Murder in the Dorm (15 page)

“Cassidy was always thorough in her work. I’d hire her, if it were my call. I really don’t see what tending bar has to do with anything. We hire people who have had all sorts of part-time jobs while finishing their degrees or paying off student loans. What about the competition? Are there other suitable applicants?”

“The next two persons on the list are both male, considerably more senior, and would cost us substantially more to hire. The committee is concerned about parity. I’m concerned about salary levels.”

“Well, aside from endorsing Cassidy, what might I do to help matters?”

“Could you talk to Angela? One reason I called you is that two of the marks you gave Emmons were the best two she received.”

“I don’t know Sutherland very well. I’m not sure she’d listen to me.”

“My other reason for calling you, Charlie, is that I recall Angela speaking very highly of one of your books. I’m hoping that might count. Would you try?”

Charlie agreed and left the Dean’s office wondering how to approach Sutherland. Back in his office he called Sutherland and arranged to see her that afternoon at two-thirty. What he had no idea about was what he’d learn at that meeting.

Charlie worked through the inevitable emails, read a couple of letters from students wanting recommendations, and went to lunch.

The Club table had only three attendees and conversation was lackluster. Charlie asked if anyone knew Angela Sutherland but the others knew her only as the chair of Women’s Studies and to nod to in hallways. Charlie finished his lunch and returned to his office. He read a bit, and then set out for Women’s Studies, which was pretty much on the other side of the campus.

“Dr. Douglas, hello. Please come in.”

“Dr. Sutherland. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

“I suspect I know what this is about. You’ve spoken with Dean Foxe?”

“Yes. This morning. I had Cassidy Emmons as a student and speak with her occasionally and he thought I might be able to set your mind at ease about her employment.”

“I thought so. Let me make myself clear. I’m very impressed with her and she was my first choice for the position, as she was for others on the committee. What put me off was seeing her serving drinks. I couldn’t help wondering how much drinking she does herself. I was at that place she works with some friends, having dinner. I don’t drink, and for reasons I needn’t go into, I neither like nor trust heavy drinkers.”

Charlie wondered what Sutherland would think of his fondness for wine.

“Dr. Sutherland, let me assure you that Cassidy is not a heavy drinker. In fact, you may not know this, but establishments that have bars make sure that those who tend their bars are safe bets regarding alcohol. They can’t afford to have someone serving drinks who drinks to excess, on or off the job.”

“I didn’t know that, and you say you know her from outside the university?”

“Yes. My wife, Kate, and I always chat with Cassidy when we eat at Oliver’s. I’ve never had a hint of a drinking problem. She’s very bright and has a good sense of humor. I’d have no reservations about hiring her. In any case, there’s a term or two for assessment, isn’t there?”

“Umm. Yes; yes, there is. Perhaps I overreacted. I value your personal endorsement of Ms. Emmons. As a matter of fact, I want to hire her. We’re not doing that well on the parity issue. We lost two women this past term. Both Sue Milligan in English and Janice Sommers in Computing Science left.”

“Janice left Meredith?”

“Yes. Do you know her?”

“I do, but had no idea she’d quit. When did she leave?”

“Right at the end of term. She’d spoken to her dean and her department head earlier, and as soon as classes and exams were over, she was gone. Not only did she leave Meredith, she left Kingsford.”

“Do you know where she went?”

“No one seems to know. Apparently she was quite close-mouthed about it all.”

“I’m very surprised. I would have thought she’d have let me know. Well, if you feel better about Cassidy, I won’t take any more of your time.”

“Thank you, Dr. Douglas. I intend to call Dean Foxe this same afternoon.”

As Charlie walked back to his office he didn’t think about Sutherland and Cassidy. What consumed him was that Sommers was gone without a word. Why would she take off like that? They’d had some good conversations and Charlie had begun to consider her a friend. He felt a little betrayed.

