“Sure.” Decker checked his email while the line was silent. Harvard’s voice punched through five minutes later. “We’ve got a prelim match with Zeke Anderson. But it’s not solid yet. The tech wouldn’t go to court with it.”
“Meaning?”
“The extracted sample was degraded and contaminated: everything from soil to bugs. But there were a few strands that seemed to match Zeke’s DNA in the sample. The lab tech wants further purification before making a positive ID. That could be ready as soon as tomorrow. We’ve already started searching for the other two students.”
“Good,” Decker said. “I’ve pulled the original files. All of the folders have lists of names, including a couple of lists of names common to all three boys. I’d start with the fourth roommate, Jackson Carlson, and then branch out to the other names. I’ll try to reach him by phone. Maybe I can set up a face-to-face interview when we’re in New York on Sunday. It’s getting late. You can go home.”
“I don’t mind taking a peek at the files,” McAdams said. “I’m not doing much anyway. Between you and me, I’ve got the easier job. At least I know who the victims are.”
“Thanks, Harvard. I’ll see you tonight for dinner.”
“Thank you for the invitation. It certainly sounds better than what I planned: sugary cereal with sour milk and a bag of chips.”
“Don’t you ever shop?”
“Why should I? I’m a spoiled brat, and you and Rina are enablers by always inviting me over.”
The kid was making a good point.
McAdams said, “When we get to New York, I’ll take you out for a great meal.”
“It’ll be kosher and it’ll be expensive.”
“No problem. I’m flush.”
Since the case was in Baniff Police Department’s jurisdiction, there wasn’t any real detective work for Decker. Jake Quay told him that he’d keep him in the loop, but his own captain wanted his department to investigate without help—meaning without interference from him. Decker was fine with that. He started up his car, heading for the residential facility, hoping to show the photographs to Lewis.
He called Rina while he was on the road. Recounting the details, he tried to keep emotion out of his voice.
“You’ve found a murder scene, then,” Rina said.
“Maybe. I’m going to be a little late for dinner.”
“A little late? Sounds like an all-nighter.”
“I’m not the lead, and Baniff wants to give this a crack without my expertise.”
“That’s stupid. Why wouldn’t they want your help? You’ve probably worked more homicides in a month than he has in a lifetime.”
“Some people just don’t know a good thing when it looks them in the eye. Right now, I’m going back to Loving Care. At Schulung’s house, we found a photograph of Bertram Lanz with a woman. I think she might be Kathrine. I also have a photograph of an unidentified, mid-thirties woman.”
“Any idea who that is?”
“Not a clue. I want to show them to Dr. Lewis and see if he knows who they are. If all goes well, I’m hoping to be home by nine.”
“Promises, promises.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m not good at keeping them. Sorry.”
“Nature of the beast. I’ll get the takeout and wait until nine. If you’re not going to make it, give me a call and I’ll eat by my lonesome.”
“I invited Tyler over for dinner.”
“Then I’ll call him and see if he wants to join in the feast. On another note altogether, Gabe called me. I told him we’ll be in Manhattan on Sunday. Are you still planning on coming with me?”
“Yes, definitely. The lab has tentatively found Zeke Anderson’s DNA in the remains. We’ll be reopening the case, and once the ID is confirmed, I’ll make the death notice.”
“Poor you. Where do the parents live?”
“Brooklyn. The other two boys were from Queens. They went to the same high school, but the boys appear to have little in common. From the interviews I’ve scanned, Velasquez seemed to be bookish and into math and biology. McCrae was a social activist of sorts and a jock. But I’m figuring that maybe they knew each other before they went to Duxbury.”
“Drugs make strange bedfellows.”
Decker paused. “Why do you think it was drugs?”
“Three college students in the woods in mid-October? Sounds like a front for something illegal.”
“I’d agree with you, but we found Zeke’s body in the woods.”
“Maybe they went to buy drugs and stepped on someone’s toes.” Rina waited a beat. “The woods are a good place for a hidden meth lab.”
“Meth labs . . .” Decker paused. “I was thinking marijuana farms, but meth labs could work. They were really abundant ten years ago.”
“Meth is easier to produce.”
“If you don’t blow yourself up,” Decker said.
“Maybe that’s what happened. How far are you from the Loving Care Home?”
“About twenty minutes. Maybe a little longer because the roads are dark.”
“I don’t want to distract you. Call me when you’ve landed.”
“Roger.” Decker chuckled. “I love you.”
“Ditto, handsome. It’s a crazy world out there. Keep yourself safe.”
Chapter 9
Lewis was at a staff conference when Decker arrived. He spoke to his receptionist, Linda. They were becoming fast friends. “Do you know when Dr. Lewis will be free?”
“No one tells me anything, Detective. I suspect the meeting can’t be too much longer. Most of us leave at six, and it’s already ten after. I was just waiting around.”
“Can you buzz him for me?”
“I shouldn’t even be here.” Linda opened a drawer and placed a pile of papers inside. She closed the drawer and then stood up. “If you want to call him, it’s this button on the intercom. It’ll go directly to his phone. But he might not answer.” She put on her sweater, even though it was still warm outside, and slung her purse over her shoulder. “If the desk phone rings, don’t worry about it. The answering service kicks in at six-fifteen.”
“Have a good evening,” Decker said.
“Thank you, Detective. FYI, I could use a good one. What happened to Bertram has thrown everyone into a tizzy. It would be good to have some answers.”
“I know. We’re working on it.”
“I didn’t mean to imply . . .” Decker was still standing. Linda said, “You’re welcome to sit down, you know.”
“Thank you.” Decker smiled and sat in a chair across from her desk. But as soon as she left, he stood up and began to rifle through her things. Opening the drawer, he took out the mess that Linda had stowed away. It included a phone message book. The original messages were probably on top of Lewis’s desk, but the book made copies of each message that Linda had written down, albeit they were hard to read. Decker took out his phone and started snapping pictures of the ones that had today’s date. What he didn’t see was any sort of a message from Kurt or Mila Lanz.