Page 48 of Serial Burn

“Yeah, exactly.”

“I did science competitions in high school,” she said. “They were a lot of fun.”

“Science competitions were fun?” Nathan asked with a raised brow. “Were you a nerd?”

She kept a straight face at his teasing. “No, just smart.”

Nathan laughed.

Andrew cleared his throat and pushed the elevator button. “He’s on the third floor.”

They rode up in silence and found the man in his office as promised. Jesslyn studied him. He was in his early fifties, with salt-and-pepper hair cut short but in need of a trim. His dark brown eyes were friendly enough, and he waved them into the very neat office. No absent-minded professor here.

“Have a seat,” he said. “My secretary said you were coming. That you had some questions about Kenny Davies.”

“Yes, sir,” Nathan said and then introduced everyone.

“I’m sorry I don’t have enough seats. We can walk down to the conference room if you prefer.”

Andrew leaned against the doorjamb. “This is fine. Hopefully we won’t take up too much of your time.”

Jesslyn motioned for Nathan to take the chair. She could tell his hip was bothering him. The fact that he sat without comment spoke volumes.

“What can I help you with?” Dr. Claymore asked.

“Right now, Kenny is sitting in an interrogation room at the local police station,” Nathan said. “He was at the scene of a fire at the Endurance Empire Gym. When we tried to approach him, he ran. The fire is most likely arson. The fact that he ran raises red flags for us.”

“Kenny?” The professor blinked away his shock and rubbed hischin while letting his gaze bounce between them. “Wow. I can’t imagine it. Is he okay?”

“He’s fine right now.”

“Okay, well, what does it have to do with me?”

“Not much that we can tell,” Nathan said. “We were hoping you could help us identify the friends that he hangs out with.”

Jesslyn opened her notes with the names Andrew had already acquired, ready to add more if the professor came up with new ones.

Dr. Claymore scratched his nose. “Yeah, I can give you a few names.” He grabbed a pen from his drawer and a Post-it from the stack next to his laptop. “Brad Granger, Toby Child, and Heath Peterson should be able to answer any questions you have. They’re big buddies, hang out all the time, and are all on the math competition team.” He frowned. “Speaking of competitions, we have one coming up next Friday in South Carolina. Will Kenny be able to go?”

“That depends on Kenny,” Andrew said. “Thanks for the information. By the way, do Kenny and the other three live in the same dorm?”

“I believe they do. Chapman Hall, if I remember correctly.”

“Perfect.” He took the note from the professor.

“What’s going on?” A voice from outside of the open door turned them all as one. A man in his late thirties with blue eyes and a salt-and-pepper military buzz cut stood with his hands in the front pockets of his green slacks.

“Ah,” Dr. Claymore said, “this is Professor Derek Morgan. Derek, Kenny’s gotten himself into some trouble and these three officers are here to talk to a few of his friends and professors.”

Professor Morgan nodded. “Good to meet you. What’s Kenny done to generate this kind of interest?”

“We believe he might be involved in two fires.”

“Fires? What kind of fires?”

“Arson,” Jesslyn said.

Morgan laughed, then frowned when no one joined him. “Oh, you’re serious.”

---