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“Fundraising only. There’s another psychologist on the board who actually deals with student issues. I offered my services to the student body because those kids are high-strung, but the principal became indignant. Said their students were not criminals.” He rolled his eyes. “Little does she know. Some of them are. Not murderers,” he added. “Mostly drug use and dealing.”
“We need to talk to Orion today,” Kit said. “Any tips?”
“Have a warrant ready,” he advised. “Half of the board of trustees are lawyers.”
She grimaced. “That’ll take a while. We might go in asking for information as lowly public servants first. Why you? Are you a fundraising guru or something?”
His smile was self-effacing. “Kind of. It’s a side hobby. Maybe I learned from all the scam artists I’ve interviewed over the years, but I am a little better at getting rich people to part with their money than the average bear. I’m on four boards right now. I used to be on six boards, but I’ve cut back in the past few years. Semi-retirement, after all. I’d do it full time if I could. Profiling criminals has become rather exhausting.”
“What boards are you on?” Kit asked.
“Orion School and New Horizons, but you already knew those.”
“Dr.Reeves also serves on the New Horizons board,” Kit told Connor.
“That’s how you knew to vouch for him?” Connor asked.
Levinson nodded. “Indeed. I also serve on the boards of a shelter for domestic violence survivors and an organization that provides help to homeless people going for job interviews.”
Navarro’s expression had gone politely flat, and that didn’t bode well. “What were the two you pulled out of?”
“Skateboards for All. My son was a skateboarder. I joined for him because he was sad that some of his school friends couldn’t afford decent equipment. The other was a model railroad society, which is purely because I love model railroads. Supporting nonprofits is kind of my jam. Once I’m fully retired, I’ll be rejoining the railroad board.”
“What do you know about the admissions director at Orion?” Kit asked.
“He’s dedicated. Grumpy because he hates paperwork. My opinion is that he’s not involved in anything like this. He could be a good actor, of course. It is a drama school, after all, but I don’t see him being violent.”
Kit thought about the videos they’d seen. “Does he wear ties?”
Levinson frowned. “Why? Oh, is that the murder weapon?”
“We believe so,” Navarro said before either Kit or Connor could reply.
Navarro’s deflection bothered Kit. Navarro normally would have been one hundred percent up front with Levinson, telling him all the details.
Levinson’s frown deepened and she wondered if the psychologist thought the same thing. “He hates ties. I’ve never seen him wear one. Says it constricts his throat and damages his voice. Are we finished, Lieutenant?”
Kit bit back her wince. It had been Reynaldo when they’d first sat down. Yeah, Levinson knew that Navarro was now uncomfortable with him.
She wanted to sigh, but bit that back, too.
“For now, yes. Detectives, you may go. Can you stay for a few minutes, Dr.Levinson?”
Levinson’s expression was impassive. “Of course. Best of luck breaking into the hallowed halls of Orion School, Detectives.”
“Thank you, sir,” Kit murmured respectfully, then followed Connor out.
“That was awkward,” Connor said when they were back at their desks.
“Yeah.” She glanced at Navarro’s office, but the window blinds had been pulled. “Navarro didn’t buy his story.”
“I didn’t think so, either. Did you?”
She shrugged. “He fits the body type of the man we saw in the video.”
“He has a goatee, though, and Driscoll didn’t.”
Kit frowned. “What does that have to do with it?”
