Formula for Murder (14 page)

The dark and close stillness outside mirrored her inside dread. There wasn’t a strong feeling in the forefront, just a welling of concern and uncertainty. Why couldn’t she do more to help find the murderer, or at least comprehend why Charlie was murdered? In the past she’d assisted the police in their investigations, a holdover from her father’s police days and her natural inquisitiveness. But now, when the murder was on her own turf she literally had no clue. And felt bereft. Why, when she knew the people involved, was she no help?

Had her mind been too embroiled in her new relationship with Nick? And why was he spending so much time with her? Was it just natural because she was his only contact in the field so to speak? Could he possibly be personally interested?

Or worse, could he be involved in the murder? He was missing at the crucial time of the murder, after all. President Ludlow said he couldn’t find him when he looked. Had Nick really been delayed in the rain? But if he was involved, what was his motive? Too bad
Ludlow
wasn’t around to answer some questions. Convenient for Nick though. The starting rain returned her thoughts abruptly back to the more innocent hunt for an apartment. Besides, she had to trust someone. Hopefully her faith in Nick was not unduly prompted by her interest in him personally. But first chance she got, she’d check out his handwriting again, looking for closed ovals and faulty punctuation.

Chapter 13

A moderately wide lower loop on the lower case letters, balanced with moderate length can indicate a self-confident person with healthy, normal, physical drive.

“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Handwriting Analysis” by Sheila Lowe

The last apartment proved easy to find and closer to work. Located on a country road just off the main highway it would take him to work in less than 15 minutes. Those were strong points in her mind. He liked that it was set back from the road and was the second floor of a house rather than an apartment complex. It came with his own section of back yard. The widow renting it seemed capable and friendly. He found it appealing and thought it would make a great bachelor pad-to-be.

She saw a steep flight of stairs; he saw airy ambiance. She saw a weedy back yard from the upstairs windows; he saw the great view. She saw the scratched bare floors; he saw the beautiful grain of the old wood that would glow with elbow grease and a sleek coat of polish. She saw small rooms; he saw nooks and crannies with surprises at every turn.

He stepped back and smiled at her.

She grinned and said, “OK, I’ve played devil’s advocate enough. You like it. It’s all you say it is. Go for it.”

He quickly decided to rent the place for six months, unsure if he’d be working at the university longer than that.

It poured while they measured and planned.

Kat used the time to casually educate Nick about handwriting analysis. She likened it to fingerprinting but he wanted more detailed information.

She explained, “Our handwriting reveals our inner selves. Or it’s a projection of personality. How we write reveals our potential at the time we write.”

She jiggled the tape measure into place as he stretched out the other end, and continued, “Careful study is required of hundreds of traits, but some characteristics stand out like a zebra in a lion’s den. Showing a particular trait increases the risk that someone will act on it but not the certainty.”

Nick snapped the tape measure closed and straightened up. “So you don’t really pinpoint killers with it, just those with potential that need closer study?”

“Right! Handwriting analysis is a diagnostic tool of value in personal selection, marriage counseling, crime detection, vocational guidance, or business compatibility.”

“Just so long as you don’t try to capture killers by yourself, I’m impressed. Keep me informed.” Nick surveyed the living room one last time and smiled.

They gathered their few belongings and headed out. Icy rain soaked them through when leaving the apartment. Grateful for her hefty Flycoach shoes and resultant dry feet, she laughingly raced him to his car, teasing that it wouldn’t start. He threatened dire consequences if she jinxed his dear little Healy. He treated it like a Corvette, and she was impressed that his love didn’t require one. The car started instantly and Nick drove her home. Kat invited him in to get dry and have cocoa.

She removed her wet sweatshirt, tested the T-shirt underneath for dampness, and motioned to Nick and his soaked shirt. “You want me to throw that in the dryer with mine?”

He removed the shirt and threw it to her. Though the sexual tension reached a peak when she assessed his naked chest for size, she tossed him an oversized sweatshirt from her drawer. She had already studied his handwriting, what bits she could find of it, and determined that he had a healthy, normal, physical drive. Was she ready to deal with that? For now, she backed away from the personal and initiated a work-related discussion to distract her mind from his chiseled abdomen.

Nick gratefully accepted the cocoa, delighted that it wasn’t vinegar tea, but was wise enough not to mention it. He related his findings about Maria Alvarez, not that there was much new to Kat. He’d checked with some of the president’s council on Maria’s breakdown and received the official word on her illness, but didn’t know if they should pay a courtesy call, or give her name to Richard Burrows. He’d tried tracking the professor, Jeffrey Billings, but he had left
Cummings
State
; he’d also tried finding his student at the time of the accident with no more luck.

They decided to contact Detective Burrows by phone and give him the names. His resources would be invaluable in tracking him down. Nick began the call while Kat poured more cocoa and added a plate of cookies, but before the line connected he hung up.

“I forgot; it’s Saturday.”

“Burrows never could get the days of the week straight when he was working a case. He’ll be working. If he’s not at his desk the dispatcher should be able to connect you through or take a message.”

