“Maybe we should talk to Dana’s old high school friends. They may know more about her habits than Law does.”
“I agree with you. Start contacting them and see what you can find out.”
“Will do. I suppose the elephant in the room is Bogat,” McAdams said. “Do you think Dana is a fourth victim?”
“I don’t know enough to answer that. What are you thinking? That digging up all those bodies reminded the killer that it was time to do it again?”
“The thought crossed my mind. Obviously, it crossed yours as well.”
“Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” Decker checked his watch. It was a little after three. “I’m going to go check out Dana’s room and talk to some of the kids in the dorm. You want to come?”
“Of course.” McAdams rubbed his arms and looked across campus. The skies were deep blue as the sun burned off the clouds. The lawns were fading and the trees were starting to turn. “My favorite time of year. It gives me a certain transient energy. The days feel very fleeting, like you have to hurry up and finish whatever you’ve started. Autumn is this anteroom before you step into a cold, dark space.”
“You dread going back to school?”
“No, I just don’t like winter.” He laughed. “Probably has something to do with being shot in the last two consecutive seasons.”
Decker raised his eyebrows. “Don’t come back until the snow starts melting.”
“Oh, I’ll be back.” McAdams laughed again. “Third time’s the charm, you know.”
Decker smiled. He hoped it wasn’t tinged with anxiety.
“Are you going to tell Dana’s parents that their daughter is a dealer?”
“No need to stick it in their faces right now. But even if it comes to that, I’m thinking that the parents won’t be shocked about the revelation. First, let’s see how today goes.”
“Want me to call up the people we know in Boston and New York?”
“Please. Do you have numbers?”
“I have Chris Mulrooney’s number in Summer Village.”
“Go for it.” Decker stuck his hands in his suit jacket. “You might want to wait until we’re indoors. You’ll hear the call better.”
“Sure.” He put the phone away. “It really is fortuitous that Rina discovered the grave when she did. In another month or two, the ground will be completely frozen over.”
“If it’s the Bogat killer and he’s found another place in the woods, we’re toast if we don’t find Dana before winter hits. When are you going back to school?” A pause. “I’ve asked you that question several times, haven’t I?”
“I forgive your senility, Old Man. Or maybe you don’t want to see me go?”
“That could be it, Harvard.”
McAdams smiled. “School officially starts in a week. I’d like to be there by the weekend unless you need me to search or something like that.”
“If it comes to a search, I’ll need you, yes.” A beat. “Is next weekend Rosh Hashanah?”
“No, Rosh Hashanah is the weekend after this one. If Dana is still missing by then, I can come down over the weekend. You won’t work, but I can.”
“We’re probably getting ahead of ourselves. I’m still hoping she’ll turn up, none the worse for wear.”
“Weird,” McAdams said. “I’ve never known you to be an optimist.”
“I’m closeted, Harvard. Deeply, deeply closeted.”
Chapter 23
Not more than a few minutes into the search of Dana’s belongings, her roommate showed up. She was around five feet and not more than a hundred pounds, a pixie of a thing. Her face as well as her last name suggested Korean ancestry. She had long straight hair and dark eyes. She wore jeans, a green T-shirt, and a black hoodie.
“Excuse me?” Her voice was angry outrage. McAdams looked up from the drawer he was rifling through and took out his badge. She examined it carefully. “If you’re looking for her stash, I can tell you where she usually hides it.”
Decker said, “Sure, show us where it is. She might have other things hidden there.”
McAdams said, “And you are . . .”
“Allison Park. I knew this would catch up with her eventually.”
“What would catch up with her?” Decker said.
“You don’t have to play coy cop, okay? Everybody and their brothers knew she was dealing.”
Coy cop? Where was the respect? If not for the position, at least for the fact that he was an old guy. “So we’ve heard.”
Allison went to the closet and using a chair as a step stool, she looked on the highest shelf. “Here we go . . .” She brought down a knapsack and gave it to McAdams. “I have some studying to do now so if you wouldn’t mind . . .”
Decker closed a desk drawer. “Your roommate has been reported missing.” When the girl shrugged, he said, “You don’t seem concerned.”
“She’ll show up.”
“Does she go missing a lot?”
She shrugged.
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“We try to avoid each other. We’re roommates, not friends.” Allison plopped down on her bed, opened her backpack, and took out a laptop.
“That’s not what I asked.” No response. Decker walked over and closed her laptop. “I asked you a question.”
“Hey. You can’t do that.”
“Allison, would you like to continue this conversation at the station house or can we keep it civil?”
“You can’t take me in. I didn’t do anything.”
“You’ve got sacks of drugs here,” McAdams said.
“That is so unfair! You know they aren’t mine!”
“Well, someone’s a serious dealer,” McAdams said. “There are a lot of pills and a lot of powder in here.”
“Allison, your roommate is missing,” Decker told her. “People are worried about her. Just answer a few questions—politely—and then we’re out of here. When was the last time you saw Dana Berinson?”
The girl looked down. “I dunno. Sometime last week.”
