Free Do or Die by Barbara Fradkin Page A

year, Green thought as he introduced himself. Miller gave a nervous laugh as he shuffled forward, head bent and eyes averted.
    â€œAn inspector! I guess I’m going up in the world. It was a plain detective this morning.”
    â€œI’m just verifying some new information. You’re Dr. Miller?”
    â€œDave. The doctor handle is kind of new, and it still makes me nervous. Besides, for the money I make…”
    Green made notes. “What’s your position here?”
    â€œI’m a post-doctoral fellow working under Dr. Halton. Which means I’m a highly educated gofer, but I’m so grateful to work with him that the money doesn’t matter. Besides,” Miller ran his stubby fingers over his bald spot, “I’ve been penniless for so long, I wouldn’t know what to do if I found a real job.”
    â€œHalton’s a real hotshot, eh?”
    Miller hesitated a fraction of a second. “Oh yes. Tops in his field in Canada and doing some fascinating research.”
    â€œWhat can you tell me about Raquel Haddad?”
    â€œRaquel?” Crimson suffused his doughy face. “I—I hardlyknow her. She was in my class—I teach one undergraduate course—and she helped out in the labs sometimes.”
    â€œWas she friendly with anyone here?”
    â€œI didn’t notice. I told you, I hardly know her.”
    â€œWhat was her connection to Jonathan Blair?”
    â€œI believe he hired her to help him with some data collection.”
    â€œThat’s all?”
    â€œThat’s all I know.”
    â€œThey weren’t involved?”
    Miller picked at a brown stain on his jeans. Green saw that his fingers were quivering very slightly. “Some people thought so, but I never saw it. Jonathan was a straight kind of guy. He took his work seriously.”
    â€œDo you know if Raquel had any friends or family nearby?”
    Miller licked his finger and rubbed at the stain. “I never paid any attention. But Rosalind—Miss Simmons, my associate, might know. Her office is three doors down.” He stood up as if to escort Green.
    â€œOne last question, Dave. Can you think of anyone who might have wanted Jonathan Blair dead?”
    Miller’s nostrils flared, and for a fraction of time he seemed to vacillate. But then he shook his head with vigour and certainty.
    He makes a lousy liar, Green thought to himself as he left. Not enough practice. He’s one of those guilty-conscience types who can’t look you in the eye when they’re hiding something.
    Green was wondering what it might be as he walked back down the hall. Just when he was about to knock on the third door, he was stopped by voices within, the voices he had heard murmuring earlier, only now they were raised in anger.Quickly he switched on his pocket tape recorder.
    â€œThat’s a cheap thing to say, Joe!” “Oh, come on, we all know why he was murdered.” The first voice was shrill, the second rich and sensual.
    â€œI know no such thing. Jonathan was still in love with Vanessa.”
    â€œThis isn’t about love, it’s about the cock, sweetheart. The cock calls the tune. But you know that, don’t you?”
    â€œYou’re such a pig.”
    The man laughed, a low, mocking chuckle. He murmured something which Green couldn’t hear, and the woman exploded.
    â€œGet out of my office! Or I’ll scream. I swear it!”
    â€œWhat, and you think lover boy will come running?”
    â€œYou reduce everything to sex, don’t you. Sex and power.”
    â€œWhat else is there?”
    â€œThis. Dr. Halton’s work.”
    â€œLike you said, baby. Sex and power.”
    â€œThat’s your warped view.”
    â€œOkay, then why didn’t you tell the police what’s going on here?”
    â€œBecause...because it isn’t relevant.”
    â€œBullshit,” the man hissed. “It’s because you don’t