Murder in Primary Colors by Nora Barker

Author:Nora Barker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: university, amateur sleuth, fine arts, cozy murder, murder by unusual means
Publisher: Nora Barker

Chapter 11

Tuesday saw no end to the police presence in the Fine Arts Building. Chris arrived early knowing she would face some academic problems as a result of the death of the sculpture teacher. As a group, students could be remarkably single-minded when the issue of grades and course credits arose. As she anticipated, there were several people waiting for her, all with the same questions.

"How are we going to get graded in Sculpture II, Dr. Connery?"

"I heard we're going to have to repeat the class to get credit. Is that true?"

"Who do we turn our stuff in to for Three-D Design?"

Before nine Chris had created an ad hoc committee of art faculty to take over grading Bjornson's classes. Michael Windwalker, the ceramist, agreed to accept portfolios for those classes until Thursday morning at 10 a.m. and Chris posted signs to that effect around the department. When she was finished she stopped at the sculpture wing, which was cordoned off with crime scene tape, and asked the first officer she saw whether Hjelmer Ryquist was available. He wasn't.

"Do you know how long it will be before we can get into Richard's office?" she asked.

"No, Ma'am. You better ask Detective Sergeant Ryquist about that."

"It's just that we need his grade book and class assignments to be able to grade his students."

The officer just looked at her. So much for her attempt to return to business as usual.

It was nearly eleven before Ryquist showed up in the division office. Officers had been interviewing faculty and students in the conference room all morning, and Chris despaired of ever getting back to the business of ending fall semester. Her spirits lifted a little when he handed her a battered grade book.

"This what you were looking for, Doc?"

"Yes, thank you. I didn't think the officer I talked to was too interested in helping us find this."

"Oliver's a good man. He wouldn't let us screw you up more than we already have." Ryquist turned to leave.

"Hjelmer, we may need to get a look at Richard's files," Chris said as she thumbed through the book. It didn't have much recorded that would be helpful in assigning grades. There were lists of students for each of his three classes, but only mid-term grades recorded. Nothing more.

"We'll be done with his office this afternoon. I'll let you come down after that, okay?"

"Thanks. I'll be here whenever you're ready."

Chris watched his broad back as he disappeared into the outer office. Her phone rang.

"Chris? I have a couple of folders of stuff from Elizabeth's office that you might be interested in," Rachael Jacobsen began. "Shall I send them over or will you be getting coffee sometime soon?"

"I could use some coffee, come to think of it. I'll pick them up," Chris replied. "What exactly am I going to get?"

"Oh, just some files of newspaper and magazine clippings. I gave them a quick look and thought they might be of interest to someone in art history. Not much use to me, I'm afraid.

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