The agent redialed his phone. “Yeah, Larry, we’re not hearing back from any of the local or State police. And the lead suspect was at the hospital. So unless this kid was cooperating with the kidnapping…alert the down river cops and Coast Guard. And drag the lake.”
The hospital administrator caught the agent’s eye. He confirmed that he could absolutely identify the whereabouts of each of the female foreign doctors on his staff during the critical period. Two had been in surgery, one teaching a seminar to fifteen interns and the fourth had been at a nearby elementary school giving inoculations. Who the nurse says she saw he couldn’t verify. The nurse was fully qualified and reliable. The hospital security procedures were fully in compliance with the law and above industry standards.
A short while later a report came in. Local cops had found Stephenson’s bicycle near the river, not far from the train station and a bridge. A search of the area did not locate the suspect. Local police were out on the river, now looking for two bodies. Three trains had gone south and two north since the suspect was last reported at the hospital. The agent directed the searchers to focus on the city bound trains, the most likely route of escape. Radio contact with the north bound trains reported no one matching the descriptions of the suspect or student travelling together or alone had boarded at the station.
The autopsy report came a few hours later. The FBI agent reviewed the results. He went back to the administrator’s office. “Can you call in your team, please? I want to confirm all the facts.”
The administrator complied. The group quickly gathered, including the proctologist, the nurses, the pharmacy staff, the coroner and his assistant.
“This report says Mr. Marcus died of an overdose of anesthesia. Is that right?”
“There is no question of the cause of death” confirmed the coroner.
“And you say that the correct amount was provided to and administered by the nurse.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“And you’re sure that all other supply of drugs is accounted for.”
“Absolutely, as your own staff can attest” said the head of the pharmacy.
“So, the drug came from somewhere else or Marcus came in here with it already in his system.”
“That seems the case.”
“I think it unlikely that the patient arrived with it already in his body” said the proctologist.”
“I agree” said the coroner.
“I had a brief conversation with Mr. Marcus on his arrival. While very nervous he seemed lucid. The amount of drug indicated in the autopsy would have rendered him insensible.”
“That’s right. He would have lived a matter of minutes after having that volume of drug injected.”
“And there was no evidence of other injections?”
“None.”
“So someone with knowledge of anesthesia and access to the drug came to the hospital with the intent to kill Mr. Marcus?” asked the agent.
“So it would seem” affirmed the administrator.
***
The FBI agent called in his fellow agents to report on what had been learned through the day. Most had little to report, though great effort had been made to find Stephenson, the missing student, and now a missing female doctor. The college security detail added little more, though one detail was curious. In the woods, near Marcus’s home were two bags of groceries, containing perishables and bottles of wine, recently purchased. They appeared to have been dropped by someone in a hurry.
The curious outcome of the DNA sampling rankled the senior agent. He put the issue before his colleagues for their insight.
“Clearly, someone was trying to corrupt the DNA sample we were taking from Marcus.”
“Who would know we were looking inside the guy’s ass for the sample?”
“Could someone have overheard our plans?”
“I doubt it, though I think I mentioned it when on my cell outside Marcus’s house.”
“Who else knew?”
“Dr. Waldheim, the Provost, was there when Marcus told us. He knew we were headed to the hospital for the sample.”
“Where would you get semen from ten guys?”
Several of the agents looked at each other with mild disgust.
One finally volunteered, “Guys, it’s a college campus. I don’t know what you did when you were in school, but if you can’t find a hundred used condoms on a college campus, well I fear for the future of the country.”
There were nods of understanding and some of fond remembrance.
***
The next day the FBI agent found the Provost in his office on the campus.
“It looks bad for Stephenson. He had access to the computer that accessed the student’s files. He was pretty clearly indentified at the hospital. He’s nowhere to be found. I need to interview anyone on campus who might have information that will assist with the case.”
“I may be able to quickly identify faculty, staff and students who were close to or had regular contact with the Professor Stephenson. We can start with the faculty and staff. I think we should wait until this afternoon to interview the students. Word about Mr. Marcus’s death has already gotten out — I don’t know how. We’re having a memorial service in the chapel” explained the Provost.
“Normally I’d not want to wait, but with your permission I’d like to attend the service. Is there someplace I can observe who attends the service without being seen?|
“The balcony should suffice” the Provost replied with distaste. “One more thing, I will need to be in attendance during any interview. In the interest of time, I can serve as in loco parentis to protect the interests of the students. Otherwise, you will need to wait until parents can be in attendance.” The agent reluctantly agreed.
“By the way” the agent continued, “did you mention our taking Mr. Marcus to the hospital for the DNA test to anyone?
“I believe I mentioned it to the college President, Mr. Worthington. I was updating him on the situation. Everything is very delicate. Generally, he does not concern himself with day-to-day college life, his primary responsibility being fund raising and the management of the endowment, but this whole series of events is extraordinary. He already seemed to know about the missing student, however, though I don’t know how he came by that information.”
The Provost then identified members of the faculty and staff. Their information correlated well. Professor Stephenson was a conscientious teacher, liked by his students, friendly and open. Many thought his temporary position should be extended and that he showed promise to become an outstanding faculty member and contributor to the college community. His personal relationship with Mr. Marcus was known, but not seen as of any great importance, but had been of visible benefit to Mr. Marcus. Universally, it was hoped that he would quickly return.
***
The memorial service was scheduled for the mid-afternoon. Most of the faculty, many of the long-term staff members, and a few students gathered in the college Chapel. The Provost climbed to the dais in what had been the apse. His steps were leaden. He took a few minutes to compose himself before addressing the gathering.
“Friends. For that is what we were, Stuart Marcus and I. He has long seniority over me here at the college, over most of us, I dare say. He came here as a student and returned a few years after graduating. He gave us unfailing service and dedication. To me, to the students now attending, to all alumni past and that will come. The success of this institution is wholly dependent upon the contribution of Stuart Marcus and those of us who endeavor to follow his example of service.