CHAPTER SIX
The first name on the list of friends Clark Manners had given them was a guy named Marcus Early. When they tried contacting him, the call went straight to voicemail. They then tried the second name on the list, Bethany Diaggo, and were able to set up an interview right then and there.
They met Bethany at her place of employment, a law firm where she was interning as part of her course load at Queen Nash. As the day was winding down to dinnertime, she simply clocked out half an hour early and met with them in one of the small conference rooms in the back of the building.
We understand that you were at Clark Mannerss apartment on the night that Christine was killed, Mackenzie said. What can you tell us about that night?
It was just getting together to have some fun. We had a bit to drinkmaybe a little too much. We played some card games, watched some reruns of The Office, and that was about it.
So there were no arguments of any kind? Mackenzie asked.
No. But I did see that Christine was starting to get irritated with Clark. Sometimes when he drinks, he tends to go a little overboard, you know? She never said anything that night, but you could tell she was starting to get irritated.
Do you know if it ever caused problems with them in the past?
Not that I know of. I think Christine just sort of dealt with it. I feel pretty sure that she knew their relationship wasnt this forever sort of thing.
Bethany, did you know a woman named Jo Haley? About your age, also a Queen Nash student?
I did, she said. Not quite as well as I knew Christine, but we were on a friendly basis. It was rare that we ever hung out. But if we crossed paths at a bar or something like that, wed usually end up siting together and chatting.
I assume you know that she was murdered several days ago as well? Ellington asked.
I did. In a very cruel twist of irony, it was actually Christine that broke the news to me.
Do you know how she found out? Mackenzie asked.
No clue. I think they shared some of the same classes. Oh, and they had the same academic advisor, too.
Academic advisor? Ellington asked. Is that just some fancy way of saying guidance counselor?
More or less, Bethany said.
And youre certain Jo and Christine had the same one? Mackenzie asked.
Thats what Christine said. She mentioned it when she told me Jo had been killed. She said it felt a little too close to home. Bethany paused here, perhaps understanding the eerie precognitive weight of the comment for the first time.
Would you happen to have the name of this advisor? Mackenzie asked.
Bethany thought for a moment and then shook her head. Sorry. No. She mentioned it when we were talking about Jo, but I dont remember it.
No big deal, Mackenzie thought. A quick call to the university will get that information for us.
Is there anything else about either Jo or Christine you might be able to tell us? Mackenzie asked. Anything that might give anyone reason to want them dead?
Nothing at all, she said. It doesnt make any sense. Christine was very focused and drama free. It was all about school and trying to get an early start on her career. I didnt know Jo enough to really make a judgment there, though.
Well, thank you for your time, Mackenzie said.
As they left the office and Bethany readied to leave for the day, Mackenzie tried to imagine these two dead women crossing paths in the hallways and concourses of the university. Maybe they passed by one another as one left their advisors office while the other was walking toward an appointment. The idea of it was a little creepy but she knew far too well that things like this tended to happen quite often in murder cases where there was more than one victim.
University offices are still closed for the holiday break, Ellington pointed out as they got back into the car. Pretty sure they reopen tomorrow.
Yeah, but Id assume theres some sort of employee directory on the website. Based on some of the books I saw in Christines apartment and some political literature in her bedroom, I think its safe to assume shes a political science major. We could narrow it down that way.
Before Ellington was able to tell her what a good idea this was, Mackenzie was already on her cell phone. She opened up her web browser and started scrolling. She was able to find a directory, but, as she had assumed, there were no direct or personal numbers; they were all numbers to the advisors offices. Still, she located the two different advisors that were assigned specifically to the political science department and left messages for each one, asking them to call her back as soon as they got the message.
As soon as she was done with that, she scrolled a bit more, this time through her contacts list.
What now? Ellington asked.
There are only two of them, she said. Might as well see if we can get some sort of a background check running on themsee if there are some red flags.
Ellington nodded, smiling at her quick train of thought. He listened to her as she placed the information request. Mackenzie could feel his eyes flitting over to her every now and then, a caring and watchful sort of stare.
How are you feeling? he asked.
She knew what he meant, that he was veering away from the case and asking about the baby. She shrugged, seeing no point in lying to him. All of the books say that the nausea should be coming to an end soon, but Im not believing it. I felt it a few times today. And, if Im being honest, Im pretty tired.
So maybe you need to go back home, he said. I hate to sound like that domineering husband type, butwell, Id really rather you or my baby not get hurt.
I know. But this is a series of murders on a college campus. I doubt its going to get dangerous. Its probably just a testosterone-laced guy that gets his rocks off on killing women.
Fair enough, Ellington said. But will you be honest with me and tell me if you start to feel weak or just out of sorts?
Yes. I will.
He eyed her suspiciously, yet playfully, as if he wasnt sure if he should trust her. He then reached out and took her hand as he headed back toward the center of town to find a hotel for the night.
***Theyd barely had enough time to settle into their room when Mackenzies phone rang. Ignoring the unfamiliar number, she answered it right away. She could feel the ticking clock McGrath had placed on them, ticking away second by second. She knew that if this thing wasnt solved by the time classes started next weekin just five days, in factit would be increasingly harder to wrap up with all of the students back in the area.
This is Agent White, she said, answering the call.
Agent White, this is Charles McMahon, an academic advisor over at Queen Nash University. Im returning a message you left for me.
Great, and thanks for the promptness. Are you at the college right now?
No. I have a bit of a heavy workload right now, so I had all of my voicemail from the office rerouted to my personal phone.
Oh, I see. Well, I was wondering if you might be able to answer a few questions about a recent murder.
I assume its about Jo Haley?
No, actually. Theres been another murder, two days ago. Another Queen Nash student. A young woman named Christine Lynch.