Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Crossing Jordan. Anything else?

Author's Note: Big thanks to all of the three people who reviewed hinthintREVIEWhinthint Here is chapter numero dos…

Just Another Case

Chapter 2: Hoping for Answers

By: Nimmireth

The second Woody entered the observation room, Jordan began to ramble her theory. "Woody, he had something to do with this," she began.

"Oh boy, here we go," he complained. "What now, Jordan?"

"You know that powdery substance we found on Allison? Turns out its chalk; you know, like the chalk that teachers use," she explained.

"O.K. Wonderful. So…this guy who doesn't even know who Allison is just wakes up and decides 'Oh, I feel like raping and killing someone today,'" he pondered sarcastically.

"Woody, he's lying," she told him as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"How are you going to prove it, Jordan?"

"I don't know," she told him sadly. "But I will find a way. I know he did this!"

"Yeah…sure. Call me when you find something," he told her. He then patted her on the shoulder before leaving.

I will find a way, she told herself.

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ

The house was small, but perfect for a family of three; blue painted wooden planks, white shutters and a white door with a wreath that had lavender, lilies and a beautiful red rose in the exact center. Jordan went up and rang the doorbell.

Seconds later, a brown-haired, olive-skinned, blue-eyed soul was opening the door and set his eyes upon Jordan for the first time in his life. "May I help you?" he asked her.

"You're Derik Kleeman?"

"Yes, that's me."

"My name is Jordan Cavanaugh. I am part of the Massachusetts medical examiner's office. I just need to ask some follow-up questions about your wife, Allison," she politely explained.

"Sure, what do you need to know?" he asked sadly.

"Did Allison know a man named Collin Moon?"

The answer was not what she wanted to hear. "I'm not sure. I don't think so, but I've heard that name before."

"He was the man who found your wife at the beach."

He nodded. "Of course, now I remember. We were at the beach when I identified her. He was so kind to me. He asked me how I was doing, how Nicole—our daughter—was doing, offering me comfort, etc."

Another answer she didn't want to hear. She sighed. "Did you tell him anything about what happened to her?"

"No, he seemed to know more than I did."

That could be something. "Do you know if she took chemistry in college?"

"No. All I know is that she majored in the English department, she wanted to be a teacher," he told her.

"Did she work on the campus at Boston University?"

"No, but that's where she went to school."

Unsatisfied with his answers, she thanked him. "Thank you and I'm very sorry for your loss, Mr. Kleeman."

"I appreciate it. Good-bye, Dr. Cavanaugh."

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ

She was absolutely, positively, one-hundred percent certain that Professor Collin Moon was the culprit. But there were two problems; one, she didn't know how to prove it; two, there was no connection between them at all. She needed his DNA. That was the only way to prove it; DNA never lies. And she would get it; no matter what it takes she would get it. Whether it be with a warrant or without, whether he offered it or not; some way, some how, she was going to get it.

And that was why she left her office to go to Boston University: to get what she needed.

Once she arrived she found her way to the chemistry room and it brought back so many memories: she got a 95 on the first exam and Olivia Jenkins wouldn't talk to her for days because she 'messed up the bell curve'; she was walking down to her seat and the stupidest guy in the class, David Franco, pinched her butt; even the time when some random guy in the class who she didn't even know existed walked up to her before class and asked her to marry him. 'Nice try,' she had said to him.

She was so focused on her college memories that she didn't even realize a man walking out of his office to go get something to eat. "Oh, I wasn't expecting any visitors. What can I do for you?" he asked in a well-displayed cheerful voice.

"You are Professor Collin Moon, am I correct?"

"Yes, indeed. That would be me."

"I just wanted to ask a couple of questions about Allison Kleeman's death," she told him.

"Oh yes," she said with a sad face. Jordan figured he was faking it. "A terrible, terrible thing to happen to a wonderful child like her."

"A wonderful child? Did you know her?" she asked, even though she already knew the answer.

"No," he said; plain and simple.

She let it go. "Did you know if she even went to this school?"

"Yes. She majored in the English department next door. I've heard many things from my fellow colleague, Mrs. Hydlow. She told me so much about Allison; Janet absolutely adored her," Collin said with a smile on his face.

"She told you about her?" Jordan asked, appalled.

"Yes. Like I said, Janet adored her. She believed that Allison was a model student and hasn't had anyone quite like her since she graduated."

Now she didn't want to keep beating around the bush. She put down a little pack that she was carrying. "May I have a DNA sample?" she asked him.

"No," he told her before leaving his classroom to go get lunch.

I am going to get his DNA, no matter what it takes, she assured herself. I will.

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ

Maybe, just maybe she could find something out from this English teacher. And now Jordan was in Mrs. Janet Hydlow's English classroom waiting for her to come out of her office.

A young, blonde woman answered the door after Jordan knocked. "Hi, can I help you?"

"You are Mrs. Hyldow?" Jordan asked.

"Yes. What can I do for you?"

"Do you remember a student named Allison Kleeman?"

"Well, her name was Dunsford at the time, but of course I remember her. She graduated at the top of her class. She was kind, smart and quite a character, everyone loved her. Why do you ask?"

Jordan hesitated. "There's no easier way to tell you this, but she's dead."

Mrs. Hydlow gasped. "What! What happened to her?"

She also was reluctant to answer this question as well. "She was raped, and then murdered."

Her eyes grew. "Who would do something like that?"

"I don't know. That's why I wanted to ask you some questions about her."

"Alright."

"You told Collin Moon about her?"

She got real quiet after that. "Did he kill her?"

Again, Jordan said "I don't know."

"I swear I did not tell him of my own free will!"

"What do you mean?" Jordan asked.

Mrs. Hydlow then invited her inside and closed the door. "He made me. He made me tell him those things. He made me spy on her."

"What? How?" Jordan questioned.

She looked around as if checking to make sure that no one was watching. Then slowly, she lifted up her shirt until it reached her chest; there were huge marks that were black and blue and little mini scratches. Jordan went to get a closer look. "Collin Moon did this to you?" Janet nodded. "Why?"

"He thought that Allison was perfect for him. He wanted her so badly, it was disgusting. Who wouldn't? She was smart and beautiful; but then he had to punch me in order to even know her name, scratch me to know what year she was, and I had to get stitches after I had to tell him whether or not she had a boyfriend."

Jordan was still trying to take the information in when she asked "What did you tell him?"

"That she was getting married to Derik Kleeman. He was not too pleased about that. And that was when he threatened to kill us both. Thankfully, that was the year Allison graduated, but he didn't stop then. He asked me to e-mail her, keep in touch with her. Anything to find out how she was doing."

"Did you ever report this abuse?" Jordan wondered, still in a state of shock.

"No, every time he hurt me he threatened to hurt my family if I said anything," she told her, petrified.

Jordan took a couple breaths as it finally sank in. "Thank you for your time. I appreciate your help."

"The pleasure is all mine," Mrs. Hydlow said as she opened the door to allow Jordan out.

5