Defer

It was a bad idea that Rufus left Beth alone to make her pregnancy termination decision. She went home after agreeing to defer her first year of study. It probably saved her life.

Rufus, being immersed in his studies, discovered this a week later. Her friends wouldn't tell him where Beth's home was. She was out of the way for the time being, but her friends still knew about him and were unforgiving. He couldn't exactly kill them all, neither could he get to Beth without arousing suspicion.

His DNA was still out of police hands.

Keeping his head down!