Catherine

by A J Hollingsworth

  'I might just have to pick myself one up,' Logan responded with fake enthusiasm before placing the mug back on top of the desk. He lifted up his notepad, that he had placed down when Stephanie's assistant had entered with the coffee's. 'You were saying about Rebecca...'

  'That's right DC Langley. Rebecca was very quiet, she would sit at the back of the lecture rooms and only answer questions when she was one hundred per-cent certain she had something to contribute to the discussion. She was an ideal student, yes.'

  'But...'

  'But...there was something different about her. Something I couldn't put my finger on. Just something...you know...different!'

  Logan was busy making notes in his pad. 'Different?'

  'Yes. I don't know why but I just don't trust her. There is definitely something strange about her.'

  Logan wasn't as sure. Rebecca seemed to be more afraid than non-trustworthy. What was Stephanie hiding? His gut-instinct was telling him that she was lying. The niceties today from a woman who is normally all business and as cold as ocean deep ice, were so far from the norm. He had to choose his words carefully and ask the right questions. If she was lying then he had to delicately extract the truth from her. 'We believe that Catherine may have had another boyfriend!'

  She didn't look surprised by the news but still attempted to act like she had been in one the worst acting performances Logan had ever seen. 'I didn't know Catherine that well DC Langley, to be able to comment on that really. Have you spoken with Mark? If anyone should know he would.'

  'We have already spoken with him and we still don't have an answer. That's why I am here Stephanie. I thought you may have more information. I admire how closely you manage the University. You keep your eye fixated on every single detail. There isn't one tiny thing that happens on campus without you knowing.' He was appealing to her ego, she took immense pride in the way she operated the University.

  'Unfortunately I don't know anything about who Catherine was dating. I'm sorry DC Langley, I wish I could tell you more.'

  'OK, I just have one more question before I'll get on my way.'

  'Of course, DC Langley, Feel free to ask away.'

  'Does the University have strict policies relating to professor's from dating students?' he said as he stood up from his chair.

  Stephanie coughed sharply, not expecting that to be the question, she took a pause before answering. 'It's strictly prohibited, we've never had to deal with anything like that, thankfully.'

  'Good,' acknowledged Logan, before turning towards the office door. When he reached it he placed his hand on the handle before turning back to Stephanie. 'Stephanie, would you be open and honest if something like that was going on here?'

  She looked directly at him, 'of course I would.'

  Logan nodded, 'I hope for your sake, that to be true. Otherwise there could be consequences for you too Stephanie!' he stated frankly and without another word, turned the handle and left Stephanie's office.

  Chapter 33

  Tanya pulled out of the police station car-park, turned right and planted her foot all the way down to the sound of the roar of the engine and the screeching of the gear box begging for an higher gear.

  'Can you not blow up my engine before we reach the University!' Rachel demanded.

  Tanya lifted up off the accelerator and dropped the gear box into third. She picked up a bit more speed and then pulled back into fourth, before relaxing back and listening to the radio. Rachel sat there in silence watching the world flash by out of the passenger window. It relaxed her watching the weight of the world on the rest of the people, knowing she was not alone. It was the reason she continued to chase the bad guys that plagued this world. She understood and sympathised that we all are burden with worries and concerns. It was her duty to take on the responsibility of dispensing the fears for the community. To make sure those who seek to hurt and harm were no longer able to reach into society.

  Five minutes later and Tanya were driving along the College Road. The afternoon was pressing on now and it would not be long before the students were finishing another day. Tanya turned the car into the University car-park and were forced to do a loop before a space came available. Tanya swiftly manoeuvred the car into the space. She looked over towards Rachel.

  'We need to find Rebecca, Tan. I assume you remember what she looks like from the description I gave you?'

  Tanya nodded and they both exited the car. Walking across the car-park they spotted Logan's car, he was here talking to Stephanie, Rachel explained to Tanya.

  'Hopefully we'll find out one way or another, who this mystery professor is then!'

