“Exoskeletal man with a Polish accent. What in the world was he doing teaching American history? He’s a chemist.”
“Mrs. Mallard was out having a baby. We were short-staffed and I believe he only taught the last six weeks. He’s not a dumb man, our Dr. Kalish. As soon as he graded the tests, he knew that there had been cheating. But rather than confront the girls, he was clever. He had the girls come in, one by one, and told them that each one was between an A-minus and an A. So he was going to ask them a couple of questions to help put them over the hump.”
“Ah. Who got the questions right?”
“Mallon, of course. She was the cheatee, not the cheater. So she got her A and everyone thought that was the end of it.”
“What happened to Mackenzie, et al?”
“You know who their parents are, darling.”
“Nothing happened.”
“They swore up and down that they didn’t cheat. Their answers were the same because they all studied together. And since no one could prove otherwise, it was business as usual. No harm done since Mallon got the benefit of their stupidity by upping her grade. So everyone walked away happy. Or so the administration thought. Somehow Mallon got wind of what the oral test really was about and she became very testy that Mackenzie, Ellen, and Misha remained unscathed. According to her adviser, she started asking a lot of questions. She was very persistent . . . read it as a pest.”
“So what did they offer her in return for her cooperation?”
“Ah, darling, you always were a sharp one. They offered to graduate her early. Since she was having social issues and she was very smart, it was in her best interest.”
“She graduated at fifteen?”
“Sixteen. She was way ahead in math and science and the school paid for a few home tutors to complete her humanities courses. From what was reported, Mallon was thrilled. The school gave her great recommendations and Kneed Loft offered her admission plus a free ride. She was all of seventeen years old.”
“What did she do with herself between sixteen and seventeen?”
“The school hired her as an SAT tutor: a much better use of her brain. And it also showed there were no hard feelings. The school makes a point of supporting its own.”
“Don’t tell me she tutored Mackenzie, Misha, and Ellen?”
“From what I heard, the girls did very well.”
“Lovely to know that nothing has changed since I left.”
“Oh, Tyler, it’s just the usual politics masking as academics. I’m sure you’re faced with it all the time, working with the five colleges of upstate.”
“I don’t work for the colleges, Iris.”
“But Greenbury is a college town and the administration has long tentacles. Don’t be angry with your alma mater. It’s a part of who you are. And by the way, have you thought about speaking to the student body about what you do? The police work, not the law student.”
“I’m in the middle of finals.”
“How about talking during spring break?”
“You don’t have school during spring break.”
“Oh. You’re right. Then do it right after spring break. And need I remind you of the favor I just did.”
“Okay. I will speak to the student body about police work. And I’ll have street cred because I was actually shot.”
A long pause. “I heard about that. If it’s too hard to talk about it . . .”
“No, I’m fine, Iris, I shouldn’t have even brought it up. I’m just acting petty.”
“Did it hurt?”
McAdams laughed. “Of course it hurt! I will speak as a favor for you, Iris.”
“You see how it works, Tyler. One hand scratches the other’s back.”
“I suppose that’s okay just as long as no one gouges me.”
CHAPTER 26
SUNDAY MORNING JUST before sunup, Rina had finished packing the car. She closed the trunk, turned around, and bumped into Mallon Euler. The girl was bundled head to toe, but she was still shivering.
Rina said, “Don’t tell me you were just in the neighborhood.”
“I was just walking to Bagelmania. It opens at six.”
“It’s in the opposite direction.” When Mallon didn’t answer, Rina said, “Come in and warm up. It must be ten degrees outside.”
“Where are you going?”
Rina walked back to the house and opened the door. She let Mallon in first. “We’re going to Manhattan to visit family.”
“Can I come? Not to visit your family, of course. I just want to get away from Kneed Loft. I’m creeped out.”
McAdams stopped in his tracks when he saw Mallon. “What are you doing here?”
The young woman’s eyes watered. “I must seem stalkery, kinda.”
“Uh, yes.”
Tears were falling down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’m not myself.”
Decker came into the room. “Hey, what’s up, Mallon?”
“She wants to go to Manhattan with us,” Rina said.
“The answer is still the same about Eli’s papers,” Decker said. “No, you can’t have them.”
“It’s not that. I just want to get away from the college. Everyone’s staring at me like I had something to do with Dr. Belfort’s death.”
“Did you?”
“NO!” She wiped the tears from her face with her coat sleeve. “No, I did not.”
“Do you have somewhere to stay in Manhattan?” Decker asked.
“I can study at Columbia. They have a math library. And I think Butler is open all the time.” Silence. “I just want to be in the company of someone I trust—for the most part.”
“Not exactly a rousing endorsement . . . for the most part.”
“Peter, could you help me in the kitchen, please?” Rina asked.
Decker regarded his wife, trying to figure out what was on her mind. “Sure.”
After the door was closed, Rina said, “If she’s truly frightened, I can understand her attachment to you and Tyler. And if she’s faking it, it’s probably better to keep her within reach.”
“Do you think she’s faking it?”
“I don’t know. But what harm would it do to let her come with us?”
“For one thing she’s still a suspect. For all I know, she’s going to make a break for it.”
