Page 80 of Night Watch
“She loved enriching young minds.” He steepled his fingers. “I know it took a toll on her to do both jobs, but she didn’t want to give up the teaching.”
“Was she close to anyone on staff here?” Erik asked.
“Close?” He tapped his fingers together. “She didn’t attend any social outings with faculty.”
“There were notes in her journal about presenting a potential lab on medicinal chemistry and blood cancers,” Kennedy said. “Do you know anything about that?”
“She never mentioned it.”
“How about gardeners?” Erik asked. “Any professors in the department who are into gardening?”
He tilted his head. “Several people come to mind.” He smiled, but she thought it to be forced. But then, his behavior had been stiff and formal so far, and he’d acted the same way the other time she’d met him. His first concern here was likely to put the best spin on his department for any questions posed to him, and she wondered if he was telling the truth about anything.
“Could we get a list of names?” Erik asked.
“I’ll have to check with legal first,” Edwards replied. “As department chair, I can’t hand out information on our faculty without authorization.”
“I don’t suppose you can do that quickly,” Kennedy said.
“I’ve never seen our attorneys work fast.” He offered a patronizing smile.
She shifted in the chair. “Are you familiar with the prickly caterpillar bean?”
He tilted his head. “I’ve heard that mentioned, but I’m not sure where.”
“Recently?”
He tapped his chin. “No, I can’t say as I remember when or even where I heard about it.”
“What about anthrax?” Erik asked. “Do you have it in any of your labs?”
“Anthrax?” He clutched his hand to his chest. “Oh, dear. No. No. We aren’t conducting any research that would require anthrax.” He flashed his gaze to Kennedy. “Was your mother involved with that? If so, I’d be very surprised. I didn’t think her lab was a level three.”
Kennedy started to answer, but Erik stood, and she took it as a sign that he didn’t want additional discussion on the matter.
Erik peered at Edwards as if he were looking at the man through a microscope. “If I were to ask these questions of other professors here, would I get the same answers, or would I get the party line from them too?”
“I’m not sure what you mean. I’ve told you the truth, so unless they lied to you, you would get the same answers.” Edwards got up, resting a hand on his lower back as he stood. “I’m sorry that my answers don’t seem to be to your liking, but it is what it is.” He turned his attention on Kennedy and smiled. “Your mother was a wonderful person, and she’ll be sincerely missed.”
“One more thing, Professor,” Erik said, seeming as if he was trying to catch Edwards off guard. “Do you know Professor Judson Purvis?”
Oscar’s jaw tightened. “That pompous old fool. Yes. Everyone in our academic circle knows him.”
“Why’s that?” Erik asked.
“He’s on the fed’s Responsible Officials list, and he’s the only one in the area. He believes that makes him superior to the rest of us, when any one of us could apply for and be approved if we had a reason to.”
“And what’s his reason?” Erik asked.
“Research involving Peronosclerospora Philippinensis. A downy plant mildew that causes great damage to maize and sugarcane around the world.”
“Can you spell that for me?” Kennedy asked and jotted it down when he did. “So nothing that could poison an individual like anthrax?”
“No. Nothing like that. Which makes his posturing even more pretentious.”
“Did he know my mom?” Kennedy asked.
“I don’t know. He was a big schmoozer at parties, but since she didn’t attend them, perhaps not.”