  The campus was quiet, just the odd student milling around the footpaths between the buildings. Rachel and Tanya searched around the faces hoping to spot Rebecca's amongst them. It wasn't long before the green eyes pierced through, catching Rachel's instantly. Rebecca saw the detective and not in the mood to talk turned right and picked up her walking pace.

  Tanya and Rachel picked their pace up too and followed her down the same path. They were several hundred yards behind Rebecca and started to pick up a slow jog. She was not far in front of the pair before taking a right around the side of another building. They followed her, but as soon as they were around the corner, she had disappeared. Vanished into thin air. Rachel stopped first, soon to be copied by Tanya. They looked down the path, there were buildings on either side and the pathway was only six feet wide, there were no obvious hiding places.

  Where had she gone? They stood for a moment longer and then two hundred feet further down they noticed a girl wear a mustard coloured coat, that was her, she had been hidden in a doorway.

  'Rach over there,' stated Tanya, who had spotted her first. They both began jogging after her. 'Rebecca,' she called after her. She didn't stop. 'Rebecca,' she called again louder. The pace picked up again, Rebecca was struggling to keep the pace up, as her chest became tighter she knew she had to stop. She had never been one for keeping fit.

  'Why did you run?' asked Rachel as she caught up with Rebecca. She was out of breath and bent over slightly with her hands resting upon her knees, she needed a minute to catch her breath back.

  'I don't have the answers you are looking for DS Lambert!' Rebecca said as she stood up straight.

  'I disagree, you know more than you are telling me,' Rachel argued back. 'I am trying to find a killer and I believe you are holding the key to that killer. If that is true I can charge you with obstructing the course of justice. You have you entire life ahead of you, do you really want that following you around? Something like that could determine your career path before you even started going down it.'

  Rebecca paused considering the comments of Rachel, 'I don't have the answers, regardless of what you believe.'

  'Stop being stupid, there is a murderer out there and you are playing games like a silly little girl,' screamed Rachel, she didn't have time for this. Rebecca's face was changing, it was sterner, angrier and before long Rebecca would shut down completely and any hope of finding what she knew would be lost.

  'I am not playing games,' Rebecca snarled back, just increasing the frustration levels higher within Rachel.

  'You fancy a cup of coffee?' Tanya physically stepped between the two of them, pushing Rachel backwards out of the way. 'I think I do, why don't we go and get ourselves one Rebecca?'

  Rebecca agreed and began walking with Tanya. 'Tan I don't think we have time-'

  'We have plenty of time Rach. You can come as long as you promise not to argue?' Tanya gave Rachel a warning raise of the eyebrows, advising her to back down and let Tanya try to coax the information.

  'OK,' responded Rachel.

  All them of them walked back towards the University cafe, 'I'm sorry about DS Lambert, she is anxious about finding the person who ended Catherine's life way too early. She deserves to be able to rest in peace and her parents deserve to know the truth. Wouldn't you agree?'

  'I do, but I don't think DS Lambert would want to kn
ow the truth.'

  Tanya looked back at Rachel a few paces behind the lead two, she knew what Rachel wouldn't like to know and it that one simple comment she confirmed that Nathan had been having an affair with Catherine. In that moment Tanya wanted to find Nathan and beat the last breath from him. She, of course wouldn't, but the satisfaction from doing it would be immense all the same.

  Ten minutes later they were sat back in the University cafe, an home from home at for today and as the day progressed the temperature outside just kept falling, the sun barely visible through the dense clouds that had formed over the last hour. A warm mug of coffee and a blueberry muffin warmed Tanya inside.

  Rebecca sat opposite Tanya and Rachel at the side of her, a lot closer than she would have preferred to be, but that was the situation for now and she had no other option but to accept it.

  'How well did you know Catherine?; asked Tanya in a soft approachable tone.

  'Not that well really.'

  'Rebecca we are having a polite conversation over coffee and cake. I just want you to be honest with me. How well did you really know Catherine?''

  'We were best friends.'

  'Were?'

