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some questions about Rudy.” Lopez said.
    Nataly looked over at her roommate, who gave her a smile. She nodded.
    “How long were you and Rudy together?” Lopez asked.
    “About two years.  Our anniversary was in a couple of weeks.”
    “Where did you meet?”
    “It was right after we had completed our first year exams, and we were both looking for summer work.   We had signed up for a seminar and he sat next to me.  The person giving the talk was so dull and boring that Rudy spent the next hour making up his own talk.  He was so funny and charming.” Nataly paused. It looked as if she was going to break down again, but she composed herself.  “Anyway, we didn’t get much out of the seminar, not even an interview for a job, but Rudy and I hit it off.  His college was farther away from mine, but we somehow managed to make it work.” She looked down at the tissue in her hand.
    Lopez took this as her cue to ask another question.  “This morning, you were talking to Rudy, weren’t you?”
    She nodded.  “Yes, we always tried to talk before classes and at the end of the day.”
    “We saw the log on Rudy’s computer.”
    “Apart from calling or texting, we try to get as much face-time as possible, too.”
    “What did you talk about?”
    “Random stuff.  School.  Professors.  Exams.  Nothing too exciting.”
    “What about his neighbors, did Rudy have any issues with them?”
    Nataly’s brow furrowed.  “Why are you asking me this?”
    Lopez had to be careful.  If Nataly realized they were investigating Rudy, she might clam up. Right now, they didn’t know what had happened and they were hoping Nataly could shed some light on it.
    Lopez said, “We are trying to find out everything about everyone. Rudy, Irma, and Bernard.”  It was better to refer to the victims by their first names. It would make it feel less formal.
    Nataly nodded.  “No, never.  They were all friends.  They got along really well.  Maybe it had something to do with them being in the same college, but they were always having barbeque parties at their place—Brendan was great behind the grill. I’ve been to many of them.  I’ve even watched movies until late at night with them.  Irma and I loved romantic comedies so we’d watch in one apartment and Brendan and Rudy would watch some guy movie in another.” Suddenly, Nataly broke down again.  Her roommate put her arm around her.
    Lopez decided it was time to leave when Pascale said, “Did you notice anything different about Rudy this morning?”
    Lopez glared him, but he wasn’t one bit fazed.
    Nataly composed herself and said, “There was something odd.”
    “Like what?” Lopez quickly asked.
    “When we were talking, the phone rang.  Rudy got up and answered it.  Then he just left.”
    “Left?” Pascale leaned forward.
    “On the camera I saw him leave the apartment.  I thought maybe someone was at the door, but Rudy never came back.”
    “Did you hear anything?” Lopez asked.
    She shook her head.  “I heard the front door close, and then I heard nothing.”
    Rudy Jr.’s laptop was at the IT unit.  Maybe it’s time to go see what’s on it , Lopez thought.
    They got up to leave. Nataly asked, “Do you know who did it?”
    Lopez paused.  “We’re working on it.” She replied.
    “I hope you find him and make him pay.”
    Lopez didn’t know what to say.
     
    THIRTEEN
     
    Carl Danka was completely dressed in black.  He wore a black T-shirt with a black tie.  His pants, boots, hair, and even nail polish were black.
    Lopez had heard someone once ask him if he was a Goth, but Danka claimed he just liked the color.
    The IT Investigation Unit was located in a dark room.  There were no windows, and for some reason the lights were always turned down low.  Lopez thought it maybe was due to the nature of the job. The members of the unit spent more hours staring into computer screens than spending it outside, so maybe they preferred it that way.
    The