27
I waited until late afternoon to call Westman and tell him that I’d accept his offer. I said that all I wanted now was to get out with some chance of finding another job elsewhere. I’d be more than happy to never hear about Mike Singer again. He told me that I’d made a wise choice, and he’d have the paperwork ready tomorrow. Once I signed, the charges would be dropped.
Two hours later, I headed over to Singer’s office. I got there a little before five thirty. We’d changed back from daylight saving time a few days ago, so it was already dark.
Singer was alone, working on his computer. I knocked on the open door and went in, closing it behind me.
His eyes widened when he saw me. “What’re you doing here? I was told you’d been banned from campus.”
He started to reach for his phone, but I held up my hands. “It’s okay—don’t worry. I’ve accepted an offer to resign, on the condition that I keep my mouth shut. I’ll sign and be gone tomorrow, but I wanted to warn you first.”
His eyes narrowed as he looked at me. “Warn me? What are you talking about?”
“Look, I’m done with this. Out of here tomorrow. I know you’ve figured out that I pried into what happened at Yale. I was only trying to track down the missing grant money. I never thought it would end up tying in with Emily’s case. It doesn’t matter anymore anyway. Hell, it was years ago. I wish I’d never found out in the first place, but it’s finished. And my lips are sealed.”
He stared at me silently. I wondered if he knew I was lying. Finally, he shrugged. “So why come here? Westman already told me things were settled.”
“It’s that detective woman I worked with. You remember, we interviewed you together?”
“I remember. Reynolds or something like that, right?”
“Richmond. Karen Richmond,” I said. “Anyway, she’s like a bulldog, and she thinks you’re the one who raped Emily. And maybe even murdered her.”
His expression didn’t change. “Why would she think that?”
“I don’t know, based on what happened at Yale, I guess. And she said Emily told her something that puts the blame on you for her initial assault.”
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
“Look, I don’t know what she has or doesn’t have. The point is, she’s still pursuing this, and I don’t want to be blamed for what she does. I told her about Yale before I agreed to keep quiet, and I think she’s nuts for thinking you’re responsible for Emily. But she does, and she’s going after you.”
Maybe it was my imagination, but he seemed to blink just a little more rapidly. “You say she’s pursuing this crazy notion. What’s she planning to do?”
“That’s why I came over here, to warn you. She’s put together a case and is going to file charges against you. I just talked to her, and she’s in her office now. Maybe you can talk her out of it. Or get Westman to deal with her.”
He got up from his chair. “All right, thanks for the warning. I’ll see what I can do. Let’s just keep this between the two of us, okay?”
“No problem,” I said. “I don’t want to have anything else to do with this.”
I extended my hand, and he shook it. His palms were sweaty.
I turned left when I exited the building and walked a block down to my car. It was pointing away from the building, but with a good view of the entrance from the side mirror. I checked the view, adjusted the mirror, and called Karen.
“I think he bought it,” I said. “He was so nervous that it felt like I was shaking hands with a wet dish towel when I left.”
She chuckled. “Good for you for shaking hands with him. You couldn’t have enjoyed that little ritual.”
“Anything for the cause. So now I’m in my car, a block to the west. With a clear view of the entrance in my mirror.”
“Good. Call me again when he leaves.”
It didn’t take long. Ten minutes later, I saw Singer exit the building and turn east, in the direction of Karen’s office.
I called and reported, “He’s on the move. Heading toward you.”
“Okay. Wait a few minutes and then circle around so you come in from the opposite direction. See if he sets up outside my building.”
I gave him a five-minute head start. Then I made a three-block circle and stopped a safe distance before reaching Karen’s building, headed west. I could see a large figure waiting by the entrance, so I doused the lights and called Karen again.
“Someone’s waiting outside. I can’t see who it is in the dark, but it looks like a big man. Could be Singer.”
“That’s good enough. Don’t try to get any closer. It’s not worth the risk of your being spotted. Are you ready to move out?”
This was the part I really, really didn’t like. I’d tried to talk her out of it but failed. And rationally, I knew she was right. But I couldn’t stop myself from taking one more shot.
“Look, this is just too risky. Why don’t we call the cops and let them pick him up? He was a nervous wreck when I left him. He’ll break under questioning.”
“Brad, c’mon. We’ve been over and over this.” She made no attempt to disguise the impatience in her voice. “He’s not going to break and confess to rape and murder. This is the only way to nail him. And I need you to back me up. Are you with me or not?”
What could I say? “All right, all right. Of course, I’m with you.”
“Good. Just hang tough, and we’ll nail the bastard. He’s not going to hurt me. I’m expecting him, and I’ve got pepper spray and my gun, if I need it. It’s not like I’m Emily, walking home unsuspecting.”
“I know. It’s just that I care about you, and he’s a scary bastard. But I know you can handle it.” At least I thought I believed that, even if the butterflies in my stomach were unconvinced.
“Let’s get going, then. Are you ready?”
“Yes, I’m following your phone on the tracking app now.”
“Okay. And you have your earbuds?”
I put them in. “Yep.”
“All right. Get yourself in position along the parallel track we outlined, and call me when you’re ready. After that, we’ll keep the phone line open, and I’ll be in constant communication.”
I got out of the car and walked north, a block away from the route Karen was going to take. My job was to stay parallel to Karen’s course, far enough away that Singer couldn’t spot me but close enough to get to her quickly when needed.
If he took the bait.
When I got to the appointed corner, I called again. “Okay, I’m here.”
“Leaving now,” she said. “Keep the line open and follow me on the phone.”
A few minutes later, I saw her phone leave the building and turn right. “Spotted him at the entrance,” she said. “Moving out.”
Every fiber of my being wanted to stop this. Karen using herself as bait to catch a killer! All I had to do was to go to her instead of following the plan. Let someone else catch Singer. But I couldn’t. I had to do what I’d said I would. So I kept my eyes on the phone and followed a block away.
Two blocks later, Karen said, “Turning down the alley.”
I clenched my teeth and said, “Okay.” This was a diversion planned to give Singer the perfect opportunity for an attack. A deserted dark alley, much like the place where Emily had been killed.
She was a few minutes into it when she said, “It’s deserted, except someone just turned in after me. A large man.”
My heart leaped. “I’m coming to you.”
Her voice was tense. “Okay, but go slow and keep some distance. I don’t want him to see you. I’ve got the pepper spray ready.”
I started moving toward her.
Suddenly I heard her yell, “Hold it, police!”
Then there were sounds of a scuffle, followed by a scream.
I was running full speed, heart pounding, when she cried out, “Got the bastard!”
He was on his stomach when I turned the corner into the alley, writhing from the pepper spray. Karen had her knee firmly planted on his neck and was cuffing his hands behind his back.
“Thank God you’re okay,” I gasped.
She raised her head. “I’m just fine,” she said. “This couldn’t have worked better. We’ve got him now.”
She got up and turned him over with her foot. His eyes were closed, and he was helplessly coughing and sputtering. Just as it should be.
Except that it wasn’t Mike Singer.
