“Lucas? What’s on your mind?”
“I don’t know.”
Clarkson leaned back in his leather chair. “You don’t know why you came to talk to me?”
“Last night’s podcast with Regan was excellent. I got a great response. Four times more calls than in the previous two episodes. Afterward, Regan seemed to be invested, and we talked about next steps… She got Candace’s roommate to talk. Not to me, but Regan had me sitting in the room while they were on speaker. Now she’s talking to Detective Young.”
“And that’s a problem?”
“No. Maybe. I don’t know. What if he convinces her not to help me? I mean, I thought I could do this on my own, but I realized after last night that I need Regan’s help.”
Clarkson leaned back and steepled his fingers. “I’m not sure I understand why that would be the case.”
Lucas squirmed in his seat, unsure what to say, why he’d even come here in the first place.
Finally, the professor said, “What do you think Regan can do that you can’t?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Your proposal was to create a podcast to crowdsource information on where Candace Swain was for the week before her murder and ultimately find out who committed the crime. So far, you have made considerable progress.”
“Yeah, we have. It’s okay that I keep her on, right? She already agreed to come back on Friday.”
“Of course. It was my idea, remember?” Clarkson smiled. “You’re a smart young man, Lucas. I have enjoyed our time together, our conversations, your ability to see possibilities. You’re going to go far in this world, in whatever your chosen career. Anyone who succeeds does so in part because they recognize when they need help, and take it when offered.”
“I want to find the truth so bad. I want to know what happened to Candace.”
“Everyone does, but some more than others,” Clarkson said. “Do I need to be worried about you?”
“No. Why?”
“No particular reason.” He said it in a way that suggested he in fact had a reason but decided not to share with Lucas.
“You think I’m obsessed.”
“Are you?”
“Now you sound like a shrink or something.”
Clarkson smiled. “Maybe I do.” Then, more serious, he said, “It comes from years working as a criminal-defense lawyer. People have secrets. Most of the secrets they keep aren’t criminal, just private. Yet, some secrets are worth dying for—or killing for. I have a confession to make. I suggested you bring Regan on board not just because I thought she might be able to help but because I am worried.”
“About what?”
“You’re airing a podcast where you are trying to find a killer. If you are right—and based on what I’ve heard, I think you are—Joseph Abernathy didn’t kill Candace. If you get too close to the truth, you could get hurt. I don’t want to see that happen.”
“Regan said pretty much the same thing.”
“Good. Then, she knows you’re onto something.”
Lucas actually did feel better talking it all out. “I appreciate your time.”
“Stop by anytime.”
Lucas left and walked across campus to the recording studio. Hoping to see if he might spot or identify the person who’d dropped off the anonymous letter, he’d already asked campus police if he could look at the building’s security cameras; they’d said no. If there was a crime committed, they would review the footage. There was only one CCTV camera at the main door.
Entering the studio, Lucas saw a group was working in the main conference room, some sort of planning session. Pizza and sodas littered the table in front of them. He waved and continued on. The studio had the recording light on, so he passed it by. At the end of the hall, he turned right and unlocked his office door.
He grabbed a granola bar from his top drawer and munched as he checked his email. Nothing in any of the messages that might help him with his timeline of Candace’s disappearance.
He kept thinking about the anonymous letter. Its writer knew more than what was on the paper. Lucas needed to talk to her, to convince her to share the details with him.
Spontaneously, he opened his web page editor and posted a message at the top of the main page, where all visitors would see it.
To the person who contacted me after Tuesday’s episode: we need to talk. Pick the time and place, and let me know. * Lucas
Before he could change his mind, he hit Upload.