In Death 29 - Kindred in Death

look, the rhythm, the feel.
    She made her way into Administration, offered her badge for scanning. “I have an appointment with Dr. Lapkoff.”
    The guard nodded, read the scan. “She put you on the log, cleared you through.”
    He shifted, gave her quick, concise directions to the office of the president.
    Rarified, Eve thought as she took the stairs. The air, the architecture. The Urban Wars had missed defiling or destroying most of the older buildings here. She imagined there were contemporary touches—cams, security, alarms, animated guides. But they’d tucked them away, out of view so the ambiance was age and tradition.
    Before she’d reached the offices, a man of about thirty in one of those slick suits crossed the wide marble floor and waylaid her.
    “Lieutenant Dallas?” His smile was as slick as his suit, his accent faintly, very faintly, Italian. “I’m Dr. Lapkoff’s administrative assistant. She’d like me to bring you right in.”
    Good-looking guy, she noted, but he’d never pass for nineteen again. And his mocha skin couldn’t be mistaken for white. Too bad, the admin of the president would’ve been an excellent possibility.
    “How many people work in this building, administratively?”
    “In the summer?”
    “No, fall through spring.”
    “I can certainly get you that information. Dr. Lapkoff has an administrative assistant, an executive secretary, and a personal assistant. Each of us also has an assistant. Then, of course, there’s the provost and his staff, the vice presidents and theirs. Right this way.”
    He led her through a reception area and straight into the president’s domain.
    She’d thought it would be more posh and intimidating. Instead, despite its grand scale and dignified antiques, it looked like the office of a very busy woman. It boasted an excellent view of the campus and a stingy seating area comprised of worn furniture and upholstery faded by time and sun.
    Still, the wall of photographs and degrees could project the intimidating. As could the woman who rose from behind a big, cluttered desk.
    Her height and build earned her the term statuesque , and the strong features vied for dominance with the laser blue eyes.
    Eve imagined that piercing look had given recalcitrant students, faculty, and donors alike a good chill.
    “Lieutenant, thank you for coming, and for being so prompt.” She strode around the desk with the gait of a woman who got where she was going with minimum detours and shook Eve’s hand briskly. “Harry, let’s get Lieutenant Dallas some coffee.”
    “No, thanks.”
    “No? You can go Harry. Lieutenant.” She gestured to a chair, then circled behind her desk again. The position of power. “I understand you paid a visit to one of our dorms last night.”
    “Correct.”
    “I asked Darian about it this morning. He’s afraid he might be in trouble, and is considerably upset about the circumstances.”
    “He’s not in trouble with me. The circumstances are upsetting.”
    “They are. Darian is an excellent student with only a few minor infractions. I vetted his record thoroughly and personally this morning. I’m concerned that one of our students was used to commit a crime, and one of this nature. We’ve provided you with the data you re quested.”
    “Appreciated.”
    Lapkoff sat back, smiled a little. The smile softened her face, but the eyes remained bold and sharp. “You’re annoyed with being summoned here, so to speak. I understand. We’re women of position and authority, and being summoned grates.”
    “Murder grates, Dr. Lapkoff, a hell of a lot more.”
    “Yes, it does. I didn’t ask you to come just to satisfy my curiosity. Though I admit I wanted a look at Roarke’s cop. And Jamie Lingstrom’s. I’ve taken an interest in Jamie, as he brought us Roarke.”
    Those piercing blue eyes sparked with amusement for a moment. “Again, so to speak.”
    “Roarke’s taken a personal interest in Jamie.”
    “So I’m told. And I understand from Darian Jamie’s also connected to this girl.” She angled her head. “Another thing I imagine we share is an ability to interrogate and elicit information.” She waited a moment. “And to keep information to ourselves. I appreciated your discretion, Lieutenant, but—”
    She leaned forward again. “This isn’t just my job. This university and all that goes with it are my responsibility. And my passion. The obvious conclusion is this university may be connected to Deena