The Hunt

Nine

Three days later

"Henry Campbell's body was found yesterday in the parking lot of Sibley Memorial Hospital.  The victim, a well known radiologist, was 37 years old and leaves wife and three kids. He's the last man to be killed during the last weeks, after National Gallery employee Martin Bennett and lawyer Arthur Vernon, Congressman Lawrence Vernon's eldest son. Metropolitan Police Department hasn't provided any information on the investigation, and..."

I left the Post on the kitchen counter and poured some more coffee in my cup. Things were getting complicated with this last murder, and the Commissioner kept pressing us to get some results on the investigation. And the fact that all three victims were former Harvard alumni was no reason for them being killed. Mark and I had thoroughly analyzed every single detail of their lives there, and they were pristine clean.

"Is there any more coffee?" Jack appeared in the kitchen and kissed my neck. 

"Morning honey," I held his hand, not really paying attention to him " Yeah, I think there's some left. God, what now?" I said in exasperation as Imperial March sounded in my cell phone. "Mitchell."

"Detective,  this is Commissioner Dennis.  I have to talk to you. Could you manage to be in one hour in my office?"  As usual, Commissioner went straight to the point.

I hesitated for just a second before answering " Good morning, Ma'am. I will be there by nine."

"Who was that?" A puzzled Jack asked me.

"The Commissioner herself , she wants to see me. I'd better get ready, have to be at her office in one hour."

"Go, I do the dishes. And good luck."

Feeling insecure about what Commissioner might want, I parked my car at 1050 First Street and walked into the impressive building. Mark was already there, going through the security control.

"She phoned you too?" He said as way of greeting me.

"A while ago, yeah. Wonder what she will want." 

We took the elevator up to the tenth floor, where Commissioner Margaret Dennis had her office. She was in her late forties and was the first woman chosen to be Commissioner since the Department had been created. Despite some hesitating first steps in her new position, she had managed to gain the respect of each and every officer in the Force.

"Good morning, Detectives. Take a seat, please." She gestured us to sit on the white leather sofa. "As you will imagine, I wanted to talk to you about the recent murders . I talked to your Detective Chief and he informed me you have no clues yet."

"Only the one leading us to Harvard  but it's no reason for committing a crime. But there was a weird accident some time ago, a Detective fell down when he was mending his roof. "

"And you think that death is connected to these ones?"

"So it seems, Ma'am. Something happened there and the killer wants to keep it hidden."

"And he's eliminating any possible witness of it. " Commissioner Dennis  thought for a moment "I will talk to Cambridge Detective Chief and tell them you're going there. Whatever happened there is the key to solve this case. Good luck, Detectives."

"Thanks Ma'am, " I said.

****

"Your car or mine?" Mark asked as we went back to the station 

"Mine better, I want to familiarize with it and nothing like a road trip to do it." I opened the folder  containing my sister's policial file and dialed Miller's number.

"Warden Miller."

"Good morning, Warden, this is Detective Mitchell from Washington. I should have called you yesterday, but we're in the middle of a complicated case."

"No problem at all, Detective. Did you manage to read the file?"

"I don't understand why my sister got involved with this people. She was always problematic but not to this extent."

"People change, don't they? Listen, there's something you should know. Someone paid the bail for your sister, she left the Center last night."

"I see." I took air, dreading the idea of Ellen coming to Washington "Any idea about who paid it?"

"She didn't say, just left the Center."

"Okay. Thanks and good day, Warden."

I hung up the phone and went back home to pick some clothes before hitting the road. On my way, I phoned Jack 

"Hey sweetie, how was it with the big boss?"

"Not that bad. Look, I have to go home now, Mark and I are going to Harvard. Will you manage to have a quick coffee? I want to be there tonight."

"Have they sent you back to University?"  I heard Jack's sexy laughter "Yeah, we can meet in , let's say half an hour. I'll go home okay?"

"Fine. Love you!"

I was eating something when Jack arrived finally home."Sorry I'm late, Gene wanted to check the plans of the new mall we're working on. What was that about Harvard?"

"The only actual clue leads us there, and that's all I will say. I'm not allowed to discuss cases with civilians." I said, putting my arms around Jack's neck.

"Oh, you aren't, huh? Not even with a good looking middle aged architect like me?"

"With you less than with any other one. But...if you want to interrogate me..."

"I have one hour . Enough to make you confess." He said kissing the lobe of my ear.