Back at his office Charlie reflected that he hadn’t thought about Kelsey and McDermott for weeks, but this news put a different face on things. Could Sommers’ departure have anything to do with the case? Did Berger know about Sommers? Charlie opened his laptop and sent her an email message asking if they might have coffee.

That evening Charlie filled Kate in on what he’d learned.

“That sounds very odd, Charlie. Why would she pick up and take off like that? Academics don’t do that sort of thing.”

“I’m waiting to hear from Berger. Maybe she knows.”

Charlie checked his email just before going to bed, but there was no response from Berger.

Chapter 24

The Thirteenth Tuesday

Charlie was at his office early in case Berger called him. He’d still not had an email from her. His phone rang, but it wasn’t Berger. It was a call that when added to the news about Sommers, made the previous weeks of not thinking about the case disappear.

“Professor Douglas? This is Chuck Dingwall. We talked some time ago about Mr. Giacomo’s arrest?”

“Yes, yes; of course I remember. Is there something new?”

“There is; I’m putting together a short retrospective piece prompted by new developments and I wondered if you might have something to say.”

“What happened?”

“Giacomo still hasn’t had his hearing, but his lawyer quit. However Leighton was being paid, the money stopped. On top of that, Giacomo’s sons are returning to Kingsford. Their fees weren’t paid for the coming term. Obviously something’s gone wrong. Giacomo is making noises about cutting a new deal with the prosecutor.”

“Could we have lunch today or tomorrow?”

“I can’t today. Tomorrow’s good. Same place as last time at one-thirty?”

“See you then.”

Charlie put the phone down and started thinking about what was going on when the phone rang again. It was Berger.

“Professor Douglas, Charlie, sorry to be late getting back to you. I had a killer day yesterday and left my email for this morning.”

“Could meet for coffee? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Oookay… What about four-forty-five? That’ll give me time to finish things here. Should I meet you at the Club like last time?”

“That would be fine.”

Charlie wondered how he was going to kill the hours before meeting Berger. He couldn’t think of anything to do, and with no classes, he was at loose ends.

Lunch at the Club was a little better than the day before; there were more people at the Club table. Charlie was distracted for a time, but back in his office he was again frustrated. He did some reading, but found himself rereading entire paragraphs. Finally it was four-thirty and Charlie walked to the Club. Berger didn’t get there until five and he was irritated by having to wait more. He got coffee and pastries for both and they sat in one of the alcoves.

“I’m going to skip the small talk: did you know Janice Sommers left Meredith and Kingsford?”

“Omigod, no, I didn’t. That explains why I’ve not heard from her. We had an open arrangement to have lunch. When did she leave? More important, why?”

“Apparently as soon as term ended. As to why, I don’t know. I thought you might know something.”

“Complete surprise to me. We never talked about what she was up to. I can’t believe she just took off. Where did she go?”

“No one seems to know. Not only did she leave abruptly, she kept quiet about it. What I’d very much like to know is why. Did you ever get any hint that she wasn’t happy here or had plans to go somewhere?”

“She seemed happy enough and I don’t recall a single thing she said about any such plans.”

Berger suddenly sat up straight, looked hard at Charlie, and spoke in an alarmed tone.

“Are you thinking she might have had something to do with the case?”

“Well, there’s a very odd coincidence. Janice’s departure coincides with Giacomo’s funds for his lawyer and his two sons suddenly drying up.”

“Giacomo? Oh, yes, the man who shot McDermott. You think there might be a connection?”

“It’s the timing. It seems most peculiar.”

They talked a little more, but Berger was either involved and a very good liar or she really didn’t know anything. After another few minutes they both got up and left the Club. Before getting into her car, Berger asked Charlie to keep her informed. He went back to get his car and drove home.

“You know, we haven’t been to Oliver’s for a long time.”

“When that chef, Roberto, left the food got very mediocre.”

“It did, but I’d like to go for a drink before dinner. I’ll explain why.”

