“I’m going to want you, in particular, to study the two victims’ case files.”

“I already have. I honestly don’t remember Anne Banks. That doesn’t mean much of anything, because whenever I would go to the hospital on the job, it’s generally chaos. And it was a long time ago. I could have crossed paths with her, because I certainly went there often enough during the years she worked there, but nothing stands out.”

“My staff is culling through dismissed and settled lawsuits where Banks was named. Nothing may come of it, but right now our only lead is looking for a connection between Banks and Marston. I’d like you to look at them, too. They’re at the hotel, if you can stop by there at some point today, or tomorrow before the debriefing.”

“I’ll go there today. Marston I remember. He came to a couple community meetings we had between the police department and school districts in the wake of Columbine. He was instrumental in making sure that schools and law enforcement are all on the same page in the event of a hostage situation or school shooting. And I led a tactical drill at his school when he was still principal, for training purposes, years ago. So I’ve talked to him, but only in those capacities.”

“It’s a start. Have you run any complaints against him? Assaults? Other charges or accusations? I know your people are working on school discipline reports during that time.”

“Yes, and there’s nothing in our system on Marston. I contacted the Sheriff’s department. They don’t have him in their system, either. The guy was clean.”

In the initial investigation, if Marston had a restraining order or had been party to a lawsuit, it should have popped. If he had any criminal record it would have popped, too, but a major felony would preclude him from serving as a teacher, not to mention a principal. Yet Matt didn’t believe in making those kind of assumptions, so it was always best to double-check.

“I have one more thing,” Maddox said. “Two of my officers interviewed a teacher who worked with Marston. She’s now retired, but she said there was a former employee who had threatened him shortly before he left Spokane to get his PhD.”

“Name?”

“She doesn’t remember. I have her contact information. Maybe you can get more out of her.”

It sounded like a waste of time, but he couldn’t let it pass by unanswered. “Send me her info. I’ll stop by after I talk to Ogdenburg’s family.”

“Andy should do that.”

“Yes, but he’s not going to ask the right questions. He misstepped this morning and he’s taking it hard.”

“He told me. He’s not used to this level of investigation. But he’s a good cop, Costa. I vouch for him.”

“I told him to get his head in the game, that I’m counting on him.”

Matt hung up. Ryder was analyzing so many reports and Matt kept adding more to his workload. Ryder needed help. They were running press reports, crime reports, court documents, full background—it would take days to sort through. After Ogdenburg’s sister, then talking to the retired teacher, Matt would go back and devote time to the tedious chore.