Chapter 26: Death Strikes Again
******The Next Day******
Wednesday morning Logan and Veronica went to campus like they do every school day. However, there was something different about today. There was a stillness on campus that hadn't been there before. Veronica felt her spidey sense tingling.
"Something's going to happen today," she murmured.
"What?" Logan asked, leaning down.
"It's a feeling. I think the killer using two different methods is evidence that he's experimenting. And he's nowhere near done," she said as they stopped in front of his classroom building.
Logan frowned. "Promise me you'll be careful," Logan said.
"I'm always careful," she said. "But, Logan, solving crimes is in my blood. It's going to be my career. I've taken it easy the past year or so, but that's not going to continue forever. If there's a way I can help with this case, I'm going to."
Logan felt a sick, but he didn't argue. He knew her involvement was inevitable. "You got your Taser, right?" he asked.
"I don't leave home without it," she said, leaning up to kiss him goodbye. "Do good in school."
He gave her a faint smile before going into his English class. Daisy and Jason were already there. "Hey, guys," he said, sitting in his normal seat next to Jason. Daisy always sat in front of him.
"Good morning," Jason said, smiling.
"Any news on the case?" Logan asked.
"So far, we can't seem to find a link between the two girls. They both go here, but that's it. One's a jock; one's not. One's Greek; one's not. They don't have the same friends. They've not even had the same classes once, and this is a small school," Jason said, clearly frustrated.
"Maybe it's random," Logan said. "The killer is just grabbing girls that are easy."
"Yes, that's one theory," Jason said. "I'd prefer that. I wouldn't worry so much about all our girls."
Logan grimaced. "If this case isn't solved soon, I just know Veronica will find a way to be in the middle of it," he said.
"I'm moving in with Jason until it's over," Daisy said. "Mr. Worrywart is freaking."
Jason gave her a disgruntled look. "It's not freaking to want to keep the woman I love safe. Your house has already seen one killer break in to it. Forgive me if I don't want to place your life in the hands of a security system," he said.
Daisy smiled at him. She may complain, but it was just posturing. She loved how overprotective he was. It made her feel warm and safe. "I don't mind waking up to you every day," she said, leaning over and kissing him.
"Don't make me get the hose!" Logan quipped, grinning at the two of them.
The professor came in and further discussion was put to an end. Logan winked at Jason. "Young love," he said with a dramatic sigh. Jason just laughed as he opened their textbook.
*****Elsewhere on Campus*****
A man who once loved Mac woke up with a yawn. He'd been up all night working on a midterm project. He stretched and frowned when his arm hit something. Turning, he gasped in horror. His hand came back bloody. Then his eyes focused on the source of the blood.
"No! No! No!" he exclaimed, putting his hand to the face of the woman he loved. "Oh, God, Autumn. Who did this?" He sat up and looked around. She was on top of the covers, a single gunshot to her head. There was so much blood that she had to have been killed here. Fear and grief rolled within him. A smart man, he knew that this looked really bad. A killer on campus and his girlfriend dead in his bed. He reached for his phone, scrolling through the contacts.
"Veronica? This is Max. I need you."
*****The Cafeteria*****
Veronica was drinking coffee with Mac and Dick before their ten o'clock class in the cafeteria. Dick was sharing a tale when Veronica's phone rang. She frowned down at the caller id. "Why would your ex be calling me?" Mac exchanged a confused look with Dick as Veronica pushed the accept button on her cell.
"Hello," she said. She listened to Max's frantic cry for help.
"Come to the dorm! You should probably call your dad," he said.
"Why? What's wrong?" she asked, glancing at Mac in concern.
"My girlfriend Autumn is here in my bed, and I woke up with her dead," he revealed.
"What?" she asked in dismay.
"Someone shot her, and I'm covered in her blood!" he wailed. "I swear to God, Veronica, I didn't do it! You gotta come help me!"
"Okay, I'll be right there," she said, hanging up.
"What happened?" Mac asked.
"Max's girlfriend is dead," she replied. She pushed four on her speed dial. "Dad. You need to get to campus. A guy I know just called me. His girlfriend is dead in his room."
Mac exchanged a horrified look with Dick. In unison, they all rose and headed to the dorms. When they got to the room, Veronica turned to her friends. "You two should not enter the room. Too many people inside the room can disturb the crime scene," she advised. She knocked.
