Page 17 of M for Murder

‘You can’t park here, you’ll block that car in.’

They hadn’t spoken since fighting in the car.

‘There weren’t any spots,’ Joel said pointedly.

‘It’s probably the Dean’s car.’

‘So? What, you want to go clear it with him first?’

‘No.’

‘Then shut up.’

Angell gave him a quick flash of her icy smile.

Joel was beginning to hate it when she did that. Although they’d known each other less than a week, he’d been on the receiving end of that smile at least a dozen times. As they walked across the parking lot, a cold silence hanging in the warm air, she kept a few paces ahead of him. Joel looked her over, taking in her swinging black ponytail and her tall svelte figure. His gaze slipped down to her ass, snug in the navy pants of her uniform.

Cute butt.

Not that he would ever let on that he thought that.

On first appearances, his impression of Rebecca Angell had been that, although she was pretty in an understated way, there was nothing special about her. Unfortunately, and much as he hated to admit it, his opinion of her had changed drastically following that first meeting when she had challenged everything that he and Max had said.

He didn’t want to find himself drawn to her and he didn’t want to notice that she had a cute ass. But, like it or not, each time she got mad at him and he found himself on the receiving end of one of her scathing looks, he realised that he was starting to like her more and more.

Of course, he would never do anything about it. Pigs might fly, but the day would never come when he admitted to Rebecca Angell that he found her attractive.

Dean Richard Edwards was waiting for them when they arrived. Joel had called ahead to let him know they were coming. Both he and Max had spoken with the Dean following the murder of Scott Jagger and the man seemed only too willing to help. Edwards was in his forties and married with kids. He had only transferred to Juniper in the last couple of years, brought in to help boost the college’s flagging reputation. Aware that a second spate of murders on campus would probably destroy his career, he had made it known how eager he was to help.

Joel was pleased. It always made things so much easier when people were willing to co-operate.

Edwards stood as they entered his office. ‘Hello again, Agent Hickok.’ He nodded briefly in Angell’s direction. ‘Would either of you like tea or coffee?’

‘No, thank you,’ Joel answered for the both of them.

He saw Angell glare at him from the corner of his eye and focused his attention on the Dean.

As part of a routine check, Edwards had already been run through the FBI computers. He had turned up clean. Not that it proved anything in particular. Serial killers always had to begin somewhere. At this stage, everyone was a suspect.

‘I take it that Miss Keeley hasn’t turned up?’ Joel asked.

The Dean shook his head. ‘Not to my knowledge.’

Joel pulled a notebook from his pocket and started to leaf through the pages.

‘We received a call from her roommate.’ He found the page with the girl’s name on it and glanced up. ‘Mindy Tyson. She said she hasn’t seen Emma since last Thursday.’

‘Yes. Miss Tyson came to see us this morning. I’ve checked Miss Keeley’s records and the last class she attended was on Thursday afternoon.’

‘That class would be?’

‘English literature.’

Taking a pen from his jacket, Joel began to make notes.

‘What was the name of the professor?’

‘Lawrence Parker, I believe.’ Dean Edwards flicked briefly through some files on his desk to confirm this fact. ‘Yes, Lawrence Parker.’