Cause to Kill

“What the fuck!?” Finley snapped. “Leave me alone. It’s Saturday. This is the first time in two years I don’t have a shift on a Saturday or Sunday. Let me enjoy myself. Call Connelly. He’s on. Call Thompson. He’s on too.”

“Tabitha Mitchell,” she said, “did she have a job lined up somewhere?”

“A real job?”

“Yeah, a real job. Not a princess at Disneyland.”

“Why would she need a job? She was a junior, right?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I called you. Didn’t you talk to her family?”

“Yeah, the mother.”

“She never said anything about a job?”

“No.”

“Call her again. Find out if Tabitha had something lined up for the summer.”

“I’m off-duty.”

“You’re in the middle of a case!”

“I don’t have to fucking answer to you, Black!”

“There’s a killer on the loose!” Avery cried, “And he’s going to kill again. And I’m close, Finley, real close. I can feel it. Call the mom. Tabitha’s friends. Whoever you have to. I need an answer. Soon. Please. Call me when you know.”

“Fuck!” Finley screamed before she hung up.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Avery took Route 20 all the way to Waltham County. The drive was slow.

Every few miles she had to stop at a light.

Jessica Givens never picked up her phone. After the fourth call, Avery realized it must be her work number. She left a message and called the operator.

“Hi there,” she said, “I need the number of a Jessica Givens in Waltham.”

“We have ten Givenses in Waltham,” the operator said. “Do you know where she lives?”

“No.”

An answering machine picked up at the dean’s office.

Avery drove on South Street directly into Brandeis. It took a while to figure out where to park.

Brandeis was one of the top-ranked financial institutes in the state. The central campus was a series of winding streets on a large hill that was incredibly difficult to navigate and walk. A number of antique-looking brick buildings dotted the property and were occasionally broken up by a stone castle, or a modern glass structure with eccentric architecture. After she parked, she walked up quiet paths and asked anyone she passed where to find the registrar. Eventually, she was directed to a small building that was almost completely empty. A single person worked a counter inside.

“We’re closed,” he said.

Avery flashed her badge.

“My name is Avery Black. I’m looking for Jessica Givens. I understand she’s a guidance counselor that works somewhere on campus.”

A very warm, friendly smile greeted her.

“Heyyyy,” he said. “You’re Avery Black. You hunt serial killers, right? Cool.”

“There’s nothing cool about a serial killer.”

“No, no,” he backtracked. “Of course not. I didn’t mean the serial killer. I meant you. You’ve been all over the news. I know who you are. They’re crucifying you in the papers.”

“I’m surprised you’re still talking to me.”

“Yeah,” he smiled, “you’re hot.”

The words seemed to have slipped out, and when he realized they’d been said aloud, he blanched and blushed and tried to backtrack.

“I’m sorry. That was totally unprofessional. I – ”

“It’s fine.” She flirted with her most winning smile. “Seriously.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” She nodded and leaned in close. “Really. Can you help me?”

“Sure, sure. You’re lucky I’m still here. I was supposed to be off by now. Let’s see,” he thought and scanned his computer. “What do you need?”

“The cell phone number and home address of Jessica Givens.”

He peeked up over his screen. A lock of his wavy black hair covered one eye. He was young, probably in his early twenties.

“You know, I’m not supposed to give out personal information.”

Avery leaned closer.

“What’s your name?” she whispered.

“Buck.”

“Buck,” she said with her lips, and then she lowered her voice and looked both ways as if they were being secretly watched,

“I’m close to finding this killer, Buck. Jessica Givens has information that could help.”

Suddenly, he appeared worried.

“Did he attack someone here? I thought it was just Harvard and MIT.”