A wild-eyed looking Max opened the door. He was covered in blood. "Thank God you're here!" he exclaimed.
Veronica tried to peer into the room. "My dad is on his way," she said. She didn't step far into the room; her dad would kill her. She just looked enough to confirm that a dead girl was on the bed.
"What happened?" she asked.
It was like Max didn't hear her completely. He saw Mac. "Mac, you know me! You know I'd never hurt anyone!" he said frantically.
When he reached out to touch her, Dick pulled her back. "Keep your damn bloody hands off of her!" Dick protested.
"It's okay, Dick," Mac said easily.
"I didn't see Autumn last night because I had a project to work on," Max explained.
"For Harrison?" Mac asked knowingly. That particular science teacher was notorious for his midterm projects. Mac had him last semester.
He nodded. "Yeah. I'm not sure what time I crashed, but I woke up, and she was next to me. Just like that!" he turned, pointing at her. His eyes filled with tears. "I'd never hurt her!"
"We can't disturb any evidence, Max, so remain calm," Veronica said as soothing as possible. "My dad will be here soon. Then you can clean up, and we'll get to the bottom of this."
Dick didn't want to be at a crime scene. He sure as hell didn't want Mac in the same place as a dead body with her ex, who probably killed the girl!
"We should go," Dick said to Mac.
"I don't think we should leave Veronica. Not until her dad gets here," Mac said.
Luckily, Keith arrived shortly. He gave Veronica an angry look. "Veronica, get away from the crime scene!" he ordered.
"I barely stepped in, Dad! I swear!" she protested.
"We stayed right here, sir," Mac added quickly.
"This is not a place any of you should be," Keith said in disapproval.
"You forget who called whom," Veronica said with a glare.
Keith frowned but refrained from arguing. He stepped into the room, listening as Max explained his waking nightmare. When Max started sobbing and fell to his knees, Mac made a move to step in.
Dick pulled her back. "There is no way in hell you are going near that guy!" he exclaimed, his blood boiling at the thought.
"He's falling apart, Dick," she said, upset. "He just lost the woman he loves."
"Who he probably killed," Dick said firmly. "I'm not about to risk mine with you getting involved."
Mac knew Keith probably wouldn't let her go in anyway. She turned to Veronica. "Will you call me and let me know what's going on?" she asked.
"Of course," Veronica said. "I'm not going anywhere until I find out what Dad's going to do."
"Will he get arrested?" Mac asked, frowning.
"Probably. He's got all the physical evidence. It's his girlfriend," Veronica pointed. "However, they'll check him for gun powder residue and look for the murder weapon."
"Do you think it's the serial killer or just a lover's quarrel?" Dick inquired.
"That's what Dad will have to determine," Veronica said, glancing at the scene. A deputy was already removing Max's shirt and bagging it. When the door shut, she figured they were taking all his clothes.
"I just can't see Max killing anyone," Mac said, upset at the thought.
"I can't either, but I also never would've picked Cassidy as a rapist or mass murderer," Veronica reminded her.
"Why do you have to go there?" Dick said in annoyance. He hated that his baby brother would always be remembered as that. He'd been so much more than a killer. Dick would never understand, but he also couldn't stop caring about his brother's memory either.
"It's natural, Dick," Mac said easily. "It's what I'm thinking. Surely, I didn't date another killer?"
Dick put his arm around her, immediately seeking to soothe. "No way. Of course, Max didn't do it. He's too spineless to even buy a gun, let alone shoot one!" Dick had no trouble changing his tune on a dime. Regardless of how much he didn't want Mac around the dude, he also didn't want her traumatized by thinking another ex of hers was a killer.
Mac sighed and let him lead her out of the dorms. They went to their shared humanities class. While the professor was lecturing, Dick sent Logan a text. He knew that his best friend would want to know exactly where his wife was.
Logan was still in his Milton class when he received Dick's long text. An enraged, "Damn it!" escaped his lips as he got to his feet. He didn't even grab his stuff. He just took off.
Daisy and Jason exchanged an alarmed glance. Jason beg the professor's forgiveness on Logan's behalf while Daisy grabbed Logan's abandoned bag and book. "A family emergency! We're so sorry!"
