The Violet Crow by Michael Sheldon

consciousness while I’m connected with him.”
    â€œIt’s worth a try, I guess.”
    â€œI’ll need a photograph of Dr. Fischer. Preferably a recent one where he’s by himself.”
    â€œNo problem. You already have one.”
    â€œIf I do, I’m not aware of it.”
    â€œIt’s in your hand,” the Chief indicated the annual report. “Those things always have photos of the execs. I guess your friend Rhonda must’ve known what she was doing. Anticipating your every need. She’s cute. Maybe you should ask her out.”
    Bruno pursed his lips like a hamster. “No, noo, nyo way,” he protested, trying to imitate her accent.
    â€œNot nice,” clucked the Chief.
    â€œI like Rhonda,” Bruno protested. “But she’s not my type. Too high maintenance.”
    â€œShe’s just dressing up for work. Besides, with what we’re paying you, you can afford to buy her a few trinkets,” said the Chief.
    â€œFirst you’re psychic. Now you’re a shadkhan , a matchmaker. How do you know she’s available?”
    â€œBecause I’m Shotgun Buddy Black and something tells me the two of you are made for each other.”

Chapter 17
    â€œNo record Dr. Fischer ever visited the morgue,” Sergeant Harry Abraham reported to Chief Black.
    The Chief mulled over the information.
    â€œThere’s also this,” Harry mumbled. He pushed a sheaf of printouts in the Chief’s direction.
    â€œWhat’s all this?”
    â€œChatter from the student message boards.”
    Chief Black scanned the documents.
    Sociology 40. Introduction to Deviant Behavior
    Nathaniel Littlejohn
    T,Th 2:00-3:20
    A systematic examination of deviancy as a social construct. The course surveys the ways in which society uses normative ethics as a means of controlling behavior and also explores the concept of deviant groups and their role in revolutions. While some reading is required, the course emphasizes empirical research to familiarize students with a variety of deviant acts.
    Then he started reading the first message in the pile:
    Disregard the syllabus. This course is awesome. You actually learn useful stuff like: deviance as a weapon; identity theft; creating disinformation; covering your ass; manipulating the media; leveraging the legal system; and creating a sleeper cell. The only requirement is to commit a deviant act and write about it …
    â€œCharming.”
    â€œI found out about it from the campus police,” explained Harry. “Happens every spring and drives ’em crazy.”
    â€œWhat are they dealing with?”
    â€œA lot of pranks, mostly. Soap bubbles in the fountains. Graffiti. Minor shoplifting. Now there’s a lot of computer-based stuff. Hacking. Identity theft. Sometimes viruses. And then there’s the occasional off-the-wall event that defies description …”
    â€œCan’t the university shut it down?”
    â€œAcademic freedom. The professor’s kind of a cult figure. And the kids love having a course where they don’t have to read anything. It’s a tradition.”
    â€œDid you find out anything else on the message boards?”
    â€œA lot of bragging. One-upmanship. The class has a nickname, Doggin’ ’n’ Dissin’, and that’s all we know right now,” Harry concluded.
    The Chief handed the folder back to Harry. “Maybe Bruno’ll run into something when he’s over there …”
    In fact, at that very moment Bruno was buried in the Penn library, reading up on Quakerism and the origins of the university. It surprised him to learn that Benjamin Franklin was not a Quaker and that William Penn had no direct connection with the college. So why did they call themselves the Quakers?
    Not far away, in another part of the campus, Alison knocked on the door of Professor Littlejohn’s office.
    â€œI’m very excited about the way my