Killing Kirshner (A Psychological Suspense Thriller) by Mason Black Page A

was called next. The question was, why would they all of a sudden go out of order, unless Jack or Abrams had indicated Todd knew something? Todd looked back at Jack and Abrams who were now sitting next to each other.
    Todd was not nervous about talking to the police. In fact, he felt that he had something to tell them – something that may help the police with their investigation.

C hapter 48
    “Mr. Garner, have a seat. I’m Detective Pitman and this is Detective Ahmed.”
    Todd sat next to Pitman with Shazhad across from both of them.
    “I assume this is about Professor Kirshner,” Todd said.
    “Yes, he’s missing and nobody seems to know where he is,” Pitman responded.
    “If I tell you something, will it be kept confidential? I don’t want to be known as a snitch or a rat,” Todd asked.
    “It depends on what you have to tell us. Why don’t you say what you have to say, and we will go from there?” Shazhad suggested.
    Todd paused for a few moments. “Okay, I think something terrible has happened to Professor Kirshner. I used to be in a study group with five other students – Jack Biel, Abrams Freeman, Amanda Martin, Will James, and Sean Jackson. I knew they were only using me for my study materials that my brother had given me. You see, he graduated from Miami University a few years ago and gave me all his outlines. In law school, outlines are gold. I only studied with them for a few weeks, but what I noticed is how much they hated Professor Kirshner. I once even overheard them joking about how they would kill him,” Todd explained.
    Shazhad and Pitman both leaned forward as Todd told his story; Pitman took meticulous notes in his pad. “I really didn’t think much of it. Just some frustrated students blowing off some steam. I am sure they are not the first to fantasize about offing Professor Kirshner. As I am sure you have learned, he was not the most loved teacher here. But, I really think he’s misunderstood. I truly believe he has our best interests at heart; he just goes about it in a different manner than most professors at this school. Anyway, when Professor Kirshner did not show up for class last Monday, I knew something was wrong. A lot of the students were especially angry with him after our mid-terms. He told us that the grades were pretty low and that someone cheated on it. After he did not show up for class that Monday, I went to the dean’s office and reported that he didn’t show. I walked with the dean back to the classroom, and the dean was surprised to see the entire class had already left,” Todd explained.
    “Is there anything else you can tell us about Professor Kirshner or the five students you mentioned?” Shazhad asked.
    “I think I said all I needed to say.” Todd was pleased with himself.
    He got up and left the tiny study room.
     
    Pitman took a heavy sigh. “What are you thinking?” Shazhad asked.
    “Looks like this may turn out to be a homicide after all,” Pitman answered.
    “Let’s get Amanda Martin, Will James and Sean Jackson in here. Save Amanda for last, I want to talk with the men first,” Pitman said.

Chapter 49
    As Will sat, he realized that this was the very study room where they first joked about killing Professor Kirshner.
    “How do you think you are doing in Professor Kirshner’s class?” Pitman asked.
    “I think I’m doing pretty well. We really studied hard,” Will answered.
    “We?” Pitman asked.
    “Me and my study group.”
    “And who’s in your study group?” Shazhad asked.
    “Me, Jack Biel, Sean Jackson, Abrams Freeman, and Amanda Martin. We have been studying together since the beginning. We busted our asses studying for that class,” Will explained.
    “How did you feel about Professor Kirshner?” Pitman asked.
    “I hated him like every other student he has ever taught. He was a horrible man, and made me physically ill a few times. The first few weeks of class, just the thought of going to his class made me want to throw