The stairs

Chapter 7

"Are you saying that this lock is not very secure?" asked Lex.

"Pretty much," said Cassie, "bypassing the fingerprint lock is not very difficult. You could get a friend to let you in, or you could just walk in if someone purposely left the door wedged open or taped the sensor. Leaving the lab isn't difficult, because you can just open it from the inside."

"It's one of the girls I just called," said Phillip, "she just texted me, saying the lock is a little scratched."

"There could be a good reason for that," said Lex, "Like trying to open the cupboard when you're tired. There should a security camera at the entrance to the building. Could you ask the university to check that and see if anyone who wasn't from the department opened it?"

"That's probably useless. I and a few other CS students go there regularly. I've also met a few others from robotics, and people are always bringing their friends along. Besides, there are others who just stop near any building that happens to be nearby when they need to use the university WiFi. Others also come in to see professors..."

"Alright, I get it, it's a stupid idea," said Lex, "is there a camera..."

"I'm asking them right now," said Phillip, "yes, there is a camera. One of them volunteered to ask the university security."

"You told them there was a murder?" asked Cassie.

"Yes, and those ghouls are very interested. We should just ask them to join the club," said Phillip.

"Okay. So, now let's wait for results from Anna and Rick," said Cassie.

"What are you three whispering about?" asked Robin. He and Rosa were walking towards them.

"What else can we talk about, given the situation?" asked Cassie.

"So, do you know who did it, Cassie?" asked Rosa.

"No, I have no idea at all. The murderer is pretty clever. Almost everything was accounted for, by the looks of it."

Lex and Phillip looked at each other. Both of them understood - Cassie's real suspects were Rosa and Robin. 

"So we'll have to live with the knowledge that there is a murderer in our midst," said Robin, "I, for one, don't want to live with that. I mean, even if they weren't arrested, I wouldn't mind knowing someone is a murderer who hacked someone to death openly, but to live with them, knowing that someone could have poisoned an acquaintance in cold blood..."

"Surely, the police will find out," said Rosa, "they're not Cassie, or us. They aren't amateurs, this is their job. I'm just worried about how the university will take it. They can't expel someone because they're a suspect..."

"Yes, not until the police has reason to arrest them," said Lex, "I don't think we'll be expelled. Still, the rules will probably become super strict."

"It's a university. There are no real rules," said Robin.

"Detective Clark's back," said Cassie, "finally, we can go talk to her."

Cassie didn't wait for a reply. Lex followed her, Phillip followed him, and the other two followed Phillip. Mark and Beryl also got up. Detective Clark looked frustrated for a second, but decided to tell everyone the results anyway.

"I have verified that Cassie, Robin, Phillip, Mark, Beryl, and Lex entered the mall when they said they did. So far, we're still trying to locate all of you inside the mall. We've been successful with some, less successful with others. One entrance had its camera obscured by a tree branch, another by a billboard, and one side of yet another by a decoration. That probably explains why we have no record of Rosa entering the mall, but that also means that any of you could have entered the mall without being spotted."

"Did you try asking the security?" asked Robin.

"We're doing that right now," said Detective Clark, "okay, let me tell you something interesting. Right now, we don't have enough evidence to determine who the killer is. We don't even have a real suspect. That means, if you confess now, you will receive a reduced sentence. If you wait until we actually find the evidence, well, this is clearly a premeditated murder. You're looking at serious prison time." 

Cassie studied her suspects carefully. Rosa was looking at everyone without making it too obvious. Robin's face was almost expressionless, but his posture was a little stiff. Mark did not look too happy about what Detective Clark said.

"Is that your strategy?" he asked, quietly. Detective Clark shot him and inquiring look.

"I asked you whether this is your strategy. Lorna died, and it's been over three hours, and the best thing you can do is ask whether any of us is willing to confess? You just keep dusting stuff, taking photos, walking around, and making sure we don't do anything, but so far, you don't even have a suspect!"

"Look, police work takes time," said the older policeman, "We can collect samples and send them to the labs, but processing things takes time. You're going to have to be patient."

"First of all, why are you so sure it's one of us?" chimed in Beryl, "there were two others from our group alone, who just happened to be outside the mall when you shut us in. Besides the university is pretty close by, and I am sure there were a few others from our university in here - except you already sent everyone else home and now you're determined to find one of us guilty."

"True, you don't have a reason to hold us," said Robin.

Cassie took a deep breath. She could discuss this with the detectives in private, but she wanted to see everyone's reactions. It was probably a risky thing to do, she thought, but Cassie's curiosity was eating her. 

"Why don't we all explain our relationships with Lorna and each other once again?" asked Cassie, "I'll start. I've seen her around the campus quite a bit, and I did chat with her a bit once the detective club started. I've actually met her about twice, in detective club meetings. As for the others, I've known Lex for some time, and I've run into Phillip in the labs. I know Rosa about as well as I know Lorna. I took a lecture with Robin in the first semester, but we haven't really stayed in touch. I didn't know anything about Mark and Beryl until today. Lex, your turn."

"What's the purpose of this?" asked the older detective.

"Well, let's hear them out," said Detective Clark, "and once we're done, we'll do a simple search and then you're free to go. We'll get in touch with you later."

"Leslie, you can't decide on that..."

"I can, John. At any rate, I want to hear them out. I'm recording you, though. Continue, Lex."