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know, last week Carl Rasmus died. It's been a terrible blow to the College community. Everyone has been affected. We've had counselors in to work with the students, and even some of the faculty. Many people cared deeply for him. Are you familiar with what was in the papers?"
    I nodded.
    "The police presumed it was suicide, with good reason. There was a note on Carl's computer detailing his... unhappiness and fears and also blaming several people on the Tenure Committee for his problems."
    I nodded again.
    "I'm sure you've read that Carl was blind. His disability rarely got in his way. In fact, he was able to bring a unique perspective to his work because he was... differently abled, as some people say." Bouchet paused, then went on choosing his words carefully. "Carl wrote the note on his computer in his office. His computer was off-line at the time. The computer even indicated the time the note was written. Three witnesses confirm that Carl was alone in his office and his were the only fingerprints on the keyboard."
    "But something has happened to suggest this might not have been suicide?" I suggested.
    "The autopsy report. A contact in the Coroner's office called me specifically to tell me about it, for which I'm grateful. Carl left his office on the second floor of the Music History building and took the elevator to the sixth floor. He seems to have opened the outside door of a small west side balcony with a key. The key was left in the door. He climbed over the railing, which is about four feet high, and jumped... but..."
    Bouchet paused again to look out the windows to his left. The view included the Music History building. We could both see the sixth floor balcony where this all took place. It was eerie. Bouchet went on, "But the coroner says there are bruises on Carl's back and the back of his legs. He hit the railing very hard on the way over. The thing is..."
    "The bruising doesn't make sense if he killed himself?"
    "Right," said Max Bouchet, "and the inquest is public information. The press will jump on the physical inconsistencies. And they'll revel in what was actually in the note. Carl blamed others for his distress."
    "Who's mentioned in the note?"
    "Those whom you are about to meet, the people on the Tenure Review Committee. They'll be furious, because much of the note is absolutely untrue. The press may not make it clear that Carl's note is unfounded. It could hurt these people's careers..." sighed Bouchet.
    "So you want me to find out why Rasmus was being unreasonable and if this really was suicide or murder," I said, "and if he was murdered, you'd like me to find out who the murderer was. And you want me to do it before the inquest information is made public?"
    Bouchet was beginning to smile. "Guess this is a tall order?"
    "Regardless," I said in a businesslike way, "it's what you want me to do. Dr. Bouchet, you have to understand, I can't shield anyone for the good of Irwin College..."
    "I know that," he broke in. "Look, I'm new in town and this has been dumped in my lap. I guess that sounds shallow. I'm very sorry about Carl, I didn't know him well but he seemed like a good man and I'm sorry he's dead, but I'm most concerned with the health and safety of the rest of the College people right now." He shook his head a little. "I'm used to success. I have a lot of money. What I want is to be able to concentrate on making the College the best it can be. I can't do that with a cloud of doubt and fear hanging over the whole campus. So, I'm proposing that I will pay your salary personally. That way I won't have to get Board approval, which frankly would not only take too long, but would probably be impossible. Will you do it? What are your terms?"
    I explained my fee then added, "I'll give you a detailed accounting of how my time is spent and what the expenses are. If I'm answering solely to you, then I'll give you a daily report, if you want."
    "Fine, and I'd also like to propose that if you are able to find the