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missing as he sometimes stays over with one of his
classmates. However, when he still hadn’t returned home by this morning, they
reported him missing.”
    “Thanks Paul.” Paddy took the words
out of his mouth.
    Paul continued. “Cathy Palmer’s mom
filled out the original missing person report Sunday morning when her daughter
didn’t return from her date Friday. She reported that it was not like her to
stay out without reporting in to mom. The Boston PD is following up with
Palmer’s mother, and they’re going to let us know what they learn. It looks
like we might have our next missing guy, judging from the preliminaries.”
    When Paul left, Mike resumed his
conversation with Paddy. “Paddy, judging from the timing on the previous
murders, we may be already too late to stop the next murder.”
    “Mike,” Paddy offered, “Scott did
meet with me, and I told Scott I received pressure from the AG on his joining
the last task team.”
    “Could we utilize his skills and
not make a big deal about it?”
    “Mike, if Scott comes aboard, I’m
not going to hide his participation. That would be asking for trouble.”
    “Scott is a very promising young
man, he’s getting one of the best educations available, he’s intelligent, he’s
going to have a bright future, and he thinks you walk on water.”
    “He does?”
    “He told me you missed your calling
and you should have been an inspirational speaker. He hasn’t missed any of your
lectures at Harvard, and he can tell you make an impact with the students.” He
paused. “What happens if another man on that earlier hockey league comes up
missing?”
    Paddy paused for a few seconds.
“Let me think about his participation for a while. I can’t use the defense he’s
not part of law enforcement. I’m about to bring another Harvard student on
board very soon.”
    “Does Scott know him?”
    “I don’t think so, and it’s not a
he. Her name is Mercedes Strong, and she’s studying to be a profiler, and
she’ll be here Wednesday for an interview. How about I bring them both in for
an interview together?”
    Before he could respond, Paddy’s
phone rang, and Colleen announced it was Victor Young. “Mike, this is the AG
now. I have to take the call, and I’ll think about Scott coming on board, but no
promises.”

Chapter 11
     
    She entered the small coffee shop
on Marlborough Street and noticed the manager changing the daily specials. The specials
changed on Mondays, and, although she rarely ate lunch here, the different
aromas provided by the combination of a coffee shop and deli were enticing. She
remembered having coffee here with Scott when they first met, and that made
this a special place.
    She was meeting Judy and Judy’s
close friend, Dottie Copeland, to talk about the holidays. They frequently all
met here to share how their love lives were progressing, or, at times, not.
    While she waited in line for her
coffee, she spotted and waved to Judy and Dottie, already seated at their
favorite back table. That table provided enough privacy for talking without
being overheard. She thought it interesting they were dating roommates,
attending Boston University. Judy was an attractive brunette, but Dottie caused
heads to turn. She was striking, and her complexion was so light it was hard to
tell she was black.
    She was using the time to gain
enough courage to discuss her call with Scott. She hoped they would chat about
their guys, which would give her an opportunity to share her upsetting call
with Scott. She brought her coffee over to the table and greeted them.
    “Good morning, girls.”
    “Glad to see you up and moving,” Judy
said with a smirk.
    She thought it was strange Judy was
already out of the dorm room when she woke this morning.
    Dottie added, “Judy, don’t pick on
her. She’s got an active love life and probably exhausted.”
    She responded, maybe a little too
quickly, “Actually, one of the things I want to talk about is Scott . . . I
didn’t