Shadow in the Pines by PJ Nunn Page B

this,” he said, “I just…” He pulled at his tie like it was choking him. “After those kids disappeared, there was another kid, a lab assistant…he reminded me a little of you,” he smiled apprehensively. “He worked over in Ophidian, and he was a little older than the others and took his work very seriously. The whole thing bothered him a lot, and he kept asking questions.”
    “You mean about the students that disappeared?” she asked.
    He nodded. “Just wouldn’t leave it alone. He said the police weren’t doing enough to try to find them. Anyway, the last I heard, he said he was going to comb these woods himself until he found something.”
    “That sounds logical,” she said, her mind working overtime. She’d had the same thought.
    “The best I remember, that was a Friday. Monday he wasn’t there. By the middle of the week, I heard he’d moved away suddenly,” he stared down into his coffee mug.
    “I take it you don’t believe that,” she said solemnly, aware of a tightening in her chest. He looked genuinely distressed.
    “I don’t know what to believe,” he shook his head. “I had a bad feeling about it way back then, but I never said anything. But now………I just didn’t want to risk the same thing happening to you.”
    Dani was touched by his concern, but didn’t like the feelings it evoked. Pictures flashed in her mind of the shadow between the trees this afternoon, and being locked in the cellar last week. “Wow!” she sighed deeply. “So you think I should just stop asking questions and leave it all alone?”
    Somehow, being here in her living room, talking like this, Joe seemed much more human, more real. At work he was almost like an automaton, never tiring, rarely making a mistake. Sitting here now, he obviously had feelings and concerns like everyone else.
    “I don’t know,” he looked up at her, his blue eyes filled with concern. “Sometimes I wish I knew what happened, too. Those poor kids,” he said. “And I understand the University wanting to keep everything quiet, but……… what are the chances of three students who all worked for Ophidian disappearing without a trace in a couple weeks’ time and it wasn’t related to the University somehow?”
    “Didn’t I hear that Dr. Atkinson left not long after?” she suddenly remembered something Beth had said.
    “Yes, he did,” Joe said, nodding. “That seemed a little abrupt, too, but I didn’t have much contact with anyone over there,” he shrugged.
    “What about Dr. Crane? Was he there then?” she persisted.
    He nodded again. “They were partners.”
    “Well, you know him. Couldn’t you ask him about it?”
    “No. I don’t know him that well, and he made it plain back then that he didn’t want to talk about it at all. In fact,” he rubbed his chin, “seems like there was some kind of problem with him even talking to the police when it happened.”
    Already, the wheels were turning in her mind. Noah could get access to all those records, she was sure of it. Glancing up at the clock on the wall, she wondered what time he’d get home. It was already after nine.
    “I better get going,” he got to his feet. “I’m sorry to intrude. I hope you don’t think I’m being too nosy,” he smiled.
    “Not at all,” she said, standing. “I’m glad you told me. I’ll be careful,” she assured him.
    “Good. Do you still want me to call Dr. Crane about you doing some work over there?” he asked as she opened the front door.
    “Absolutely,” she smiled. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll get lucky.”
    “All right, then,” he looked a little disappointed. “Good night.”
    “Night,” she said, closing the door firmly behind him. What an odd conversation! First, he volunteered to talk to Dr. Crane about her working at Ophidian, then he acted like he didn’t like the idea. What happened in a few short hours to change his mind? There must be something more he didn’t tell her.
    She’d already picked the