Scapegoat Read online

  Jim was examining the body more closely and Blair had to look away. As much as he didn't like Wilson, he couldn't stand the thought of him lying dead, right there in the middle of the room, with strange people poking and probing his now lifeless body.

  "Looks like a knife wound." Jim was saying. "Or several. This is pretty big for just a knife."

  "That's what I thought." Officer Kelly agreed, leaning in for a closer look. "More like a sword, or something that large, at least."

  Blair tried to look, but he couldn't. "Hey Jim, I'm gonna..."

  Jim turned to him and stood up. "Why don't you wait in the car? Or go down to your office, okay?"

  Blair nodded. He wanted to stay, and help. But he couldn't. This one was too close to home. He started for the door, intending to step out into the hall, talk to Kathy, find out what the hell happened, when the second officer he had seen with her returned. Blair recognized the object in his hands immediately.

  "Blair Sandburg?" The officer and his partner both stepped into the room.

  Blair turned to Jim before answering. "Yes. Where did you get that?" He pointed to the Mobutu spear in the officer's hands. The spear that he had kept on his wall above the desk for the past year. The spear that he had been given while visiting the Mobutu people. The spear that was now being held by hands covered in plastic gloves. Then his eyes fixated on the blood, still wet on the tip.

  "What the hell?" Blair had instinctively reached out for his spear, then pulled back when he saw the blood.

  "Is this yours, Mr Sandburg?"

  "Jim?" Blair turned to Jim who now stood beside him. He numbly realized that had been the murder weapon. His own spear, from his own office. He didn't understand the implications, not right away.

  "What's this? Where did you find it?" Jim examined the spear without touching it.

  "In Mr Sandburg's office. I'd lay odds it fits that hole in Professor Wilson's back."

  Blair shook his head. This didn't make any sense. Who would kill Wilson? And who would get into his office and take a spear to do it? And then put it back? He was still shaking his head when he realized Jim and the officers were watching him, waiting.

  "Jim, I don't understand any of this."

  Jim looked around the room again, thinking. "Has Forensics been called?"

  "Yes. Should be here soon," The officer holding the spear replied, handing the weapon over to his partner who held out a large, plastic bag to accept the evidence.

  "Okay. Let me know when they get here. I'll be downstairs in Mr Sandburg's office."

  "Jim?" Blair still didn't understand, or want to understand, what was happening. Jim just took him by the arm and led him out into the hallway.

  "Just come with me, Chief. We'll get this straightened out. Let's just go to your office."

  Blair couldn't protest as Jim led him down the corridor. His head was spinning, and he couldn't find Kathy anywhere. "Jim, where's..."

  "Come on, Chief." Jim cut him off, but let go of his arm and put his hand on Blair's shoulder, guiding him down the steps.

  Once inside his office he glanced about quickly, trying to determine if anything else was amiss. There was blood on the floor and Jim guided him around it to the desk. He could see blood smeared on the wall where the spear usually rested. "God, Jim. What's going on here?"

  Jim pushed him gently down into a chair beside the desk and sat on the edge of the desk himself. "I'm not sure yet. So far we've got a dead body, and a murder weapon. Nothing more." His last remark was so strongly punctuated, Blair immediately began to worry.

  "Jim, I was just here. I was talking to Professor Wilson this afternoon. He just received a grant award this morning. God, he was alive when I left."

  "How do you know that? Did you see him when you left?"

  Blair thought for a moment. "No, I saw the light still on in his office. He was getting ready to go to the Amazon basin. He and Kathy--I should talk to her, she was with him." Blair started to stand up, to find Kathy, find out what the hell was going on.

  "Wait a minute, Chief. Stay here." Jim put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down into the chair.

  "But Jim, she was here. She might have seen something."

  "I know, Chief, I know. But right now you need to stay here. Now, tell me exactly what you saw, what you did tonight."

  Blair looked at his friend for a long moment. "Oh, Jim, you don't think that I--I mean, this is just too crazy." Blair made another move to get up. He needed to stand, to move around. Jim's hand was on his shoulder again,

  "Would you sit still for just one minute?" Jim pushed him back into the chair for a second time. "Now, just sit there, and tell me everything that happened since we spoke."

