Formula for Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

anyone who wished it and that a memorial service would be held. Detective Burrows was to attend the meeting to answer questions and request that any relevant information be directed to his office.
    The campus safety staff left first to work up a plan of security for faculty, staff, and students on campus. They wanted to announce it at the afternoon meeting. Burrows, looking more rumpled by the minute from his all-night investigation, was simultaneously directing a canvass of the area, answering questions of his second-in-command, and motioning to Nick to call him later.
    As the group filtered out, Sloan, well-known as the middle-aged vamp on campus, who also happened to do an exceptional job directing the evening college, cornered Nick. Kat watched from the sidelines as Sloan took a bite out of Nick with her eyes. Knowing that once Sloan sunk in her claws it would be ages before she could extract Nick, Kat commandeered him quickly, mumbling, “You’re running late for your appointment. Excuse us, Sloan. I’m sure you’ll have time to chat later.”
    Nick winked salaciously at Sloan before turning obediently to Kat. He knew he didn’t have an appointment immediately. He hoped it was jealousy that had turned her into the efficient matron.
    Katharine provided Nick more background. She thought Nick could take an unbiased view of the situation because he had never known Charlie. Nick confirmed that the crime scene had been used for eons as the general chemistry lab and he’d studied the chemical elements there with the rest of the liberal arts students in his time. For a few minutes they delighted in the swapping of tales, chemical experiments gone awry, frustrated professors, and innocent good times.
    Nick stepped from behind his desk and strode to the door, looking out into the empty workroom. “Satisfy my curiosity about some of these people. The ones in the chemistry department, Professor Abbott’s associates. I need to form a picture with no time to become familiar with them on my own.”
    Kat pulled up a mental image of Charlie’s closest associates and tried to sketch well-rounded figures. She added idiosyncrasies so he’d see them as people. Thus Abner Prosnerian, a chemistry prof, wore sunglasses everywhere except in the lab. Professor Santora, chemistry chair, was loved by most, yet had an elaborately nonchalant manner because he was oblivious to the social cues of others and in a hazy way he knew it. He handed out chewing gum to the students in lieu of praise, but they loved it, and him.
    Later, as she glanced out her office window, the campus looked serene. That happened sometimes at dusk. With the street lights, came the second wave of energy as students surged out of the classrooms and scattered like billiard balls on a break. The campus hadn’t changed in eons. But maybe she had. Today the serenity didn’t soothe. She paced restlessly, her mind jumping from one idea to another and back to Nick, who refused to be tucked away in his corner. She shook her head, trying to dislodge him from her mind.
    As she stared out across the common she thought more of what was behind the facade, the quarrels, the feuds, affairs hidden by colonial bricks. It was a microcosm of life. Such a small campus, yet like in life, education was found in places other than books. Some of it was uncovered in the library. While there, most of the students were deeply engrossed in their reading and research, battling the last-minute time element they’d self-imposed by attending all the Homecoming activities last weekend.
    If one looked up from the words between the covers, one would see the silent communication of nods and smiles between the library director and the reference librarian. It was certainly more eloquent than the description of social stratification levels in the 1950s two students that were studying at a table in the corner.
    She pondered why the students seemed wilder these days. She’d seen behind the facade in many of