The Violet Crow by Michael Sheldon Page B

Night?”
    â€œI couldn’t make anything of it either,” Bruno admitted. “Then I realized: There’s more than one kind of Quaker …”
    â€œThere is? You mean like low church and high church, that sort of thing?”
    â€œNo. I was watching them play on TV last night.”
    â€œRight, the Quakers. University of Pennsylvania. Big 5 basketball. Crosstown rivalries. Great stuff. You don’t think basketball fans did this? I mean it’s basketball, not soccer.”
    â€œWell it was volleyball, but that’s not the point. Are you paying attention?”
    â€œOh, right,” the Chief said. “I guess I am distracted. See that kid in there with the bright red hair?”
    Bruno turned around discreetly.
    â€œJust go ahead and stare at him. There’s no secret. He knows that we know that he’s the town’s biggest drug problem.”
    â€œOK.”
    â€œCan you read his mind?”
    â€œJust like this? In a room crowded with all these people? Too many distractions.”
    â€œGo ahead. Give it a try anyway.”
    Bruno shut his eyes and tried to concentrate. Within seconds he was shaking his head, as if trying to ward off a hungry mosquito. “ Feh . That’s one messed up kid in there.”
    â€œWhat’s he thinking?”
    â€œI couldn’t tell.”
    â€œBut you said something …”
    â€œYeah, it’s chazerai— a big mess. But that’s just a general impression. A sense.”
    â€œLike an aura. Could you see his aura?”
    â€œNot exactly. I don’t do auras.”
    â€œC’mon,” scoffed the Chief. “What’d you see?”
    â€œThings don’t look too good for that kid. I think he might be in big trouble.”
    â€œThat makes sense. He’s a drug addict. Do you have anything more specific?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œHmpf.” The Chief seemed to be sulking.
    â€œAnyway, I want to go right away and track down my lead about the Quakers.”
    â€œYou call that a lead?”
    â€œMost definitely.”
    â€œAnd how are you planning to follow up?”
    â€œI’m heading over to the campus. Do some research in the library and then just … check things out.”
    â€œCheck things out?”
    â€œYeah. Walk around. See what’s going on over there.”
    â€œWell you can’t.”
    â€œI can’t? Why not?”
    â€œWe have an appointment. Tell you what I’ll do, though. I’ll have Harry—Sergeant Abraham—call the campus cops and do a sweep of the message boards. He’s our best technology resource; maybe he’ll come up with something for you. And I’m going to have Michelle—Officer Coxe—check the hospitals and clinics. I really think those are our best shots right now.”
    The Chief started laughing.
    â€œWha’s funny?” complained Bruno, failing to guess that Chief Black had already moved on to another topic.
    â€œI don’t know how I could have forgotten. This Rabbi called. Name’s Nachman. Ever heard of him?”
    â€œNot really. Name sounds familiar, but I can’t place it.”
    â€œIf you knew him I don’t think you’d forget. He’s a bit flamboyant. Lit a fire under the Mayor. Asked a lot of weird questions about you. Wanted to know how old you are. Whether you’re married. Where did you study? Whatdya think? Is he looking for a date?”
    â€œNot my type. Must be an Orthodox Rabbi.”
    â€œAny idea what he’s up to?”
    â€œAccording to the Orthodox, nobody’s supposed to mess around with the Kabbalah … except themselves. They say if you’re not at least 40, married, and haven’t mastered the Talmud and all the other sacred books, then using the Kabbalah will create a lot of trouble.”
    â€œWhat kind of trouble?”
    â€œThe evil eye. Avenging angels. False messiahs. Wrath of God. That kind of