Chapter 26

Back to School

As to the home front, the realtor indicated it could be a few weeks before they received word on the new house. The Open House at their current home was not scheduled until the following weekend so Lee had time to go to California with Kristen and get back in time. While Lee was a bit worried, Amanda assured him it was fine. Kristen, being Kristen, made a snarky comment she would keep him out of trouble.

Here was what they knew: The three doctoral assistants hired on by the each of the three professors were Brian Schmidt from Phoenix, Arizona; Marjan Khan a student studying in the US on a student visa from Pakistan; and Gloria Lopez from San Diego, California. Brody would normally choose his marks by exploiting some need, weakness or dirt on them. It was Kristen's job to find out 1) the exact research they were conducting and its possible applications; 2) background information on the candidates and what Brody was using against them; and 3) where the research was now and how to trace it back to find Brody. If, indeed, Brody was the one behind it. Per the IFF operative from Los Angeles who had been recently killed, none of the research had been sold, and it appeared not all of it had been secured yet. However, the whispers on the black market that there was some three-pronged research that could be used to create a weapon. The sale of the information would be open to the highest bidder.

Kristen was provided an I.D. as a transfer student by the name of Kristine Allen who had just completed her undergraduate work, conveniently enough, from UCLA and had been accepted to start per post-graduate work at Caltech. The spring semester was just starting so it was a perfect time for her to be entering campus. Two studio apartments had been secured, conveniently across the hall from each other so the two could communicate easily.

During the flight to Los Angeles on the Agency jet, Lee went over the file materials on Brody so Kristen would be completely familiar with him. This included photos of him, the full background, and all his known associates that were still living (as far as they knew). His moniker was "The Death Broker" for a reason. He was as ruthless as he was greedy. The plan was that she would make an appointment as a student with each of the three professors under the guise she was looking into the study of laser technology Once there, she would make a sweep of their respective offices and get some information about his work and the deaths that occurred. There were three scientists she needed to interview. In addition, she would keep her ear to the ground with the other students on campus to find out what about the three killed and what may have enticed Brody. Kristen had some butterflies, something she would never admit to, however, she was prepped and ready.

The next morning, Kristen confirmed she had obtained office hours with Dr. Sadler and Dr. Nadu. She set an appointment the next day with Dr. Bloomfield. She dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt, Chucks, minimal makeup and her hair pulled back into a ponytail, looking much the same as any other female students on the campus. Kristen walked across campus with a couple books, bug detector and her tape recorder in her backpack. She made it to Dr. Sadler's office where a student was currently in with him. She used her agency training to calm herself so she looked like she blended in. However, what she realized was that most of the students were anxious, so having some visible nerves could actually work to her benefit.

The last student finished and left the room. Kristen stood up and walked in the office, closing the door behind her.

"Dr. Sadler?" She said, "I'm Kristine Allen, I wanted to talk to you about your Advanced Laser Technology course for next semester?"

"Yes, Kristine," he said."Tell me about your undergraduate work. Where did you study?"

"I completed my undergraduate work at UCLA in Physics and Applied Sciences. I've very interested in laser technology.?" Meanwhile, she slipped him a note that states: I am a federal agent posing as a student. Continue to talk naturally as I check for bugs. Nod if you understand. The professor nodded nervously as Kristen motioned for him to keep going. Kristen walked about the room with a bug detector. Sure enough, next to the lamp, there was a pulled out a case to hold the bug so it could not pick up sound. She did not want to remove the bug as it would trigger Brody prematurely. She put out another note, as she said . When I cover up the bug, they can't hear us. Then we can talk. Nod your head yes if you understand. He nodded again. "I've brought some information on my project proposal, if you wouldn't mind, can you review it and give me your opinion?"

"Yes, Ms. Allen. I'd be happy to look at it." Dr. Sadler said as he nodded. Kristen put the bug in the case.

"Thank you," Kristen said. "My name is Kristen Adler, I am an agent. I need to talk to you about the recent killings and the theft of your research. We think the person who is doing the killing is, not unexpectedly, the same one to steal your research."

