“At least I got something right,” Logan said.
“Don’t feel too cocky. That’s about all you got right,” Myler replied and added, “The perpetrator had to be in fairly good condition. She was a strong woman. Worked out a lot. Good lungs and an excellent cardiovascular system.”
“Anything else significant?”
“Just that you will get the report from the forensic lab sometime later today. They called me about hair samples from the deceased.”
“Great. Thanks for the heads up,” Logan replied.
“Always a pleasure.”
* * *
“Bull, you and Jonas start running down each person on the list and see if they will give us a DNA sample voluntarily. If they won’t, we'll start the process of obtaining them through the legal system. Randy and I are going to track down Richards, Keller, and Ryan for samples,” Logan told them.
“Meet back here at 5:00 p.m.?” Jonas asked.
“Sure. We should have the forensic report by then too. This could put us back on track,” Logan said.
“Unless none of the DNA samples match,” Bull added.
“There is that,” Logan agreed.
The meeting broke up and they headed out. Logan and Randy decided to check on Terry Ryan first since he was closest. They drove in light traffic under a Midwest blue sky. It was the color of blue that you can only find in Pan-Tone color swatches and the Midwest.
Logan knocked on the front door and a girl opened it partway.
“Hi there, I’m detective Logan and this is detective Nelson, we need to speak to Dr. Ryan,” Logan said.
“I’m sorry. He isn’t here just now. You just missed him,” the girl said, not opening the door further.
“And you are?”
“Angela. I’m taking care of the house while he is gone.”
“You mean he has someone over every time he goes out?” Randy said, astonished.
“No, of course not. He is getting ready to go on vacation. I’m going to be watching the house while Sarah and Terry are gone.”
“Ah,” Randy said.
“It is very important we talk to him before he leaves. Would you happen to know where he went?”
“To the Westlake Fitness Club,” she told them.
“Good, thank you Angela. If we happen to miss him, tell him we stopped by and that we need him to call this number,” Logan said, slipping a card through the partially opened door.
“K’, I’ll tell him,” she said and closed the door.
“Kind of a strange bird,” Randy said.
“Yeah. You notice the tattoos on her arm and fingers?”
“I think the ring in the nose was enough for me. Doesn’t seem like someone I would want to watch my house,” Randy replied.
Their next stop was Dr. Keller’s house.
“Hi, Dr. Keller, I’m detective Logan, we met at the University.”
“Yes, I know who you are. What do you want?”
Stiff, haughty attitude. He was going into his superiority mode.
“We need a minute of your time. We are narrowing the list of suspects down on both the Lewis case and Dr. Pratt,” he said.
“Poor Dr. Pratt. Kind of a bitch, but still, not a bad person. Her students, the male ones, didn’t like her very much but then she didn’t like them much either,” he rambled.
“Yes. Well, we would like your cooperation. We would like to get a DNA sample from you,” Randy said.
“Why? I don’t think I like the sound of that,” he said, pulling back.
“It’s painless and only takes a couple of seconds. We can set up a time that is convenient for you. It will help us to eliminate the various parties,” Logan explained.
“So, I’m a suspect?”
“Not you personally. I mean, we can only go about this by the process of elimination. If it wasn’t someone with in the faculty this will help us get on the right track,” Logan said.
“I don’t know about this. I think I should check with the school first,” he said.
“Look, Dr. Keller, we can get a court order if that is necessary but if you have nothing to hide, why not simply give a sample?” Randy asked.
“It’s the principle. I don’t see any reason why I should submit to being poked and prodded by the police to prove what I already know. I didn’t have anything to do with any of this,” he said rather heatedly.
“I have to say doctor, I am surprised that you won’t cooperate. I really can’t understand your reluctance,” Logan said.
“You don’t have to. I will check with the attorneys and get their advice before I will submit to any test. Gentlemen, excuse me please,” he said and shut the door.
“Do I have bad breath?”
“Why”
“No one invites us in,” Logan said.
“I think it’s your arm pits. Did you use deodorant this morning?”
“What’s that? I just splash aftershave under my arms,” Logan replied.
“No wonder they won’t let us in,” Randy said, snickering.
Their next stop was Dr. Richards. Once more Logan knocked on the door but just as he did, Richards came around the side of the house with a pair of hedge clippers in one hand and a cell phone in the other.
“Alright,” he said and closed the phone, placing it in a small little case on his belt.
“Logan and Nelson,” he said.
“Yes. Good memory. We met at the University,” Logan said.
“Oh yes indeed, I remember. And you’re here to ask for a DNA swab. Well, I’m sorry to tell you that it isn’t going to happen. That was the University attorney on the phone. He told me that you would need a court order before I should submit to any test,” he said.
“How did they know we were coming here?”
“I’m not sure. They just called and said that you may show up on my doorstep and that I should inform you that you will need to contact them before talking to me any further,” Richards said, smiling.
“As you wish doctor, we will be in touch,” Logan said.
