Dead Certain
by
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“Are you prepared to carry out the integration of Quillan this fall?” Matilda asked.
“But—but—Dean Cuthbertson promised me that you’d find a way to scrap that idea,” Sam gasped. “It’d be a disaster.”
“No indeed, Sam.”
“But—wait till you see the bathroom!”
“Okay. But I do plan to move at least one female in somewhere during the summer to make it official.”
“Oh, Lord. Better move in a passel so they can protect each other, then. I’m not joking , Dr. Hunter. Quillan is the local Animal House. Lots of prowling wolves. Constant orgies.”
“Don’t you think you can handle it, Sam?”
Sam’s face was wan. “Like I said, it’s gonna be a disaster.”
“I’m supposed to meet some police in room 202 in a few minutes,” Matilda said, watching him closely.
“I’m not surprised. I understand the officers come to Quillan quite often. Let’s see, 202? That’s Greg Stillman’s room, isn’t it? He hasn’t been around since I got here. My God, what’s he done?”
“Nothing that I know of. Another student reported funny business going on in his room.”
“There’s plenty of funny business going on in Quillan Hall. Come on. I’ll show you what I mean.”
He led her down the hall toward the two elevators.
“This summer only Pascal students will be on second,” he explained as he held the door open for her. “I assigned the high-school students to the rooms on the third floor. Fourth is empty. I guess if you insist on having some women move in, they can have a whole floor.” He pushed the button for floor two.
“What’s your population now?” Matilda asked.
“Six, all on second. Some of them are leaving soon. The summer students will arrive tomorrow or the next day to register. I warned the fellows to stay out of sight until you leave,” he said as the elevator stopped. They proceeded down the hall toward the famous bathroom of Quillan Hall.
“Voilà!” said Sam Stark, with bow and a sweep with his right hand.
A single light burned deep in the interior, but the glass was so clear that even in the dim light she could make out many showers, urinals, sinks and toilets. There seemed to be clear glass partitions between the toilets; otherwise, everything was completely open. There was only one occupant in the room. As Matilda focused on him, Sam Stark gasped:
“Sweet Jesus Christ!”
The occupant was hanging from a noose in the lighted booth, his body twisting and jerking.
“Let’s go get help!” Sam cried, his face white with terror.
Matilda felt sick, but forced herself to run toward the eerie light in the bathroom.
Formats Book Details Dr. Matilda Hunter comes from California to take up the position of Dean of Students at Pascal College, a small, selective college in New England. Matilda barely has time to get settled in her new office, when she learns that the Dean of Faculty has been accused of sexual harassment by one of his students. Shortly after Matilda hears about this, the body of the student is found on a nearby hill. Jacklyn B. Melchior studied chemistry at the University of California, earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry, and taught for many years in medical schools. She was married for 57 years and raised two children. She has made her home in Sacramento, the Chicago suburbs, and in the East Bay.
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