Free Catch a Falling Knife by Alan Cook

her? The telephone rang. I staggered to it in a daze.
    “Have you read this morning’s paper?” Tess asked, and without waiting for a reply, “Elise Hoffman has been murdered.”
    “I’m just reading it now,” I said. “I can’t believe it.”
    “Me, neither. Although I didn’t see her I was right outside her apartment yesterday afternoon. But you must be devastated. Does Mark know?”
    “I’m not sure where Mark is. He didn’t come home last night.”
    Tess didn’t say anything for what seemed like a long time. Then she said, “You know what that means, don’t you?”
    “What?”
    “He’s a suspect.”
    “Mark? It can’t be Mark. Mark wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
    “You know that and I know that, but the police don’t know that. You’re going to need some support. I’ll be right over.” Tess hung up.
    Still in a daze, I called Sandra’s number. Of course she didn’t answer. She dropped Winston off at a daycare center before she went to the school where she taught so she had to start early. I didn’t leave a message. I couldn’t think of a comprehensible message to leave.
    I called Albert’s home number.  After three rings I thought he had also left for work, but then he answered.
    “Hello.”
    “Albert, have you seen Mark?”
    “Good morning, Mother. I’m fine, thank you. No, I haven’t seen Mark. I thought he was staying with you.”
    “He hasn’t been here since yesterday morning. Did you read today’s paper?”
    “I haven’t seen it yet. I’ll pick it up on my way to Duke.”
    The newspapers for the houses on Albert’s road were dumped on the ground beside the mailboxes, which were just off the main road, over a mile from his house.
    “A female student at Crescent Heights College was murdered last night,” I said.
    “That’s terrible!” Albert, who usually took everything in stride except some of my trespasses, sounded shocked.
    “Worse than that. She was the one who accused Mark of harassment.”
    “How do you know that? I thought you didn’t know her name.”
    “I found it out.”
    While I was listening for Albert’s answer, Tess knocked on the door and then came in. I always leave the door unlocked when I’m home during the day.
    Albert said, “Mark couldn’t have done it.”
    “Of course not, but the police are still going to want to talk to him. If you hear from him, would you call me, please? I’m sure I’ll be talking to the police today, also.”
    “Mother, I’ll try to find out where Mark is, but I want you to stay out of this.”
    “I’m already in it. I talked to the victim yesterday afternoon.”
    Albert spewed a string of obscenities, which was unlike him. Then he told me not to do anything rash and hung up.
    Tess had poured herself a cup of coffee in my kitchen and sat down at my small dining table. She said, “I take it that nobody knows where Mark is.”
    I tried to look on the bright side. “Of course he might be at the college. I’m sure he’s teaching at least one class today.”
    “If he is, the police will find him there. Well, I guess we’re back in the detective business, whether we want to be or not. If for no other reason than to help Mark. Anyway, I came prepared.”
    Tess pulled out her yellow legal pad and placed it on the table. “Is there anything you should mention about your meeting with Elise that you didn’t tell me on our way home yesterday? You were in there quite a while. I was about ready to send the dogs in after you.”
    “Nothing of substance. She seemed to be genuinely sorry about the problems she had caused Mark. I don’t think she anticipated them at all. She said several times that she hadn’t had anything to do with the demonstration. I suspect that Priscilla Estavez knows how the information leaked out about Mark, but of course I can’t prove it. However, I’d like to wring her neck, just on general principles.”
    “Did Elise tell you her side of the harassment story?”
    “No. But just as I was