Buck lavished on the topping, took a big bite, swallowed, then drank coffee. “We can play games, Officer. I don’t mind looking at you while you eat.”

“Oh my!” I smiled. “Was that a compliment?”

Again he reddened. “Statement of fact.”

This was the time for the sincere smile. “Thank you.”

Buck took another bite and stared at me.

I stared back. “Okay, I confess. I do have a motive.”

He waited.

“We were cleaning out some open files, trying to breathe some life into the dead cases. Belinda Syracuse came up. I was asked to run through the sprinklers one more time.”

“What specifically?”

“Nothing too heavy. Just to reinterview anyone who knew her, who saw her on a regular basis. I started with Klinghoffner, then went on to the secretary, Jamie Hostetter, then Myra Manigan. You’re next in line.”

“Why are you wasting time with people from Fordham?” Buck said. “She was killed on a weekend pass.”

“Apparently, her brother said something about a phone call, that someone from Fordham had offered to pick Belinda up from her brother’s and take her back to the center.”

Buck shrugged.

“Did you ever take her anywhere?”

“Me?” He acted as if he were taken aback by the absurdity. “I write papers, I file papers, and I organize papers. I have basically nothing to do with the students.”

“Never take them out for coffee or …”

“Occasionally, I bring in doughnuts. Does that count?”

“I don’t mean to annoy you, Buck, just trying to give the girl some justice.”

Our eyes met. Buck broke the contact. He finished one bagel half and started on the other. “I believe we covered this ground before. I don’t know who would want to harm Belinda or any of the kids.”

An interesting answer, especially since I hadn’t asked the question.

“None of them ever confide in you?” I asked.

“I don’t have a relationship with them. My job is strictly administrative.”

“But you’re around. Surely they talk to you.”

“Not really …” He shrugged and finished his bagel. “Not beyond an occasional ‘Hello’ or ‘No, it’s not time for lunch,’ or ‘Who stole my stapler?’ The kids really don’t notice me. I’m more or less a fixture like the corner coffeepot.”

That wasn’t what I saw. I said, “I think you sell yourself short.”

“Ah, a weak stab at charm.”

But he was unnerved by the comment.

I laughed. “Remind me again—what were you doing on the night Belinda was hit?”

“Frankly, I forget.”

“Before you mentioned a girlfriend to me. You took her out to brunch that day? At Café Romano.”

“If you say so.”

“The name of the girlfriend?”

“Back then it would have been Erica Tross. The comely lass has moved back to New York.”

“When?”

“A month ago.” He smiled. “But don’t get your hopes up, Officer. I’m currently dating someone else. Are you going to eat that bagel?”

I slid the plate over to him. “You said that day that you had rented a movie, In the Bedroom?”