Daisy wasn't about to stick around and miss out on whatever had Logan tearing out of the class. Jason gave the professor one last apologetic look and quickly followed suit.
They spotted Logan sprinting toward the dorms. Jason called his phone.
"What the hell's going on?" Jason asked when Logan answered.
"Head to Stevenson Hall," Logan barked.
By the time they made it there, Logan was barred from entering by a police officer. When they approached, he was yelling. "I'm the sheriff's son! My wife is up there! Let me pass!"
"Logan, calm down," Leo said as he came out the door with a handcuffed Max.
"What's going on?" Logan asked. "Why are you arresting Mac's ex?"
"His girlfriend was dead in his bed," Leo said.
"Is he the serial killer?" Jason asked, looking at the guy. He was crying and seemed a far cry from any killer Jason had ever imagined.
"I'm no killer!" Max exclaimed, wide-eyed. "I didn't kill her! I loved her!"
"Where's Veronica?" Logan asked. He looked at the entrance, waiting for her to appear.
"She'll be down in a minute. She's talking to her dad," Leo said.
Logan waited impatiently while Jason took out his cell to call his partners and tell them what was happening. A few minutes later, Veronica came down with Keith.
"Are you okay?" Logan asked, rushing up to her.
"I'm fine," Veronica said. She filled them in on what was going on.
"Do you think this guy did it?" Jason inquired.
"My first instinct is no," Veronica asked. "However, it's too soon to be definitive."
"We'll have to investigate him," Jason said. "Since you know him, I bet you can get further than anyone."
Logan glared at Jason, who ignored him. It was past time Logan stopped trying to keep Veronica from who she was.
"I will help. Dad, though, will find out everything. We can trust him. Unlike the previous sheriff, my dad has more than clue!" she replied.
Keith was putting Max into a patrol car when a man in a suit came up to him. "Sheriff Mars, before the suspect leaves, I need to speak to him," the man said.
Keith looked at the man closely. He looked familiar. "Lamb?" he asked.
Veronica turned at the mention of the name. She stepped toward her father.
"Yes, Dan Lamb," the guy said, holding out his hand. "I believe you knew my brother Don."
Keith shook his hand. "I'm so sorry for your loss," Keith said.
Dan smirked. "Yeah, I bet you are," he said. "Look, the university has hired me to head their security. Things are getting out of hand around here. I need to be kept in the loop."
Keith decided to find out more about the older brother, who'd been in the army when Don was working for him. He probably wasn't the same as his brother, so Keith wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. "Why don't you come to the police station? You can be with me when I question him," Keith said.
Dan gave him a pleased look. "Thanks," he said.
Veronica narrowed her eyes at the guy, instantly suspicious. There was no way any brother of Don Lamb's was to be trusted.
*****A Few Hours Later*****
Mac managed to get through the rest of her classes, but she felt distracted all day. She just couldn't get the image of Max covered in blood out of her mind. He and she had been good together once. After Cassidy, she'd dated one other guy before Max. However, Max was the one she thought she sort of loved. He'd done much to reassure her that she wasn't messed up. They'd had so much in common. There was just no way that he could've killed someone. She refused to believe it, so she had to help him.
She pulled out her phone and called Veronica.
"Veronica, can you call Cliff? I don't want Max to be questioned much longer without a lawyer," Mac said when she answered. "He's so upset that I doubt he's requested one."
"I'll call him," Veronica said.
Mac said goodbye, relieved. That was the least she could do.
She met Dick outside of his last class. He gave her a hug. "You doing okay, babe?" he asked. He took her hand as they walked together to the parking lot like they did every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
"I guess," she replied. "I had Veronica call Cliff, so Max would have someone in his corner."
"That's good," Dick said carefully. He didn't want to upset her, but he also didn't want her to get involved. However, he didn't suppose sending the guy a lawyer was getting too involved.
"I just can't believe this has happened," Mac muttered as they approached the door of his truck. Dick opened for her.
"You know it's not really your problem," Dick said as he put on his seatbelt.
"Max's my friend, Dick. I care about him," Mac said. She knew Max was a touchy subject, but she couldn't just abandon him when things were such a nightmare for him.
"I know you do, babe, but you can't say for certain that Max didn't kill his girlfriend," Dick said. "You and he haven't exactly been best buds lately. You don't know what's really going on between them."