"You look so young," he said.

"Yes, I do," said Kristen not revealing her actual age. "I need to look young in order to blend in with the students." Men - so annoying.

Over the next several minutes, Dr. Sadler explained he is work in laser technology.

"What kind of applications does it have?" Kristen asked.

"Well, it can have many applications, including some limited medical technology, but mostly interstellar research. It can actually be used to actually track a target in space."

"Really?" Kristen said. "Can it be used to target a particular point from anywhere?." She asked.

"Well," Dr. Sadler said. "I did not design it for that, but I believe modifications could be made for that purpose.."

"Has anyone contacted you with interested in your research?"

"Why yes," Dr. Sadler said. "There was a gentleman from a medical technology company." Kristen pulled out a picture of Brody.

"Does he look familiar?" Dr. Sadler looked.

"Yes," he said "A little. Dr. Stone from the medical research company I talked to last week looks a little like that, but with a beard and glasses."

"Finally, when your doctoral assistant was killed, was there anything strange at the time?"

"Well," Dr. Sadler said, "I didn't think anything of it at the time, but my research material disappeared for a short time. Brian brought it back, but said the he had gone to copy it for me. It was strange, as I had not asked him to make a copy. That night he was killed."

"I'm so sorry. If you see this man again," Kristen said giving him a card, "please immediately call this number. Do not do it here or at home. That phone is likely bugged as well. We are going to get agents assigned to keep an eye on you, okay? Now, when I remove the bug from the case, tell me the project work is interesting and ask that I set up some additional time to discuss it, okay?"

"All right."

They ended the conversation and Kristen removed the bug from the container.

"Ms. Allen, your work is interesting. Why don't you set up a future appointment so we can talk about it." Poor Dr. Sadler looked like a deer in headlights.

"That would be helpful. Thank you, Dr. Sadler." Kristen nodded to affirm good work. Dr. Sadler looked uncomfortably at the bug and walked out of his office with her.

"Can they remove that thing?" Dr. Sadler whispered to her in the hall.

"Yes," Kristen confirmed. "We'll have another agent remove it once security is posted. Don't worry. We've got this."

- SMK -

Kristen hurried back to Lee's apartment.. "It's Brody, the professor recognized him." Kristen said. She played the tape for Lee to listen to the conversation with Dr. Sadler..

"Ok," he said. "Now we know it's him. He is extremely dangerous, I'm a little nervous leaving you out there."

"Woah, woah, woah," Kristen shut him down quickly. "Am I doing something wrong? Is there something I should be doing differently?"

"No," Lee signed. "I'm just nervous leaving a freshman agent exposed like this.."

"Don't worry," Kristen said. "If we change the plan now we could miss Brody. I'll be okay. I'll continue to watch my surroundings. Hopefully we can get what we need quickly and locate him."

"I hope you're right," Lee said. "Ok, for the next professor, I don't want you to use the same scenario. Brody is smart, he'll know something is up. Also, when you first talk to Dr. Nadu, mention you are also talking to Dr Sadler so they don't question why you're talking to both doctors. Keep a look out. If it's Brody, someone will be watching.."

"Ok," Kristen said. "I'll ask if we can walk as he wants to go pick up something from the lab. I can talk to him then. Will that work?"

"Yes," Lee said, "but keep your eyes open for anyone following you and be careful to keep your voice low. I'm calling in now to get more security for Dr. Sadler and get the bug removed. I'll also stay nearby."

"Sadler is nervous as all hell. I think he's afraid to go back into his office."

"I don't blame him," Lee said. "Good work so far."

- SMK -

Kristen's next stop was at the Student Activities Center. The recent murders had been the talk of the campus so she hoped to overhear something from the students. What she picked up was a feeling of general uneasiness. Most were talking about the need for further security, conjecture as to why these students were targeted, and parents threatening to pull students from the campus. But most prominent was a fear of someone targeting doctoral assistants. While she couldn't get a line on anything specific, what was clear was that the student body and professors were all on edge.

