Bitter Past by Caroline Fardig

Author:Caroline Fardig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romantic suspense, murder mystery, strong female lead, crime scene investigation, homicide detective, forensic criminalist
Publisher: Caroline Fardig

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

My jaw dropped. “What? Is he…?”

“Dead? I don’t think so. I think he bolted. According to his RA, Ogelsby left late last night with a couple of bags. He has a vehicle registered on campus, which seems to be gone as well. It’s not in any of the campus parking lots.”

“That makes him look kind of guilty, don’t you think?”

Baxter nodded. “That’s why we’re going to his dorm room to have a look around.” He gestured to the big silver case and a black camera bag at his feet. “I brought everything you need.”

I scrunched up my face. “Nick, I’m too tired to work another scene,” I complained. “I’m sure to miss something important.”

“I brought it just in case. Unless there’s some sign of struggle, which I doubt, you may not even need it. I’m hoping to find some clue as to where he went, because we’ve tried all of his and his parents’ contact numbers and received no response. I’m assuming his folks are hiding him. I want to know why.” He picked up the case from the floor and shouldered the bulky camera bag. “Ready to go? I’ll even carry your stuff for you.”

“What a gentleman.”

We headed outside into the afternoon sunlight. It had become muggy today—part of one last heat wave before it started cooling off for fall. Tad’s dorm, Harris Hall (named after Tyler’s family), was all the way across campus, so we had to hoof it a few blocks.

I felt Baxter staring at me, so I asked, “What?”

“I’ve been putting off telling you this…because I’m not sure how you’re going to take it,” he replied, seeming tense.

“I don’t know how my day could get much worse. Out with it.”

“Dudley Cooper wants to see you.”

I blew out a breath.

“I told him no. It would cause all kinds of trouble if your name ended up on his visitor log.”

Nodding, I said quietly, “I know.” Regardless of what was proper, I felt like I’d abandoned Cooper and even turned on him when he needed me the most. Hating the fact that he was stuck in jail thanks to me, I changed the subject. “I forgot to ask—what about the murder weapon? Did Beck find any evidence on the jump rope?”

Baxter shook his head. “Only some partial fingerprints belonging to Vanover and Sellers, and they were smudged. If the killer touched it, he was wearing gloves.”

“That’s not helpful. How about Eli’s clothes? Was there any cross-transfer on them?”

“There were some black cotton fibers, but you know you can’t determine the source of cotton. It’s too common. There was some blood, but it could be Vanover’s or more of what was under his fingernails. So there was evidence, but it’s likely a duplication of what we already had.”

“Again, useless.”

Smiling, he said, “Don’t get discouraged. Solving cases wouldn’t be nearly as fun if everything fell right into place.”

We arrived at Harris Hall, happy to be out of the heat and humidity. After Baxter flashed his badge and his search warrant at the front desk, the dorm director showed us to Tad and Eli’s room and let us in.

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