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Deke winked. “You helping out the cops on these murdered girls?”
“Not really. Was in the store to pick up a juice—” he held up the bottle as proof “—saw the cards and had a thought.”
“Shame about those girls. Couple of hot ones, too, but if you ask me, girls shouldn’t be running around campus with their skimpy workout clothes at night and not expect some attention.”
Finn clenched his fist in his lap. “They got more than attention, didn’t they?”
“Yeah, yeah. Horrible stuff. The parents—” he shook his bald head “—can’t imagine. I got a daughter myself. My ex is a bitch, but what are you gonna do?”
Maybe not victim-blame and call women bitches for a start.Finn swallowed his retort. “Anyway, about those cards. About how many do you stock and how many did you sell after Morgan’s murder? Did you sell out and restock?”
Deke flipped open his laptop again, and his fingers raced across the keyboard. “We don’t stock many sympathy cards. I mean, what do college kids have to be sorry about? Let’s see, Morgan Flemming was murdered eight days ago. Had a full complement of sympathy cards on that day—about twenty-five of them. Sold out of every last one two days after that. Haven’t restocked yet. More coming in a few days. Who knew we’d have a run on sympathy cards?”
Finn had pulled out his phone that contained the picture of the condolence card with Tiffany’s name on it, but he kept it in his lap, tracing its edges with his fingertip. Did he really want to show the card to Deke? The guy hadn’t hesitated one second when coming up with the date of Morgan’s murder, and he had a creepy vibe. He should probably just turn this info over to Detective Morse or Deputy Holden, Zach, his buddy from the academy.
As he shifted in his chair, a voice trilled his name from the doorway. “Oh, hey, Professor Karlsson. We’re still having class tomorrow, right?”
He twisted around and greeted one of his students, Gabby Medina, tucking her long dark hair behind one ear. “Hi, Gabby. Yes, we’re having class. What are you doinghere? I didn’t realize so many students worked on the management side of things on campus. Good experience.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t work here. I work at the ice cream shop, but this is where we pick up and drop off the money for the registers. I saw Dermott out front and asked about class. He told me you were back here with Deke and to ask you myself.”
“Hi, Gabbeeeey.” Deke waved at her with his fingers as he drew out her name.
“Hi, Dick, I mean Deke.” She waved at him in the same manner, rolling her eyes. “Thanks, Professor Karlsson. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”
When Gabby’s footsteps faded away, Deke gave Finn another wink. “Hot little number. As a professor, I bet you have all the girlies fawning over you.”
Finn studied Deke through half-lidded eyes until the other man coughed and shifted his gaze back to his computer. “So, that’s what we have on the cards. Anything else?”
Definitely not showing this guy the card.
Finn asked, “All the employees who work on campus come here for the register money?”
“Not all. Just the ones who open or close the register. Nia handles those transactions, along with that dork Dermott.” Deke cracked his knuckles. “Anything else, Professor?”
“No, thanks for your help.” He’d investigate the hell out of this guy if he still worked in that capacity—but he didn’t. As he stood at the door, Finn made a half turn. “Yeah, one more thing. You could pull the transaction records for whoever bought a card, right? Or video surveillance?”
Did the skin around Deke’s mouth just blanch?
“N-not the video. We record over that, but the transactions? Sure, as long as it was a card purchase and not cash.”
And if Deke Macy bought any sympathy cards to leave at a memorial site, he’d know that and most assuredly pay cash.
“You’ve been a big help, Deke.” Finn hit the doorjamb with the palm of his hand. “Thanks, man.”
Before he left the management office, Finn stopped at the front window. “Nia, do you know if either Morgan Flemming or Missy Park came to this office to open or close a register? I know they both worked at the bookstore complex.”
Her face creased with concern. “Did they, now? I don’t recall. Dermott, you remember?”
Dermott peered around the computer monitor. “They weren’t regulars, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t here. Sometimes the regulars are out, or they send someone else. So anyone who works in the complex could conceivably handle the money. I didn’t realize they both worked on campus.”
Finn could see the calculation in Dermott’s eyes from here. He hoped none of his students were going to take it upon themselves to do some investigating on their own—like he was.
“Thanks, you two. Now I know where to go if I ever need change.”
“You can come visit anytime you like, Dr. K.”
“Thanks, Nia.” He stopped one more time with one foot out the door and made a half turn.