“While riding in your car?”
McAdams walked in. “If it’s a tie vote, I vote no.”
“There you have it,” Decker said. “You’re outvoted.”
“Didn’t you just tell me that she was unjustly treated at your old school, Tyler?”
“They graduated her early, gave her glowing recommendations for college, and gave her a paying job.”
“It sounds like she’s had to work for everything she’s gotten.”
“Like most people,” Decker said.
“Aw, c’mon, guys. Stop being so hard-hearted.”
“It’s not professional.”
“This isn’t L.A., Peter, no one’s going to report you to IA.”
“If she goes with us, I’m not sitting next to her,” McAdams said.
“I’ll sit with her in the backseat,” Rina said. “Where does Dr. Belfort’s brother live?”
“In Brooklyn. Columbia is way out of the way.”
“So drop her off at NYU.”
A long pause. Then Decker said, “She’s not coming for dinner.”
“I agree,” Rina said. “But we can pick her up before we leave back for Greenbury.”
Decker shook his head. “Why are you always taking in strays and oddballs?”
“I don’t know,” Rina said. “I guess I feel sorry for underdogs.”
“Sometimes those dogs bite.”
“You’re right.” She shrugged. “Up to you.”
Decker sighed. “Is there any particular reason why we should take Mallon to New York?”
“She might be able to tell you the latest gossip . . . you know, glean information from her.”
Decker
looked at McAdams. “What do you think?”
“Ordinarily, I’d say no, but Rina’s usually right about things.”
“Fine. We’ll take her.” Decker threw up his hands. Then he turned to Tyler. “Tell her she can come but give her some ground rules.”
“Like what?”
“Like no pumping for information. I will get very annoyed if she does that. If she doesn’t like it, she can stay where she is.”
“But say it nicely, Tyler,” Rina said.
“That may be beyond my job description.” McAdams left.
Decker turned to her. “Hopefully she isn’t carrying any lethal weapons on her person.”
“Tyler can pat her down before we leave,” Rina said.
“Good idea. The way he complains about his love life, it’ll probably be the most action he’ll see in a while.”
“What is with you?”
Decker exhaled. “Sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize for being grumpy. It’s early in the morning and you haven’t had your second cup of coffee. But I’m also wondering if there’s anything on your mind.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not, but that’s okay. You can’t be fine all the time. Just try not to air your grievances in front of the kid, please.”
“Yeah, that was not cool.” He poured another cup of coffee for himself. “I’m slipping into old work habits.” A pause. “I don’t want you to think badly of me, like I’m incapable of relaxing.”
“So what if you are?” Rina slipped her arms around his neck. “Ooh, you are tense.” She gave him a quick massage.
“Feels good. Thank you.”
“No prob.” She patted his neck and dropped her hands. “Look, Peter. I won’t get mad at you for being a workaholic if you don’t get mad at me for picking up strays. We’re who we are at this age and that’s just that.”
“Sure. Whatever. Invite anyone you want for Shabbos dinner.”
“Including the homeless guy who stands in front of Frozenfest Yogurt.”
“No, he may not come into my house. He smells.”
“But I can buy him takeout?”
“Once in a while.”
“Then we have a deal?”
“We have a deal.”
ON THE RIDE to New York, Mallon said, “I heard you met with Lennaeus Tolvard.” When no one spoke, she said, “I’m not asking questions, I’m making a statement.”
Decker turned onto the highway. He and McAdams were in the front. “News travels fast.”
“It’s a small school.”
“As everyone keeps reminding me. What else have you heard?”
“I thought there’d be no questions asked.”
“No, you can’t ask questions, but we can.”
“That seems inequitable.”
“No one said life was fair, kid.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Mallon said. “I have nothing to ask. Thanks for taking me.”
“You’re very welcome. It was Rina’s idea.”
“I figured.” Mallon smiled. “Did you guys hear about the big showdown last night?”
“What’s that?” McAdams asked.
“Rosser versus Tolvard. They came to blows. Security had to break it up.”
McAdams turned around. “Elaborate, please?”
“It was in the dining hall around eight. I texted you and then I tried calling you afterward, but it went straight to voice mail.”
McAdams took out his cell and made a face. “I was studying. I forgot to turn it on.”
“What happened, Mallon?” Decker asked.
“Apparently Rosser heard that you had visited Tolvard and asked about Eli and what he was studying. Anyway, when I met with him, he was furious.”
“Who was? Rosser?”
“No, Tolvard was. Rosser had called him up and they got into a big fight. Did I tell you that Tolvard took me on as my adviser?”
“No.” McAdams took out a paper pad and started writing down notes. “When did this happen?”
“Friday.”
“And Rosser approved it?”
“This was part of the big fight. See, I was being shuffled around from professor to professor. Tolvard was willing to take me on, but Rosser wouldn’t approve it since he wasn’t a math professor. So Tolvard appealed to the dean because of the unusual circumstances and he totally got my thesis anyway. The dean approved.”
“Which dean? Zhou?”
