Break the Silence (Detectives Kane and Alton)

Jenna frowned. “He’s a contradiction to the usual nerd stereotype; he excels in sports as well?”

“Yeah, but I guess dating a snowboarder doesn’t come close to dating a quarterback.” Kane snorted. “I’ve never been able to understand the dynamics of dating in college.”

“What about Seth Lyons?”

“He’s a mixed bag.” Kane turned onto Stanton Road and accelerated toward the college. “Troublemaker, makes a game out of the rules. After some roughhousing last semester, the dean removed most of the football team from the resident halls. They rent a big old house out on Pine.” He sighed. “All the complaints against them are much the same: drinking, loud music, fighting… but no reports of abusing women.”

Jenna stared at the dark forest as they flashed by. It was dark and dangerous by night with only small pools of light from the streetlights guiding their way. They turned into the college’s sweeping driveway, through the wrought-iron gates, and stopped beside Wolfe’s white van. Jenna grabbed the thermos and cups and headed for the gym. “I hope this is just an accident.”

“It would sure make life easier.” Kane strode along beside her. “I take it they don’t have CCTV inside the gym?”

“I’m not sure but there’s a camera over there.” Jenna pointed to one just above the entrance to the amenities block. “I hope it’s working.”

“I’ll ask the janitor.” Kane gave Wolfe a wave. “Although, if that’s him with Wolfe, he doesn’t look so well.”

Jenna walked up to a man in his forties, dressed in coveralls and looking sheet-white. “Mr. Beck?”

“That’s me.” Beck leaned heavily against the wall.

Jenna pulled out her notebook. “Do you recognize the victim?”

“Sure do, Alex Jacobs, the best left tackle the Black Rock Falls football team has had in years.” Beck scrubbed a trembling hand down his face as if trying to erase the memory. “To see him like that, dear Lord, made me sick to my stomach.”

“Deputy Kane has a few questions for you.” Jenna turned to Wolfe. “What have we got?”

“Likely an accident, it’s hard to tell. He’s not been dead long, maybe one to two hours.”

> She followed Wolfe into the gym and stared at the broken body. It would take a long time to forget the young man’s bulging eyes and open, bloody mouth fixed in a scream of terror. “If we can get the footage from the CCTV outside, we’ll be able to find out what time he arrived and if anyone else was here.”

“It’s unusual for a weightlifter to risk lifting so much weight without a spotter.” Wolfe frowned. “Plus, the position of his hands concerns me. I’ve seen this type of accident before and it’s unusual for the hands to be below the waist. You see, when the victim is struggling to take the weight, he traps at least one hand under the bar on impact.” He held his arms up as if demonstrating.

Jenna nodded. “Maybe his spotter dropped the barbell then panicked when he saw he’d killed him?”

“Maybe. I’ll check it for prints.” Wolfe shrugged. “Is that coffee?”

“Yeah, I figured you’d need some.” Jenna placed the thermos on a nearby table. “I’ll go see what Kane has gotten from the janitor.”

She made her way outside the gym and ran straight into the dean of the college. David Bent was an imposing, tall, thin man in his sixties with black hair graying at the temples. He wore a robe over his pajamas. “Mr. Bent, I’m sorry but you’ll have to remain here. The ME is on scene.”

“What happened?” Bent stared over her shoulder then returned his gaze to her. “Is Jacobs dead?”

Jenna rested a hand on his arm. “I’m afraid so. It appears he dropped the weight bar and it struck him across the neck. Does he normally have a spotter?”

“I’m not aware of every student’s habits on campus, Sheriff.” Bent gave her a look of disdain. “I’m sure his friends will be able to answer all your questions. Lyons and a group of seniors on the team live out on Pine. Their house is set back from the first corner, you can’t miss it.” He cleared his throat. “Coach took a few of the football team out for a training clinic. They left early Sunday morning and returned around nine last night.”

“Yes, I’m aware of the trip.” Jenna made a few notes. “Is it unusual for the team to go away on a Sunday?”

“No, and they had the opportunity to spend both days with professional players.” Bent gave an exasperated sigh. “Those that needed to go to church or whatever did so before they caught the bus.” He stared back at the hallway leading to the gym. “Two deaths in the same number of days will ruin our reputation.”

“I’m sure the parents of the students won’t be worrying too much about the college’s reputation.” Jenna couldn’t comprehend his apathy. “They’ll want to know what happened.” She narrowed her gaze. “I’ll need Jacobs’ next of kin details so I can make arrangements to inform his parents.”

“I’ll have to open my office.” Bent’s brow furrowed. “Come with me and I’ll get you the information.”

Jenna shook her head. “I see you have your cellphone with you.” She pulled a card from her pocket and handed it to him. “It will be easier if you send me the information in a text. I can’t leave the scene until the ME has removed the body.” She gave him a long, appraising look. “If you’d call your security team to keep the students away from this area, I’ll follow up with you in the morning.”

“I’ve already notified them and they’re heading this way as we speak.” Bent hunched his shoulders. “Are you sure I’m not needed here?”

Jenna shook her head. “I don’t need you but I’m sure the students gathering out on the lawn require an explanation. As you mentioned, two deaths in as many days will be unsettling.”