Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
The first thing Wednesday morning, Ailbe called his students together in the lecture hall. The din of their anxious conversations masked the clip-clop of Ailbe’s leather-soled shoes as he entered.
“Quiet, everyone.” Ailbe took his position at the lectern. “Listen up, lads.” He clapped his hands, drawing their attention.
The chatter stopped, and the focus turned to Ailbe.
“We are nearing mid-term, and I want to review the expectations for your projects.” Ailbe paced as he spoke. “The original timeline called for project completion by the end of November, then I changed the deadline to October 29th. I’m escalating that due date once again.”
Heads turned, and a murmur rose as students whispered to one another.
“Quiet!” Ailbe surveyed the wide-eyed and gaping mouths of the shocked students. “Projects are due by October 22nd, two weeks from Friday. Most of you are almost finished anyway.”
Fergus Rafferty’s hand flew into the air. “Dr. MacGowan?”
“Yes, Mr. Rafferty?”
Fergus sat forward in his seat as if his question were critical. “Is this still our semester project, or will another follow this one?”
“Good question, Mr. Rafferty.” MacGowan stopped pacing, crossed his arms, and glared at Rafferty. “This is the project for the semester. It is a complex project. It will require significant time to grade, and I want to be sure I have ample time to review each project individually.”
“Dr. MacGowan,” Fergus continued, “do we continue to work together, or should we focus individually?”
“Another good question, Mr. Rafferty.” Ailbe began pacing again, keeping his arms crossed.
“As you undoubtedly heard, Kennan Moynihan discovered your projects are all related. Since the connection is in the open now, I suggest you work as one big team, uncovering the dovetails and ensuring your projects all fit together.”
Murmurs arose again among the twenty students.
“Gentlemen,” Ailbe quelled the chatter. “If you want a position with a major corporation, you need experience in working collaboratively. This project is an excellent opportunity for you to gain that experience.”
Why didn’t I think of this before? Working together is the most effective way to bring this project to where it needs to be. Now if I can snare Wyl Sterling…
“That’s it, lads. Get to work!” Ailbe exited the hall, his leather soles clacking against the shiny tile floor.
The students talked amongst themselves, digesting this new angle and the escalated due date.
“Lads, let’s meet in the lab at 1:00 and compare our projects.” Fergus Rafferty’s voice was loud and confident. “We all need to understand where the projects sync so we make the best use of our time.”
Heads nodded as the lads stood to leave the lecture hall.
Fergus gathered his books and recalled his conversation with Chief Superintendent O’Brien and the officer’s interest in MacGowan’s project.
I’m probably overanalyzing this, but I don’t want the Chief to think I’m purposely holding information back.
I need to inform him about this change and let him decide if it’s necessary.
He hurried out into the brisk fall morning and caught a bus.
Fergus stood across the street from the Gardaí station, watching officers come and go. Uncertainty clawed at his gut. Garrett Burke came up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. Startled, Fergus turned to see who it was.
“Hi,” Garrett said.
Fergus’s face softened. “Hi.”
“I saw you rushing away from campus. I thought we might grab an early lunch before we go back to the lab.”
Fergus pulled Garrett into a hug. “I’m glad you followed me.”
“What are you doing watching the Gardaí station?” Garrett asked.
Fergus pulled back. “I was on the phone with Keenan when the incident occurred.” His voice trembled. “The Gardaí questioned me. They think someone killed Keenan.” Fergus struggled to maintain composure.
Garrett cupped Fergus’s cheek with his left hand. “Relax, Fergus. You can talk to me.”
Fergus turned into Garrett’s touch. “When Dr. MacGowan announced the change in due dates this morning, I thought the Gardaí should know.”
“Do you want me to go in with you?” Garrett asked.
“Garrett, nobody knows about our relationship. I don’t want it kept secret, but it's probably better if you’re not involved with the Gardaí.”
“A bunch of the lads came down to give statements,” Garret said. “But Gardaí didn’t call me.”
“I think they only called lads who had talked with Keenan regularly,” Fergus said.
“He and I were not close,” Garrett said.
“Garrett?”
“Yes?”
“I’m glad you’re here. Do you mind waiting while I go in to see the Chief?”
“How about I meet you in the coffee shop down the street?”
“I’d like that.” Fergus squeezed Garrett’s hand before he turned to walk across the street to the Gardaí station.
* * *
“My name is Fergus Rafferty. Is Chief Superintendent O’Brien available?” Fergus asked the Garda behind the counter.
“I’ll check for you, sir.”
* * *
Sergeant Healy’s phone rang. “Healy,” he answered.
“Sergeant Healy, Officer O’Malley here. I have a young man named Rafferty asking to speak to the Chief Superintendent.”
“On my way.” Healy hung up the phone and stepped into O’Brien’s office. “Fergus Rafferty is here to see you.”
O’Brien looked up. “I wonder what he wants?”
“I am unsure, sir. Shall I fetch him?”
“Absolutely!” O’Brien said. “I was hard on him when he was here. He wouldn’t come back unless he thought it was important.”
“Excellent, sir.” Healy turned to fetch Rafferty.
Five minutes later, Fergus Rafferty stood in the doorway to O’Brien’s office. He knocked on the door frame. “Chief Superintendent?” he asked.
“Rafferty, my boy. Come in. Sit down. What’s on your mind?”
Rafferty stepped in and sat in one of the worn leather chairs in front of O’Brien’s desk. “Chief, something odd occurred this morning that I thought you should know.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know if this is important, but considering our earlier conversation, I don’t want to be in trouble for not sharing.
This morning, Dr. MacGowan announced that the semester project is due in two weeks.
On October 22nd, to be exact. This due date is a full week earlier than our planned due date.
The announcement was a surprise this late in the game. ”
“I see. It was smart of you to bring this information to me. Did Dr. MacGowan give any reason for this sudden change?”
“Yes, sir. He told us it was because he needed extra time to grade the projects.”
“Is this different from past years?”
“I don’t know, sir, but that should be easy to find out by talking to a few former students.”
“Good point, Rafferty. Go on.”
“Well, sir. He also told us that all the projects are related, and we should work together as a group to ensure the projects dovetail properly.”
“Wait a minute…that’s what Keenan Moynihan claimed, right?”
“Yes, sir. As you discovered, Keenan and I talked about that very thing the night he was abducted.” Fergus paused in thought. Is there a connection between Kennan’s death and Dr. MacGowan?
“This is all extremely interesting, Rafferty. Do you mind bringing me a copy of your project? I want my experts to examine what Dr. MacGowan has you doing.”
“I am happy to do that, sir. Would you prefer an email copy or a printed copy?”
“Printed, please. I want to keep this between you and me.”
“Understood, sir. I won’t say anything to the other lads. Is tomorrow morning okay?”
“That will be fine, Rafferty. Bring it to the front desk in an envelope with my name on it. You don’t need to see me again unless you have more news.”
“Very good, Chief.” Fergus rose to leave. “I’m sure you have my cell number if you have any questions.”
“Aye, that we do, Rafferty,” he said, then called out, “Show Mr. Rafferty out, Healy.”