~ ~ ~
VIII
The Second Wednesday
It is always possible one could speak the truth in a void; one would only be in the true, however, if one obeyed the rules of some discursive 'policy.'
Michel Foucault
As Charlie made his way to meet DeVries he tried to organize his thoughts. He understood that she had a methodology in place, that she had framed questions to which she wanted answers of a certain kind. What she would find useful was determined by her expectations. Charlie was too Foucauldian to overlook that.
"Good morning."
Charlie was caught off guard; he'd entered the coffee-shop without realizing DeVries was just behind him. They took a table by the window and ordered coffee and danish pastry.
"Do you mind if I ask a couple of questions before we get into it? From what you said the killing didn't involve a struggle, right?"
"No, no struggle. Dr. Wilson was shot once while he sat in his chair at his desk. There's no indication that he saw it coming, much less tried to defend himself."
"So it wasn't murder in the heat of an angry or passionate exchange?"
"No; it seems to have been quite cold-blooded. From the angle of the bullet we're sure that his killer was seated across the desk from him. Why do you say 'passionate'?"
"Okay, it seems Barrett was having a sexual relationship with one of the grad students he was supervising; a male student. It occurred to me while talking to the student in question, because of his reaction to Barrett's death. Then my impression was supported when another student Barrett was supervising expressed the same idea. Barrett gave up an attractive apartment on the water to move to that house and in the process broke up with his female partner. I think both the move and the breakup came about because of the relationship. The only other thing I have relates to the question I was asked about drugs. According to one student who attended his parties, Barrett made pot and cocaine available, though I have no indication he used them himself."
"Who was the student Dr. Wilson got involved with?"
"I guess I can't get coy at this point. It was Richard Dalton."
"This is all very interesting. The relationship ties up some loose ends. Of course I can't tell you anything about an ongoing investigation, but I think I can say this much: the move, which was fairly sudden, and the equally sudden departure of Ms. Milford did raise questions. Dan spoke to her about both, but she was very evasive. Now the breakup and move look understandable. As for drugs, we had nothing to go on when we asked you about them; it's just something we factor in automatically."
DeVries insisted on picking up the tab and they parted company at the door. Charlie had parked close by and was soon in his office. He checked his email and then got the department listing out again and looked up a number for Burton. He couldn't resort to the T.A. office this time because the department hadn't assigned teaching assisting to Burton. In any case, Charlie was reluctant to bring more students to his office whose connection to Barrett was only that he was on their committees. The phone would do.
Burton's number rang several times before going to voice-mail and Charlie hung up. He'd try again in a while and call Richards after lunch.
At ten to twelve Charlie tried Burton again with the same result, so he made his way to the club for lunch. He was pleased to find at the club table a woman he knew who was in Law. Christine West was a senior member of the law faculty. She had a good sense of humor and Charlie always enjoyed her presence at lunch. Today he'd take advantage of what she might know about the murder. After some chatter on how changes in student attitudes were lamented by anyone over forty and welcomed by anyone younger, Charlie asked Christine what she thought about Barrett's murder.
"I'll tell you this much, Charlie, the president is all over the police to solve this crime and to be sure to do so by finding a culprit who has nothing to do with the university. One of the V.P.s is pushing the 'itinerant hypothesis': some bum managing to get into the building when it was locked up and who just happened to have an expensive Glock nine-millimeter in his knapsack. Oops. Please, Charlie, you don't know about the gun, okay?"
The likelihood that Christine would let something slip inadvertently was vanishingly small, so Charlie assumed she'd told him because she either trusted his discretion or just didn't consider the matter worth hiding. Nonetheless, he was grateful for the information.
On his way back Charlie, whose knowledge about guns came entirely from the mysteries he read, thought that a Glock wasn't the sort of gun a student could afford to come by honestly. Did Dalton's military background make it likely that he'd own such a gun?
Once in his office, Charlie called Matt Richards, who answered after a couple of rings. Thinking that Jennifer might well have told others about their conversation, Charlie told Matt pretty much what he'd told her.
