AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Michael cast a brief frown at Faith. “Let’s start with you telling us exactly what your relationship was with the victims.”
Tate paled a little at that, and Faith’s interest was piqued again. He was about to lie to them.
“Relationship? I didn’t have a relationship with them. They were in my study.”
“But you knew immediately who Maria Gonzalez was,” Faith pointed out.
“Yeah. She’s the darling of our music program. She won the Avery Fisher prize while she was still a student here.”
“Are you involved with the music program?” Michael asked.
“No, but I have to see Professor Chung every damned staff meeting. Try attending one where he doesn’t mention her.”
“You didn’t like hearing about her?”
“I don’t like hearing Chung. I don’t have a problem with Maria. Didn’t have a problem with her.”
“And Rebecca?”
“I didn’t have a problem with her. Hell, I didn’t even remember her until you told me she was part of my study.”
“You didn’t remember her name,” Faith said. “I’ll bet you remember other parts of her.”
He blanched, and Faith knew she was on the right track. Michael picked up on that reaction too and leaned forward. “Ah. So dating students isn’t a new thing with you.”
Tate swallowed. “I think this conversation is over.”
“I don’t think so,” Faith said, “and if you’re going to try to act tough around federal investigators, you might want to try not turning pale as a sheet first. Talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I don’t sleep with my students.”
“So the blonde girl who was just mooning over you like you were twenty years younger and sixty pounds lighter is… what?” Michael asked.
A bit of color came back to Tate’s cheeks at the insult. “Not my student.”
"Okay. So you don't sleep with your students. But your subjects? Fair game, right? Rebecca Wells, one of them?"
Tate looked between the two agents. His left eye twitched. Finally, he slumped. He lifted his hands and let them fall onto his lap. “Yes. Okay? I slept with her. Just a few times. She knew what was up, okay? It’s not like I broke her heart. But I didn’t remember her name.”
“So this is a habit with you,” Michael said.
Tate frowned. “Am I under investigation for a brief fling with a consenting adult ten years ago?”
“No, but we do need to know where you were yesterday morning about one a.m.,” Faith said.
Tate reddened, and Faith felt a moment of anticipation. Had they caught their killer already.
“I was with Allie,” he said reluctantly. “That’s the blonde girl who just left.”
“Will she confirm that?” Faith asked.
"Yes, but…" he sighed, then said even more reluctantly. "The University has security cameras outside of each dorm. She's in Virginia Woolf Hall. You can check the cameras and see me walking in through the front door just after midnight. I don't leave until three a.m."
“You sleep with them on campus?” Michael asked incredulously.
“It’s not against the rules if they’re not my students,” Tate replied testily, “and I don’t choose the study participants, so it’s not like I’m paying for favors.”
“You mind walking with us to the security office?” Faith asked.
