After waiting in the reception area for the police to finish interrogating Sue, I was finally ushered into Officer Rogen’s office. He motioned for me to take a seat, then steepled his fingers under his chin and narrowed his eyes.
I refused to squirm under his watchful stare, and arched a brow. “Am I here to endure the silent treatment, or do you actually have questions for me?”
He sneered. “Since the receptionist withheld information, I’m wondering if there’s something you haven’t told us.”
Like digging through dumpsters? Wanting to solve the murder for justice and a good grade on an assignment? Taking photos of the crime scene? “No, not that I can think of.” I put on my most innocent face, which, judging by the suspicious look in Rogen’s eyes, wasn’t very innocent.
He took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I do hope that your forensics class hasn’t given you any ideas about meddling in my investigation.”
“I’m a college student, not a forensic scientist.” There. I could answer without lying. Not telling the truth to law enforcement could get me into a lot of trouble. Even a dreamer like me knew that.
“I don’t want you discussing this with Sue Wilson either.”
“We don’t exactly run in the same social circles, Officer.” Was he going to ask me any questions, or just tell me what to do?
“Tell me again every detail starting from when you entered Mr. Miller’s office.”
Ah, the change tactic routine. I told him everything except about taking photographs and noticing the chair turned around to face the wall. “Are you convinced now that it wasn’t a suicide?”
“I cannot divulge that.” He sat back in his chair. “You have a very observant eye, Ms. Lawrence. Are you sure you didn’t see more?”
What was it he wanted or hadn’t wanted me to see? “Finding my old boss and friend dead was traumatic. That’s all I remember. Maybe when his death isn’t as fresh, some facts may become clearer. It happens sometimes on TV.”
“TV isn’t real.”
“I watch true crime shows on a regular basis.” I had ever since high school.
“Spare me from wannabe law enforcement.” He rolled his eyes. “We’re done here. Remember … do not interfere.”
Dismissed, I smiled and left the room, texting Brad that I was on my way home. I’d survived another encounter with the sour-faced Officer Rogen and not told a single lie. Was omitting what I knew a lie? Maybe. I felt a twinge of regret, but I really, really wanted justice and to put my snide professor in his place at the same time. Add in the fact that Rogen seemed overly suspicious of me, and I felt I had plenty of reasons to get involved.
Once outside, I glanced around for Sue, wanting to know what questions she’d been grilled with. Not seeing her, I got in my car and drove home. I needed to study the photographs with a magnifying glass. There was definitely something in Roy’s office I’d missed.
I sent Brad another text that the door was open and to come on in when he arrived. I poured two glasses of tea and settled down at the table with a magnifying glass I’d picked up at the drugstore on my way home.
“What are you doing?”
I jumped and screamed. “Sneaking up on me is not funny, Brad.”
He laughed then sobered. “You shouldn’t leave your door unlocked if you’re this easy to sneak up on.”
“Sea Side is a safe town, for the most part. Why should I be worried?”
“Because you’re investigating a murder?” He raised his brows and set a bag of Chinese takeout on the table.
“No one but you knows that.” My stomach rumbled at the delicious aroma of chow mein and kung pao chicken. “Officer Rogen seems to think I saw something in Roy’s office that I’m either not saying or don’t remember. I’m studying the photographs in more detail. He also told Sue to bring in the appointment book.”
“Why should he care what you saw?” Brad handed me the box of kung pao chicken. “He’s the police officer. He would have seen the same thing.”
“Unless I saw something I shouldn’t have seen.” The thought sent a cold stab through my heart. “One, he’s worried about my safety, or two, he’s hoping I didn’t see something he wants to keep hidden.” I dropped the magnifying glass. “Do you think he could be a dirty cop?”
Brad shook his head. “You watch too much television.”
Second time someone told me that today. “What if someone in the car we saw in the alley last night was actually watching us and not just passing by?” I unwrapped a set of chopsticks. “What if the person was there to do some searching of their own?” I tilted my head. “That same person could have said something to the authorities, and that’s what has Rogen asking these questions.”
Brad paused, an egg roll halfway to his mouth. “These types of what-ifs scare me.”
“I could be onto something.”