“You can try,” Richards said and walked away.
“Prick,” Randy uttered.
“He certainly got a kick out of that. Notice the scratch on his nose?” Logan replied.
“He was working on the hedges, could have come from that. Anyway, that’s three for three. I would say this was a shut out,” Randy said.
“Let’s try Ryan again. Maybe they haven’t gotten to him yet. They couldn’t have been more wrong. Terry met them at the door and informed of the conversation he had had with the University attorneys. It was a no-hitter. A shut-out.
CHAPTER THIRTY- THREE
“Logan, I need to see you in my office,” the captain said when they returned to the station. Logan followed him to his office and sat on the edge of the desk.
“What’s up?”
“Do you know who Dr. Winegardner is?” the captain asked.
“No. Should I?”
“He is the President of the University. He has called the Mayor, who in return, called the Commissioner, who called me. Starting to get the picture?”
“And?”
“They feel you have been unduly harassing the professors. They want all future contacts to go through the attorneys,” he said.
“What a crock of crap. If you mean trying to ask them questions like we do any other suspects is harassment, then we have harassed every one we have ever interviewed,” Logan said disgustedly.
“I know, I know. But for now, you will need to go through the attorneys. It’s out of our hands. Get a court order and get your DNA samples.”
“Why all the fuss? You would think they would want to clear their faculty as quickly as possible. This will only drag it out longer. You know someone will leak this to the press and that will cause an even bigger stir,” Logan said.
The captain just shrugged his shoulders, “You have your orders. Get a court order.”
Logan returned to his desk and found a large envelope f
rom forensics on his desk. He opened it and sat down to read it carefully. They found five different types of female hair and one from a male. The male hair in both the bathroom and bedroom matched the DNA from under the victim’s fingernails.
The hairs from the females were DNA tested and a copy of each was attached to the report. It was noted that several of the hairs found and tested were determined to match Sharon Lewis. Logan almost dropped the report. He leaned forward with his hands on his temples staring at the page.
Lewis was at Pratt’s house? Did that mean they were lovers too? It put a new wrinkle in the case; that was for sure. He gazed out the window, not really seeing anything, just lost in thought. Could this whole thing be over a lover's triangle? It still didn’t work out. Who killed Pratt and why? This report was making things cloudier, not clearer as he had hoped.
He continued to read the report. Pratt’s jaw was fractured in two places and a slight ring impression was lifted. It appeared to be a class ring or one of that style. If the ring could be found, there was an eighty percent chance they could match it to the bruises on the victim.
The wig was from a company named Hair Care Inc., and was sold in over thirty locations in Indianapolis alone. A list of the stores in Indianapolis and the surrounding area was included. It was noted that they were also sold on-line through their web site; www.haircareinc.com.
The knife found at the victim’s house was an 85% sure match for the one used to almost sever the head of Sharon Lewis. Enough blood was found in the tang of the knife to recover for DNA testing. It was a definite match to Sharon Lewis. Adding the blood DNA, the lab placed the probability that it was the same knife used on Lewis’ head at ninety-five percent. After he was done reading the report, he handed it to Randy to read over. His reaction was much the same as Logan’s. It did little to shed any light on who or why.
“Now what?”
“We are going to get those DNA samples. Send Bull and Jonas to get the boyfriend’s, what’s his name again?”
“Mike Weaver,” Randy said rolling his eyes.
“Right. Get his and Marcia’s. I want to see if we can eliminate either of them.”
“You know one thing that is bothering me is the knife that was found in Pratt’s house. So who killed her and why? I mean if she killed Sharon, and someone else killed her, this is bigger than we thought,” Randy said.
“That’s all that bothers you? The whole thing bothers me. Sharon is killed and she has been blackmailing instructors since High School. We have all of those to contend with. On top of that, she is AC/DC in her sexual orientation and has a past lover who says she killed her over love gone bad. Then it is made to look like her ex-lover committed suicide. Now Pratt is murdered in her own home. No forced entry which means she knew the killer. And you’re just worried about the knife? You must sleep a lot better than I do at night,” Logan said.
“I thought old people didn’t need much sleep,” Randy shot back.
“Dweeb,” Logan replied. “You and I need to call on the esteemed firm of Markham, Blazer, Baldwin and Phillips. I’m going to get those DNA samples,” he said determinedly.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
“Mr. Markham will see you now,” the stunningly beautiful blonde said, leading them to a large conference room.
It was lavishly appointed with Persian rugs on the floor and expensive antiques all around the room. The large conference table probably cost a year’s pay, Logan thought. They took a seat and waited, just looking around and the decorations. A few minutes later, the large double doors opened and three of the attorneys entered along with a fourth person they did not know.
“Detective Logan and I believe, Nelson isn’t it?” Markham said.
“Correct,” Nelson replied.
“You know Al, and this is Charles Baldwin, one of our partners. Let me introduce you to Dr. Calvin Winegardner, the President of Bellwood University.”
