Gargoyle photographed at the University of Toronto

The detectives have been interviewing students living in residence with Natasha. Or in classes with her. Or both. “Think that bike lead will go anywhere?” Wolfrom asks.

“I hope so. There were bunch of off trail bike tracks, but the tech said they were probably pretty old. They took casts, and they’ll need to check tread patterns before they’ll give an opinion.”

“Old tracks, old butts, all we can do is keep talking to people. What about the boyfriend?”

“Even if it’s always the boyfriend, wouldn’t he have to be a real bonehead to do something like that after she knocked him down in front of the whole school.”

“What, perps aren’t boneheads?”

“I know, I know. You’re right. We gotta talk to him.”

“I’m willing to take some of these accounts with a grain of salt. To hear the stories the whole school was there to see it. Probably half of them are telling what they heard, or what their friends who were there texted them. It comes to court, Wolfie, we’re gonna have to be damn sure that only actual witnesses make it to the stand.”

“Why would they say they were there if they weren’t?”

“It was the social event of the season. Being there confers instant status. Didn’t you ever want to be a Big Man on Campus?”

“Naw. I spent my life working on being invisible. Much safer that way.”

Lewis laughs. “The lab says the Rape Kit produced viable DNA. So when we get the guy we’ll be able to make it stick.”

“Okay bring in the next customer.”

Wolfrom goes to the door, opens it and surveys the group of male students seated in the waiting area. He beckons to Adam, who enters the small room nervously. He seems to relax as Wolfrom asks him all the easy questions, name, classes, course load, and everything is fine. Until it changes when Lewis asks, “How well do you know Natasha Panov?”

“I don’t know her, really. I mean, I know her to see because I know several people who live in her residence. I’ve got classes with Maggie and Oscar and we are in a computer club together.”

Adam looks at the detective, busy making notes. “But I don’t think I’ve ever really spoken to her. Sometimes I see her taking pictures with that weight lifter, Boris.”

Lewis nods, and Adam sees that the other detective is writing down everything he says.

“I know Jake as well. He’s a photography student but he is also in the computer club.”

“So what were you doing yesterday afternoon?”

“I … but … afternoon? I thought you would want to know about last night.”

“Just answer the question please Adam.” she says.

“I was, I uh, I cut classes, and I went to the mall.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Uh, I don’t know, I just didn’t feel like going.”

“Hmmm.” says Lewis, She flips back a few pages in her notebook, reading tiny cramped notes. then she looks up at him.

“But you don’t cut classes, do you, Adam.”

“Uh, how?” looking at the notebook in horror, “Has someone been talking about me?”

“That’s confidential information, Adam.” she shakes her head, studying him seriously.

“You can tell me, Adam, why did you really cut class yesterday afternoon?”

“Uh, I just did. It had nothing to do with that girl. I just went to the mall. Walked around a while. That’s all. Then I got something to eat and came back to campus for the computer club meeting at Kate’s house last night.”

Leaning across the table toward Adam, Lewis says softly “I mean you had a perfect record up to yesterday. You never cut classes Adam.”

Lewis frowns at him. “Why did you pick yesterday to cut classes, Adam?”

“I just … I just did, that’s all.” He reaches into his interior jacket pocket and pulls out a wallet, and opens the billfold, rifling through receipts. He tosses one on the table in front of Lewis.

“There. You see, I was at Pad Thai Palace. That proves I was at the mall.”

“Maybe. If the clerk remembers you.”

From behind Adam, Wolfrom asks quietly. “Did you see Boris kiss Natasha at lunch? Or how about when she hit him, Adam. Which part got you all excited?”

Swiveling around Adam says, “Yes. No. I mean I saw her hit him but no it didn’t … I mean I don’t care about that girl. I don’t know her. She’s not even attractive. She’s short. She’s got red hair. Why would I? I could never get excited about someone like that.” Face flushed with fury, Adam stands up and glares at Wolfrom. “Just leave me alone!”

Lewis says quietly, “Adam, sit down. You do not have an alibi. Even if the clerk remembers you, it does not cover you, do you understand that?”

Adam looks down at her, frowning. She gestures for him to sit back down, and he does. “Look, we need to know where people were to eliminate them. Did you see anyone you know at the mall?”

Adam shakes his head “no”.

Wolfrom asks, “Did you buy anything else?”

“No,” Adam says in a small voice.

“Why did you cut classes, Adam?”

He sighs deeply, staring intently at the plastic wood grain tabletop, “I was upset about a girl… a different girl. A beautiful one.” Following the pattern of the plastic wood grain with his eyes. Mesmerizing. “I just had to go away. I was in the Sony store in the mall almost the whole time. I didn’t buy anything.”

“So they might remember you.”

Adam shakes his head sadly. “People don’t.”

Lewis and Wolfrom exchange glances.

“Can I go?”

Lewis nods, “Yes, we’re done here, for now, Adam.”

Adam gets up and pushes his way out the door before they can change their minds.

Wolfrom shakes his head in admiration. “That was good, that notebook thing. How did you know?”

“You saw the guy’s tie. Any tighter he couldn’t breathe. Guys like that don’t cut class just ‘because’. There’s always a reason.”

“So there’s a girl. Maybe our girl stumbled across his path when he was messed up over his girl.”

“Could be. Just he seemed genuinely surprised we were looking at the afternoon, He thought he needed a night time alibi. That makes me doubt right there.”

“Except you know he’s smart. These kids are like rocket scientists, you know? Would it be so hard to play us?”

“Asshole.” She shakes her head, “Get the next one in.”

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