Shadows of Desire

Chapter 14

What happened next was a blur of police sirens, paramedics, and endless questioning. By the time the dust settled, the grim truth was clear: Steve Carlson was dead, crushed beneath the weight of the very books he had once used to manipulate and control his students.

In the days that followed, Camille struggled with a whirlwind of emotions. Relief that Steve could never hurt her again warred with guilt over his death. Even though she knew, logically, that she wasn't responsible, a part of her couldn't help but feel that if she had never entered Steve's orbit, none of this would have happened.

Billy was her rock through it all. Despite the trauma of the incident, it seemed to have shaken loose more of his memories. He held Camille as she cried, reassured her when the guilt became overwhelming, and stood by her side as they gave their statements to the police again and again.

The investigation concluded that Steve's death was a tragic accident, the result of his own actions. But that didn't stop the whispers and stares that followed Camille and Billy around campus.

It was a crisp, clear day when they laid Steve to rest. The funeral was a small, somber affair. Despite his academic achievements, few people came to mourn the man Steve Carlson had become in his final years.

As Camille stood at the graveside, Billy's arm around her shoulders, she felt a strange sense of closure. The nightmare that had begun that fateful day at the department mixer was finally, truly over.

Or so she thought.

It was as they were leaving the cemetery that Camille first saw her - a striking woman with long dark hair, her eyes hidden behind large sunglasses. She stood apart from the small group of mourners, her posture rigid with barely contained emotion.

As Camille and Billy passed by, the woman's head turned, following their movement. Though Camille couldn't see her eyes, she felt the weight of the woman's gaze like a physical thing.

"Who is that?" Camille whispered to Billy.

Billy frowned, squinting at the woman. "I'm not sure, but... she looks familiar. Like I've seen her picture somewhere."

Before they could speculate further, Michelle joined them, her face drawn with concern. "Are you guys okay?" she asked softly. "That couldn't have been easy."

Camille managed a wan smile. "We're fine. It's just... strange, you know? Knowing he's really gone."

Michelle nodded sympathetically, then glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes widened slightly. "Oh no," she murmured.

"What is it?" Billy asked, following her gaze.

Michelle bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "That woman over there? I'm pretty sure that's Vanessa Carlson. Steve's ex-wife."

Camille felt a chill run down her spine. "Ex-wife? I didn't even know he was married."

"It was before he came to teach here," Michelle explained. "From what I heard, it was a messy divorce. She accused him of...well, of being obsessive and controlling. But nothing was ever proven."

As they watched, Vanessa removed her sunglasses, revealing eyes red-rimmed from crying. But there was something else in her gaze as it locked onto Camille - a hardness, an anger that made Camille instinctively step closer to Billy.

"Maybe we should go," Billy murmured, clearly sensing Camille's discomfort.

But before they could move, Vanessa was striding towards them, her heels clicking ominously on the paved path.

"So," Vanessa said as she reached them, her voice tight with barely controlled emotion. "You're Camille."

Camille swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. "I... yes. I'm sorry for your loss, Mrs. Carlson."