“Yes, you could.” His brow furrowed. “That would mean the danger for us has already increased.” He got up and locked the door. “Have you noticed anyone following you?” Moving to the front window, he peered through the curtains.
“No, but I haven’t paid any attention.” I dug into my food, refusing to be fazed about a possible follower without proof. Other than the possibility of the occupants of the car spying on us, no one could possibly know what we were up to except … “I think Sue might have said something to Rogen. I did mention to her that I wanted to find Roy’s killer.”
“What?” He stared at me, shock flickering across his face. “Why would you do that?”
“It’s the only way I could get her to talk to me. She thought I killed Roy.” I wonder what motive she and the police thought I could possibly have to commit murder?
Brad sat back down and continued eating. “That’s it, then. Sue mentioned it to the police, and that prompted all the questions from Rogen.” Some of the tension seemed to have left his shoulders. “I bet the car we saw last night was an officer patrolling the crime scene on his regular beat.”
That would explain Rogen’s suspicions that I withheld information. I’d have to be more careful with my snooping and what I mentioned to people.
“Do you want to study the photographs while I do some online searching of the names on my list?” I wiped my mouth with a paper napkin.
“I’ll look at the photos then join you in looking up the names. Rogen wouldn’t have mentioned you seeing something if there wasn’t something to see. Since I wasn’t at the crime scene, I might notice something you’d skim over.” He smiled. “I’m surprised you haven’t asked if I found out anything at work.”
“Did you? I didn’t think you’d have had time. Are your bosses back?”
“No, but our receptionist confirmed they were supposed to meet with Roy and had to cancel because something bigger came up.” Satisfied with himself, he sat back. “They supposedly went to Portland.”
“Oregon?”
“No.” He laughed. “Maine.”
“Did you confirm?”
“I couldn’t, not without seeing an itinerary. I’ll try to snoop during her lunch break tomorrow. If I can find out who they were to meet with, I can call and ask if they showed.”
“If they didn’t, that would mean they could have something to do with Roy’s murder.”
He frowned. “I don’t see why they would kill him, but if we could eliminate them, we could focus our efforts somewhere else.” He stood, gathered our garbage, and threw it in the trash before taking over studying the photographs.
I booted up my laptop and started googling names from my list. All were men from local and surrounding businesses. Not strange since Miller Inc. provided insurance for said businesses. Nothing fishy there. I appeared to be doing nothing more than finding dead ends.
“Do you have a Connor Shipping on your list of names?” Brad glanced up from the picture he studied.
“No, why?”
“Take a look at this.” He handed me the magnifying glass. “Look at the desk calendar. Part of the word has been erased. Maybe you can tell what it said.”
Hmm. It did look like Connor, but it could be something closer to Donley? I grabbed my list and set it next to the photograph.
“It could be Henry Shipping. Maybe.”
“Never heard of them. Let me see your list.” He circled a few names that could, at a stretch, be the erased company name. “You could try calling these tomorrow and see if they had a meeting with Roy. Figure out something you could ask them to follow up on.”
I nodded and typed in corporations in Sea Side, Maine, in my search engine, adding a couple more names to my list. I compared my new list to my old list and wrote down the names of CEOs and managers next to each company. It gave me a very good starting point.
School and work didn’t leave me with a lot of daytime hours to make calls, but I could do so in between deliveries. I really wanted to get back into Roy’s office. “How much trouble does a person get into if they’re caught entering a taped-off crime scene?”
“Arrest.”
I could risk that, maybe, if it meant clearing my name. Sue would have a key to the building. I figured convincing her to help me would be harder than not getting caught.
“Don’t do it, Ashley.” Brad sighed.
“I’ll be careful. I want to see what the desk calendar says before wasting a lot of time on calls. If I go in broad daylight, it won’t look suspicious.” I hoped the desk calendar hadn’t been taken as evidence.
“What time?” Brad heaved another sigh. “You’ll need a lookout.”
“Let me get ahold of Sue.” I sent her a text, asking for her help in retrieving something left behind in Roy’s office. She agreed to meet me at noon.
“Right after class lets out,” I said, grinning. “This is my chance to find out what Rogen thinks I saw.”
“Great,” Brad muttered. “I’m going to be late for work tomorrow.”