Formula for Murder by JUDITH MEHL Page A

Higgins. It wasn’t that he suspected him. He just felt life with Kat would be better if he could definitely clear her friend of any suspicion. Possibly Burrows already had and would save Nick the bother. As he waited to be connected to the detective, he daydreamed about giving Kat the good news about her friend, and pictured her grateful response.
    Burrows reported that Gerald was not among their first choice of suspects, not that they had many good choices. He’d be delighted if Nick investigated Gerald’s background and interests and any possible reflection they may have on the felled scientist.
    When Nick asked about Simon Santora, Burrows confirmed his innocence. “He definitely had an alibi for the time involved.”
    Trying to pin down more details, Nick asked, “What was the time of death?”
    Burrows said, “The coroner determined that Charlie was probably killed less than an hour before he was found at 9:30  that night. Classes were out at 9 p.m. Maybe the killer arrived and attacked just as classes were letting out. The noise might have covered any arguing. We don’t think it was premeditated.”
    “Why is that? Because of the weapon?”
    “Precisely. And that’s the only reason. The crime was most likely one of passion. The weapon was found on the spot.”
    Switching to a different angle rather abruptly, Nick revealed his growing concern for Katharine. “Wasn’t Kat there that night?”
    “Yes, she reports she came in as the students were leaving, around 9:10 p.m. at the latest. From what she described she was seeing the last stragglers. It fits with Higgins’s usual time for rounds and locking up. He was running a little late because he had that chat with Katharine before he came down.”
    “And Dr. Santora?”
    “He was off campus. Witnesses confirmed that.”
    “Well, why don’t I go and have a chat with Gerald? I’ll get back to you.”
    Burrows surprised Nick with a very agreeable attitude to all of his suggestions. Nick wondered why the chief detective didn’t bristle at having a public relations person horn in on his investigation, until Burrows said somewhat too casually, “President Ludlow called me today.”
    Nick was startled. “From Hungary ?”
    “Yeah, surprised me too.”
    “When he didn’t continue, Nick asked cautiously, “Did he want anything special?”
    “Said he’d forgotten to give me some crucial information about a certain person’s background. Thought I’d rest easier knowing.” He left the sentence hanging, waiting for a response from Nick.
    No one here was supposed to know Nick’s background. Absolutely no one. The response Burrows heard blistered his ears and wasn’t exactly what he’d expected.  President Ludlow was Nick’s boss, after all.

 
    Chapter 10
     
    Words associated with left slant are negative: fe ar, doubt, repression. “Sinister” comes from the Latin for “left.” Does this follow that a left-handed person is such—or those whose writing slants left?
“Handwriting Analysis: Putting it to Work for You” by Andrea McNichol
     
    Nick finally settled down. “Need I ask what we’re talking about?”
    “No, I wouldn’t think you’d need to ask. Could have told me yourself though,” Burrows muttered.
    “Just because I have expertise in certain areas doesn’t mean I would presume to do your job,” Nick continued, a little more calmly.
    “Maybe not, but I’ll ask you to keep your ears open just the same. And anything you’d like to contribute to the investigation is fine with me,” Burrows said. Far from being affronted by Nick’s help, he was seeking it.
    “We’re not exactly close to solving this one. Any particular reason for your interest in Dr. Higgins?”
    Nick had no qualms in telling him he was concerned for Kat’s sake. He admitted curiosity as to why the police weren’t looking at Higgins, since he was in the building at the time.
    “Certainly no motive and he seems to have been with Kat the whole