“No, she’s the dean of residency and student life meaning housing, personal problems, illness, if you want to take a leave of absence, things like that. Tolvard went to Dean Crane—Malcolm Crane. He’s the dean of student academics and he approved it. Rosser went apeshit. He stormed into the dining hall where Dr. Tolvard and I were having a thesis meeting and started screaming at him. It was wild!”
“What went down?” McAdams asked.
“Rosser was ballistic. He kept accusing Tolvard of stealing his students—first Eli, and then me. And that he was keeping Eli’s research from him and that anything Eli did with Tolvard belonged to him. And then Tolvard started yelling back, screaming that Rosser wasn’t fit to run a department and hadn’t published anything meaningful since the Stone Age. And then they literally went nose to nose. That’s when the pushing started. There was a lot of pushing and shoving and a chair and table got knocked down and food was all over the floor and each one said the other started it. Between you and me, Tolvard started the shoving, but I didn’t tell security that. Rosser is an asshole.” She turned to Rina. “Excuse my language.”
“What happened after security broke up the fight?”
“Rosser stormed off. I heard they both met with Dean Crane. I don’t know what was said, but Tolvard called me about two hours later and told me both he and Dean Crane thought it would be in my best interest to switch to the physics department, which means I would get a dual B.A. in physics and math, but it would also mean that I’d have to take four classes in summer school to meet the physics requirements for a B.A. But the good news is that the school would extend my scholarship. I’d also have to do a physics thesis and I’m totally not thrilled about that, either. I had no idea what to do, but then Tolvard said that I could carry on Eli’s research once he’s cleared it with the dean so that Rosser doesn’t feel he owns it, which he doesn’t. So I don’t need Eli’s papers from you because once Tolvard clears it with Dean Crane, he’ll give me the papers that Eli was working on.”
“Fantastic,” Decker said.
“So I really did want to come just because I’m creeped out, especially after what happened last night. You want to know what I think?”
“Of course.”
“I think Rosser is crazy enough to have killed Dr. Belfort. Before, I thought he was just a jerk. Now I’m not so sure. Certainly I wouldn’t want to be alone with him even in his office. He’s totally unhinged.”
“What about Tolvard?” McAdams asked. “You said he did the first push.”
“Tolvard was just reacting. When I spoke to him later, he was very calm. We’re meeting on Monday at his office in the afternoon unless you suspect him of something, in which case I’ll wait until he’s been cleared in your mind because like I said to you, Detective Decker, I don’t know who to trust at all in the school. All of us are walking around with this paranoia which I suppose isn’t really paranoia because Dr. Belfort was murdered.”
Mallon turned to Rina.
“Is there any coffee left?”
“Do you think you need caffeine?” McAdams said.
“Ha, ha. I’m wired because who wouldn’t be wired after that. Besides, I hardly slept at all. I need something to keep me alert.”
“Coffee’s only going to make you shaky,” Rina said. “Why don’t you close your eyes and take a nap. We’re going to be in the car for a while.”
“I’m not tired.”
“Give it a try.”
“Sure, why not.” She took her backpack from the floor and pulled out he
r phone. She stuck a headphone jack into it and popped in earbuds. Then she slumped back and closed her eyes. Within ten minutes, she was sleeping deeply.
McAdams said to Decker, “What do you think?”
“I think all academics are crazy.”
“I could have told you that. What do you think of Rosser as . . .” He lowered his voice even further. “As our number one suspect?”
“He’s a big guy.” Decker was also whispering. “Big enough to drag a body up the hill by himself. They lifted lots of prints from the house. Mainly I’m interested in doorknobs that had been smeared but not wiped clean, which I found interesting. That someone would take the time to confound the prints without a clean swipe.”
“Someone with intelligence.”
“Very much so. This is the thing. They lifted a partial from the end table where I found the hair and blood. I’ve been trying to enhance it to make it more readable, but we might just have to go with it. Tomorrow, I’ll start printing all the usual suspects—Rosser, Batra, Weissberg, Tolvard, Ferraga—”
“What does he have to do with anything?”
“I don’t know that he does. But he was on Eli’s committee.”
“What about our little miss back there?”
“Absolutely,” Decker said. “And what about Dean Zhou? Is she back from her conference yet?”
“Let me check my phone and see if she called or texted . . . oh, here we go. She texted me last night at nine in the evening, saying she’s back in town but can’t talk because she’s going into an emergency meeting with Dean Crane and the administration.”
“Get her alibi for where she was on the night Katrina died so we can rule her out.”
“She was at a math conference. I think it was held in Atlanta.”
“Then verify it. Get a statement from people who saw her.”
“You think she had something to do with it?”
“Not necessarily. We’re just hunting everyone down.”
“I’ll call her now.” McAdams punched in the numbers. “Hello, Dean Zhou? This is Detective Tyler McAdams, I’m sorry to have to call you so early, but . . . yes, I heard about the incident . . . how unfortunate . . . okay . . . okay . . . okay, but I would still like to talk to you . . . no, I can’t do it today, either. How about sometime tomorrow? . . . Twelve would be fine. In the meantime, I’d like to talk to some people who saw you at the conference, just to verify . . . no, it’s strictly routine. Just to eliminate you . . . wait, hold on.”
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