Charlie and Kate went to the bistro and took a table for two by the window and Charlie saw that Cassidy was at the bar. She spotted them and walked over.

“Haven’t seen you two for a while. It’s because Roberto left, right?”

“Hi, Cassidy. Yes, I’m afraid so, but we’re here for a couple of your fabulous mohitos and because I wanted to ask if you’ve had any interesting news lately.”

Emmons looked at Charlie, then at Kate, then back at Charlie.

“You know, don’t you? Oh, no, don’t tell me they quizzed you about me.”

“I do know, and I did put in a word. Have you heard?”

“Not yet, but I’ve got my fingers crossed.”

“Cassidy, on another matter, did you happen to cross paths with a student named Kim Berger? She was in computing and I think you overlapped a year or two.”

“Oh, I remember her. She was a couple of years behind me and of course a different department, but we were together in one course, an intro to Women’s Studies. I never talked to her, but she had a reputation for kissing up to one of her profs in computing, Summers or something. Okay, I’ve got to get back to the bar. Two mohitos coming up.”

Charlie explained to Kate about Foxe calling him in and his talk with Sutherland. When they arrived the mohitos were excellent. He then asked for the bill and the server who’d brought the drinks told him they were on the house. Charlie left her a good tip, waved to Emmons, and he and Kate left.

Back home, over dinner, Charlie told Kate what had been going on in more detail. She asked exactly what the question he’d been pondering much of the day.

“Are you going to call DeVries?”

“I don’t know. There’s really no connection other than the timing. I was sort of hoping she’d call me because of the change in Giacomo’s situation.”

“She still might.”

“Then again, she might not. She’ll appreciate that I can’t tell her anything about Giacomo she doesn’t know already, and for all we know there’s a perfectly simple reason why the money dried up. I wish I knew someone who was close to Sommers. Maybe there’s a perfectly simple explanation. Maybe her mother or father is ill and needs her.”

“I don’t see it, Charlie. I think you’re right to be suspicious. The timing coincidence smells. Could Sommers be the third party?”

“Kate, if I admit to that I admit to thinking she had Giacomo shoot McDermott. Giacomo shoots McDermott, the cops accept his being bilked as his reason, he does some time, and the third party, let’s just say Sommers, picks up the tab for his lawyer and his kids’ education. Giacomo’s broke and is going to lose his house and his sons are going to have to drop out of school. By shooting McDermott he not only gets revenge on McDermott, he keeps the boys at the university and gets a good lawyer who’ll wangle the best deal for him. In effect, he’s trading eight or ten years in prison for salvaging what’s most important to him. Then the money suddenly stops and, apparently coincidentally, Sommers disappears.”

“Charlie, you decide about telling DeVries about Sommers. Now, why don’t you open a bottle of that lovely viognier and we’ll relax.”

Charlie did just that and was soon into his new book. Later, going to bed, his thoughts turned again to the case. He had to admit that Sommers’ sudden departure was more suspicious than anything he knew about Berger.

Chapter 25

The Fourteenth Wednesday

Charlie woke up early on Wednesday. He had breakfast, showered and dressed before Kate made it into the kitchen.

“Early appointment?”

“No. I’m anxious about meeting Dingwall for lunch. But I did decide that calling DeVries about Sommers leaving isn’t a good idea. It is, so far, only a coincidence and I don’t want to bother her with something that won’t help and would make me look a little desperate to stay involved.”

Once in his office Charlie dealt with his email and wondered about what Dingwall might have to say. Happily, he was distracted by a long chat with J. D. about the next term’s courses and troublesome supervisions. Noon came around and J. D. left for a lunch appointment. Charlie wondered about going to the Club before driving to meet Dingwall but decided against it. At a few minutes after one Charlie went to his car and drove to meet Dingwall. The same booth was free and he sat down to wait. Dingwall was only a minute or two late. They shook hands and both ordered. Charlie went for the Reuben again.