"I know him," Mac said stubbornly. "I know he'd never have hurt his girlfriend. He was crazy about her, Dick. We have at least one class together every semester. I do talk to him. Enough to know that Autumn made him happier than I've ever seen him."
Dick sighed. He didn't want to fight with her over Max—not again.
*****The Next Day*****
Lauren walked into school with Ryan. Kristen came up and greeted her boyfriend. Then she gave Lauren a sly look. "So I heard that you have a hot date tomorrow!" she said.
Ryan glanced at Lauren in surprise. "Really? Why don't I know that?" he asked.
"Because I don't tell you everything!" Lauren said with a grin. Scott had sat by her in choir the day before. Today, she hoped he'd eat lunch with her. She had decided to ask him to during choir practice. Their date was set for tomorrow.
"Since when?" Ryan asked with a wounded look.
Kristen rolled her eyes. "She's a girl, Ryan. We don't tell guys all our secrets!" she insisted.
Brad came in, overhearing that remark. "What secrets? Who has secrets?" he asked with interest.
"Lauren's got a hot date tomorrow night," Kristen said with a smile.
"How could that be? I don't remember asking her out," Brad said, winking at her.
Lauren was uncomfortable but didn't know how to reply, so she said nothing.
"It's with Scott," Kristen supplied, rolling her eyes. Sometimes Brad's arrogance wasn't as charming as he thought it was.
"Wyatt?" Ryan asked with interest.
Brad frowned, not liking that news. He thought of something he could say that would put her off the idea. However, he didn't know anything bad about Scott. He was a decent enough fellow. Too much into musicals, but if he was asking out Lauren, he wasn't gay like some teased. "Can I talk to you?" he asked Lauren. He pulled her away from Ryan, who gave him a knowing smirk. Whatever. He wasn't jealous. Lauren can go out with whomever she wanted.
"I'm not sure why you care who I go out with," Lauren said, giving him a haughty look. "You made it clear that you didn't want to go out with me yourself."
Brad felt a pang of guilt. He'd hurt her. It was the last thing he'd wanted to do. "No, that's not it. I was wanting to know if you did what you said you were going to do? Did you tell your mom about how you've been feeling?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yes. I have an appointment Monday," she said.
"Why are you waiting so long? What if something is really wrong?" he asked.
"The rash hasn't spread. Mom thinks I'm achy because of growing pains," Lauren said. "I'm not throwing up or anything, so it's not an emergency."
Brad frowned, not happy. However, he didn't know what he should say. If her parents weren't worried, he probably shouldn't be either. Yet the worried feeling in his stomach didn't waver.
At lunch, Lauren was sitting next to Scott. Ryan and Kristen were across from them. He had never felt like a fifth wheel before, but he didn't want to join them. When Amanda waved at him, he smiled and headed to her table.
"So it looks like Scott finally asked Lauren out, huh?" Nicole said, trying to act casual.
"Looks like," Brad said with a shrug. He wasn't about to discuss his personal thoughts with either of these girls.
"I heard Scott tell one of his friends that they were going to go to Hey Day," Nicole said, trying to get a reaction out of Brad.
Hey Day was a game arcade. It also had laser tag and lots of other fun stuff. It was a place teens love to go to if they desired good, clean fun. "I'm sure they'll have fun," he said with disinterest. That wasn't the place a guy took a girl if he was looking for seduction. Brad relaxed; Lauren should be okay.
*****The Beach House*****
Veronica hung up the phone. "Looks like they're finally releasing Max on bail today sometime. He's got a hearing at nine," she told Logan.
"They're going to let him go? Are they charging him?" Logan asked.
"They didn't find any gun residue, but that doesn't prove much. He could've wore gloves," she said.
"Did they find any gloves?" Logan asked.
She shook her head. "Dad, isn't sure what to think. Max didn't waver under hours of questioning. He seemed genuinely heartbroken and confused. One of the guys on the floor who had stopped by his room late last night to ask him something said he was alone. So far no one remembers Autumn being on the floor," Veronica said.
"So you think they'll let him out on bail?" Logan asked.
"Probably. I don't think he's a flight risk. Bail is set at $50,000. He has to come up with $5,000 for a bails bondman," Veronica explained.
"Is he still selling answers to tests?" Logan asked. "He has the money?"
"I'm not sure about his side business, but his parents will post bail Dad says," Veronica said.