  Blair took a deep breath, pushing his still-wet hair back with one hand. "Okay, okay. We talked, I dunno what was it, around 6:00?"

  "6:15" Jim replied.

  "Okay," Blair shook his head, trying to remember. "Nothing. I hung up the phone, and started to grade the finals. They're right over there, in my box. That's all. When I was done, I left. I saw the light still on from under Wilson's door. I left. The car broke down. Jim, this is crazy. If he was killed while I was here, I should have heard something. His office is just right up there." Blair pointed to the ceiling above them. "I can hear them sometimes, dropping books and stuff."

  "What about the phone? I tried to call you an hour before you left."

  "No, Jim. I swear the phone didn't ring. I was right here."

  "Okay, what time did you leave? Was there anyone else in the building who saw you? What about the parking lot?"

  Blair thought for a moment, shaking his head. He hadn't seen anyone, not that he remembered. And that meant no one had seen him. But then, if Wilson was murdered around 9 PM, wouldn't Blair have seen someone? Was the spear on the wall that evening? He was beginning to feel a strange sensation forming in the pit of his stomach when a uniformed officer entered, calling for Jim.

  Blair watched his friend walk to the door to confer with the officer. Each one of them glanced at Blair from time to time. He wished he had Jim's hearing then. He was fast becoming worried about this whole mess. They thought he had something to do with the murder. That had to be it. But surely Jim didn't. Surely Jim couldn't think him capable of...

  "Blair, I need to go upstairs for a minute. Why don't you just stay here, okay?"

  Blair nodded.

  "Just sit there and don't touch anything."

  Blair nodded again. He was too numb to speak. He noticed the uniformed officer looking at him and he put both hands under his legs, more to stop them shaking than to keep from accidentally touching anything that might be evidence. The officer stayed at the door, watching him, so he turned away. The blood from the spear was smeared along the wall behind his desk. Some of it had dripped down to the floor, landing on some papers. Blair turned away, but that brought his gaze to the floor, and the drops of blood that trailed from the door to the desk. He looked back at the door, and the officer stared back.

  Part 2

  * * *

  Jim walked back down the corridor slowly, taking a closer look at each drop of blood that was staining the carpet there. Several drops had been stepped in, but he couldn't pick out any tread marks, even with his Sentinel sight. He moved back towards the door, taking a close look at as much of the carpet as he could.

  "What's this about Sandburg being involved in a murder?"

  Jim turned to see Simon standing in the office next to Wilson's body. He stood and entered the room, glancing at the floor and the blood there. "Simon. He's not involved."

  "According to Officer Sanderson, the murder weapon was found in his office." Simon replied, watching Jim. "And, there's a witness who can put Sandburg here at the time of the murder." Jim looked up. "This Ms. Fisher says she witnessed an argument between Professor Wilson and Sandburg just a few hours before he was killed."

  Jim nodded, "Yes Simon, he was here. But he had nothing to do with this."

  Si
mon glanced around the office, watching the forensics people collecting evidence. "She also says they had an argument five days ago, and Sandburg threatened him."

  "What? What do you mean, threatened him?" Things were suddenly looking worse. He knew Blair wouldn't do this, but what had happened? "Simon, you can't possibly believe that Blair would do something like this?"

  "I don't know what to believe yet. I believe the evidence. And so far, it's all stacking up against your 'partner'."

  Simon's derogatory use of the term bothered Jim. "Simon, I don't know what's going on here yet. But I can assure you, Blair had nothing to do with it."

  "Excuse me, Captain. We're finished here." Simon turned to the forensic officer who was zipping an evidence bag closed.

  "Anything?"

  "We'll get fingerprints off the murder weapon back at the lab. Some of the blood in the carpet was stepped in, but we couldn't lift any sole marks. No sign of forced entry, no struggle apparent, so I'm guessing the victim had no reason to suspect he was about to be stabbed. Happened pretty quick." She handed the bag to her assistant who packed it up with the rest. "That spear was sharp enough to go in quickly and with little effort. Pierced the heart through the third and fourth rib. Death was instantaneous."

