Obsession

I copied down her class schedule and pretended to bump into her on campus. I know it sounds like crazed stalking, but I was curious, that’s all. I wasn’t even planning to talk to her. I’m not exactly a player. As if you haven’t guessed.”

I said, “You managed to talk to her.”

“She was eating a sandwich. By the inverted fountain-right where you found us. Right near the physics building, that seemed…providential. I brought my lunch out, we started talking, she was easy to talk to. I came right out and told her I’d looked her up. She remembered me, it didn’t freak her out, she didn’t make me feel like an utter dork. It’s as if we’ve known each other for a long, long time. As friends-I have not touched her. I don’t think she sees me that way.”

Staring at us, craving contradiction.

I said, “Now you’re worried about her.”

“How could I not be? You go talk to Lester and the next day he’s dead?”

Milo said, “Who do you think did it?”

“How would I know?”

“Make an educated guess.”

“Pete.”

“Why?”

“He hated his father.”

“He told you that?”

“He never mentioned Lester by name but he always said his old man was a useless junkie and he couldn’t stand him.”

“It just came up in conversation?”

“This was years ago, Lieutenant.”

“Try to remember.”

“If I had to guess I’d say it came up as a comparison. ‘Your dad’s cool, mine’s crap.’”

“What’d he like about your father?”

“That he was rich. That he was a ‘stud.’”

“What else did he tell you about Jordan?”

“Nothing, it wasn’t as if he was preoccupied. If he was obsessed with anyone it was his mother.”

“How much contact did he have with Jordan?”

“What’s that, a trick question? I already told you Lester wasn’t a part of my life and once I stopped going to Mary’s, I never saw Pete.”

“You had no contact with Lester because your dad couldn’t stand him.”

“No one could. Mom’s his sister and she would have nothing to do with him.”

“Your dad gave him free rent and hired Patty Bigelow to look after him.”

“So?”

“Nice treatment for someone you hate.”

“Mom probably did that to keep Lester out of her hair. Back when they were married, Dad gave her anything she wanted and she looked the other way when he fooled around. Model family, huh?”

I said, “Why was Lester killed?”

“How would I know?”

“Think it was related to Patty Bigelow?”

Silence.

Milo said, “Tell us what you know, son. Now.”

“Tanya told me what her mom said before she died. Please don’t come down on her. She needed someone to talk to and I just happened to be there.”

“What exactly did she tell you?”

“That her mom felt she’d done harm to a neighbor.”

“Felt?”

“Neither Tanya nor I believe Patty was capable of actually hurting another human being. I’m sure her being terminal had something to do with it. At the worst, she was witness to something that she didn’t report and felt guilty about.”

“Something related to Pete Whitbread?” I said.

“That’s the logical conclusion, right? He’s a sociopath, Tanya and Patty lived a few houses away. Patty probably saw something.”

“What have you told Tanya about Pete’s proclivities?”

“Nothing. I’ve never told anyone.” Sudden, harsh laughter. “Can we draw this to a close? I’ve got a ton of work.”

“Why did you flinch when I mentioned Tanya’s study groups?”

“I did?”

“Noticeably.”

He hunched, scratched his head. “Please don’t tell Tanya but I know for a fact that there are no study groups. When she claims to be hanging with other students, she’s really sitting by herself in the library. When she’s not in class, she’s in the library doing work-study. She sticks around long after shift’s over, goes into the stacks. Sometimes she’s the last one to leave. She walks to her car alone, in the dark. It scares the hell out of me but I can’t say anything because I don’t want her to know that I follow her.”

Milo said, “Ever think of detective work?”

“Don’t tell her. Please.”

I said, “All these secrets, Kyle. Sometimes it’s easier just to go straight from point A to point B.”

“Great theory, but I haven’t found it helpful in real life. I’ve been open with you, don’t betray me. I can’t risk having Tanya think I’m a weirdo.”

“Fine, for the time being,” said Milo, “as long as you continue to cooperate.”

“What else is there to cooperate on? I’ve told you everything I know.”

“What made you suspect there was no study group?”

“She never mentioned the names of any other students. I’ve never seen her with anyone on campus.”

“Just like the old days,” I said. “Playing under the trees.”

He said, “Old days, but not necessarily good old days. I was lonely as hell and she was, too, but we never got together. Now we’re friends. I’d like that to continue.”

Milo showed him pictures of Robert Fisk and Moses Grant.

Head shake. “Who are they?”

“Friends of Pete Whitbread.”

“This one looks nasty.” Pointing to Fisk.

The Internet shot of Whitbread/De Paine evoked a nod. “He’s punked himself up, but that’s him.” Pointing to the pretty faces surrounding De Paine’s narrow, bland countenance. “Looks like he does okay with women.”

“No accounting,” said Milo, rising.

“Are you confident you can keep Tanya safe?”

“We’ll do our best, son. Here’s my card, call if you think of anything else.”

“I won’t. My brain feels leached.”

He walked us to the front doors. “What are the parameters, Lieutenant?”

“Of what?”

“The rules of engagement with Tanya. I don’t want to get in the way but I do care about her. And you can’t be everywhere all the time.”

“You’re planning to guard her?”

“At least I can be there.”

“Be there, but don’t do anything stupid and don’t impede the investigation.”

“Deal.”