“Sorry about that,” Megan said. “I know you have children.”
“No worries. Happy to say it doesn’t happen too often around here.”
“Is there any word on Greg Hammond?” Toni was examining their notes.
“Not so far. I parked a car outside Alice Kraft’s house and a couple of plainclothes men in the neighborhood to keep an eye out. If he tries to go there, we should spot him.”
Katherine watched Drew study their notes. “How long have you known about Sarah Jordan’s connection to Greg Hammond?”
“Months.” He looked up. “I caught that case months ago and something about it always bugged me. The girl had no memory of the events. Vet said the horse had been euthanized, but there was no way of knowing who did it. People were in and out of that stable all day. Sarah claimed she doesn’t remember anything before being in that pen with the animal and finding him dead.”
Toni shook her head. “That’s so messed up.”
“Agreed. Everyone I talked to said the girl adored that horse. Best friends. I’ve never been a horse person, but I get the feeling that she was highly attached to the animal. I don’t think there’s any way she’d hurt it if she was in her right mind.”
“I grew up around ranchers,” Toni said. “Horses are damn smart, and if they’re attached to a human, they’re very devoted.”
“My initial thought was that someone had killed the animal to get back at Sarah. It made the most sense since she was so wrecked about Tucker. A couple of Sarah’s friends mentioned Greg Hammond, so I checked it out. Sarah and Greg had only gone out a few times. She didn’t think he was right for her, broke things off. He didn’t agree, made a nuisance of himself for a while, but eventually backed off. According to her, months passed and she never saw him. Then Tucker happened.”
“You said Greg was at the stables that day?”
“A man matching his description was seen, and Greg didn’t have a good alibi. Said he was home studying. But other than that? It wasn’t enough to really determine anything solid. Nothing close to real evidence. The woman who saw him couldn’t be certain. I had to let it drop.” Drew turned to Katherine. “But then you mentioned her name after Justin McCabe nearly attacked that gym.”
“It was Kaylee who mentioned Sarah’s name to me,” Katherine said. “I spoke to her, and she told me about the study, but I couldn’t tell you any more details than that without risking my professional reputation.”
Drew frowned. “So people really take the confidentiality of those student studies that seriously?”
“Without question,” Baxter interjected. “Breaking confidentiality in an academic study like that could ruin a career.”
“Seriously?” Drew nodded. “Well then, props to you, Professor Bassi. Didn’t realize you were sticking your neck out so far on that one.”
“I just wish I could have told you more,” she said. “I feel like we have all the pieces of this puzzle except the last.”
“Greg Hammond.” Drew pointed at the board. “If you’re right, he manipulated Sarah Jordan with this app to get revenge. But then there’s a big gap here.” He pointed at Justin’s page. “What made him go after Justin and Abby?”
Megan said, “Maybe he found out about Professor Kraft’s plans for the app. Maybe she told him, maybe she slipped. Maybe they decided to tank the study altogether so they could make money off the app.”
“One student having an episode wouldn’t be enough to throw out a whole study,” Baxter said. “Not in my opinion. But four or five?” He nodded. “I believe that would do it.”
“But murder? Mass shootings?” Detective Bisset shook his head. “I don’t know if Greg Hammond was behind all that. I think Alice Kraft could be the mastermind on this one.”
“Because she’s a professor?” Toni asked.
“Because she’s cold.” Detective Bisset looked up at Toni. “Something about her? All I get is ice.”
Katherine noticed that Megan was mulling over something in her head and absently floating a handful of sea glass she’d taken to carrying in her pocket.
Katherine kicked her leg under the table.
“Ow!” The glass fell into her palm. Megan glared at Katherine. “What was that for?”
Katherine looked at the sea glass and raised an eyebrow.
Megan made a small O with her mouth and shoved the handful of glass and pebbles in her pocket. “Right.”
Drew looked up. “I miss something?”
“We all did.” Katherine nodded solemnly. “We really need to find Greg Hammond.”
* * *
Two days later, Greg was still in the wind. The university was abuzz with news about the behavioral science experiment, but no one could seem to satisfactorily assign blame. The professors who’d led the study had come forward voluntarily after a series of unexpected and tragic incidents with students, and no obvious wrongdoing had been identified.
Baxter folded a newspaper and placed it on the table at the university student center. “Very unsatisfying for all the gossips.”
“I imagine.” Katherine picked at her lackluster chicken salad. “You know, we have a culinary program here.”
“I know we do. And we live in one of the most agriculturally rich regions in the state. The fact that you can’t get a decent lunch here is appalling.” He smiled at her. “I can’t complain about the company though.” He reached down and brought her ankle up to rest on his knee. “How’s it feeling today?”
“Better. I think it’s given up trying to be an old-lady ankle and has realized it’s going to have to toughen up.”
Baxter’s eyes lit up. “Is that how it works? I’ll have to tell my shoulder.”
“You should. You could get back to murdering John on the racquetball court.”
“Alas, I think our days of racquetball murder are well behind us.” His smile fell. “Has Detective Bisset made any progress finding Greg?”
She shook her head.
“That man tried to kill you and Megan, and the police don’t have any kind of protection assigned to you.”
“Drew thinks that Greg won’t