Nick redialed and connected immediately to Detective Burrows. With a sheepish grin directed toward Kat, he provided the man the information on the vandalism, spelling the names. He also filled him in on their discussion with Abner and his suggestions of research theft.

“Yeah, true, it’s not likely, but bears investigating. Kat says he’s innocent. Says the handwriting is wrong.”

Nick grinned while Burrows made a comment not repeatable in front of Kat, then provided the information on Maria. He added, “Maria’s husband, Carlos, works for the university too. He’s the grant man. It’s his job to see that the faculty members have up-to-date information on what grants are available and to acquire general grants for the university.”

She did a thumbs up when he sat back down. “Good job on the Carlos stuff. I’d forgotten that connection. Doubt if there’s anything there. He’s been a by-the-book man since day one.”

“Burrows said it sounded suspicious to him; said he’d check it out. Thought maybe Charlie could have discovered something underhanded with the grants money.”

They discussed office work briefly. She filled him in on Jamie and her duties and offered to introduce her to Nick the following week. They outlined what work she could do to help out while they spend more time investigating. The Nobel Prize winner’s arrival for a special program shortly would require some planning.

They almost missed the early news, which aired a pre-taped interview with Mark Raub. Nick had spent hours coaching him in the right tone with the right buzz words to catch the media’s attention. The station requested the interview and Raub, with Nick’s help, was able to mold it to the best light for the university under the circumstances. Of course the station had wanted the latest on the murder. Nick, as spokesman, could have given them a few sentences but nothing of substance. They didn’t have any suspects. The police were working diligently to solve the crime but there was basically no news.

Nick convinced them that Raub and the campus security were working night and day to provide safety and counsel to the faculty, staff, and especially students. Thus they were willing to interview the campus security chief on what measures were being taken. Raub outlined the warnings and advice being offered on campus. He slid nicely from those into a sister topic, sexual assault on campuses and what was being done daily to protect the students. The subject was one that was garnering a high percentage of media time lately, a mixed blessing for universities.

Raub handled the topic with dexterity and the interviewer allowed him the time to explore the issue. He advised that anyone in the campus community walk with someone whenever possible, stay in well-lit area and away from alleys and cross the street if someone looks like they are following. He added, “If someone is following in a car, turn around and walk in the opposite direction or stop and call the police.”

“Are students at risk in their own rooms?” the interviewer asked.

“Actually they are much safer in the dorms because of the tight security and supervision. The exterior doors are locked 24-hours a day. Precautions are always wise though, especially if you’re in a secluded off-campus apartment.”

“Such as?”

“Keep your doors locked, even if leaving just for a minute. Lock the door before going to bed. Don’t hide keys in obvious hiding places — keep them on you. Avoid being alone in a building at night. Never confront or ignore a stranger.”

“Is that advice that applies to your average citizen also?”

“Most of this does, but especially, use common sense and be conscious of your surroundings at all times.”

Raub added that these and other guidelines are available from the Pennsylvania Crime Prevention Practitioners Association.

“Thank you. The perky interviewer turned to the viewers to sign off. “That was Mark Raub, chief of security at
Mountain View
University
where the brutal murder of Professor Charles Abbott is still under investigation.

Nick and Kat agreed it wasn’t bad publicity, since the concern was already a hot topic in the news, and it filtered the anxiety over the murder.

She handed Nick his dried polo shirt and coyly checked out that chest one more time. It stripped work right out of her mind. His naked chest was a temptation. When he caught her glance as he settled the shirt around his waist, she thought she saw something in his eyes that revealed he wasn’t thinking of government officials either. But he walked toward the front door and she followed behind to say goodbye. Abruptly he turned around and faced her. She grabbed his arms for balance and as she moved to step back he wove his fingers through her hair and pulled her closer.

He smiled as he studied the tawny highlights and said, “I can at least resolve one question.”

She smiled back. “What?”

“I’ve wanted to know what your hair feels like since the first time I saw you.”

“The first time you saw me you were crazed with fever.”

“I was ill, not dead.”

The fine fabric of his shirt was left open at the neck to expose his tanned throat. She felt an innate need to touch that skin. A need rose within him as she moved forward.

He tightened his hold and brushed his lips over hers, first tentatively, than more firmly. He moved his fingers expertly through her hair, first lightly stroking the springy locks, then cupping her head to hold her lips steady for savoring.

Desire flared. She tempered hers, waiting for the trust to come and add depth to her feelings. The trust was still shady, hard to grasp and didn’t come in time to save the mood. Nick’s presence bounced her from euphoric highs to depressing lows frequently. She didn’t have the aplomb to ask outright. “Did you have anything to do with Charlie’s death?” Nick noticed the doubt though not understanding the cause. He decided to leave it for now, but the sparks engendered by the kiss made the lightning nearby seem like a faint glow.

Chapter 14

Illegible writing can show one is out of touch with reality or unable to communicate needs and desires.

“Handwriting Analysis: The Complete Basic Book”