A Web of Lies

Chapter 8

Trevor had rushed back to the museum as fast as he could, not even bothering to put Richard back at his book case when he got there. Not that Richard would have wanted to return. He felt just as involved in the ordeal as Trevor did.

            The grad student heard voices in the conference room, and after seeing the cop cars outside, he knew what was taking place. As he walked into the room, he saw many of the staff sitting teary eyed at the table, and police investigators scribbling on small note pads. Trevor took a seat by Mrs. Stuckfold, and she grabbed his hand for comfort as she dabbed her eyes with a beige handkerchief.

            "Hello, son." said a portly man with a thick moustache. "I'm inspector Longstrod. I'm the chief investigator in this case."

            Trevor shook his hand with a polite, "sir."

            "You were Dr. Weston's graduate student, yes? Trevor, isn't it?"

            "Yes, sir."

            "Well, Trevor, I understand how difficult this must be for you, but I'm afraid I have to ask you a few questions. It can be in private if you like. Mrs. Stuckfold has been kind enough to offer her office."

            Trevor nodded, giving Mrs. Stuckfold a gentle squeeze of the hand, then rising to join the inspector. Sir Richard was prudent enough to hide within Trevor's folded over collar.

          Neither of them knew what to expect, but Trevor debated whether or not he should tell Inspector Longstrod about his visit to the professor's house earlier this morning. He knew he had nothing to fear, as he was innocent, but he didn't want to give anyone reason to give the wrong idea.

            In fact, he told himself he shouldn't believe this is a murder in the first place until given more reason to think so. No one else knew of the Lady Arina's testimony, and it would certainly be hard to explain why Trevor suspected foul play while everyone else at this point believed it to be a simple car accident. He decided to play ignorant until he could reasonably share more information.

            The inspector lead him to the curator's office, took a seat behind the desk, and motioned for Trevor to sit as well. He looked around the old fashioned office, glancing over the books and ordered displays of ancient artifacts.

            "Tea?" Longstrod offered.

            Trevor wasn't really thirsty, but he took the cup just to have something to do with his hands.

            "One lump, or two?" the inspector asked.

            "Um.....five?" Trevor said.

            The inspector gave him a shifting look, then handed him the tea and sugar cubes. Apparently he could not bring himself to put so much sugar into a single cup of tea, and thought it best that Trevor do it himself.

            "So I understand that Dr. Weston had a dinner party last night." Longstrod said.

            "Yes. In celebration of his new fossils. It's kind of a big deal around here."

            "And do you know where those fossils are?"

             "No, sir." Trevor said. "Last I knew of, they were unloaded into our main storage area in the back on Tuesday."