At the Scene of the Crime Read Online Free PDF Page A

yet?”
    The question catches me off guard. I would have expected his first inquiry would be whether or not I had any idea who stole the school’s most valuable books. I frown. “We’ll finish up as soon as possible. We have a team checking the entire building as well as investigators working the Rare Book Room and the outer office. I must tell you, though, it may be tomorrow before we can allow general access to the library and longer for the Rare Book Room. We’ll have to seal that area until our investigation is done.”
    He isn’t happy with my answer. He has the kind of face that you see featured on ads for retirement villages—distinguished, tan, comfortably well off. However, the vibe he’s throwing off—abrupt, aggressive, almost hostile—is at odds with the image.
    We’ve been together long enough for McDuff to pick up on my vibes and right now, he reads my negative impression of Dr. Nichols. “We’ll hurry things along as much as we can,” he says to him in a placating tone. “You must realize, though, that our first priority is getting the books back. I’m sure it’s your first priority, as well.”

    Nichols grumbles that of course, it’s important to find the books. He throws Simmons and Byers a look that suggests regardless of the outcome, their tenure at the university is in serious jeopardy. Then he’s charging back through the door, avoiding questions thrown at him by the milling crowd outside.
    McDuff follows. Simmons said Nichols had the only copy of the combination in his safe. McDuff will be on his way to see if it’s still where it’s supposed to be.
    Simmons and Byers look shocked at Nichols’ attitude. Simmons breaks the silence first. “He thinks it’s my fault.”
    Byers opens her mouth as if to respond, then abruptly closes it. After a moment, she says, “He blames me, too. How could he blame me? You’re the only one with the combination to the vault. Did you forget to lock it last night? After all, you were distracted.”
    Simmons’s eyes flash. She looks at me, then back to Byers. “You told her?”
    Byers’ jaw tightens, her shoulders tense. “What the hell,” she snaps. “What do I have to lose? I’m probably going to be fired, too. At least I’ll have the satisfaction of taking you down with me.”
    My own shoulders are tensing as well. Am I going to have to break up a catfight? “Ladies, ladies.” I motion to a uniform standing a few feet away. “Ms. Byers, will you go with this officer? Just for a few minutes. I need to talk to Ms. Simmons.”
    She doesn’t argue. She has the self-satisfied look of one who is about to witness something wonderful.
    Simmons, on the other hand, is exhibiting great concern.
    I take her into an alcove and she leans against the wall. She covers her face with her hands.
    “It was stupid,” she says. “I shouldn’t have done it.”
    “Shouldn’t have had sex at work or shouldn’t have stolen the books?”
    She straightens up. “I didn’t steal the books.”
    “What about your boyfriend?”
    “Boyfriend? God. He’s not a boyfriend. Exactly.”

    “He have a name?”
    “Jeffrey Talbot.”
    “Did Jeffrey steal the books?”
    “No. The cabinet was locked when we were—” she blanches, “when we were having sex.”
    “Why the vault?”
    A shrug. “It was different. It’s a game. We take turns coming up with inventive places to have sex.”
    “You’ve only been with the university for six months. How long have you and Jeffrey been playing this game?”
    “We’ve known each other since I moved to Denver. Almost two years. It’s not what you think. He’s married to my cousin. We get together once a month or so. None of this makes me sound like a very nice person, or a smart one, but having an affair is not against the law.”
    Her tone is becoming defensive. Her bearing is, too: she’s leaning toward me, hands in fists at her side.
    “If you want a suspect, look at Byers. She’s jealous of me. She wants my