“Hello? Y-yes, my name is John Cook. My son is Bobby Cook; he’s a senior at Case Western Reserve University. I just heard on the morning news that he’s dead! S-so, I called the police, and someone transferred me to you. Please, God, tell me that news wasn’t right!”
Isaac sighed and flopped down into his desk chair. He hated this shit storm of a day.
“Sir, I am very sorry you heard this news on the TV. The truth is that we have not officially identified the victim we found earlier this morning, and whoever is reporting that we have is being grossly irresponsible.”
“But it’s not my son?”
The man was desperate for it not to be true, but Isaac couldn’t tell him what he wanted to hear.
“Honestly, sir… I don’t know that for certain yet. If you would like to come in and possibly identify the body, that would be the best thing at this point. Again, I am very sorry.”
Once he finally got the distraught man off the phone, Isaac looked at Pete.
“That was uncalled for. Come on.”
He got up and headed for the interrogation room. The instant they stepped inside, Kim Barns stared at them with frightened eyes.
“Why am I here?”
Isaac ignored the question and sat down across from her. He nodded for Pete to start the recorder and state the date and the parties present.
“Please, why am I here? What’s going on?” Kim asked again.
“You’re here because you lied, Miss Barns.”
Isaac could hear the disgusted and annoyed tones in his own voice, but he made zero effort to hide it. As far as he was concerned, this woman deserved his attitude.
Kim vehemently shook her head.
“I didn’t!”
“Okay, maybe lie is too harsh a word. You withheld information. Information that could have saved us valuable time in identifying the victim. And that naturally makes us wonder what other information you’re currently withholding.”
“But I didn’t withhold anything. I swear!”
“That’s not what we hear, Kim,” Pete said. “In fact, we could arrest you for impeding an investigation. Obstruction of justice.”
“What? No!”
“Word around the campus is that you identified the victim as Bobby Cook.” Isaac glared at her. “And that news has spread far and wide. Now if you’d told us that information last night at the crime scene, we could’ve gotten a jump on our investigation. Maybe held the news media off a little bit. Most importantly here, is that we could have gotten to Mr. Cook’s family before they heard about his death on the TV!”
Isaac was practically yelling now, but he couldn’t help it.
“How do you think it might feel to learn about a loved one’s tragic death on the news over your morning coffee, Miss Barns?”
The girl looked stricken. Her face blanched, eyes wide.
“Oh, God!” It was a horrified whisper, but it did nothing to sooth Isaac’s ire. “I’m so sorry!”
“How do you know the victim?” Isaac ignored her apologies and pressed on.
“I don’t. I don’t know him. I just know who he is. We had a class together once, I think. Economics. Or maybe it was Ethics?” She shook her head. “Anyway… we had to work on the final project in groups, and Bobby was part of my group. That’s all! That’s how I know him.”
“And why didn’t you mention any of that last night?”
“I don’t know! I… I don’t know.” Her voice broke on a small sob.
“You weren’t friends?
“No, sir.”
“You didn’t date?”
“No.”
“You weren’t enemies?”
“No. Nothing. We had nothing in common except that one class. I swear.”
“Who did he hang with? Who were his friends?”
“I’m not sure.”
“You know more than you think you do! Who did he hang with?”
Isaac slammed a hand down on the table, causing Kim to jump.
“Craig Wentworth! He’s tight with Craig Wentworth. That’s who I saw him with all the time.”
“And who’s Craig Wentworth?”
‘He’s an engineering student. They both are.”
“And what’s your relationship with this Craig Wentworth?”
Kim faltered again. Just for a split second.
“I… I don’t have a relationship with him.”
Her cheeks got pinker. Her voice lowered in pitch.
“But you wanted one,” Isaac said with certainty.
Her pink cheeks became red, and she looked him in the eyes.
“H-how did you…um, I… I like him, yes. But he doesn’t know I’m alive. Not really.”
Isaac sat back in his chair, studying her. Now they were getting somewhere.
“What else can you tell me, Miss Barns?”
Kim swallowed. “I don’t know.”
“Were Bobby and Craig on the outs? Did they have a fight?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“When’s the last time you saw them together?”
“Um… earlier that day. They’d come into the student union together. Laughing and talking. They seemed tight as ever.”
“No arguments over girls, or grades, or anything that you know of?”
“No.” Her tone was emphatic, and she shook her head.
“And who were Bobby’s other friends? Anyone you know?”
Kim took a breath and appeared to think about that.
“Honestly, I… I’m not sure he had other friends. I mean, I paid more attention to Craig, obviously. But now that I think about Bobby… I don’t recall ever seeing him hang out with anyone but Craig. Bobby’s sort of a loner. Keeps to himself. Sometimes a little nervous acting. Weird even.”
Isaac watched her for a long moment. Then he looked over at Pete, who raised his eyebrows in silent response.
“Thank you, Miss Barns. We’re done here. Don’t leave town, as we may have more questions.”
They stood up to leave.
“I can go?” Kim sounded shocked. “I’m not under arrest?”
“Should you be?” Isaac gave her a pointed glare.
“No! Thank you.”
They left the room, and Isaac looked at the uniformed officer outside the door.
“She can go back to campus.
“Thank you, Detective.”
They headed back to their desks.
“You came on a little strong in there, Ike.” Pete sat down and looked at him. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you that pissed at a witness before.”
Isaac rocked back in his chair and shook his head.
“The vic’s father found out his son was mutilated and killed on the morning news, Pete. Shit like that should never happen.”
Pete nodded.
