Tate did not, as a rule, make plans with people.

It wasn't that she was antisocial, although an argument certainly could be made in that direction; the fact that she did not make plans pointed that way, certainly. She couldn't really be said to lack for friends, because while her acquaintances and rivals outnumbered her bosom buddies, she was not a total shut-in and could in fact be found socializing on a somewhat regular basis. It was only that she didn't often know for sure that people would respond to her plans, so she waited for other people to make plans with her, and then she showed up. Once she agreed to show up, she would be there as a matter of course; Tate was assiduously responsible like that.

She also didn't, as a rule, do coincidental meetings. It was more her style to stop, meet someone, offer a cordial and companionable nod of acknowledgement, and then bail out of the situation as fast as she could--not because she didn't like people but because she didn't like people.

Which is why it was incredibly surprising to her that some people kept bumping into her and actually talking to her. "Kess," she said, giving her customary cordial nod, but not removing her hand from the book they'd both reached for (Police and Society, fourth edition). "Taking Police and Society with Professor Green?"