Formula for Murder by JUDITH MEHL

idea. I’ll try again. I used to be good at it. Just rusty I guess.”
    She smiled back. “Look at it and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.”
    “OK . . . killer.”
    Kat ogled his backside as he left, her Prada classic pump flipping off her foot as she shifted knees nervously. She needed perspective and decided to approach her friend Madeline Girard. Finding Maddy’s phone line busy, she switched into her pink sneakers for speed and did a fast walk to her office.
    Madeline was the associate dean and the most efficient person on campus as far as Kat knew, not to mention the most knowledgeable on just about everything and everyone. She could be discreet, but she and Kat shared acceptable ground rules—whatever they said about work went no further.
    The austere outer office was empty but Kat knew to knock and enter the inner office. Madeline was listening to a one-sided phone conversation and mimicked the other person silently. “Blah, blah, blah.” She motioned Kat toward a chair.
    She managed to hang up a minute later and immediately popped out of her chair.
    “Tell me again Kat, why do I do this?”
    “Because you’re certifiably insane?
    “No, not that answer. The one that talks about a noble cause etcetera, etcetera.”
    “Oh, that one. Actually, I came to drag your mind away from it all.”
    “Absolutely impeccable timing. One more faculty member flaunting his or her publishing accomplishments and I’ll be sick.”
    “What’s the matter, Maddy? That’s all part of the job. And you usually enjoy the faculty. What’s up?”
    “I don’t know. Everyone seems more tense these days. Maybe it’s just me. And you. What’s bothering you?”
    “Do I have a love life?”
    “Well, cheriè , that definitely takes us out of the staid office. What brings up such a question?”
    “Good sidestepping. I’ll take that as a ‘No.’ I’ve been leering at my boss and dreaming about his bedroom blue eyes. Am I just hard up?”
    Maddy’s laughter pealed lightly, like her favorite wind chimes that tinkled various melodies in windows at home and office. “Kat, you have half the male campus trailing after you. You just don’t notice because you’re not interested.”
    “They’re usually the eighteen-year-olds or the eighty-year olds, and you’re right. I’m not impressed. So, what do I do about Nick?”
    Her friend begged for more information about the man and Kat surprised herself at how little facts she knew. She felt she learned much about his personality by watching his associations with others on campus, but particulars about his life were bleakly missing.
    Maddy advised going with the flow, her answer being more wise than elusive.
    Kat’s photographer was scheduled to come that afternoon for candid shots of students on campus. She met up with Jamie, the student she’d asked for a tour. She’d been in the science building countless times but today she wanted to see it through the eyes of a student. Then she’d need to convey that image to a photographer.
    Kat met with Jamie, the effervescent junior for insight.
    As they worked she speculated again about the journal and decided to tap Jamie for gossip among the students. Had anyone seen anything that night? Would any of them know about the journal?
    Jamie said she’d tuned out a lot of the gossip but would be more attentive and see what was going the rounds. It was a hot topic now but she recalled mostly fear-laced bravado.
    As they finished their rounds and left the building, Kat’s mind wandered again to the murder. There were more questions than answers bouncing around in her head, settling nowhere.
     
    Nick returned to his office; his plans better explored without Kat. He knew she couldn’t be objective about Gerald Higgins. Drumming his fingers on his desk, contemplating the delicacy of his situation, he phoned Burrows. He knew enough not to step on the toes of the local law enforcement people but wanted further information on