Read Formula for Murder for Free Online Page B

imminent.
    She recognized his concern and sat down. “It looked interesting.”
    “It’s very interesting and will remain so only if it’s in one piece!”
    “There isn’t really a ship called Pandora, is there?”
    “That’s what I named it when you first came to my house with your father. You were three. I brought it to the office shortly after. I wanted to keep it in one piece.”
    “Uh-oh! I don’t think I want to know more.”
    Burrows returned to his tale now that he knew his ship was safe. “What’s even more interesting was the fact that the meeting also accounts for Kauffman’s whereabouts.”
    “Nick asked, “Who’s Kauffman?”
    Burrows beat Kat to the answer, “The student assigned to prepare the lab work Professor Abbott was doing when murder interrupted him.”
    Nick frowned. “So Kauffman attended the meeting and just forgot about his work?”
    “Actually, he was relatively responsible about it. He’d made arrangements with Simon to get the key after the meeting and complete his work. When he got there the place was cordoned off and the officer took his statement.”
    Kat sighed in frustration. “So we know why Charlie was there. Now we just have to find out why he was killed.” She saw that Detective Burrows was about to jump on her, probably about the “we” and beat him to the punch with another question. “Why wasn’t Charlie at the meeting?”
    He nodded, showing he thought it a fair question. “Not everyone attends every meeting. Proserian does sometimes but wasn’t there last night according to Santora. Charlie never attends. Apparently it was beneath him or something.”
    Kat switched gears quickly after digesting that. “What do you have on Abner and Sean?”
    “You know them both, I take it?”
    “I don’t. Will someone fill me in?” Nick politely wrested the conversation back into his court.
    Kat obliged. “Abner Proserian’s the chemistry professor I mentioned to you, who was turned down for tenure recently. Charlie’s doing. Abner’s a nice guy, but I don’t know how he’d react if crossed.
    “I can’t tell you much on either. It appears Abner was threatening Charlie’s status by his reputation for sincere teaching and meticulous research. Rumor has it the bid for tenure was unjustly denied. I’d say Charlie was scared and resentful. Don’t honestly know enough about Abner to say what he’d do.”
    “Fair enough. What about Sean?”
    “He’s a science major, leading to med school. I even know less about him than about Abner. Why is he on your list?”
    Detective Burrows looked away, hesitating to give up any information, but apparently decided he might get more in return if he cooperated.
    “Charlie was failing Sean. Even though the semester was barely started it looked bad for Sean. His grades were so low it looked like Charlie was going to kick him out ahead of time. Wasn’t even going to let him try and catch up.”
    Kat promised to explore that angle with students she knew. Nick promised he’d keep Kat out of trouble and Burrows showed them out with a grumble and a nod.
    She dropped Nick off at the university where he had to handle details about getting his car repaired and find out where he’d be living. She’d deal later with the sharp sense of loss she felt as he left.
    Later they monitored the campus forum. The news had more shock value than real grief potential. Charlie was well-known but not well-loved. Kat’s face grew pensive as she surveyed the area. She tried to spy any strangers in the midst of friendly faces.
    All of a sudden she felt hunted, but couldn’t see anyone staring at her, let alone taking aim. There were hundreds of students, faculty, and staff in attendance. Kat scanned the crowd, realizing there was no way to recognize the killer, but the prickly feeling didn’t leave as she stood back and waited for the program’s end.
    She studied Nick. His presentation held the attention of the subdued crowd, aided by his