"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."