The three of them looked at each other. Ramon and Danny looked properly stricken, as if they had at least begun to realize how badly they’d screwed up their lives. Bronwyn was glaring at the two of them as if she thought they were to blame for her predicament. She was the first to move.
“I think you’re bluffing,” she said, and sailed out with her head held high.
Danny and Ramon both watched her go, then turned and looked at each other.
“Man,” Ramon said, shaking his head.
“Yeah,” Danny said.
The two of them stumbled out shoulder to shoulder.
“I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” I said.
“Good,” the chief said. “Then they probably won’t mind if they have to share a cell in a day or two. Our jail’s pretty small.”
“And now I understand why you wanted to interview them together. Seeing Bronwyn in action really hit Ramon and Danny hard.”
“Yes,” the chief said. “I suspected that they would continue to protect her unless confronted with the reality of her self-centered behavior. Nice to know my plan worked.”
He frowned and shook his head slightly.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Good thing none of them is a lawyer,” the chief said. “I got carried away. Reckless endangerment is only a misdemeanor. You don’t do hard time for a misdemeanor.”
“Any criminal record is the kiss of death to the college,” I said. “To say nothing of the job market, which all three of them may find themselves facing sooner than planned, and without their degrees. Unless, of course, they end up getting room and board courtesy of the state.”
“Sad,” the chief said. “I have a hard time feeling sorry for Ms. Jones, but I can’t help but feel a little sorry for both of those young men. Particularly Mr. Soto, considering the pressure he was under.”
“But is that any excuse?” I said.
He sighed and took off his glasses to rub his eyes.
“Speaking as an officer of the law, no,” he said. “But if I were that young man’s attorney, I think I’d try to make the jury understand what a toxic atmosphere that woman had created for the students under her power.”
He leaned back in the chair, pulled out his pocket handkerchief, and polished his glasses as he spoke.
“Just one student and you could say he’s a wacko,” he said. “But we have three of ’em hating Dr. Wright enough to take some dire action against her. And at least a dozen others who hated her so much—and were so vocal about it—that they’re petrified I’m going to arrest them on motive alone. What kind of a person inspires that much hate?”
“A very bad one,” I said. “But unfortunately the Commonwealth of Virginia hasn’t yet declared an open season on bad people.”
“No,” he said. “Thank goodness, because sometimes it takes us longer than we’d like to get to the bottom of a case like this. Did you notice any discrepancies between what they said to me—the men, anyway—and what you overheard?”
I thought about it for a few moments.
“No,” I said. “I think Bronwyn’s lying.”
He nodded.
“What about Ms. Borgstrom?” he asked.
“You’re asking me if my friend is a murderer?”
“I suppose I am,” he said.
I thought about that even longer.
“I don’t know,” I said. “If she did it, it was because of the same pressure Ramon was under. Only in Kathy’s case, she wasn’t only worried about herself, but about all students and faculty in the department. Especially Abe. He and his wife have been like second parents to her.”
It wasn’t the ringing declaration of Kathy’s innocence that I wished I could make, but it was honest. The chief nodded.
“One more thing,” he said. “I hope not to be occupying your husband’s office much longer, but while I am, could I ask you a favor?”
“Of course,” I said. I braced myself. Was he going to berate me for interrupting him too much, or chew me out for interfering in his investigation?
“May I get rid of these blasted things?” he said, pointing to one of the guest chairs. “I don’t mean to insult your taste or Michael’s—they’re certainly attractive chairs to look at—”
“No they’re not,” I said. “At least I’m not particularly fond of them, nor is Michael.”
“Bargain at the furniture store?” he asked.
“No, a present from Mother, and undoubtedly an expensive one, which makes it all the more ironic that they’re the most miserably uncomfortable chairs I’ve ever had the misfortune to sit in. They look as if they’d be comfortable, but after five minutes you realize your back and shoulders and legs are all scrunched in odd positions. And as for getting out of them—forget it!”