“Last week has seven days. Can you get more specific?”
“Wednesday maybe.” She scratched her nose. “Maybe Thursday.”
“The last time she used her card swipe was Thursday afternoon. I heard she went to a party in the evening.”
“That sounds like Dana.”
“Did you see her leave for the party?”
“Thursday night I was in the library studying. Some students do that, you know.”
“Okay. You didn’t go to the party. Do you remember if she slept in her bed Thursday night?”
“Let me think. I came home around one . . . she wasn’t there. I went to sleep.” She looked up at Decker. “She wasn’t there when I woke up the next morning.”
“Did her bed look slept in?”
“She always tosses the top duvet over her mattress when she leaves, so I wouldn’t be able to tell.” Allison bit her lip. “Why do you think she’s missing?”
“No one has heard from her since Thursday.” Decker regarded the young woman. “Why don’t you think she’s missing?”
“Hey, that’s my dresser,” Allison told McAdams, who was still opening drawers.
“Maybe Dana hid something there,” McAdams said. “I’ll be careful.”
“What you’re doing has to be illegal.”
Decker picked up Dana’s mattress. “You really don’t like her, do you?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then why are you rooming with her? I thought as sophomores you have choices who you live with.”
“I’m a transfer to Morse McKinley from Clarion. And from what I heard, no one wanted to room with Dana when they chose suites. So I got stuck with her. I’ve already requested a transfer, but the college is booked and I don’t feel like going back to the PMS palace at Clarion, which is the only place that has room.”
McAdams said, “School just started. You’ve been living with her for what? Three weeks?”
Decker stood up from checking out Dana’s bed. “Does she often disappear on the weekends?”
“I’ve only just started living with her, but she is gone a lot.”
“Does she have a boyfriend?”
“She gets around from what I’ve heard.”
“Can I take a look at your phone?”
“What for?”
“Yes or no.”
“What difference does it make if I say no? You’ll just grab it from me.”
When Decker didn’t answer, she unlocked it and handed it over. He scrolled down through the phone numbers and texts. There was nothing to imply that Allison had contact with Dana. He gave it back to her. “Thank you.”
The girl’s eyes spilled over with tears. “I don’t know why people say this is the best time of your life. I hate college. I hate everyone!” She looked down. “I’m homesick! I’m such a stupid baby.”
Decker sat next to her. “What’s your major, Allison?”
“Economics/poli-sci.” She wiped her eyes. “I want to be a lawyer. My father’s a lawyer. We’re real close.”
“It’s wonderful to be close to your dad. Give him a call. I’m sure he’d love to hear your voice. When my kids called from college, I was always happy to hear what was going on.”
“I bet your kids didn’t call you all the time like I do. God, I’m stupid.”
“You’re obviously not stupid. It’s good that you stay away from Dana. She sounds . . . problematic. To answer your question, my kids are all grown now with families of their own. But even as old as they are, they still call me and my wife whenever something’s on their minds. That never changes and I’m happy about that.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry I was such an asshole. I’m really not that way. It’s just everyone here is so tough. I need to buck up if I’m ever gonna be successful.”
“Having a thick skin is helpful.” McAdams closed a drawer. “But what is even more useful is sticking your nose in your studies and not getting distracted by bullshit.” To Decker he said, “I don’t see anything, boss. And I think I’d find something if it was there. This is one of the neatest college dorms I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m compulsive,” Allison said. “Dana’s neat. I’ll give her that much.”
Decker said, “Can we talk about Dana for a moment?”
“I really don’t know where she is. I hope she’s okay. I just would be happier if she wasn’t in my life.”
“Who does she hang out with, Allison? I need to talk to some of her friends.”
“Let me think.” She wiped her eyes with her hoodie sleeve. “Charlie Wetzel. He’s a big druggie, but you didn’t hear that from me. He lives one floor up. Jennifer Adler . . . and maybe Katie Dentner. I’ve seen them both here a few times. They live in Clarion.”
“Friends of yours.”
“Not hardly, but I know who they are and I’ve seen them around Dana. Oh, also Mitch Law.”
“Right,” Decker said. “I’ve heard he’s her boyfriend.”
“Mitch hooks up with anything that’s alive. Sheep and dogs beware.”
Decker smiled. “So Dana and Mitch weren’t exclusive.”
“No one is exclusive at Morse McKinley. The guys here are good-looking and a bunch of assholes.”
“So why did you transfer to Morse McKinley?” McAdams asked.
“It’s a great college.”
“You can take classes here even if you’re enrolled in Clarion,” McAdams said.
“Yeah, but I want to take the majority of my classes here, and it looks more prestigious to graduate from here than from Clarion. Plus, they have some outstanding profs here.”
“Like?” Decker asked.
“Well, Hank Carter, of course.” When Decker nodded, she said, “So you know him.”
“I’ve heard the name. Tell me about him.”
