“Lovely people. Caring and supportive. Not pushy at all. I might be wrong, of course, but I’m a decent judge of people, and that’s what my gut tells me. Min’s brother says the same, so there’s that, too.”
Sid thought about it. “So how are you justifying hanging around here to Diana? Why ask me to tell her you were here? Because there’s no roof leak, is there?”
She shook her head. “No. I’ve just moved in here. I’m not the landlady; I’m renting the cottage. I took over the lease this summer, when the students left, to put pressure on Diana Cornish. I asked you to mention me to her for the same reason. The Institute needs to know that Min hasn’t been forgotten.”
“What will that achieve?” Sid asked.
“It might help to keep you and Anya safe.”
“Safe from what?” he asked. His unease was growing into fear.
“I believe the Institute had something to do with Min’s disappearance, and I believe Anya is in danger, too.”
“That’s a hell of an accusation.”
“I know, and I can’t prove it yet.”
“Why aren’t you afraid of them?”
“I’m very afraid, but I take precautions.”
He tried to process what he was hearing. “Did you leave the note for me at the computer science department?” he asked.
“No, and I don’t know who did, but I’d love to find out. Can Ishow you something?” She opened her laptop and angled it so he could see the screen.
“This is a screenshot of a D&D chat. Do you see the user called ScotchEgg? That’s Paul Fields, the husband of Anya’s new colleague, Giulia Orlando. Have you met her?”
“I’ve met them both,” Sid said. “You’re watching him online?”
“It’s my job.”
“Are you watching me, too?”
“I tried. You cover your tracks too well.”
Sid smiled.
“Look what Paul’s saying.” Mel pointed to the screen.
ScotchEgg:Does anyone know how to find out if police located someone who went missing?
“He deleted the question later. This is a screenshot,” Mel said.
“Did anyone reply?”
“They did, but they didn’t take him seriously.”
“Do you think he means Minxu?”
“I don’t know for sure, but quite possibly.”
“Have you talked to him?”
“No, because I don’t know what his motives are for posting this.”
“Is he doing it because of or in spite of Giulia, you mean?” Sid said.
“Exactly that.”
