"Then my list of suspects has to come from your college records," Loomis said, "as well as from your

certification lists and the local Bureau registrations. If you have to clear that with the Bureau, then please

do so, but I need that information. Without it, I haven't got a thing to go on. I assure you, I'll treat it with

the utmost confidence."

"Then my list of suspects has to come from your college records," Loomis said, "as well as from your

certification lists and the local Bureau registrations. If you have to clear that with the Bureau, then please

do so, but I need that information. Without it, I haven't got a thing to go on. I assure you, I'll treat it with

the utmost confidence."

"You let me worry about them," said Loomis. "They don't have to know anything I don't choose to tell

them. The last thing I need right now is for this whole city to know that we've got a necromancer on the

loose."

"You're going to treat this as an ordinary homicide?" Ramirez asked. "If you don't tell them about the

necromancy angle, how will you explain my presence here?"

"Routine inquiry," replied Loomis. "We've already identified the girl. She was a student at the college. I

was merely consulting you as a university official. The killer could have been one of her fellow students

for all we know. If they ask you any questions, tell them that. Better yet, don't tell them anything. Just give

them a 'no comment' and refer them to me."

"I don't know," Ramirez said dubiously. "How long do you think you can keep this under wraps? The

moment the Bureau field agent arrives, they'll immediately make the connection."

"Not if the field agent shows up to conduct a routine inspection of your branch office," Loomis said. "We

can stonewall the press, Professor. The important thing is to keep the necromancy angle quiet, otherwise

we're liable to have a panic on our hands. Every adept in town is going to be suspected."

"They already are, aren't they?" asked Ramirez dryly. "Necromancy requires a high degree of

thaumaturgic skill. All things considered, I should think that I'd be a logical suspect myself."

Loomis gave him a level gaze. "What makes you think you're not?"

"Oh. I see. Well, I appreciate your candor, Lieutenant, if not the sentiment behind it."

"No offense, Professor," said Loomis. "I don't think you did it. But I can't afford to make any

assumptions. I only deal with facts. And right now, I haven't got too many of those."

Ramirez nodded. "I understand. No offense taken. I don't envy you your job, Lieutenant. Are you

finished with me for the present?"

"For the present, yes. But I'd appreciate it if you checked in with the medical examiner sometime today.

In a case like this, a Bureau agent has to sign off on the report."

"Of course."

"And please get those files for me as soon as possible," said Loomis. "I'm hoping this is just an isolated

case. Maybe it's some adept who knew the girl and had it in for her. A passion killing or something.

Otherwise, we're liable to be seeing more bodies like this before too long."