Their interview with Professor James hadn’t gone any better. Though young and physically fit, he was openly gay. Much to Taylor’s amusement, he had flirted his way through the entire interview, going so far as to ask Baldwin for his phone number, which Baldwin genially declined.
They asked both men about Gabriel Lucas. Lear had nothing but kind words for the man. James, on the other hand, made his dislike clear, but couldn’t give any solid reasons for it. Taylor couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been turned down and was harboring a grudge.
Taylor and Baldwin sat on the grass under a huge oak tree and talked it through. Either man could have hired a killer, but that scenario didn’t make sense. Baldwin was sure their suspect was on a personal quest; the murders were too intricately woven, too symbolic to have been committed on contract. Between Professor Lear’s infirmities and Professor James’s sexual orientation, neither man fit what Baldwin was looking for in their suspects.
Taylor’s cell rang. It was Fitz, eager to share their latest discovery.
“Taylor, we just ran back through Mary Margaret’s records. Two of the classes she audited were taught by...ready for it? One Professor Gabriel Lucas.”
Her heart was pounding. “Excellent. This has to be our guy. But where the hell is he?”
“I’m looking. Got one more little morsel for you. Our priest, Father Xavier? The rector at St. Catherine’s called. Didn’t know if it would help the investigation at all, but since it was related to Vanderbilt, he thought we should know that Father X conducted the community breakfast there last month.”
“There’s our last link. We’re on it. Thanks, Fitz!”
She gave Baldwin a huge smile, her teeth flashing in the sunlight. “Check this out...”
*
Taylor and Baldwin barged into the office of Vanderbilt’s dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. His secretary hedged when they walked in the door, telling them that the dean was out of the office on business, but she didn’t know exactly where he was. She was trying to talk them into an appointment much later in the afternoon when the dean walked through the door. He had two men with him, both dressed elegantly and wearing grimaces on their faces. Taylor could tell they were simply being polite while he jovially tried to amuse them. He stopped short when he saw Taylor and Baldwin.
Taylor stuck out her hand. “Dean Royce? Lieutenant Taylor Jackson and Dr. John Baldwin. We need to speak to you about—”
He cut her off. “Oh yes, my dear, I know all about it. If you would give me a minute here.” He addressed his secretary. “Janet, please see Ms. Jackson and Mr. Baldwin into my office and get them something to drink. I won’t be a moment.”
He turned and put his arms around the shoulders of his reluctant companions. “Gentlemen, I can’t tell you how much we appreciate all you’ve done for Vanderbilt. I’ll be in touch as soon as I can. If there’s...”
Taylor lost the conversation as she entered the dean’s office.
He came through the door a moment later, mopping his brow with a handkerchief. Taylor had taken an instant dislike to the man. He was all smiles and handshakes. He politely offered to pour the tea, prattling about the overwhelming support the college was receiving from their donors, segueing into his distress over the fate of his students. But Taylor read the look in his eyes as he got himself settled behind his desk. He was not happy to see them. Homicide detectives and FBI agents combing his campus for murder suspects was not good publicity for the school.
Taylor started fidgeting in her chair, trying to find a good place to interrupt. Baldwin wasn’t as polite.
“Dean Royce, please. We need to speak with you about one of your professors. What can you tell us about Gabriel Lucas?”
“Gabriel? Great man. Entirely devoted to the school. Came to us several years ago from New Mexico, I believe. He’d finished his doctorate in ancient and modern Hellenistic and Greco-Roman cultures. Had a stunning dissertation on Plato, argued that Plato’s philosophy was the first true divine revelation. Made an excellent case for Hellenistic philosophy as the basis for the Bible. Absolutely amazing work. I read all the dissertations of our professors personally, you know,” he puffed. “Something of a hobby for me, that’s why I remember it so well. We grabbed him up as soon as we talked with him. Took him after the first interview. Brilliant man, Gabriel, simply brilliant. Why, he was—”
Baldwin cut him off again. “We understand he’s taking a sabbatical this semester?”
The dean sat back in his chair for a moment. “Certainly you don’t think he had anything to do with these murders? That’s preposterous. Gabriel is a gentle soul. And I know how much he loves his students.”
Taylor raised an eyebrow at him. “Any students that he loved in particular?”
Royce started sputtering. “Ms. Jackson...”