I dont know. He hunched over and looked at the floor. He was both exhausted and sad, a mixture that looked to have finally devastated him.
Well leave you alone for now, Mackenzie said. If you dont mind, do you have Mrs. Lynchs hotel information?
Yeah, he said, slowly pulling his phone back out. Hold on.
As he pulled up the information, Mackenzie looked over to Ellington. As always, he was being hyperaware, looking around the place to make sure they werent missing anything obvious. She also noticed, though, that he was tinkering with his wedding ring as he studied the place, turning it slowly around and around on his finger.
She then looked back at Clark Manners. She was pretty sure they may end up questioning him againand probably soon. The fact that he was obsessively cleaning his house after his girlfriends death made sense from a psychological standpoint but it could also be seen as an attempt to get rid of any evidence.
But she had seen people broken over grief before and she felt deep down in her gut that Clark was likely innocent. No one could fake this sort of grief and inability to get a good nights sleep. They may need to speak with some of his friends at some point, though.
As Clark found the information, he handed over his phone so Mackenzie could take it down. She also took down the names and numbers that Clark had pulled up for all of the friends that had been at his apartment on the night Christine was killed. As she took the information down, she realized that she had also been fidgeting with her wedding ring. Ellington had noticed her doing it, managing a quick smile at her in spite of the situation. She stopped rotating the ring when she took the phone from Clark.
***Margaret Lynch was just about the exact opposite of Clark Manners. She was cool and collected, greeting Mackenzie and Ellington with a smile when they met with her in the lobby of the Radisson she was staying in. She led them to a couch near the back of the lobby, though, showing her first sign of weakness.
If I end up crying, Id rather not do it in front of everyone, she remarked, pressing herself into the couch as if she was fairly certain this would indeed happen.
Id like to start with asking how well you know Clark Manners, Mackenzie said.
Well, I spoke to him for the first time two days ago, after all this had happened. But Christine had mentioned him a few times on the phone. She was quite taken with him, I think.
Is there any suspicion on your part?
No. Of course, I dont know the boy but based on what Christine told me about him, I dont see him being the one who did this.
Mackenzie noted that Mrs. Lynch was doing everything she could to avoid words like killed or murdered. She figured the woman was able to keep her head because she was doing a good job of distancing herself from it. It was probably made easier by the fact that the two of them had been living on separate ends of the country for a while.
What can you tell me about Christines life here in Baltimore? Mackenzie asked.
Well, she started college in San Francisco. She wanted to be a lawyer, but the school and the course loadit wasnt a good fit. We had a long talk about her applying to Queen Nash University. A long talk. Her father passed away when she was eleven and really, its just been Christine and I since then. No uncles, no aunts. Its always been a small family. She has one surviving grandmother, but she has dementia and is in a home out near Sacramento. I dont know if you know yet or not, but Im having her cremated here, in Baltimore. No sense in going through the process of getting her back to California just to have the same thing done. We have no ties to the area, really. And I know she enjoyed it here, so
This poor woman is going to be all alone, Mackenzie thought. She was always aware of these sorts of things when interviewing and interrogating people, but this thought seemed to slam into her like a boulder.
Anyway, she got in and within a single semester, she knew she loved it here. She was always very apologetic, worried that I was this lonely old woman living alone without her. She kept in touch, calling about twice a week. Shed tell me about how classes were going and, like I said, she ended up telling me about Clark.
What did she say about him? Ellington asked.
Just that he was cute and very funny. She did mention from time to time that he wasnt very exciting and that he had a tendency to drink too much whenever they were in social situations.
But nothing negative?
Not that I can remember.
Please forgive me for asking, Mackenzie said, but do you know if they were exclusive? Was there a chance Christine might have also been seeing anyone else?
Mrs. Lynch thought about this for a moment. She didnt seem to take offense to the question; she remained just as calm as she had seemed when they had first come into the lobby and met her. Mackenzie wondered at what point the poor woman was going to eventually snap.
