Page 26 of Silencing Stolen Whispers
Alex kept his expression carefully neutral while internally noting the unexpected insight. Maybe he hadn’t given Dr. Reeves enough credit.
“And how did you become aware of these personal details about Hannah's motivation?”
“Observation, Detective Lanen. It's what effective educators do. When students discuss Cardozo or Holmes, their eyes reveal whether they're genuinely engaged or merely going through the motions. Hannah was merely informed—competently, but without passion.”
Dr. Reeves lifted his briefcase from the desk, letting it hang by his side. The way he carried it suggested it was both a tool and a status symbol.
“What about Nick Ryder? I take it he was also a student of yours?” Alex asked, recalling Professor Bigsby’s somewhat adverse opinion of the young man. “I understand he and Hannah were in a relationship until recently.”
“Now there is a student with the mindset to make a name for himself. Ambitious, adaptable, willing to challenge conventions when necessary.” The praise sounded genuine, unlike the man’s clinical assessment of Hannah. “Mr. Ryder understands the practical applications of law beyond academic theory.”
“And their relationship? I understand that Hannah and Nick broke things off last semester. Did you notice any changes in her behavior around that time?”
“The end of the Spring semester is chaos incarnate. Students are either running on Adderall or caffeine tablets." Reeves waved a dismissive hand before tucking it into his pocket. “Everyone, and I do mean everyone, looks like they're having a personal crisis.”
“But Hannah specifically?—”
“Participated in class discussions and completed her final paper on time. As I said, nothing out of the ordinary.” Reeves nodded toward the clock on the wall. “I have office hours in fifteen minutes, detective. I wish I could help you, but I make it a point not to get involved in my students’ lives. Too many careers have been ruined by something being taken out of turn.”
Alex observed how smoothly Reeves wrapped up the conversation. He shared just enough details to seem cooperative while hiding most of the substance. It wasn't the first time Alex had interviewed someone good at dodging questions, which was not surprising since many of the interviewees this morning were lawyers.
“One final question, Dr. Reeves,” Alex said, deliberately placing himself between the professor and the exit. “Besides Jade Patel, who else did Hannah socialize with on campus? Any study groups or other close associations you observed?”
“Again, I do my best to separate myself from the students’ personal lives. If you have questions about her study groups, you should stop in at the library.” Dr. Reeves glanced meaningfully at the clock again. “Now, if there's nothing else…”
“Thank you, Dr. Reeves,” Alex said before stepping to the side. “I appreciate your time.”
Reeves nodded curtly before walking past with a perfectly stiff posture. The smell of expensive cologne hung in the air, another hint of careful self-presentation. Alex closed his eyes briefly when the strong scent made him nauseous.
Once he had stemmed the queasiness, he didn’t waste time exiting the building. The humidity was even worse outside, and the sweat he had managed to stem inside immediately beaded at his temples and collar. He crossed the nearly deserted quadrangle, wishing it were any other month than July.
The paved walkway practically radiated heat through the soles of his shoes. He spotted Kinsley walking toward him from the direction of the apartment buildings across the street. Despite the heat, she appeared impressively composed, her blonde hair pulled back in a clip. Her expression was also animated in a way he hadn't witnessed in months.
“You aren't going to believe this,” Kinsley called out, her voice carrying across the empty walkway. Fortunately, she wascarrying a bottle of water. “I have the name of the woman who has been going around and offering to take the bar for others. Not very discreet, if you know what I mean.”
The day's frustrations receded slightly, and he was grateful the morning’s interviews hadn’t been a waste of time.
Finally, a solid lead.
“Tell me everything,” Alex urged as they converged on the path toward the parking lot. “Because I just had the most unhelpful conversations with four professors who couldn't agree on whether Hannah Scriven was the next Supreme Court Justice or barely qualified to handle traffic court.”
“Oh, I do believe that our victim had a shot at the former.” Kinsley stepped off the curb, handing him the bottle, as if knowing full well he needed some hydration. “Bailey wasn’t lying about Hannah considering using the woman’s services, but I’ve just learned it was the woman who sought out Hannah for advice on how to create a defense if her crimes were ever discovered. Alex, what if we’re looking at a quid pro quo situation gone wrong?”
10
Kinsley Aspen
July
Friday — 12:34 pm
Kinsley’s stomach growled in protest as she highlighted another entry in a lengthy list of calls to and from Hannah Scriven’s cell phone. Fortunately, the search warrant Alex had filed the day before had prompted the victim’s provider to act quickly. There were also many pages of text messages to go through.
Alex had dropped her off at the station so Kinsley could track down Fawn Ginkel, the woman willing to be paid a hefty sum in exchange for taking the bar exam. Since the woman’s name was an alias and the phone number was a burner, Kinsley’s luck had run out within minutes.
Alex wanted to return to campus in hopes that someone—particularly Jade—would be willing to share more about Hannah’s personal life. Jade had a lot to answer for, especially considering she had intentionally withheld information from them during her interview last night.
She had known all along about Fawn Ginkel.
