Page 31 of Badlands

A frosty silence ensued. “I’m afraid not. You’ll have to get that from the university records office.”

“Why not from you?”

“That was a long time ago. I don’t remember who exactly was in the group.”

“How many were there?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Do you have a map showing the sites excavated?”

“Those would be in the professor’s notes, which I don’t have.”

“Who’s got them?”

“I wish I could say.”

“And you don’t remember where the sites were.” This was a statement—a skeptical statement—not a question.

“They were in the Chama Wilderness, not accessible by road. We had a commercial wrangler who packed in our supplies on muleback. I doubt I could find them now.” Bellagamba spread her hands.

“Where is Oskarbi now?” Corrie asked.

“I told you. Most likely living with the Totonteac Indians and carrying on the studies he cut short to join academia.”

“You haven’t been in touch with him since he left?”

“No.”

“Do you know anyone else who has?” She tried to keep the irritation out of her voice. This woman was going out of her way to be unhelpful.

“No.”

“Where exactly in Mexico are these Indians?”

“I don’t recall. It’s all in the book he wrote about them. You can look it up yourselves.”

17

AS THEY WALKEDback outside, Corrie muttered, “Bitch.”

Nora was a little surprised at Corrie’s vehemence, but she couldn’t deny the sentiment.

“What’s she hiding?” Corrie went on. “And there’s something about this Oskarbi that stinks, too.”

“You mean the sleeping with his students?” Nora asked. “I know the type—the charismatic male professor who gathers female students around himself to bask in their adulation and then, if he can, fuck them. Anyone who’s been to graduate school has seen that phenomenon.”

“I’m not surprised,” said Corrie. “And did you notice her tone of voice when she talked aboutProfessorthis andthe Professorthat? It was like when she spoke his name it was some sort of talisman.”

Nora had noticed. “You think that this somehow connects with Molly’s death?”

Corrie shook her head. “All I know is, I’d sure like to talk to theProfessor.”

They got back into Corrie’s vehicle, she started the engine, and they began making their way off the university campus. “Let’s establish a timeline of sorts, then, between Oskarbi and Molly,” Nora said. “You spoke to the girl’s mother—what did she have to say?”

“Molly had pretty much distanced herself from her mother. She told me that Molly had been very excited about her graduate work, and her advisor—”

“Oskarbi.”

---