McAdams said, “But guys do get drunk and behave badly, right?”

“Exactly.”

“Do you think that’s what might have happened to Angeline?” She shrugged helplessly. Decker said, “In the next few hours, we’ll be talking to a lot of people. Like I said, if anyone makes you feel uneasy, give me a call.”

She let out a gush of air. “I’ll call you, I promise.”

“After I’m done with Emily, I’ll come back to check on you,” Decker said. “In the meantime, it’s always a good idea to lock your doors.”

Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

THE INTERVIEW WITH friend Emily didn’t provide any new insights, just a fresh batch of tears from another vulnerable young woman. Maybe a guy’s perspective would be more enlightening. As they made their way over to Elm Hall, Lance Terry’s dorm, McAdams said, “Looks like Angeline had lost interest in college. Typical for seniors.”

Decker didn’t answer, churning around his own thoughts. The men walked in silence for a few moments.

“Did I piss you off or something?”

“No, I’m not pissed at anyone. Why would you think that?”

“You’re not answering me and I piss people off all the time.”

“Just thinking.” A pause. “Even brain-dead cops do that from time to time.”

“Are we really having this conversation—again?” When Decker didn’t answer, the kid exhaled. “Look. I know I’m an arrogant ass . . . with a weak stomach. But I’m not stupid. I told you I’m in this all the way. So if you deign to share your thoughts, I might deign to add an insight or two.”

“You do have insight. So you tell me what you’re thinking and I can shoot you down.”

McAdams smiled. “Like everyone else.”

“In the biz, we call it a discussion. You go first . . . please.”

“Since you said please.” McAdams collected his ideas. “I don’t think the crime had anything to do with the college per se. Angeline was psychologically gone . . . all but graduated. And when you add the designer purses and shoes, I’m thinking that someone had to be giving her money, right?”

“Makes sense.”

The kid grew animated. “I’m thinking she was making a lot of money on the side and probably doing it illegally. Since both Emily and Julia didn’t like our hooker/pusher theory, and since Angeline was an art history major, and since stained glass is taught at Littleton, it is not inconceivable that Angeline might have had something to do with the forgeries and the thefts in the cemetery. And that may have something to do with the reason behind her excess money and her murder.”

“Go on.”

“So I suppose the next step is to find out if she took a stained-glass course.”

“And if she didn’t?”

“Well, it still doesn’t rule out that she knew how to do stained glass.”