  Simon nodded. "Okay." He turned to Jim. "Take Sandburg down to the station for questioning."

  "Simon, you can't..."

  "I can, and I have to. Jim, he was here at the time of the murder. The murder weapon was found in his office and belongs to him. We have a witness to an argument he had with the deceased hours before the murder." He paused, taking a deep breath. "Now, all that considered, what would you do if he wasn't your friend?"

  Jim shook his head, but he had to admit Simon was right. "Okay Simon, I'll take him in. But just to get this cleared up." Simon agreed and Jim left the room. He walked back down the hall slowly, taking a closer look at each drop of blood as he followed the trail to Blair's office. Officer Hanson was still standing outside the door, looking in at Blair.

  "Thanks, Ross. They're about wrapped up now." The officer nodded, taking the hint, and left. Jim looked in at Blair before walking into the office. He was sitting on his hands, and rocking back and forth slightly, eyes closed. "Come on, Chief. Forensics is going to have to look around down here. Let's go back to the station." He put a hand on his friend's shoulder and stood for a moment, waiting for Blair to react.

  "What's going on here, Jim?" he asked, standing slowly.

  "Come on, we'll talk about it downtown."

  Blair stopped, turning towards him. There was a look in the younger man's eyes that Jim had never seen before. "Jim, what in the hell is going on?"

  He put his hand back on Blair's shoulder and gave him a gentle push towards the door. "I don't know yet, Chief. We're just going to go downtown and get this all straightened out." Jim knew Blair understood what that meant. "Don't worry about it Sandburg, it'll all get worked out."

  Blair turned and Jim kept his hand on his shoulder, pushing him down the hallway, up the stairs, and back out into the parking lot. The rain had let up, for that Jim was grateful. He and his friend were both still soaking wet. He unlocked the passenger door and waited until Blair climbed in before walking around to the driver's side. They drove to the station in silence. Blair was beginning to shiver, from the cold or the shock, he wasn't sure. Jim cranked up the heat in the truck and tried to hurry the ten mile trip. This wasn't going to be easy, taking his friend in to face what he had seen so many others face before. Being a friend of a cop could be nearly as detrimental to one's credibility as being a cop yourself. The DA might assume, based on his association with the Department, that Blair was guilty. As they did when any cop was accused. And as it stood right now, all the evidence was pointing to...But he couldn't have. Blair wouldn't murder anyone. Murders needed motive, as well as opportunity. Maybe, just maybe, Blair was there at the right time. But what could be the reason? Murders were committed most often for love or money. Well, one could be ruled out right away, surely? Ms Fisher was an attractive woman, but Blair had his share of attractive women. He wouldn't need to compete with a man in his fifties. Money? No, he knew Blair too well to even suspect, for one moment, that his partner and house mate could be capable of such a thing as murder. It was a frame, it had to be. Who, how, and why, he didn't know. Yet. Now, Professor Wilson murdering Blair out of sheer frustration with the kid's enthusiasm, he could consider. But this was no time for humor.

  They pulled into the station parking lot and Jim stopped the truck. "Blair, you know what this is for, don't you?" Blair looked over at him, that same look in his eyes. What was it? "They just have to question everyone who was there, it's routine."

  "Jim, I was there. Kathy was there. Who else is there?" He glanced around, shaking his head. "You question suspects, Jim. I'm a suspect, aren't I?"

  Jim opened the door and motioned for Blair to join him. "Right now, everyone's a suspect, Chief. This is just routine, nothing to worry about. Come on, this will all get worked out, trust me." He waited for Blair, then they both walked over to the elevator, hitting the 7th floor button. "So, who was this Professor Wilson?"

  Blair was staring at the elevator panel, his eyes fixated on the lights. "An anthropologist. He studies...I mean, studied the effects of modern day influences on isolated tribes in the Amazon basin." He looked up at the numbers above the door. "He just received the grant money he was waiting for. He was taking a team to.... to study a tribe there." He looked over at Jim just as the elevator came to a stop. "Jim, I didn't do this."