  'We fell out,' she said with an echo of sorrow.

  'What did you fall out about?' Rachel asked.

  'One of her choices. I disagreed and we argued.'

  'What choice?' insisted Rachel.

  'You can tell us Rebecca,' Tanya threw in to the conversation.

  'Her choice in men. I never agreed with her picking Mark. He was never any good for her, too self-absorbed and arrogant. He pushed her down, made her feel inferior to him, he thought everyone was inferior to him. She was not allowed to spread her wings, always had to do what he said and she wasn't allowed to disagree either. He made her a shell of who she should have been.' She took a sip of coffee and then shook her head, 'he suffocated her alive.'

  'You told her what you thought?'

  'Of course I did and told her to be more assertive with him. To stand up for herself. To not allow him to dictate to her.'

  'What happened after you told her?' asked Tanya still speaking in a soft delicate tone.

  'I was expecting her to scream and shout but she told me she was leaving him. She was just waiting for the right moment to do it.'

  'The day she died?'

  'No. She was waiting till after the exams had taken place end of this month. She didn't want to be with him anymore, but she didn't want to ruin his chance of passing them. She would always think of everyone else before herself. She was amazing,' exclaimed Rebecca with a smile.

  The smile didn't go unnoticed by either Rachel or Tanya who quickly gave one another a glance. 'You admired Catherine?' asked Rachel.

  'Most did, she was very popular, albeit elusive.'

  'Elusive? How do you mean?'

  'A lot of students wanted to talk to her. You know. Become friends with her. She had an invisible magnetism that drew people in. Yet, she stopped them getting close, put barriers up with almost everyone.'

  'Including you?'

  'At times yes,' she said with the tone in her voice shifting from conversation to regret. 'Other times she pushed me away more than most others.'

  'You were in-love with her?'

  Rebecca paused looking to her side at Rachel and with her voice breaking as the tears began welling in her eyes, 'yes I was in-love with her and yes, before you ask, she rejected me.'

  'I bet that tore you in half?' asked Rachel.

  'I was upset at first. Of course, but then I came to terms with it. She wasn't into girls and I accepted that,' she said flippantly.

  'I doubt you accepted it like you claim,' Rachel said with venom. 'The rejection stabbed deep inside your heart, cutting shred after shred. You say you admire her. I suggest you hated her. You wanted her to pay for the hurt she caused you. I think I have been looking in the wrong places!'

  'What are you accusing me of?' said Rebecca with tears now escaping from her her eyes running free down her cheeks.

  'You had a motive to see Catherine gone too. She had broken your heart and that had festered away inside you until you didn't know how to cope with it no longer and you ended Catherine's life out of jealousy or was it revenge. You couldn't have her and therefore no one else could have her too. Is that why you have been following me. To see what I uncover. I close I was to find it was actually you who strangled Catherine!' her voice now raised bringing the entire collection of students and staff in the cafe to a stand still. Eyes all around now focusing on their table.

  'Rach,' said Tanya in an attempt to remind her where they were and concerned how unprofessional she may have been at the moment.

  'I didn't kill Catherine. I could never do that,' Rebecca fired back at Rachel, completely ignoring Tanya sat at the other side of the table.

  'Where were you Friday night?'

  'At the cinema with my girlfriend. You can ask her if you don't believe me!'

  Tanya wrote down the name and telephone number for Stacey White, she had been dating Rebecca for the last three months but the pair had agreed to keep their relationship secret as they both had not yet revealed their sexuality to anyone. Tanya believed Rebecca, something in her voice just had her convinced, a certain determination that had delivered the words from her mouth with true conviction.

  Tanya stood from the table, Rachel paused looking at Rebecca, not as convinced but with only a theory she had no option but join Tanya. She reluctantly did, 'Rebecca make sure you don't go anywhere, I may need to chat with you again.' With that said she moved away from the table and joining Tanya she began to walk towards the exit of the cafe.

