"Possible suspect," Jo explained to Henry. "Parker Donaldson. World History professor at NYU. Threatened to kill Tanaka a week ago in front of a crowd of people at an auction house."

vvvv

Jo stood in front of the wooden desk across from Prof. Donaldson while Henry paced slowly around the office eyeing the various books, artifacts, and photos. One of a white-haired man, an older version of the professor, caught his eye. He picked up the photo for a closer look at it. It showed the man standing in what looked like a study with a small collection of bladed weapons mounted on a small area of one wall.

Jo maintained an awareness of Henry's movements, wishing that he would rejoin her to help question the professor but also eager to know what information his astute observations were gathering. She watched Donaldson frown as he studied Tanaka's morgue photo. He sighed and picked up the photo, bringing it closer to him. He then handed it back to her with a condemning verdict. "The man was a fake."

"Much like this collection of weapons in this photo?" Henry stated more than asked.

Donaldson looked at Henry and deepened his frown. Schooling his features, he shifted his weight in his chair and grunted a stiff denial.

Henry walked closer to stand by Jo, the photo in his hands. "You've never had the items appraised?" he asked as he gave the photo to Donaldson.

"It wasn't necessary!" Donaldson snapped at him. ""That collection took my father years to accumulate. I resent your implications, Sir. He was a first-rate collector and knew all about priceless artifacts."

"And you ... ?" Henry asked, raising his head slightly.

Donaldson sighed as he placed the photo on the desk in front of him. "He tried to teach me. Just ... didn't have the head or the heart for it, I guess," he replied with a shrug, clearly embarrassed. "Figured that the least I could do was pretend to understand what he did." He scoffed with a pained smile. "You know what they say about those who can, do. Those who can't ... " Teach is what he knew he didn't have to say.

The unofficial partners exchanged a questioning look before Jo returned to the reason for their visit. "What can you tell us about the victim, Mr. Tanaka?" she asked. "Other than him having been a fake," she quickly added.

Donaldson virtually repeated what The Frenchman had told them about Tanaka. "He was just out to make a buck. The last auction he attended, I was there, too. Thought I had enough money to outbid him for once." Donaldson shook his head and ran his hand over his unruly, mingly-gray hair. "Guy always seemed to have deeper pockets than anyone else when he'd finally choose to bid on an item."

"What was the item he had outbid you for?" Jo asked even though she suspected it was the replicant sword. When he confirmed her suspicions, she said, "You then threatened to kill him. In front of a roomful of witnesses."

"I lost my head," he admitted. "We grappled with each other. Yeah, the police were called but I didn't kill him."

"Where were you between 8:30 and midnight last night?" she asked him.

"At a dinner, one of those boring fundraisers, for the University," he replied. "You haven't really suffered until you've partaken of room-temperature creamed spinach and under-cooked medallions of beef," he cynically informed them.

"And your attendance can be verified?" Jo asked.

"Why, sure," he replied. "One moment." He reached into his center desk drawer and pulled out a three-fold brochure announcing the fundraiser. He handed it to her and she handled it with blue gloves. "Is that really necessary?" he asked with a slight grin. "I mean you're handling it like it's ... evidence or something."

"Just following protocol," she replied while reading it. She dropped it into a plastic evidence bag and zipped it up. Then, she handed it to Henry so he could read it. "And your attendance can be verified by either the organizers or some of the attendees?" she asked.

"Sure, sure," he replied. "I was there all evening."

They thanked him and left. As they walked to Jo's car, they shared their thoughts on their conversation with the Professor.

"You're frowning," Jo stated. Henry turned his head slightly to look at her. "Means you're thinking. And if you're frowning and thinking, you have some doubts about his story."

"Quite observant, Detective," Henry replied, both surprised and delighted that this woman he barely knew was beginning to recognize some of his behavior patterns. "That collection. Why would someone purported to be an expert at identifying ancient weaponry create a shrine to reproductions?"

Jo shrugged slightly. "The fakes cost less? Maybe his father was simply a cheapskate," she speculated.

"Perhaps," he somewhat agreed before they both got into her car..

"I hear a 'but' in there somewhere," she wryly noted.

He gave a soft chuckle before replying. "You hear corectly, Detective."

vvvv

Sorry this chapter is so short but I have battling scenarios for how this story is going to turn. So, rather than have anyone still interested wait, I offer this for now. C'mon, typing fingers and jittery brain, git dat story down on paper!