“I forgot something,” I said as I walked back toward the desk. “We need to get the locks on the archive office and the storeroom changed right away.”

“What?” Peter looked alarmed. “What has happened?”

I explained tersely. Peter shook his head. “I shall certainly speak to Rick Tackett immediately,” he said. “This is a serious breach of our security. I wonder whether I should discuss this with the head of the campus police.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary just yet,” I said. “Getting the locks changed today, if at all possible, is the most important thing.”

“I shall see to it.” Peter sighed. “So many phone calls to make.” He brightened. “I shall have Melba make the necessary contact with Rick, however.”

“That’s probably not a bad idea,” I said. I knew Melba could probably get results from Rick faster than Peter could. “Good luck with Deputy Berry.” I thought a reminder couldn’t hurt.

Peter was picking up the phone as I left.

In the outer office Diesel was stretched out on the credenza behind Melba’s desk while Melba worked at her computer. She looked up when I shut Peter’s door behind me.

“You sure were in there a long time,” she said. “It couldn’t have taken that long, even with Peter, to talk about what happened.”

“It didn’t,” I said. “There was something else Peter wanted to discuss.” I threw up a hand. “And before you ask me, I can’t tell you. If Peter chooses to tell you, fine, but don’t ask me, please.”

Melba pouted for a moment, but she never could stay annoyed or angry with anyone for long. “All right, Charlie. Spoilsport.” She grinned at me. “I’ll get it out of Peter somehow.”

I smiled at her, not doubting for a moment that she could. “Come on, Diesel. Let’s go.”

Diesel sat up and yawned. Then he stretched for a moment before jumping down. He came up to me and rubbed against my legs.

“We’ll see you later.” I waved at Melba as I followed my cat out of the office and toward the stairs.

I had plenty to think about when Diesel and I were once again installed in our accustomed places in the archive office. While the cat settled down for a nap, I stared at the computer screen. I should have been checking e-mail, but instead I kept running a list of suspects through my mind:

Julia Wardlaw

Justin Wardlaw

Jordan Thompson

Peter Vanderkeller

Any or all of them could be lying.