Conundrum (an Iris Reid mystery) by Susan Cory

Author:Susan Cory [Cory, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Susan Cory
Published: 2012-03-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

“I can be subtle, Ellie. Let me tackle Jerry and G.B. I’ll do my innocent ‘Columbo’ bit.”

“I know you can, Mack. It’s just that they have highly attuned bullshit detectors. If they’re the ones who murdered Will and think that we suspect them, we could be the next bodies dumped in the woods. So, be careful. If you can get them talking in some casual way, great. Otherwise, make small talk and wander off. I’ll do the same with Adam, Alyssa and C.C.”

The car lock chirped and they set out toward GSD for the Sunday luncheon finale. The hum of activity drew them through the lobby back to the first-floor lunch room which had been set up with a buffet so alums and professors could mill around or perch on chairs with plates teetering on their laps while they chatted. Roger Barton, Norman’s reunion co-chair, appeared to have finished or given up making any more official pitches.

After loading up his plate with mysterious pasta salads, Mack ambled toward G.B. and Jerry, sitting at a table by themselves.

Ellie overheard him say, “May I join you? We didn’t get much chance to talk Friday night. G.B., I’ve heard so much about your theory classes from my wife.”

They looked taken back by this boldness. A piece of potato salad fell off of Jerry’s fork as he stared. But appealing to G.B.’s vanity was a wise move. The professor’s chest seemed to puff up.

Good, Ellie thought. Mack’s foot is in the figurative door.

“Ellie may have ended up writing about architecture rather than practicing it, but I’d love to hear how you both go through the process of designing buildings. Do you really sketch on napkins?”

Brother. Mack was laying it on thick. But G.B. and Jerry seemed to loosen up, and five minutes later, Ellie was amazed to see the three of them engaged in a lively discussion. Meanwhile, she had parked herself near Alyssa and was waiting for her to finish sucking up to their former architectural history professor. She couldn’t see any of the other suspects.

“Professor Bachman, I kept hearing your words about the Minoans the entire time we wandered around Knossos.”

When the professor was finally rescued by other alums, Ellie swooped in.

“Hey Alyssa. Last day of the reunion—how do you think it’s gone?”

“Well,” she sighed dramatically. “I have to admit I’m disappointed. No one from our group was at the dinner dance last night. It was filled with all these background people that I didn’t even know. They were probably from Landscape or Urban Design. And Will’s death on Friday put such a damper on everything.” She looked as if she might stamp her foot and shake her curls at this rude disruption of her plans. “Do you know if they’ve found out yet who did it?”

“I haven’t heard of a suspect, but I think that the police have pretty much eliminated Iris.”

“But don’t they have any ideas about who it could have been?”

“None yet that I know of. Where are C.

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