"I guess this is just between us, right? I understand you wanting to know more about Wilson, but believe me, you wouldn't have wanted any more to do with him. He was arrogant. He barely noticed me though he was supposed to be checking my work. Wilson never really listened and always seemed distracted when I went to see him. It'd be weeks before he returned anything I gave him, and then it was with nasty, unhelpful comments. Nothing positive. He offered no direction. I was getting no more than what my supervisor, Dr. Shwayder, provided. The trouble is that if you're interested in linguistics and logic, there really wasn't anybody else to have on your committee."
"Did you go to Barrett's parties and meet any of his friends?"
"I went to a couple; no, three. I didn't have a very good time. Wilson spent all his time with Dalton and this other guy who was there but didn't introduce."
"I understand Barrett had no problem with people doing a little pot or coke?"
"Yeah; there was some available. I heard it wasn't like that at first, a year or two ago. I think it was just the last few times. Anyway, Wilson spent most of his time talking to Dalton and that other guy, oh, and a blond who showed up at one of the parties I went to. We were in the living-room but Wilson and Dalton and whoever spent most of their time in his study. I don't know why Wilson gave those parties; he never talked to any of us, you know, except to say hello."
"Any idea who the other man was?"
"No; he never talked to any of us except Dalton. Does any of this give you a clearer picture like you wanted?"
"Yes, but it's made me curious about that other man."
"Dalton will know who he is, but I don't know if Rich's around. He was looking really down last time I saw him."
After Charlie thanked Richards and hung up he decided that if Burton or Wesley didn't know who the other guest was, he'd have to talk to Dalton again regardless of his reluctance to do so. Charlie tried Burton again but he still wasn't answering. Charlie then tried John Wesley but again got no answer so he went back to his proofs.
By four-thirty Charlie was ready to go home but tried Burton again. Just as he was about to hang up to avoid voice-mail Burton answered the phone. His hello sounded strangled.
"Peter? This is Dr. Douglas. Are you alright?"
"Uh, yeah… well, not really; I've got a rotten flu or something. I've been sleeping all day. Was that you that called earlier?"
"I did call earlier; sorry if I disturbed you. I wanted to talk to you for a minute or so, but you don't sound like you're up to that. Perhaps tomorrow?"
"No, it's okay. I'm feeling a little better than earlier. That's why I picked up the phone. What did you need?"
"Well, I've been trying to learn a little more about Barrett Wilson and have talked to people he was supervising and on whose committees he served. He was on yours?"
"Only on paper; I never spoke to him. Prof. Shwayder is my supervisor and Wilson was just a name on my committee list."
Charlie was interested that Barrett was always just "Wilson" to the students he'd spoken with except Dalton. Everyone else was Dr. This or Prof. That.
"I take it, then, that you didn't attend the
parties Barrett had for students?"
"Never got asked. Besides, I heard from a couple of people they were downers. I don't think I would've gone."
"Alright, thank you, Peter; I won't bother you any more. Hope you feel better."
It seemed John Wesley was the last chance, and Charlie decided that while he was at it he might as well try him.
The phone rang just once before Wesley picked up. He was probably expecting a call.
"John? This is Dr. Douglas. Sorry to bother you, but I think you may be able to help me. Do you have a minute?"
"Dr. Douglas? Yes. I'm expecting a call, though. I've got caller ID, so I can tell if a call's the one I'm waiting for. Is that okay? I'd have to put you on hold."
"This will only take a moment, but, yes, that's fine. I've spoken with the several students working closely with Barrett Wilson, trying to form a better picture of the man. You're the last on my list and I just have a couple of questions. Barrett was on your thesis committee; can you tell me anything about him as a person?"
"Not much. Wilson was very hard to get hold of and the few times we met he always seemed distracted and in a hurry."
"Did you go to any of the parties he had for students?"
"Just one. I'm afraid I didn't take to Wilson. I gave him two chapters of my thesis and never got them back and of course I won't now. What about the parties?"
"Well, a couple of people have mentioned that Barrett regularly had a friend there, but no one seems to know the friend. I'm just wondering if it's someone we should contact."
