I wasn’t sure I would have reacted the way Conn had, but grief does unexpected things to people.
“You don’t think Mallory talked to the police?”
“Not about this. I’m sure she didn’t.”
“I’ll talk to her friends,” I said. “Maybe they know, and maybe they’ll be honest with me.”
In fact, I’d given them plenty of opportunities to tell me anything they wanted. I hoped I could figure out a way to get some real answers from them.
“You will?” Conn said. “Why?”
“I know them.” I looked back and forth between the men. “I know the women in the building. I can say I heard about what happened today in Dr. Eban’s classroom, and see what they tell me. It will be fine.”
“That might be helpful. Thank you, lass,” Conn said.
Elias grumbled again.
I wasn’t sure I’d learn anything helpful or fine, but I tried to hide my sigh and my uncertain eyes before Elias and I made our escape.
TWENTY-THREE
Leaving the roof and the building proved to be an easy, if guilt-ridden, adventure. Elias and I left before Conn—I didn’t want to abandon him, but Elias was fine with it. We ventured back down the stairs and then the hallway that led to Dr. Eban’s room. We strolled by a man dressed as a security officer, but he didn’t give us a second look. I peered into the display case as we passed and was disappointed we didn’t have time to take another look at all the items inside, but by then I just wanted to get out of the building without further incident.
“Well,” I said when we were safely ensconced in the cab. “I didn’t think any of that would happen.”
“I’m sorry I took off in a chase. I couldnae help myself,” Elias said.
“I’m glad we caught up with him. He’s handling his grief poorly, but I’m sure he’s very upset.”
“A strange way for a man tae handle something.”
“The whole family is distraught, I’m sure.” I was silently pleased that Elias didn’t agree with Conn’s coping methods, and I didn’t point out how much alike they truly were. However, from what I knew, Conn had crossed over the line separating legal from illegal a time or two; Elias might have done the same, or have done the same more often if he didn’t have Aggie. “You know, if Mallory only hinted about things that Dr. Eban did, someone needs to get the specifics. Sophie and Rena might be too scared to tell the police, but maybe they’ll tell me. I don’t know. I might have overstayed my welcome with them, but at least I hope to make them understand how important it is that the police know the facts if Mallory was truly pushed to do something she didn’t want to do.”
“Ye sound doubtful.”
I shook my head. “I shouldn’t, because no one should. These sorts of accusations should always be taken seriously, and explored completely. It’s just that … I’m not seeing it. However, my intuition could be off.” I listened for the bookish voices, and heard only the noise of crickets chirping, or maybe I imagined it.
Elias grumbled. He was thinking. I could read some of his thoughts, but not all of them.
“Want to drive me over to their apartment building again?” I said.
“We’re already on the way.”
* * *
The curtain over her window was open and Lola let me inside again, but this time I saw her differently. I’d thought her behavior of always opening the door was friendly, if quirky, but now I wondered if it wasn’t some sort of obsessive way to spy and garner information. She seemed happier than the last time, or maybe only less sad.
“Hey, Lola,” I said to her as we stood in the entryway.
“Is the cab waiting for you?” she said as she peered out the narrow window next to the door.
“The driver’s a friend.”
“Okay.”
Elias leaned against the cab with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
“Do you know if Sophie and Rena are up there?” I asked.
“I saw them come in earlier and haven’t seen them leave again.”
“Great. Thanks.” I stepped toward the hallway as she went to her door.
I happened to catch sight of her flat as she opened the door wide to go inside. The messy space reminded me of college and Sophie and Rena’s place. Coffee cups and a few empty takeaway containers littered the space around books and one laptop. Nothing strange about her flat, except maybe one thing.
“Lola,” I said, turning to face her. “Do you think Mallory would have confided in Sophie and Rena?”
“Sure,” she said as if she hadn’t thought about it much.
“Did she ever have a roommate?” I asked.
Lola sent me an impatient look. “Delaney, you obviously know.”
“No, I don’t,” I said.
“Mallory was my roommate. She moved out last semester and into her own room.”
“Lola, I promise you that I didn’t know. I didn’t even guess. I’m just trying to understand who she might have been closest to. You were so upset. You were closer than I thought?”
She studied me suspiciously. “No, we weren’t close. She lived here,” she nodded to her own flat, “but her study hours were too strenuous and mine just weren’t. She said I was too much of a distraction, what with the way I look out the window all the time. It’s just … it’s just what I like to do.”
I nodded. “Makes sense to me. Did she make you mad when she moved?”
Lola laughed this time. “You mean, did I kill her just because she wanted her own space? No, Delaney, I didn’t take it that personally.”
“Must be hard to live in a building with mostly med students. Why did you do that to yourself?”
She shrugged. “I thought I wanted to be a doctor too. I thought this would motivate me to work harder. In answer to your next question, no, it didn’t motivate me, but then who wants to move? Look at this mess. Just