"So what does your profile of him say? Could he do this? Do you think this death is linked to the others?" Logan asked.
"That's the thing. How could there be another death of a girl on campus that isn't connected to the others? That seems like too big of coincidence to me," Veronica said. "Nick agrees with me. But do we look at Max as a suspect for all of them? That just seems so unlikely. A crime of passion, maybe. Serial killer? Max just doesn't seem to fit."
"Did you guys already work up a murder board?" Logan asked, fighting a grin. She had spent several hours yesterday evening at J&E working up a profile, trying to see if there were connections between Autumn and the other two girls.
"Yep," she said, grinning at him. "We had loads of fun. You should've came!"
"I think you have enough men fawning over you and your genius," he said, pretending jealousy.
Veronica threw herself on his lap, her arms going around his neck. "I thought you were my number one fan," she said, giving him a coy smile.
"Oh, I am," he said, grinning down at her. "But I don't want to keep holding you back. And it's hard for me, you know that."
"I love you," she said softly, grateful. He was really trying to give her some space with the case. She knew how difficult it was. He wasn't sleeping well already.
Logan kissed her, trying to ignore the growing fear. Things were different now. She wasn't as reckless or impulsive. She thought about him now before she made any decisions. He knew that. "I know I have to get used to you solving cases again one day. It's probably good you keep your hand in it from time to time. It'll make things easier in the long run."
Veronica rested her head on his chest. She was so incredibly lucky to have a partner who truly understood her needs even if he didn't like them. She made a promise to herself not to do anything to betray his faith in her.
*****Mac's*****
Mac drained her coffee cup and put it in the sink. She'd rinse it later. She was running late. "Dick, come on!" she hollered.
Dick came into the kitchen. "What's the rush? You don't have a nine o'clock class," he pointed out.
"I got a text from Veronica. Max's bail hearing is at nine. I want to be there, so you can drop me off," Mac said.
A stormy look came into Dick's eye. "You're going to go to his bail hearing?" he asked in surprise. His mind raced. How could he convince her to back off?
"I am, Dick. He needs my support," she said. "I need yours."
Dick sighed in resignation. "Fine. But I'm going with you," he said firmly. There was no way he was just going to drop her off at court to spend time with an accused murderer.
They saw Dan Lamb sitting in the back of the bail hearing. He nodded at them in acknowledgment. Mac guessed the university would be very interested in what was going on here today. She wouldn't want to be the dean.
The D. A. tried to protest bail, citing the fact that another dead girl on campus was too much of a coincident. Cliff protested, pointing out that there was no evidence linking his client to any other deaths. The judge agreed. Bail was set.
Max smiled at Mac, looking relieved to see her. While Cliff went with Max's dad to post bail, Mac and Dick waited with Max.
"I can't believe this is happening!" Max complained, rubbing his eyes. "I don't think I've ever been this exhausted."
"You should go home and rest," Mac said.
Dan Lamb approached. "Max Caldwell, I'm here on behalf of the university," he said as he handed Max an envelope. "This is a notice of your expulsion, effective immediately. You have until the end of the day to get your belongings off campus. Nor will you be allowed to step foot on campus after today."
"I haven't been convicted of anything! You can't do this!" Max exclaimed in a panic. All his hard work for nothing.
"Hearst is a private institution. We can do whatever we want," Dan said with a smirk. "Students who wake up dead next to their girlfriends will not be allowed to return. Besides you have a murder trial to prepare for." He turned and walked out of the courtroom.
Mac reached for Max's hand. "It'll be okay, Max. You will beat this," Mac assured him.
Dick looked down at their linking hands with disgust. He knew that Mac only loved him, but he still didn't like her be close to her ex-lover. Unfortunately, he knew if he said or did anything right now, he'd just look like a jealous ass. Did he want Max to be guilty or innocent? He wasn't sure. He knew either would cause problems. If he was innocent, Mac would valiantly work to prove it. If he was guilty, then Mac was not only at risk, she would be devastated. As they left the courtroom, Dick was torn.
The killer watched the players in his magnificent game. He chuckled. It was just all so easy. They were so easily manipulated. They would never know how close they came to death. It was intoxicating. Before it was over, they would know pain. They would know devastation. When it was over, they would all be dead.
******Chapter End*****