"Yeah, there was a guy there; he talked with Wilson and Rich Dalton in another room.
I think Wilson called him Chet. I've no idea of his last name. What I do remember is his car; a really cool classic Corvette, a nineteen-seventies one. Somebody pointed it out to me as belonging to the guy. It was red and totally cherry; probably worth a mint."
"Interesting. Anyway, thanks for this information. I'm sorry I disturbed you."
A red Corvette of that vintage shouldn't be too hard to track down in Kingsford. And if the man's name was indeed Chet, or whatever that was short for, DeVries would at least have an initial along with the make of the car. He could, of course, still ask Dalton about the man, but he really didn't want to talk to him again unless he had to.
Should he call DeVries now? She'd no doubt appreciate a head start on the search. What time was it? Still not quite five. He should give it a shot. After one or two rings Charlie found himself talking to a woman who rather stiltedly asked how she might help him. He asked for Detective DeVries.
"May I tell her your name and in what connection you are calling?"
"This is Dr. Douglas; it's about something we were discussing this morning."
That seemed to work because the woman asked him to wait without querying him further. He waited and waited. He was just about to hang up when the woman's voice said she was patching him through. As soon as he heard DeVries's voice he knew she was in a car.
"Detective DeVries, this is Charlie Douglas. I've got some information I thought you'd want as soon as possible."
"Yes, Dr. Douglas, uh, Charlie. What is it you've learned?"
"There's a man who regularly attended Barrett's parties for students. His name may be Chet; I don't have a last name. He drives a nineteen-seventies vintage red Chevrolet Corvette. No license-plate number, I'm afraid, but it shouldn't be hard to track down."
"This is interesting. I think I owe you several espressos. Thank you."
When Charlie got home he decided to give up all pretense of innocence and over a glass of vinho verde he filled Kate in on what he'd learned. He was delighted to find that instead of being annoyed about his sleuthing she seemed intrigued.
"I take it you passed all of this on to DeVries?"
"I told her about Barrett and Dalton and about the drugs this morning, and I called her this evening about Barrett's perennial guest. What do you think about Christine telling me about the gun?"
"If it's as expensive as you say, it seems unlikely a student would get hold of one. Is that the kind of gun you could hang on to after military service?"
"My thought exactly, but I just don't believe Dalton did it. If it'd been a fight, maybe; but it sounds more like an execution."
"Well, forget it for now; I've got a couple of good steaks about ready. We're going to need a red, though. You know, Barrett's death seems to have upped our alcohol intake."
Charlie found a cabernet while Kate put the steaks on the table and they were just about to start when the doorbell rang. Muttering under his breath Charlie went to the door, expecting some intrusive canvasser or religious type. He was surprised to find Bolster and DeVries standing there.
"Dr. Douglas, we apologize for bothering you, but it's rather important."
By the time he'd delivered this somewhat alarming remark Bolster was in the hallway and DeVries was closing the door. Kate came to stand by Charlie and in a less than welcoming voice asked DeVries and Bolster to sit down. DeVries smiled at her and promised they wouldn't be long. When they were seated Bolster continued.
"Dr. Douglas, we're glad for the information you provided, but in a way it has complicated things and forced us to disturb you. We're pretty sure we've tracked down the Corvette owner. Unfortunately, if he's the right person there may be a problem. What we need from you is any scrap of information you might have about this man, anything you thought too unimportant to tell Pam or maybe weren't sure enough about to mention. I'll have a picture tomorrow that we want you to look at to see if you recognize him. We also need to have the students who attended Dr. Wilson's parties look at the picture."
"I'll certainly look at the picture, but doubt I'll recognize the man. I'll be in my office by nine. As for anything I might not have mentioned, I told Detective DeVries everything I learned. None of the other students provided any information other than that Barrett always had this guy at his parties and spent most of the time talking to him and Richard Dalton. Oh, hang on; there was reference to an unnamed blond woman who was less frequently at the parties. You were right; I did miss that."
DeVries took over at this point.