She never mentioned any competition for her heart, Mrs. Lynch said. And I think I know why youre asking. I was told what the scene looked likeher being topless and all. I had just assumed
She stopped here and took a moment to collect herself. The words that were coming next caused something to stir inside, but she managed to get it down before the emotions took over. When she resumed, she was still stone-faced.
I had just assumed it was a rape gone wrong. That maybe the man got frustrated for some reason and wasnt able to go through with it. But I suppose theres a chance there was another man in her life. If there was, I just didnt know about it.
Mackenzie nodded. The would-be-rapist theory had gone through her head as well, but the way the shirt had been tossed to the floor and then her head haphazardly lying on itnone of it seemed to add up.
Well, Mrs. Lynch, we dont want to bother you any more than we absolutely have to, Mackenzie said. How long do you intend to stay in town?
I dont know yet. Maybe a day or two beyond the service. At the word service, her voice cracked the tiniest bit.
Ellington handed her one of his business cards as he got to his feet. If you happen to think of anything or hear anything during the funeral or the services, please let us know.
Of course. And thank you for looking into this. Mrs. Lynch looked forlorn as Mackenzie and Ellington left. I suppose so, Mackenzie thought. Shes all alone in a city she doesnt know, having come to take care of her deceased daughter.
Mrs. Lynch saw them to the door and waved them off as they walked to their car. It was the first moment in which Mackenzie realized that her hormones were officially all over the place as a result of her pregnancy. She felt for Mrs. Margaret Lynch in a way she might not have before shed found out she was pregnant. To create life, then raise and nurture it only to have it wrenched away from you in such a brutal fashionit had to be miserable. Mackenzie felt absolutely wretched for Mrs. Lynch as she and Ellington pulled out into traffic.
And just like that, Mackenzie felt a flush of determination. Shed always had a passion for righting wrongsfor bringing killers and other evil men and women to justice. And whether it was hormones or not, she vowed to find Christine Lynchs killer, if for no other reason than to bring some closure to Margaret Lynch.
CHAPTER SIX
The first name on the list of friends Clark Manners had given them was a guy named Marcus Early. When they tried contacting him, the call went straight to voicemail. They then tried the second name on the list, Bethany Diaggo, and were able to set up an interview right then and there.
They met Bethany at her place of employment, a law firm where she was interning as part of her course load at Queen Nash. As the day was winding down to dinnertime, she simply clocked out half an hour early and met with them in one of the small conference rooms in the back of the building.
We understand that you were at Clark Mannerss apartment on the night that Christine was killed, Mackenzie said. What can you tell us about that night?
It was just getting together to have some fun. We had a bit to drinkmaybe a little too much. We played some card games, watched some reruns of The Office, and that was about it.
So there were no arguments of any kind? Mackenzie asked.
No. But I did see that Christine was starting to get irritated with Clark. Sometimes when he drinks, he tends to go a little overboard, you know? She never said anything that night, but you could tell she was starting to get irritated.
Do you know if it ever caused problems with them in the past?
Not that I know of. I think Christine just sort of dealt with it. I feel pretty sure that she knew their relationship wasnt this forever sort of thing.
Bethany, did you know a woman named Jo Haley? About your age, also a Queen Nash student?
I did, she said. Not quite as well as I knew Christine, but we were on a friendly basis. It was rare that we ever hung out. But if we crossed paths at a bar or something like that, wed usually end up siting together and chatting.
I assume you know that she was murdered several days ago as well? Ellington asked.
I did. In a very cruel twist of irony, it was actually Christine that broke the news to me.
Do you know how she found out? Mackenzie asked.
No clue. I think they shared some of the same classes. Oh, and they had the same academic advisor, too.
Academic advisor? Ellington asked. Is that just some fancy way of saying guidance counselor?
More or less, Bethany said.
And youre certain Jo and Christine had the same one? Mackenzie asked.