  "I know." They stepped out of the elevator and Jim guided Blair down the corridor, towards the interrogation rooms. "Now listen, Chief. The Captain is going to be asking the questions, with the Assistant DA most likely there too. Do you want a lawyer here? It's your right."

  Blair stopped and turned, "Do I need one?"

  "It's your call." They had stopped just outside the door to an interrogation room. Jim knew once they went inside, he was going to have to be Detective Ellison, not Blair's friend Jim. How he was going to separate the two, he didn't know. But he also knew he wouldn't be the only officer in there. "No, Chief. You'll be fine." He opened the door and gently pushed Blair forward. "I'm your partner, remember? Besides, you didn't do it."

  They entered the room and Jim could feel Blair tense up. He walked over to the table and pulled out a chair for his friend. Opposite him sat Assistant DA Jane Walters, and behind her, a stenographer. At the far end of the room was a uniformed officer Jim couldn't recall the name of.

  "Mr Sandburg, I'm Assistant DA Walters. We're just here to take your statement and get the facts together regarding the death of Professor Wilson." DA Walters nodded toward Captain Banks who had just entered the room. "The Captain here will be asking some questions, and I may have a few myself. Okay?"

  Jim watched Blair as he nodded slowly, looking around the room.

  "Sandburg, what time did you leave the University tonight?" Simon began.

  "Around 9:00, I think. I just finished grading some finals."

  "You were there all evening? Did you speak with Professor Wilson during that time?"

  Blair started to glance at Jim then stopped himself. "Yes, earlier. I was his in office, to congratulate him on the grant. Kathy was there, she followed me down the hall when I left." He did look up to Jim then. "I got back to my office just as Jim called. I stayed there until I had finished, then I left for home."

  "Kathy, that would be Ms Fisher?" DA Walters asked.

  Blair nodded.

  "Out loud, please Mr Sandburg. This is being taken down."

  Blair swallowed, glancing at the stenographer. "Yes." he replied.

  "Did you hear anything while you were downstairs?" Jim asked.

  "No. I had a tape playing pretty loudly though." Blair glanced over to Simon, then quickly looked away. "There was a light on in the office when I left. I didn't hear any voices, though. Wilson and I--we didn't get along--but I would never...Captain,
you've got to believe me."

  Simon looked up at Jim then back to Blair, "Right now, Sandburg, I don't know what to believe. This Ms Fisher, she says you and Wilson fought several times. She says you were passed up for a grant that Wilson was awarded and you were pretty upset about it. What kind of money are we talking about here?"

  Blair was shaking his head.

  "What grant is this? You never mentioned anything before." Jim asked.

  Blair looked at him then, eyebrows raised. "I didn't mention it because I didn't get it. It was months ago. Before Dr. Stoddard's offer to go to Borneo. I wanted it then, but I don't now." He paused, looking around the room, then back to Jim. "It was between my studies of Sentinels, and his study in the Amazon. He won, that's all. This kind of thing happens all the time. If I was offered the trip now, I wouldn't take it. It would've taken me to Peru, for about a year or so, to study some of the natives there." He looked back to Simon. "It's not like winning a lottery or something. The money is for the expenses and research, nothing more."

  "Sentinels? I don't understand." DA Walters glanced from Blair to Simon. "Is this your field of study?"

  Blair nodded, "Yes."

  "And just what is your capacity here at the station, Mr. Sandburg? I understand you are a consultant?"

  Jim realized he should change the subject, but he couldn't understand Blair not mentioning something like this before. Had he really wanted to go with Stoddard? After Peru, Blair had changed his mind. Jim had wanted to tell him then that he didn't want him to go, to leave the Sentinel studies with him behind. But, the kid had a career to think about. He had said this was an opportunity that didn't come along every day. He couldn't stand in Blair's way out of a selfish need to keep him to himself. But, when he decided to stay, Jim had been grateful. He was getting used to having Blair around, and was enjoying their friendship. Was he looking for another opportunity to leave, without letting Jim know?