later.
He sighed with relief, almost a sort of a snort as he loosened up his tie knot. The sun was already setting over Waterloo, and at that time on a Saturday, the Sheriff´s office was usually halfway empty. He peered through the narrow window in his office and he wished that that damn row of buildings would be removed so that he could once again have that beautiful view of the majestic beauty of the banks of the Cedar River. He thought of young Sarah´s parents and about their strife stricken faces as they had been questioned. Maybe he was just another modest detective of a small city lost in the middle of the United States, but heaven well knew that he was going to do everything possible to find out who the devil had killed Sarah Brown.
III
T he small meeting room in the Cedar Falls local police department was packed with people. Gordon Stevens and the local police chief, Patrick Thomas was trying to keep order and start the information session. Everyone was very nervous.
—Okay, guys, I understand that this situation is overwhelming, because I am feeling the same as you —started out Thomas —, but we should be able to deal with the situation. I have summoned you here so that we can share all the information we have at the moment, and so that we can get to know each other. Deductive Gordon Stevens, with which many of you have dealt and even been classmates, has come from the sheriff’s office to lend us a helping hand.
Suddenly there was silence. All the people that the chief of police had considered that were adequate to form the main work team for the Sarah Brown case were congregated there: eight agents, among whom were Karen Phillips, another to investigate, and also Patrick and Gordon.
—Thanks —mumbled Stevens, taking the floor— the first thing I want to tell you is that I am as broken down and distraught as you are. After all, Waterloo and Cedar Falls are practically one city, and I myself studied in the University of Northern Iowa; therefore it is as if the person killed were my companion or neighbor. I already know many of you and it is an honor to be a part of this fabulous human team. We are having to face a terrible incident, which fortunately we are not accustomed to, and I know that you are going to give the best you have to clear up this horrible crime. You are going to give up your own hours of sleep, and time with your families. However, I consider that above all is the purpose of restoring confidence and calm to our community, and that is what we will not have until we solve this case.
The local police chief came up to a wall where there was a plastic blackboard and a cork bulletin board pannel running from the ceiling to the floor.
—In order to get organized here, we are going to set up a copy of all the evidence and proof that we have obtained during the investigation. There are already a couple of reports, some photographs of the victim, and a campus map on which the place where the body was found has been marked, and the apartments where they lived, and where she has been seen for the last time.
—In order to avoid this turning into a total chaos, agent Karen Phillips is going to be in charge of writing on the blackboard and placing a copy of the most relevant evidence on the pannel. None of the rest of you should do this. All of us can and should contribute however we can, but in an orderly fashion —dictated Stevens.
Suddenly someone knocked on the door. It was the local police chief’s secretary.
—What’s the matter, Susan?—Thomas asked in a worried tone, since it was strange that his assistant should interrupt him in a private meeting.
—A student has arrived at our reception. She says she has something important to tell us. She feels that she can determine the time of the murder.
IV
T he young woman was waiting for them in one of the local police interrogation rooms, biting her nails nervously. When she saw the police officers come in, she twitched
He sighed with relief, almost a sort of a snort as he loosened up his tie knot. The sun was already setting over Waterloo, and at that time on a Saturday, the Sheriff´s office was usually halfway empty. He peered through the narrow window in his office and he wished that that damn row of buildings would be removed so that he could once again have that beautiful view of the majestic beauty of the banks of the Cedar River. He thought of young Sarah´s parents and about their strife stricken faces as they had been questioned. Maybe he was just another modest detective of a small city lost in the middle of the United States, but heaven well knew that he was going to do everything possible to find out who the devil had killed Sarah Brown.
III
T he small meeting room in the Cedar Falls local police department was packed with people. Gordon Stevens and the local police chief, Patrick Thomas was trying to keep order and start the information session. Everyone was very nervous.
—Okay, guys, I understand that this situation is overwhelming, because I am feeling the same as you —started out Thomas —, but we should be able to deal with the situation. I have summoned you here so that we can share all the information we have at the moment, and so that we can get to know each other. Deductive Gordon Stevens, with which many of you have dealt and even been classmates, has come from the sheriff’s office to lend us a helping hand.
Suddenly there was silence. All the people that the chief of police had considered that were adequate to form the main work team for the Sarah Brown case were congregated there: eight agents, among whom were Karen Phillips, another to investigate, and also Patrick and Gordon.
—Thanks —mumbled Stevens, taking the floor— the first thing I want to tell you is that I am as broken down and distraught as you are. After all, Waterloo and Cedar Falls are practically one city, and I myself studied in the University of Northern Iowa; therefore it is as if the person killed were my companion or neighbor. I already know many of you and it is an honor to be a part of this fabulous human team. We are having to face a terrible incident, which fortunately we are not accustomed to, and I know that you are going to give the best you have to clear up this horrible crime. You are going to give up your own hours of sleep, and time with your families. However, I consider that above all is the purpose of restoring confidence and calm to our community, and that is what we will not have until we solve this case.
The local police chief came up to a wall where there was a plastic blackboard and a cork bulletin board pannel running from the ceiling to the floor.
—In order to get organized here, we are going to set up a copy of all the evidence and proof that we have obtained during the investigation. There are already a couple of reports, some photographs of the victim, and a campus map on which the place where the body was found has been marked, and the apartments where they lived, and where she has been seen for the last time.
—In order to avoid this turning into a total chaos, agent Karen Phillips is going to be in charge of writing on the blackboard and placing a copy of the most relevant evidence on the pannel. None of the rest of you should do this. All of us can and should contribute however we can, but in an orderly fashion —dictated Stevens.
Suddenly someone knocked on the door. It was the local police chief’s secretary.
—What’s the matter, Susan?—Thomas asked in a worried tone, since it was strange that his assistant should interrupt him in a private meeting.
—A student has arrived at our reception. She says she has something important to tell us. She feels that she can determine the time of the murder.
IV
T he young woman was waiting for them in one of the local police interrogation rooms, biting her nails nervously. When she saw the police officers come in, she twitched
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