The Theory of Death (28 page)

“Decker, relax. It’ll keep until Sunday. Just relax.”

“Uh, yeah. I forgot to tell you. I’m going to Manhattan on Sunday.”

“That’s good. Go see the kids and have a wonderful time.”

“I’m going mainly to speak to Ryan Belfort, Katrina’s brother. I figured maybe he might be able to tell me more about her face-to face than over the phone. And yes, I’ll combine it with dinner with the kids.”

“You’re nothing if not efficient. How close was Ryan to his sister?”

“It was just the two of them. He knew her well enough to tell me that she had an affair while she was a graduate student in Maryland. I checked out the guy. He moved to California and was there when she died. He hasn’t communicated with her in over two years.”

Radar said, “Well, the affair’s still interesting. Any affairs while she was here?”

“I haven’t turned up anything, but affairs are usually kept quiet … until they’re not. That’s why I want her phone records, texts, and e-mail. They may point me somewhere.”

Radar nodded. “Okay. See what the brother tells you. I’ll put in an allowance for gas and meals for you.” He turned to McAdams. “Are you going with him?”

“I am.”

“Do you want a meal allowance?”

“I will pass on your generosity, Captain. Give my portion to charity.”

“That would be the police department,” Radar said.

Decker slapped the memo in the palm of his hand. “I’ll see what I can do about Lydia Tucker’s car.” He looked at McAdams. “Call me if anything comes through … like a phone log. I’ll see you later.”

“Want me to come with you?”

“No need. Just keep studying. There’s a lot that’s riding on your passing the exams.”

“I’m well aware of that, thank you very much.”

“You don’t appear nervous.”

“That’s because I’m
not
nervous. I will pass. I might not burn up the test but I’ll do well enough, and that is good enough.”

“I admire your confidence. Or are you just a good actor?”

“Look at this, Old Man.” McAdams held out his hands in front of him. “Not a shake or a tremor. I’m as steady as she blows.”

MAKING GOOD PROGRESS
with his studies, McAdams decided to take a midmorning break while the Deckers were at synagogue for daytime services. He stood up and stretched and turned his phone back on. It immediately sprang to life with an incoming call. It was an out-of-town area code, and that made sense. Most of the people who called him didn’t live in Greenbury.

“This is Tyler.”

“Darling, you called your sister. I’m so proud.”

“Who is this?” McAdams looked at his phone. “Iris?”

“You made her so happy.”

“Really? The conversation lasted a total of two minutes.”

“But it was a
meaningful
two minutes.”

“I’m happy I made you proud. What’s up?”

“Mallon Euler.”

“Yes, right. Dr. Kent called me. She left early to apply to college.”

“Ah, but there’s more to it than that.”

McAdams grabbed a pen. “I’m all ears, Iris.”

“The impetus was a cheating scandal.”

“Oh.” A pause. “Mallon cheated?”

“Let me explain. At the end of her sophomore year, four girls turned in the exact same objective final for American history: Mallon, Mackenzie, and her friends Misha and Ellen. All of them had the same correct answers, and all of them had the same wrong answers.”

“That’s quite a feat.”

“Something wasn’t kosher. How all of them copied off one another … I’m not sure. Maybe hand signals. Kids are very resourceful these days. Anyway, the teacher, Dr. Kalish … do you remember Dr. Kalish?”

“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.”

S
UNDAY 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.”