Thats what Christine said. She mentioned it when she told me Jo had been killed. She said it felt a little too close to home. Bethany paused here, perhaps understanding the eerie precognitive weight of the comment for the first time.
Would you happen to have the name of this advisor? Mackenzie asked.
Bethany thought for a moment and then shook her head. Sorry. No. She mentioned it when we were talking about Jo, but I dont remember it.
No big deal, Mackenzie thought. A quick call to the university will get that information for us.
Is there anything else about either Jo or Christine you might be able to tell us? Mackenzie asked. Anything that might give anyone reason to want them dead?
Nothing at all, she said. It doesnt make any sense. Christine was very focused and drama free. It was all about school and trying to get an early start on her career. I didnt know Jo enough to really make a judgment there, though.
Well, thank you for your time, Mackenzie said.
As they left the office and Bethany readied to leave for the day, Mackenzie tried to imagine these two dead women crossing paths in the hallways and concourses of the university. Maybe they passed by one another as one left their advisors office while the other was walking toward an appointment. The idea of it was a little creepy but she knew far too well that things like this tended to happen quite often in murder cases where there was more than one victim.
University offices are still closed for the holiday break, Ellington pointed out as they got back into the car. Pretty sure they reopen tomorrow.
Yeah, but Id assume theres some sort of employee directory on the website. Based on some of the books I saw in Christines apartment and some political literature in her bedroom, I think its safe to assume shes a political science major. We could narrow it down that way.
Before Ellington was able to tell her what a good idea this was, Mackenzie was already on her cell phone. She opened up her web browser and started scrolling. She was able to find a directory, but, as she had assumed, there were no direct or personal numbers; they were all numbers to the advisors offices. Still, she located the two different advisors that were assigned specifically to the political science department and left messages for each one, asking them to call her back as soon as they got the message.
As soon as she was done with that, she scrolled a bit more, this time through her contacts list.
What now? Ellington asked.
There are only two of them, she said. Might as well see if we can get some sort of a background check running on themsee if there are some red flags.
Ellington nodded, smiling at her quick train of thought. He listened to her as she placed the information request. Mackenzie could feel his eyes flitting over to her every now and then, a caring and watchful sort of stare.
How are you feeling? he asked.
She knew what he meant, that he was veering away from the case and asking about the baby. She shrugged, seeing no point in lying to him. All of the books say that the nausea should be coming to an end soon, but Im not believing it. I felt it a few times today. And, if Im being honest, Im pretty tired.
So maybe you need to go back home, he said. I hate to sound like that domineering husband type, butwell, Id really rather you or my baby not get hurt.
I know. But this is a series of murders on a college campus. I doubt its going to get dangerous. Its probably just a testosterone-laced guy that gets his rocks off on killing women.
Fair enough, Ellington said. But will you be honest with me and tell me if you start to feel weak or just out of sorts?
Yes. I will.
He eyed her suspiciously, yet playfully, as if he wasnt sure if he should trust her. He then reached out and took her hand as he headed back toward the center of town to find a hotel for the night.
***Theyd barely had enough time to settle into their room when Mackenzies phone rang. Ignoring the unfamiliar number, she answered it right away. She could feel the ticking clock McGrath had placed on them, ticking away second by second. She knew that if this thing wasnt solved by the time classes started next weekin just five days, in factit would be increasingly harder to wrap up with all of the students back in the area.
This is Agent White, she said, answering the call.
Agent White, this is Charles McMahon, an academic advisor over at Queen Nash University. Im returning a message you left for me.
Great, and thanks for the promptness. Are you at the college right now?
No. I have a bit of a heavy workload right now, so I had all of my voicemail from the office rerouted to my personal phone.
Oh, I see. Well, I was wondering if you might be able to answer a few questions about a recent murder.
I assume its about Jo Haley?
No, actually. Theres been another murder, two days ago. Another Queen Nash student. A young woman named Christine Lynch.