I had left my keys on the kitchen counter this morning before my defense.

Hunter had taken them.

“Dr. Sterling, you must see what he is doing,” I said.

“He is using my keys to ruin my career because my father fired him.”

“We cannot make that determination today,” Dr. Sterling said.

He looked at the security guards.

“Under university policy, we must take immediate action,” Dr. Sterling said.

“Evelyn Hayes, your doctoral defense is officially void.”

“Your degree candidacy is suspended indefinitely,” Dr. Sterling said.

The words felt like physical blows.

Three years of eighty-hour weeks dissolved in an instant.

“You cannot do this,” Arthur said.

“I fund half the chemistry department, Sterling.”

“Your funding does not buy our academic reputation, Arthur,” Dr. Sterling said.

“The board of trustees has already been notified.”

“There will be a formal investigation,” Dr. Sterling said.

“Until then, Evelyn is barred from the campus.”

“Her laboratory access is revoked,” Dr. Sterling said.

“Her university email and server accounts will be deactivated in ten minutes.”

“No,” I said.

“My raw data is on the department server.”