"As I mentioned before, we can't talk about an ongoing investigation, but as a kind of low-key alert, we can tell you that if the person in question is who we think he is, a certain Chester McKay, Dr. Wilson was keeping dangerous company. I'm surprised an academic would even know this man. Basically, he is a mercenary and was once charged with carrying a concealed weapon. We want you to see his picture not just to check if you've seen him before, but to show you what he looks like in order for you to avoid him if he shows up at your department. Have you any idea of how Dr. Wilson might have come to know this man?"
"I have no idea."
After the detectives left Charlie and Kate went back to their dinner. As Kate nuked their plates she expressed surprise Bolster and DeVries had been there less than ten minutes.
"Do you think Dalton was the connection? If he was in the army he may have met this McKay and introduced him to Barrett."
After they finished dinner Charlie looked in the telephone directory and found there were only two Richard Daltons listed. He tried the one with an address closest to the university first but it was the wrong one. He got Dalton at the second number.
"Richard, this is Dr. Douglas. Sorry to bother you at home, but after our conversation I thought you would appreciate knowing what I've just learned."
Dalton sounded as forlorn as he had when they'd spoken, but though he said it without enthusiasm, he told Charlie to go ahead.
"The two detectives investigating Barrett's death were just here. They've identified one of Barrett's friends as Chester McKay. You and others who attended the parties are going to be shown his picture to confirm his identity. I thought you'd like to know."
"Sure; I know Chet. Why are they interested in him? Did they say?"
"You know they only ask questions; they don't supply answers. I take it you know McKay?"
/>
"Dr. Douglas, I really appreciate the heads up. I think it would have caught me off-guard. I don't know Chet very well; I only saw him at Barrett's, but it would have been strange to have the cops ask me about him."
"So you didn't know McKay from before? Bolster or DeVries said he was in the military. I know you were, too, so I assumed you knew him and introduced him to Barrett."
"No; I met him at Barrett's."
"Well, now that you know I'll let you go. Try and get a good night's rest."
"I'll certainly try; thanks again for letting me know."
Kate had been listening and now raised her eyebrows.
"Dalton first met McKay at Barrett's."
"Do you think anyone's in danger?"
"Just because McKay's a mercenary, and just because so far he's the likeliest to own a Glock, doesn't mean he killed Barrett. He may be mourning him as hard as Dalton is. Maybe he and Barrett were lovers, too. Of course, that would make it more likely he did kill Barrett. Maybe Dalton was the 'other man'? This is getting out of hand."
"What do you think a mercenary is doing in Kingsford?"
"Getting an advanced degree in Classics? How would I know?"
"Well, I suggest you give up your sleuthing. Look at the hassles I'd have selling the house and getting rid of your stuff if you went and got yourself killed."
"I hope that's just the wine talking."
After stashing the dishes in the washer and tidying up, Kate curled up with a crossword and Charlie sat with a book open on his lap but unread. For some reason the visit from the detectives had him expecting another, unlikely though that was. He had just begun to read when the phone rang.
"Dr. Douglas, Charlie; sorry, I keep forgetting. I apologize profusely for bothering you again, but we just received the fax we thought we wouldn't get until tomorrow. I'm just on my way home, and I thought if you were still up I could just zip by and show you the picture so you wouldn't have to bother about it tomorrow. Would that be okay? I promise I won't even go in; just a quick look."
"Actually, I've learned something since you were here, so, yes, come on by."
It was a little before ten when DeVries arrived. Charlie commiserated with her long hours and offered her a glass of wine. She declined and showed Charlie the picture. It was of a man in his late thirties or early forties who reminded Charlie of Steve McQueen, a long-dead movie star who usually played a tough guy.
"No; I've not seen him."
"Kate, how about you?"
"No, I don't think I've ever seen him."
"What I learned is that Richard Dalton, who enrolled in the program after being in the army, didn't know McKay prior to meeting him at Barrett's."
DeVries thanked them and left and Charlie spent an hour and a half reading then went to bed. His last waking thought was about how Bolster and DeVries' attitude seemed to have changed when they identified McKay. He hoped they weren't jumping to conclusions.