She could not get anything specific, so while she was waiting for her appointment with Dr. Nadu, she walked over to building where Dr. Sadler's lab was located. She quietly walked toward two students talking in the hallway. She pretended to look at a bulletin board to listen in. They were talking about how they could not understand the professor. No good. From across the hall she heard someone say as they were walking out of a room"..not surprised he's dead. He gambled away all his grant money." Jackpot!

"Yeah, but still really sad." The person replied. Kristen walked over. Here goes.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I heard you mention someone dying. That wasn't about of the doctoral assistants that were killed, was it? I just transferred here for the program, and I'm getting a sense of uneasiness about the campus. Were any of them targeted? I'm sorry to pry but I'm a bit freaked out now about being here." Kristen said turning on the "scared girl" persona for these guys. It usually worked like a charm, a page out of the Francine Desmond school of tricks.

"We were just talking about Brian Schmidt. I guess it's okay to say something because all the other assistants knew. He had a gambling problem. He racked up a huge debt."

"A gambling debt? Come on, you can't be serious? Someone would kill him for that? Seems a little coincidental with the other two killings." Kristen asked, trying to confirm if this was just a rumor or sour grapes by another doctoral candidate.

"That guy would do anything for money. He was a total mess. Don't know if someone was paying him off to do something that got him killed, but it would not surprise me."

"Sorry to hear about that, but thank you for talking to me. I feel a little better." Mystery solved for Brian Schmidt.

- SMK -

Meanwhile, Lee had been on the phone with Amanda. She learned that Marjan Khan was having some problems with her student visa. "Lee, it looks like part of her paperwork was never submitted. Not certain if this was Brody's doing, but it would have given him some leverage over her."

"You're right," Lee said. "This would have been just the type of thing Brody would look for."

"How's Kristen doing so far?" Amanda asked.

"Really well, actually." Lee said. "She's already confirmed with the one professors that it's Brody. Plus, she's already called me out for being overprotective." He laughed.

"Well, you knew that would happen." Amanda said. "I miss you."

"I miss you too. I'll call you later. I love you." Lee said. They had only been gone a day and he was surprised at how much he missed her, and being at home. It would be a lonely night tonight without her in his bed.

"I love you too."

- SMK -

Kristen then walked over to Dr. Nadu's office. As planned, she told him she'd just met with Dr. Sadler and she slipped him a note. She confirmed there was a bug in his office and asked him to say he needed to get something from his lab and if they could talk on the way. On the way, Kristen kept an eye out. She saw the security for IFF had already been called and were near them, but continued to look around for anyone else. Nothing so far.

"What type of work is your application. Do you work with Dr. Sadler"

"I'm an engineering professor. I develop the applications."

"So, for instance, you could find an application for the lasers?"

"Yes," he answered. ""I'm working on it now." He said.

When Kristen pulled out the photo of Brody, he also recognized him. "Yes, he introduced himself as a medical researcher looking for an application for some laser technology." He said. "But we've only spoken once."

"So what about what you're working on now?"

"I am developing targeting software."

"This software, would it work with the laser technology by Dr. Sadler?"

"Yes, in fact Dr. Sadler and I had been conferring on it."

"What about your assistant, Majan Khan? Had anything strange been going on before she was killed?"

"I was about ready to fire her from the program. She removed the laser targeting system from the lab. When I noticed it was gone she immediately put it back. When I asked her about it, she said she was to doing an experiment with it. That made no sense. That next day is when she was killed."

Bingo! Brody is working them together through their doctoral assistants., She thought. When they got to the lab, Kristen ran the bug detector. Sure enough, there was another. They needed to shut this down now.

- SMK -

She finished and walked out of the building to see Lee was sitting in a park with a guitar with a beard and sunglasses.

"Really?" Kristen said, trying not to laugh. "Trying to be Bob Dylan?"

"It works," he said. "I'll meet you back at the apartment."

"Ok," Kristen said. "See you later, Bob."