Break the Silence (Detectives Kane and Alton)

Thirty-Three

The noise and smells of the college surrounded Jenna as she followed the security guard to the library. She waited with Kane outside the door for the guard to go and find Stein. She turned to Kane. “Isn’t it strange how the smell of a place brings back so many memories? The moment I walked in here, the smell of books and body odor made me remember a day a security guard came to the library for me.” She pushed the memory back into the recesses of her mind. “Before you ask, it’s old news, okay?”

“Sure.” Kane took her hand and squeezed. “I’m here for you if you need me. Any time, you know that, right?”

She turned and smiled at him. “Yeah, and it’s good to know.” She reluctantly let go of his hand, pulled out her cellphone, and searched for a file. “We’ve got zip on Stein. No priors of violence; a few fights on his school record but he’s never been charged with anything.”

“He admitted to having feelings for Chrissie, so he has motive.” Kane shrugged. “It doesn’t take too much to push people over the edge. Gang rape and then if he figures she committed suicide because of it, it’s one hell of an inducement.”

“Yeah, especially as Livi and likely most of the women living in her dorm are saying that’s how she died.” Jenna peered through the glass door at Stein, heading in their direction with a confused expression. “He’s on his way.” When he walked through the door and looked at her, she indicated toward the doors to the garden. “Can we talk outside?”

“Sure.” Stein walked beside her. “Have you charged the men who raped Chrissie?”

Jenna shook her head. “Not yet. Her cause of death is inconclusive.”

“So, what do you want with me?” Stein looked perplexed. “I sure as hell didn’t hurt her.”

“I didn’t say you did.” Jenna let her gaze move over the young man. He had the chiseled muscular frame of an athlete, yet he was unshaven and dark circles ran under his eyes. “You keep in good shape. Do you lift weights, swim? Martial arts?”

“I do track, weights, and swimming, and I run most afternoons. Yeah, I’ve studied martial arts. It’s good for my flexibility.” Stein gave a snort. “Good Lord, you think I’m involved in the accidents of Alex Jacobs and Pete Devon, don’t you?” He shook his head. “Those two boneheads wouldn’t be worth my time. Now, Seth Lyons…” He punched the palm of his other hand. “I’d like to take him apart piece by piece, but if I laid one finger on him, his old man would have me in jail for ten to twenty. I’m not that stupid.”

Jenna nodded. He might be smart but he hadn’t convinced her of his innocence. “Where were you on Tuesday night, the day Pete Devon died?” She waited for a reaction but his blank expression meant either he couldn’t remember or he was remembering just fine and trying to come up with an alibi. “Around nine thirty?”

“I’m not sure.” Stein scratched his head. “I usually spend time in the library after dinner. I could’ve still been there or in my room. I’m not sure, things have been a bit muddled”—he tapped his head—“in here since Chrissie died.”

Jenna made a few notes then looked back at him. Maybe he was taking her death harder than she’d thought. “Are you sleeping?”

“What, are you a doctor now?” Stein snorted in resentment. “How do you figure I’m sleeping? My friend was pack raped and then committed suicide. Everyone knows what happened, so I’m not sure how you came up with an inconclusive verdict. How do you think I feel knowing the men that hurt her are out there laughing about it?” He took a step closer, his fists clenched. “You know Seth Lyons is responsible, why don’t you arrest him?”

“Take a step back, Mr. Stein.” Jenna rested her hand on her weapon. “You can be assured we’re doing everything in our power to find out who assaulted Chrissie.”

“I’ve told you.” Stein’s face contorted with rage. “It has to be Seth Lyons and his football buddies. No one else lured her out alone.”

“We have no proof it was Lyons but you can be assured we’re hunting down suspects.” Kane laid a hand on Stein’s shoulder. “With three deaths within a week, we’ll be asking everyone questions. We’re tracking people’s movements, and right now, we need to know who was seen in and around the swimming pool the night Pete Devon died.”

“I don’t remember being in the area.” Stein glared at Kane. “My roommate might remember. Why don’t you ask him? His name is Paul Brown. He’s in the library studying. Want me to go get him?”

What, and ask him to give you an alibi? Jenna closed her notebook and looked at Stein. “No, you wait here with Deputy Kane and I’ll speak to him.” She turned to the glass door. “Where’s he sitting?”

“Over by the window.” Stein led the way back inside and pointed through the glass door to a man with auburn hair. “Black T-shirt.”

“Okay, thanks.” Jenna walked to the door, and the security guard who’d accompanied them went to meet her. “I haven’t finished with Stein yet but I need to speak to Paul Brown.” She pointed t

o the man at the desk. “It will only take a minute.”

She hurried over to the man and lowered her voice to introduce herself. She asked him about the night Devon died. “Do you recall seeing Phil on Tuesday night around nine thirty?”

“He’s been a bit crazy since Chrissie died.” Brown rubbed his chin. “We studied for a while after dinner, we do most nights, but he said he needed some fresh air and alone time. I went back to our dorm and watched TV with some of the guys. He came back around ten thirty. The show had finished and I was heading back to our room when he came in through the front door.”

The next question stormed into Jenna’s head. “Was he acting normal? Was his hair wet or perhaps his clothes?”

“Not that I recall. He was wearing a baseball cap, so I didn’t see his hair. He acted normal, I guess. I didn’t take much notice.” Brown frowned. “Sorry I can’t be more helpful.”

Jenna stood. “You’ve been very helpful. Thank you.” She walked to the security guard. “When Stein returns, we’ll be ready for Jones.”

Out in the hallway she went to Kane’s side and looked at Stein. She hoped that in her absence Kane had gotten more information from him. “Do you remember taking a walk on Tuesday night after studying with Paul?”

“Not really.” Stein stared into space. “Oh yeah, I came out of the library and turned toward the stadium. I’m not sure where I went. I had a lot on my mind.”