Murder in Academe

Two police arrived at Elliot’s home in less than a half hour, dressed in plain clothes. They showed their badges.
“I’m detective Harry Carpenter with the campus police,” said the younger and taller of the two.
“And I’m detective Bill Swanson with the Bloomington police, said the other, who was about fifty, average height, and a little bald.
“As you know, I’m Joyce Elliot. Pleased to meet both of you, but, as I said over the phone, what’s up?”
Swanson answered, “Sit down, please.”
She sat down.
Swanson continued, “George Blake is dead. Homicide. We understand that you knew him fairly well, and we have some questions for you.”
Tears came to Elliot’s eyes. “Oh, no!” She exclaimed. “Not murdered! I’m shocked. He was full of life. It was so unexpected.”
“Homicide. We’re trying to find out whether it was murder, manslaughter, or reckless homicide,” said Swanson. “It couldn’t have been an accident.”
“If it had been an accident,” added Carpenter, “the person who shot him would have called the police right there.”
“Maybe he got cold feet,” Elliot ventured.
“We’re treating it like a homicide,” said Carpenter. “And, of course, we’re trying to find out who did it. We’re hoping you can help us.”
She put her hands over her face. “It’s hard to believe.”
“You’d better believe it,” said Carpenter.
“When was he killed? And how was it done?” cried Elliot.
“Whoa. We’ll ask the questions,” said Swanson. “You just answer them.”
“Ask me what you want to know.”
Swanson began, ”How well did you know George Blake?”
“I met him last month in San Francisco at a meeting and knew that he was the new member of our school—that’s SPEA. Once he came here, we soon became good friends.”
“Did you have a falling out with him?” asked Swanson.
“No, he was supposed to see me at the office this very afternoon. I was surprised when he didn’t show up.”
“Well, now you know why,” observed Carpenter.
Swanson continued, “Did Blake have any enemies that you know about?”
Elliot paused, as if thinking. Then she said, “Enemies? Not that I know of?”
Swanson would not let go of the subject. “All right then. Do you know of any arguments he had with anybody.”
Elliot realized that she could not protect Bruce Fall, as others were witness to his hostility toward Blake. She said, “I have been going with Bruce Fall of the English department for some time now. He resented the fact that I started going with Blake, and he didn’t hide his resentment. But I certainly don’t think he would kill Blake because of that.”
“We’ll do the thinking,” said Swanson. “Did anybody besides you observe an argument between Fall and Blake?”
“Actually, I never observed them arguing. Once in a restaurant Fall made remarks to me showing that he resented Blake. Others in the restaurant overheard him. Another time, Blake told me that Fall argued with him, but I didn’t observe it myself.”