“No, there isn’t but it’s a code often used when someone is in witness protection. They don’t put an actual address,” said AJ.
“Witness protection? What the fuck?” muttered Kev.
“It’s a lie. Whatever he gave to them, whatever he told them isn’t the truth. There is no person fitting his description or his name in witness protection. I’m trying to get someone from the admin office to call me but every damn person is on holiday.”
“Keep trying, AJ,” said Finn. “We have to find out where he actually lives. Henry said it was going to be far out of town, taking him forty-five minutes or an hour to get to the university.”
“That’s a pretty wide circle, Finn. We’ll see what we can come up with.”
“Thanks, AJ.”
The house where Nicole and her sisters, lived wasn’t far from the university. There were two NOPD patrol cars in front of the house and several people on the porch. When the men stepped out, they looked up at the familiar faces and nodded.
“We thought you’d be coming along soon. The girl’s sisters told us she was a nursing student, along with the dead girl.” The men all cringed, her sister’s gasping behind them. Finn gave the officer a look that said ‘try not to say anything else stupid’.
“Can we speak to them?” asked Finn. He nodded, waving them forward. “Miss Bagnonne, and Miss Bagnonne?”
“Nancy. And this is my sister Nora. That’s her boyfriend, Davey. Did you know Nicole?”
“I didn’t,” said Finn, “but my fiancée was a classmate of hers. We think it’s possible that the professor took her.”
“She said she was meeting him earlier this morning about her grades. She was confused because my sister is a great student. When she left, she said it would only take about an hour. That was,” she stopped checking her watch, “almost five hours ago now.”
The sisters began crying again, completely distraught.
“I’m Davey,” said the young man reaching a hand out. “Nicole is my girlfriend. We’ve been dating for almost three years. This isn’t like her. She’s a very responsible person and always has her phone on.”
“I’m sure she’s very responsible,” said Kev stepping up. “Had she ever received unusual communication from the professor before now?”
“No. He’s only been her professor for half of the semester,” said the younger man.
“Half the year?” frowned Gator.
“Yes. The other professor had a heart attack and died. Or at least that’s what they were told. He came in at the end of September. She said he was different than all the other professors. Really quiet, somewhat strict, and didn’t tolerate anyone coming in late, having food or drink in the classroom, and if you missed an assignment you were given a failing grade for the entire semester.”
“Can you tell us anything else? Any conversations she had with the professor?” asked Matt.
“Nothing,” they all said shaking their heads. “She said he barely spoke to anyone in the class other than to give instructions and he expected them to be followed to the letter.”
The men filed all that away. All the details were in their heads and they had more than they did when they drove up.
“We’re going to help the police find your sister,” said Finn. “If you hear from her, or the professor, please let us know.” They all nodded at the men as they turned to leave.
“Oh, one more thing,” said Kev. “Have any of you spoken to her other classmates?”
“No. We didn’t really know all of them and since we don’t have her phone, no one has tried to call her that we know of.” She looked around the crowd of men and spotted someone she knew. “Weil? Weil, what are you doing here?”
“I came to talk to Nicole,” he said looking around. “Is something wrong?”
“The professor called her about her grades this morning and we haven’t seen her since. We’re really worried,” said Nancy.
“No,” he said shaking his head. “Jeannie called me about an hour ago and told me he’d called her about her grades. I told her the whole thing gave me the creeps and that she shouldn’t go.”
“Where is she now?” asked Finn.
“She was going to her Pilates class and then going to take a shower and meet the professor,” he said.
“Where is the class?” asked Finn. Weil looked at the others with a frown.
