"Inspector Keller, Dean Lowe will see you now." The young secretary announced as she hung up the phone and rose to her feet.
Dropping the magazine that he had been flicking through on the chair beside him, Steve smiled and thanked her as he quickly rose to his feet and walked to the Dean's office door, following her into the Dean's office. She softly announced him to the older man seated behind the large oak desk before stepping out and quietly closing the door behind her.
Waiting until his secretary had closed the door, the Dean stood up and walked around his desk as he held out his hand, shaking Steve's as he frowned, "Inspector Keller, my secretary told me that you are a Homicide Inspector from San Francisco." At Steve's confirming nod, he asked, "Can I ask just how I can be of assistance?"
"I'm afraid that one of your students was murdered in San Francisco, early this morning." Steve began.
The Dean stared at Steve, shocked at the young inspector's revelation, before he managed to stutter, "One of our students? Who? … How?" He paused a moment before he apologised, "I'm sorry, please… take a seat." Taking a moment to collect himself as he walked back around to his own chair, the Dean sat down and looked across his desk and frowned in confusion at Steve as the young inspector sat down on the white high-backed chair in front of his desk . "I'm sorry but this comes as a bit of a shock. I mean are you sure it was one of our students? I mean the murder happened in San Francisco… and this is Arizona … it's … it's the middle of mid-term exams."
"The victim has been identified as John Sloace, and the identification he was carrying on his person indicates that he was a student here at the University of Arizona." Steve began as he pulled out his notebook and pen from his pocket and flicked open his notebook before looking down at his notes written there.
"John Solace?' The Dean asked, still not quite able to believe one of his students, had been murdered in San Francisco, only hours before. "Has … has his parents been informed?"
"Yes, Sir, they have." Steve confirmed, quietly. "They are on their way to San Franscico to formally identify his body."
"Oh, my God, how did it happen? Have you found the person responsible?"
Steve nodded, "He died after being stabbed in the heart. We currently have a young woman in custody." Steve paused before quietly adding, "Another one of your students – Jean Stone."
The Dean stared momentarily speechless at Steve. Finding his voice, he asked in disbelief, "Did you just say Jean Stone? There has to be some mistake. Jean is one of our top students here at the university. You may know her father- Lieutenant Stone." Running a hand over his face, the Dean sighed, "I'm sorry. I'm rambling, I just can't believe…" He shook his head before he cleared his throat and forced himself back into a more professional mode as he asked, "I gather you have some questions for me? What would you like to know?"
"I would like a little background information on both John Solace and Jean Stone." Steve began, reaching into his inside coat pocket and taking out a pen before flicking to a new, empty page in his notebook.
"I understand," The Dean answered as he reached for his phone and picked it up before pressing a button. He waited for less than a heartbeat before he spoke, "Susan, can you bring in the student records for John Solace and Jean Stone, please." Placing the phone back on its cradle, the Dean leaned forward on his chair before clasping his hands and resting them on the desk in front of him as he looked across at Steve and frowned, "What is it specifically, Inspector, that you would like to know?"
"How about we start with were there any problems with either of them, either behavioural or academically that you were aware of?" Steve began as his pen hovered above his notebook page.
"Jeannie, I mean Jean Stone, is one of our brightest and top students at our university with a very bright future ahead of her. She is on top of our Honors list for the third year in a row. I have always found her to be a very polite and conscientious young woman. I have heard nothing but good reports about her from her lecturers."
Steve nodded, unsurprised as he jotted down the Dean's words before pausing and looking back up at the Dean, asked, "And John Solace?"
"John Solace," the Dean sighed, before falling silent when he heard a light knock on his door a heartbeat before it opened, and his secretary entered the office carrying the two requested files.
Watching the Dean thank Susan for the files as she handed them across to him, Steve waited until she turned and left the office and firmly closed the door behind her before he frowned, "Was John a problem?"
"Ahh, no, I'm sorry, quite the opposite. I just still finding it hard to believe that he is dead, and that Jeannie Stone is responsible." The Dean apologized, "It's just so unbelievable, I keep waiting for you to tell me that you made some sort of mistake, not only about Jeannie Stone…" The Dean shook his head, "John was also on out Honor roll. Like Jean, he had an exceptionally bright future ahead of him, there was no doubt that the boy was going far. In fact, I know that several top people at NASA were watching with interested his progress here at the university."
"NASA?" Steve asked surprised, his pen pausing above the notes he was taking.
The Dean nodded, before announcing with pride, "John was one of our top students." Opening one of the student files on the desk in front of him, the Dean flicked quickly through the pages, glancing at exam results before looking back at Steve, " He was into his third year of studying an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree in Earth and Space Exploration and Astrophysics and Astronomy. He has been at the top of his all his classes since he commenced the course."
"Wow!" Steve breathed, impressed.
"Like Jean, his lecturer's had nothing but high praise for him. He was diligent in his studies, polite, and always eager to lend a hand to his fellow classmates."
After jotting down several notes in his notebook, Steve looked back up, "Do you know if John or Jean shared any classes?"
Quickly leaving through both files, the Dean looked up and shook his head, "Only that I can see, a Physics class last year."
Quickly writing down the information, Steve returned his attention back to the older man sitting opposite him, "Can you think of any reason why either one of them would leave the university and travel to San Francisco in the middle of mid-year exams?"
"No, none at all," the Dean frowned.
"Well, thank you for your time." Steve smiled as he closed his notebook and placed it and his pen back inside his coat pocket as he rose to his feet.
"I am glad to have been of assistance, Inspector, although I still can't quite believe…" The Dean's voice trailed off as he stood up and shook Steve's hand. Sitting back down, he watched as the young San Francisco Homicide inspector headed to the door as he added as Steve reached the door, "If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to contact me."
Opening the door, Steve hesitated before he turned back towards the man behind the desk, "I was wondering if I can talk to some of Jean's and John's lecturers, classmates and friends."
"Of course," the Dean answered instantly before glancing down at his watch before looking back up at Steve, "It's still early, too early for classes or early morning exams, so most of the students will still be in their dorms or having breakfast in the cafeteria." Quickly flicking open both student folders, the dean glanced at the front page before grabbing a pen and scribbling something hurriedly down on a piece of paper and holding it out to Steve. "This is the names of Jean's dormitory and John's frat house. The students there will be able to tell you who their friends are and where you can find them." The Dean told Steve as the Homicide Inspector walked back and accepted the sheet of paper as he reached for the phone and added, "And if you wish to wait a minute, I'll get Jenny to give you a list of their lecturers and the times when they will be available. I'm afraid that some of them will be still tied up in exams."
"Thank you," Steve nodded before he turned and headed out of the Dean's office.