The advisor was stunned into silence for a full three seconds.


    It wasn''t until Owen repeated his question that she btedly replied, “Oh, R- Roseanne... she took a personal day yesterday."


    "How long is she taking off? Did she say what for?"


    "She just said she had something to do, but didn''t specify. I figured, what could she possibly be up to? Besides working in theb or writing papers. Her grades are all excellent, and she''s taken a few days off before, so I didn''t press for details...”


    "Has something happened?" the advisor asked cautiously.


    Owen remained silent.


    "Is there anything else unusual? For example, involving Carlson Smith?"


    The advisor replied, "You mean Carlson Smith, the third-year graduate student?”


    "Yes."


    "I''m not his advisor, so I don''t know the specifics, but if you need, I can ask around for you."


    "... Yes, please. I''d appreciate that."


    "Of course, of course."


    Five minutester, the advisor called back.


    "Professor Reynolds, it seems there is something unusual going on with Carlson Smith."


    "What is it?"


    "He hasn''t returned to campus since the semester started. His advisor hasn''t been able to reach him either. Oh, and I forgot to mention one thing."


    "What?"


    "The day Roseanne requested time off, Mamie and Scales also requested time off, one after the other."


    "Can you find Carlson Smith''s home address?"


    "His advisor said his records are iplete. All they know is that he''s from Springfield Province."


    Springfield...


    That confirmed it.


    After hanging up, Owen Reynolds immediately dialed the head of the registrar''s office.


    The man was already asleep and was just as surprised to receive the call as the advisor had been.


    "You want to look up Carlson Smith''s address in his file?!"


    "Yes."


    "But... it''s sote, the office is closed. Perhaps tomorrow we can have them..."


    "Tomorrow is toote. It has to be now."


    "Well..." The man on the other end was clearly hesitant.


    Owen said calmly, "Just arrange it. the university president asks,


    him the truth. I''ll exin it to be


    “Alright! I''ll get someone on it right away. I''ll call you back as soon as I have the information."


    "Thank you."


    With that done, all he could do was wait.


    Owen walked out onto the balcony, the cold wind helping to clear his head.


    Two minutester, he picked up his phone, returned to the living room, and dialed a number.


    "Hello?"


    "Corley, it''s me."


    There was a five-second pause. "...Owen Reynolds?!"


    "Oh. It seems you didn''t save my number."


    Corley was silent. Was that really the point...?


    "Professor Reynolds calling thiste? To what do I owe the pleasure?"


    "It''s about Roseanne."


    On the other end of the line, Corley sat up straight. "Go on."


    Owen ryed all the information he had gathered. "... From the looks of it, you didn''t


    know either, did you?"


    Corley admitted, "...She never mentioned it to me."


    Owen continued, "I know you people


    in the


    chapsiness world have your c


    channels and connections. If you''re willing, we can work together.


    "Fine. I''m on my way to your ce now. By the way, send me whatever information you have on Carlson Smith. It doesn''t need to be detailed, just a photo and his SSN will do."


    He was clearly nning to use his connections to investigate.


    "Alright," Owen agreed.


    Half an hourter, Corley arrived.


    Owen opened the door and let him in.


    Corley didn''t stand on ceremony, asking for a ss of water the moment he stepped inside.


    As Owen poured him one, he gestured to Corley''s feet. "Either take off your shoes


    or put on these covers."


    Corley stared at him.


    In the end, he chose the shoe covers.


    "Here''s your water."


    "...Thanks."


    Then, the two men sat in silence.


    About twenty minutester, Corley''s phone rang. “Okay, go ahead...”