  'I'm not going anywhere, but maybe you want to warn that husband of yours not to do the same thing. Have a look at your husbands laptop, DS Lambert'

  Rachel continued to walk, Tanya followed at a slower pace looking back towards Rebecca.

  ◆◆◆

  'You don't believe her, do you?' Tanya asked as the pair left the cafe.

  'I don't know Tan, but I have to chase up the allegation.'

  Rachel picked up the pace marching straight past her car in the car-park, heading towards the English building. She knew Nathan had a small office next to one of the seminar rooms and that is where the laptop would be.

  'What you going to tell Nathan, I'm guessing you not going to be honest with him?'

  Rachel looked across at Tanya walking at the side of her, 'I'm not going to tell him anything Tan.'

  Tanya grabbed Rachel's arm pulling her to be facing her, 'you going to steal his laptop?'

  Rachel raised her eyebrows, 'we are married, the law is on my side when I say I borrowed it.'

  'And what you going to say when you have forensics examine it?'

  'I have a friend who won't ask questions.'

  'I'm not sure about this Rach.'

  'Tan I appreciate you looking out for me but I am doing this and it is fine if you don't. Tell me now and you can go back to the police station!'

  'I've been watching out from the beginning and even though I think you are making a great mistake. I won't leave you now. I need to make sure you don't get yourself into a whole heap of trouble, don't I?'

  'I am a big girl Tan, but if you insist follow my lead and watch my back, OK?'

  Five minutes later and the pair had reached the English building, walking through the door and down the long white corridor, only broken up by the Universities inspirational words. Five hand picked words by Stephanie to inspire the students to excel to their greatness. She had read the line in the University brochure a few years back when Nathan had brought it home. The words really didn't make a difference to the students as most of them didn't even look at them once. The typical PR brigade that became a plague of modern society.

  Up one flight of stairs was the seminar room, 'I'm looking for Nathan Lambert?' she asked a passing student.

  'That room there, but I don't think there is anyone in there at the moment, you could always try the end of the c
orridor. There is a staff room off to the left.'

  'Thanks,' she replied and waited for the student to carry on down the corridor.

  'Tan, keep an eye out and I will see if I can find that laptop.'

  Tanya watched Rachel enter the room and then stood by the doorway, feeling as awkward as she looked. Inside Rachel heading straight for the desk at the side of the electronic white-board attached to the wall at the front of the seminar room. Nathan had left his notes for the next or previous seminar, she wasn't certain which.

  At the side of the white-board was a door, currently closed, she wondered if Nathan could have been sat at his desk inside that room. She paused considering whether to knock first or just enter. She did the first, there were no reply and she pushed open the door. Inside was a small desk and a couple of storage cabinets. The only light been offered into the room were a small window. In the middle of the desk was Nathan's laptop, she scooped it up under her shoulder and quickly heading back to Tanya.

  Chapter 34

  Nathan and Beth were drinking the last of their coffees, they had finished their meals and were ready to leave, it had been almost two hours since they had walked through the doors of the restaurant and outside the sun had given way to the moon.

  The temperature had stayed high, persuading Beth to ask if Nathan fancied a walk under the stars. He had enjoyed the evening so far so why not he thought as he accepted her offer. The city centre was beautiful at night and they were not far from one of the many small parks scattered around, the walked along towards the end of Wallace Avenue and entered the park at the end through a cast iron archway painting in high black gloss. The path ahead twisted and turned around flowerbeds that were in full bloom with the spring daffodils of yellow and white splattering the tops of the lush green stems and the deep purples of the early flowering summer.

  Behind the flower beds were box hedges neatly trimmed, sculpturing the landscape as they dropped and rose catching the eyes with intriguing shadows that were dancing and swaying under the moonlight. It was the setting of any romantic comedy where the couple realised there feelings for one another and the movie would end happy with them walking hand in hand after they both slowly moved there hands to connect with each other. Beth felt that feeling as she wanted Nathan to be much more than her professor and as her fingers collided with Nathan's, his shot upwards almost level with his chest as he stopped and turned towards her.