“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said. “If I can have just two minutes with my family, I’ll make you wait no more.”

“No problem,” Kelly said.

He ushered his son and wife into the hallway but left the door open. Kelly could not hear what was being said but they laughed easily together. It made her long for the idyllic days she used to have with Tony. Banks knelt and hugged his son, and the boy brightened. Naturally, it caused her think of her own daughter. She made a mental note to call Anna when she left the building. Tony and she could not divorce; they still had too much good left between them. Maybe they could get counseling. She could work fewer hours. Banks and his wife enjoyed a long lingering kiss.

Two minutes later Kelly sat in his office, which overlooked the center of campus. A herd of students dashed from one class to the next, but she found the view serene. His office had charm: a wall of books, a Matisse print on the door, a plant climbing a wooden statue of a Greek god, just one computer, plenty of pictures of his wife and son. She used to have such an office.

Banks quizzed her briefly about her literature and FBI background before they moved on to the matter at hand. Professor Shelly must have called him again after she had left the department head’s office. Banks knew more than he should have. He chewed on a point Professor Shelly had let pass.

“Why would the FBI send an agent all the way from L.A. to investigate someone in Ohio?” he asked. “Why not use a local agent?”

“The case that brought me here concerns a very delicate matter.”

He considered for a moment and then smiled. He did not believe her but was too polite to say so. She did not blame him; after all, she was lying. He spread his hands.

“Tell me what I can do for you,” he said.

“Professor Banks,” she began.

“Gene, please. We have a common background.”

“Thanks. You may call me Kelly.” She cleared her throat and was surprised at her nervousness. “I’m here in regards to Michael Grander. He’s a suspect in a series of murders that have been committed in various parts of the country. He—”

Banks snorted. “I’m sorry, Michael’s no murderer. He’s one of the most passive people I know. Why do you suspect him?”

She took a pen and notepad from her bag. “I’ll get to that in a minute. But first I need to ask a series of questions about Grander. I’ll rattle them off, one after another, and you might feel like you’re being interrogated. I apologize ahead of time. I know this must be difficult for you. He’s obviously an important student to you.”

Banks shrugged. “We’re not that close, I just know him. But I’m willing to answer your questions if you’ll answer mine when you’re done. Agreed?”