Dr. Winegardner was a tall man with a full head of hair that was surprisingly only slightly gray. He looked much younger that Logan had thought he would. He hardly glanced at the detectives when they were introduced.
After handshakes all around, they settled down into the plush chairs.
The three attorneys and Winegardner sat across the table from the two detectives. Each had a yellow legal pad in front of him and Mont Blanc pens. Time for the show of power to begin, Logan thought to himself. He had been there so many times before he couldn’t have cared less about the show of force. It was all about positioning and posturing. He wasn’t impressed or intimidated.
“We understand you have a job to do Detectives but…” he said, leaving the sentence unfinished.
“But you think we are being too forceful?”
“Something like that. If you want DNA samples all you had to do was to come to see us first. I’m sure we could have worked something out. I’m afraid you have upset the faculty now and we are going to insist you stop making contact with them. All future contacts will be made through this office,” Markham said.
“I see,” Logan said, “So every time we have a question or two, you want us to drop what we are doing and run over here and get your permission?” Logan said.
“Essentially, yes. I’m sorry it has to be this way but, well, there it is,” Markham replied.
“And is this at your request?” Logan asked Winegardner.
“At the request of my staff and with advice from our attorneys,” he said, without looking at Logan.
His eyes were fixed on some object above and behind Logan.
“You understand that the DNA samples we are asking for will help to eliminate any of your people,” Logan said.
“Or implicate them,” Blazer interjected.
“Either way, it would seem you would be glad to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible so it can all blow over,” Logan replied.
“Blow over?” Winegardner asked.
“Well think about it. School is essentially out now so no one is giving the University much thought. But suppose this drags out until the fall when enrollment starts in earnest. Don’t you think this would have a bigger impact?”
“There is no way to ascertain that,” Winegardner replied.
“Here is something else to consider. What if the media got wind of the fact that the University won’t allow us to talk to the faculty? If the news picks up on that, well, you can imagine what kind of stories will come out. You can see it now, ‘University Officials Refuse to Help Police. That would not do enrollment much good,” Logan said.
“Are you threatening the University?” Blazer said, twisting the cap on and off of his expensive ink pen.
“No. Just letting you understand the necessity of the DNA samples. We have collected physical evidence that, used in combination with DNA, can disprove their guilt.” Logan replied.
“And how would such a ‘leak’ occur?” Baldwin asked.
“You know the press. They seem to always find out something that no one wants exposed.”
“That would come from the Police I assume,” Blazer said.
“Heavens no. I don’t know how they would get the information but I’ll bet you your pen against mine that they would,” Logan said, holding out a cheap plastic pen.
“Detective Logan. You are essentially blackmailing us, are you not?” Winegardner said, still looking at the same spot.
“No sir. I just want you to realize that it can be detrimental to the image of the school if the press finds out you are putting up road blocks. Remember how the press reacted in the Barnett case when they would only talk through their attorneys? People turned against them and felt they were hiding something. The same could happen to the University and I’m trying to prevent that,” Logan said.
Winegardner looked at Logan for the first time. He just sat there looking at him, not moving a muscle. Logan looked back, unflinching. Finally he turned to the attorneys and said something in a low voice.
“Gentlemen, could you give us a few min
utes. We would like to talk your request over,” Markham said. “Would you mind stepping outside for a minute?”
Logan and Randy stepped into the foyer. Like the conference room it was plush and expensive looking. Nothing from Big Lots in this place, Logan thought.
“What do you think?” Randy asked.
“They’ll give in. They may not like it much but they will give in. Hey know darn well that there is nothing they can do about it if a leak does get to the press,” Logan said.
“You would do that?”
“Who knows?” Logan said, keeping Randy guessing.
“Damn,” Randy muttered
A few minutes later, the doors opened and they were ushered back to their seats.
“President Winegardner has instructed us to allow you access to the faculty for the DNA testing only. All other contact is to go through this office. Is that fully understood?” Markham told them.
“It is indeed and thank you very much. We certainly appreciate your cooperation,” Logan said.
“Yes. Well, we understand the responsibilities of the police as well,” Markham said.
“And your tactics,” Blazer added.
Logan just smiled at him as he got up from the table.
“We will send the lab tech to each of the faculty we want samples from this afternoon,” Logan said. “Thank you for your time, Gentlemen.”
Winegardner had put on a pair of sunglasses and didn’t bother to acknowledge the detectives as they left. It was obvious that he was used getting his way.
Back in the car, Randy said, “You did it. I didn’t think they would really give you access to them without a court order. I guess your bluff worked.”
“Bluff?”
“Now don’t start that. I know you wouldn’t really let that kind of information out,” Randy said.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure.”
“Well since you think so highly of me, I’ll buy you a gourmet lunch,” Logan said.
“This will be a first. You squeak when you walk. I can’t believe you would cough up the money for a real meal.”
BLONDE DECEPTION - The Logan Files Page 13
