“Okay. I’ll try.”
Chapter 23
Mike
It was a good day for a road trip. Mike and his partner, Jake, had driven to the Northwestern campus, stopping for lunch along the way. His stomach was revolting against the bacon double cheeseburger and biggie-size fries. He’d been popping Zantac and Pepto for the last hour. He needed to lay off that shit. The combo of grease, pills and alcohol was eating a hole in his stomach. Or was it the job? He was headed for an early grave and he couldn’t afford to fill it until he’d accomplished his objective. Maybe he should pull a Jared and eat two meals a day at Subway.
Northwestern’s main Evanston, Illinois, campus was really quite picturesque. Along Lake Michigan’s shoreline, the vast campus boasted large oak and pine trees, colorful vine-covered buildings and several unique churches. Once parked, Jake and Mike headed to Swift Hall where the Psychology Department was housed. They were going to pay a surprise visit to Professor Duncan Bailey, the last person to see Sarah alive.
As they walked through the snowy campus, Mike’s thoughts turned back to Kate. Fallinsworth looked like he wanted to devour Kate on the spot and knowing that he’d followed her, Mike was genuinely worried for her safety. He never should have let that vamp go after her. Fuck!
“What, man?”
“Huh?”
“You said ‘fuck.’ What’s up?”
Did he say that out loud? “Nothin’. S’all good.” Jake shrugged his shoulders. Mike knew he’d been acting moody lately, but he couldn’t help the nagging feeling that something big was about to go down.
They arrived at Professor Bailey’s office and he wasn’t there. His assistant told them he’d be back in forty-five minutes, so they sat and waited, making small talk with the pretty, young brunette.
Forty minutes later, Professor Bailey walked down the hall toward them studying a piece of paper in his hand. As he spotted them, his steps faltered. He went pale and looked like he was about to be sick. Mike thought for a second the guy was gonna beat feet.
Mike and Jake stood and headed toward the professor. “Professor Bailey, we’ve been waiting for you. I’m Detective Thatcher and this is my partner, Detective Keller. We’re from the Milwaukee PD and we have some questions for you regarding the disappearance of Sarah Hill.” They flipped their credentials to the professor. “Do you mind if we take a seat in your office?”
Professor Bailey stood there. He looked nervous, his eyes darting around like he expected someone to jump him at any minute. “I’ve already answered all of the questions I can from the local police department. I’m afraid you’ve made a trip for nothing, gentlemen. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a very busy day.”
“I’m sorry, Professor, but this isn’t a request. We need a few minutes of your time, so we can either do that here or I’ll be happy to escort you to the local PD and ask my questions there. Your choice.”
A flash of anger crossed the professor’s face. “My office is fine,” he clipped. The professor headed toward his office. “Mary, hold my calls until we’re through here. And call Frank. Tell him I’ll be late for our one o’clock appointment.”
“Yes, Professor. Right away.”
Bailey took a seat, but Mike and Jake remained standing. A little intimidation tactic wouldn’t hurt. The bastard was hiding something. He felt it in his gut.
He took out his notepad and pen. “So, Professor, tell us about your relationship with Sarah Hill.”
Professor Bailey genuinely looked taken aback. So that wasn’t his angle, then. “I don’t have a relationship with Sarah Hill, Detective. She was my student, plain and simple. Quite frankly I’m offended you’d suggest otherwise.”
“I meant no offense, Professor. We’re simply trying to find a missing young girl and you were the last person to see her. As you can imagine, we’re trying to put all of the pieces together so we can locate her as quickly as possible.”
Professor Bailey gave a clipped nod.
“So, on the sixth of February, the night of her disappearance, what did you and Sarah discuss?”
If it was possible, Professor Bailey paled even more. He cleared his throat. “Nothing important. We discussed a project that she was having trouble with. She needed some guidance. It was a short conversation, that’s all.”
Jake piped up. “What was the project? Specifically?”
“I don’t really recall. I’d have to go back and look at my notes and the projects due in class at that time.”
Mike raised his eyebrows. “That was two weeks ago, Professor. You can’t remember what project was due two weeks ago?” He let his voice drip with sarcasm.