“He just won the Maybrown Award. That was a real coup.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“It’s for social consciousness in finance. That’s his specialty: socially relevant capitalism. I’ve signed up three times for his Intro to Social Government, but it’s always full. And for a full tenured professor, he’s a great lecturer. Always so interesting.”
“So if you didn’t take his class, how did you hear his lectures?”
“He gives a lot of free seminars. They’re always full, too, but if you get there early enough, you can find a seat. He’s been at Morse McKinley for a long time, and he’s still as popular as ever.”
“Any other favorite professors?” McAdams asked.
“I just enrolled in Dr. Kramer’s class. So far, so good.”
“That would be Jason Kramer?”
“Yes. How do you know him?”
Decker said, “We’ve been talking to people at the colleges regarding what’s going on at Bogat Trail. He was one of many.”
“Oh yeah, that.” She bit her lip again. “Creepy. But I heard the bodies were, like, old.”
“The bodies were buried years ago.”
The lightbulb went off. Allison made a face. “You don’t think that Dana . . . you know?”
“No theories, Ms. Park. All we want is for Dana to be found alive and well.” Decker stood up. “Thanks for your help. We may call you again, if that’s all right.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t want Dana . . . I do want to help. And I’m sorry for the attitude.”
“Not a problem. And call your dad.”
“Yeah, thanks.” Allison’s phone was already at her ear.
As they left, Decker heard her say, “Hi, Daddy.”
“I’m going upstairs to talk to druggie Charlie Wetzel,” Decker told McAdams. “Could you do me a favor?”
“You want me to find out everything I can about Hank Carter and Jason Kramer.”
“You’re getting good at mind reading. I know Hank Carter has been here for a while. Jason Kramer knew Pettigrew.”
“He was also on our list of intersections of all three,” McAdams said. “The girls had taken his classes.”
“Do you know his specialty?”
“Psychology, but that’s a broad field. I’ll look up his field of interest. Isn’t Rina working on charismatic teachers?”
“She is.”
“I wonder if Kramer’s name will come up.”
“She should be home. I’ll call her.”
McAdams said, “You know, it would really be helpful if I could take copies of the files and study them in my free time. I have a safe in Cambridge. I’ll take full responsibility if something happens.”
“We’ve had the conversation. Ask Radar.”
“He’ll say to ask you.”
“If it’s okay with Mike, it’s okay with me. Just be careful. We’re looking for a murderer who’s responsible for three bodies. Don’t underestimate what he’s capable of doing.”
“I have a gun—two guns. Don’t worry. I’m into self-preservation.”
“Okay, if it’s okay with Mike, take the files with you back to school.”
“You know, Rina invited me down for Rosh Hashanah. It’s worth coming back just for her cooking.”
“I can’t believe the holidays are almost here. The year went fast.” He turned to McAdams. “It was a really good summer.”
“But nothing happened.”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
Chapter 24
Charlie Wetzel was fuming. “Who told you about me? Her bitch of a roommate?”
Decker stared at the young man—six feet, well built, dark eyes, dark curly hair, and a nice-looking face except for the thin-lipped sneer. He wore a red sweatshirt emblazoned with morse mckinley in gold letters, ripped jeans, and slippers on his feet. “Can I come in
to your room or do you want the entire floor to hear me?”
Reluctantly, Wetzel stepped aside and Decker went into the dorm room. It was messy and smelled like a gym locker. There were clothes on the floor, on the bed, on the desk, and even a few in the closets. Food wrappers and Styrofoam cartons of takeout overflowed from several garbage cans. Rows of beer cans took up an entire bookshelf. Decker elected to stand rather than figure out where to sit. “I’m not interested in your bad habits, Chuck. Dana Berinson is missing and your name came up as someone who knows her.”
“And?”
“And I was wondering if you had any ideas about what happened to her.”
“How would I know?”
“I’m not saying you do. I’m asking for help. Where do you think she could be and what do you think happened to her?”
“Oh.” Wetzel sat next to a pile of clothes on an unmade bed. “You know she’s like . . . a dealer here.”
“I know. Any idea where she gets her stuff?”
He was quiet. Then he said, “I don’t think it’s local. She’s from the Boston area. I have a feeling she dealt in high school and just continued on in college.”
“She told you she dealt in high school?”
Wetzel nodded. “The stupidity of it all is she doesn’t need to deal, you know. Her parents always give her whatever she asks for. They gave her a car on her seventeenth birthday—a Mercedes. She cracked it up two months later.”
“You know her well?”
“Well enough for her to tell me some things. She thought it was hysterically funny. It’s not that I’m self-righteous. I take things for granted. But that kind of spoiled behavior is an anathema to me.” The kid scratched his cheek. “My opinion? Dealing makes her popular . . . gives her access to parties that she might not be invited to if she didn’t bring some goods with her.”
“She gave the stuff away or . . . what?”
“No, she charged, but not much. I don’t think it’s a commercial venture for her. Like I said, her parents give her plenty of money.”
“How often does she go up to Boston to get the stuff?”
“This is judging from last year . . . which is when I met her.”
“Go on.”
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