City with his old lover, Sydney Shorey. They’d been hot and heavy during their graduate studies in Chicago. She was now happily remarried to her first husband, Danny and, more importantly, was now president of a small college in New York City. Perfect sounding board . He’d give her a call tonight.
    The elevator dinged.
    Justin cracked a smile, remembering what Sydney had predicted at dinner, after her second vodka martini: that Justin would marry within the year.

Chapter 3
    Gianessa wrapped her arms around her middle and willed the shivering to stop. She silently intoned a litany of affirmations . I’m getting warmer. I’m right next to the heater. The scalding tea will cool enough to drink. I will buy a coat as soon as I get paid . She added out loud, “And gloves.”
    “Gianessa?”
    Gianessa opened her eyes and locked with a pair of sapphire blue ones.
    “I’m Manda. You gave me a massage at the Manse last week.”
    “Of course.” Gianessa recognized the woman’s artless black curls and sculpted cheekbones. “You’re Joel’s fiancée, right?”
    “And you’re freezing.” Manda draped her coat over Gianessa’s shoulders and sat down next to her.
    Gianessa nodded. “Thank you for not saying ‘crazy’. I don’t own a coat or a car.” A sob rose in her throat.
    Warm hands covered hers, and she felt the heat spread all the way to her troubled mind.
    She took a deep breath and let it out. “I ran five blocks. I just needed a meeting so badly.”
    Manda picked up the cup of tea next to Gianessa’s chair. “Hold it with both hands. Drink.”
    Gianessa felt warmth all the way to her belly.
    “Don’t do anything that foolish again. The cold is dangerous, and people die of hypothermia. I’ll drive you home tonight and loan you my coat until you get one.”
    Gianessa started to protest but saw the wisdom. “Thank you. My denial will kill me. I’m so glad I came.”
    Someone nearby whispered, “Quiet.”
    The Tuesday night Top Shelf Women’s meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous started with a moment of silence and several standard readings about the twelve steps and the promises of the AA program.
    Gianessa heard the words—so