information flowing in our campus and in all the University’s campuses for that matter.” He stopped again briefly. “It is a complicated and difficult job, which he did very well. We will miss him professionally as well as personally. His death represents a great loss, a great loss.”
Dr. Delgado lowered his head and took off his glasses.
“ So, this business of running all of the University’s computers—that meant he had access to a lot of information, probably some of it very sensitive—is that correct?” asked Lombardo.
“ Of course!” answered the Doctor vehemently. “It’s the nature of the job. Our computers handle everything from payrolls to grades for individual students. There are research papers, teacher evaluations—I could go on all day.”
One of the lawyers added, “But, he was not the only person to have access to that information.”
“ I suppose you had anticipated this line of questioning,” said Lombardo to the lawyer.
“ That’s our job,” said the other lawyer. “We wouldn’t want people to assume that Victor Delgado’s murder was somehow connected to the confidential information he had handled here.”
“ In which case the University would be liable, am I correct?” asked Lombardo, but the lawyers said nothing.
“ Hmm,” said Lombardo who pretended to write that down as well. “Who is in charge of security for this part of the campus? I mean security for the buildings and grounds.”
“ The University’s Security Department handles all security,” said the lawyer to the Doctor’s left.
“ Can you call them and tell them to send over the person who was on duty last night?” asked Lombardo. “I mean the staff officer, not the guards.”
“ We thought you might want to talk to them so we called the Director of Security and his man is probably outside this office now,” said the lawyer to the Doctor’s right.
“ You have a very efficient Legal Department, Doctor,” said Lombardo. He got up. It was useless to ask him anything further while the lawyers were present. He would try to see him at another time, without the guard dogs. “Thank you for your time, Doctor. I would like to see the security officer now.”
As they all moved toward the door, Lombardo turned and said to the lawyers, “I would appreciate it if you sent me a copy of Victor Delgado’s file. I assume the University keeps personnel files on all of its employees.”
“ Yes, but these are confidential and…” one of the lawyers started to say but Lombardo interrupted him.
“ Of course you being a lawyer probably already know that in a homicide case I can subpoena anything that might constitute evidence or information relevant to the case.”
“ Of course, of course,” said Doctor Delgado as if wishing to end any further discussion. “We will willingly cooperate with your investigation, Captain Lombardo.”
The other lawyer asked, “Why are you calling it homicide, Captain. Shouldn’t you wait for the Medical Examiner to…”
“ Corpses don’t make it a habit of walking to the railroad tracks to wait for trains to sever their heads. The evidence where he was found tells me he was killed elsewhere and then dropped there. This was no suicide, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
The lawyer opened the door. Another dark suit was standing outside, waiting. “This must be the security man,” said Lombardo.
“ Again I must congratulate your Legal Department,
Doctor Delgado. This visit was very well choreographed.”
He shook the Doctor’s hand and left Gonzalez to apologize for Lombardo’s rudeness.
Chapter 6 : Clues in the Parking Lot
The security man, a tall fellow with a shirt collar that was so frayed that it was transparent in parts, identified himself as a Manager for the security services company that handled all security issues for the University.
Lombardo
Dr. Delgado lowered his head and took off his glasses.
“ So, this business of running all of the University’s computers—that meant he had access to a lot of information, probably some of it very sensitive—is that correct?” asked Lombardo.
“ Of course!” answered the Doctor vehemently. “It’s the nature of the job. Our computers handle everything from payrolls to grades for individual students. There are research papers, teacher evaluations—I could go on all day.”
One of the lawyers added, “But, he was not the only person to have access to that information.”
“ I suppose you had anticipated this line of questioning,” said Lombardo to the lawyer.
“ That’s our job,” said the other lawyer. “We wouldn’t want people to assume that Victor Delgado’s murder was somehow connected to the confidential information he had handled here.”
“ In which case the University would be liable, am I correct?” asked Lombardo, but the lawyers said nothing.
“ Hmm,” said Lombardo who pretended to write that down as well. “Who is in charge of security for this part of the campus? I mean security for the buildings and grounds.”
“ The University’s Security Department handles all security,” said the lawyer to the Doctor’s left.
“ Can you call them and tell them to send over the person who was on duty last night?” asked Lombardo. “I mean the staff officer, not the guards.”
“ We thought you might want to talk to them so we called the Director of Security and his man is probably outside this office now,” said the lawyer to the Doctor’s right.
“ You have a very efficient Legal Department, Doctor,” said Lombardo. He got up. It was useless to ask him anything further while the lawyers were present. He would try to see him at another time, without the guard dogs. “Thank you for your time, Doctor. I would like to see the security officer now.”
As they all moved toward the door, Lombardo turned and said to the lawyers, “I would appreciate it if you sent me a copy of Victor Delgado’s file. I assume the University keeps personnel files on all of its employees.”
“ Yes, but these are confidential and…” one of the lawyers started to say but Lombardo interrupted him.
“ Of course you being a lawyer probably already know that in a homicide case I can subpoena anything that might constitute evidence or information relevant to the case.”
“ Of course, of course,” said Doctor Delgado as if wishing to end any further discussion. “We will willingly cooperate with your investigation, Captain Lombardo.”
The other lawyer asked, “Why are you calling it homicide, Captain. Shouldn’t you wait for the Medical Examiner to…”
“ Corpses don’t make it a habit of walking to the railroad tracks to wait for trains to sever their heads. The evidence where he was found tells me he was killed elsewhere and then dropped there. This was no suicide, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
The lawyer opened the door. Another dark suit was standing outside, waiting. “This must be the security man,” said Lombardo.
“ Again I must congratulate your Legal Department,
Doctor Delgado. This visit was very well choreographed.”
He shook the Doctor’s hand and left Gonzalez to apologize for Lombardo’s rudeness.
Chapter 6 : Clues in the Parking Lot
The security man, a tall fellow with a shirt collar that was so frayed that it was transparent in parts, identified himself as a Manager for the security services company that handled all security issues for the University.
Lombardo
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