“So this is a homicide case?” He smiled at my surprise. “I took the liberty of researching you, Dr. Delaware. Your consultations to the police seem to center on homicide. That shocked me. I can’t imagine Cherish involved in anything criminal, let alone homicide. She’s a gentle person. As I told you, one of our finest students.”

“But she didn’t finish her degree.”

“That,” he said, “was most unfortunate. But it had nothing to do with her.”

I waited.

Wascomb looked over at the counter. Heather was standing around, talking to the cashier.

“Doctor?” I said.

“Cherish’s misfortune was somewhat similar to mine,” said Wascomb. “Vis-à-vis Baylord Patterman.”

“She had something to do with the accident scandal?”

“No, I was speaking analogously. The Bible issues repeated exhortations against keeping bad company. Cherish and I failed to heed those warnings, but I was the teacher and she was the student, so I suppose some of her error lies at my door.”

“Cherish got blamed for something a friend did.”

“Cherish was put in an uncomfortable position through no fault of her own.”

Heather brought our food. “Here it is, guys!”

Wascomb smiled up at her. “It smells wonderful, dear.”

Her left eyebrow cocked. “Enjoy.”

He uttered a silent grace, then cut his stack of hotcakes in half, sawing straight through to the bottom. Rotating the plate, he sliced again, then once more until the pile had been sectioned into eighths. Lauritz Montez would approve.

Montez and Wascomb had both chosen to minister to sinners. I supposed they couldn’t be blamed for seeking the illusion of an orderly world.

Wascomb ate with such enjoyment that it seemed a shame to interrupt him. I worked on my own plate, finally said, “Who was Cherish’s bad friend?”

He put his fork down. “This is absolutely necessary for your investigation?”

“I can’t answer that until I know, Doctor.”

“Appreciate your honesty.” He wiped his lips, removed his glasses, touched his temples with his fingertips. “Not a friend. Her husband.”

“Drew Daney.”

Slow nod.

“How’d he get her in trouble?” I said.

“Oh,” said Wascomb, as if the memory made him weary. “I had reservations about him early on. We’re small and chronically short on funds, we need to be selective in who we accept. Our typical student is an honors graduate of a respectable Bible college, trained in the evangelical tradition. Cherish was such an individual. She graduated first in her class from Viola Mercer College in Rochester, New York.”

“And Drew?”

“Drew claimed to have attended a very solid school in Virginia. In truth, he dropped out of high school. That was the extent of his education.”

“He lied on his application.”