Murder and Mayhem in Cedar Falls. Walter Wittmuss

at the college.”

      “Great! That means we will be seeing each other around campus. You realize you are my first friend—that is, if you will have me as your friend—in town,” I said, extending my hand across the table.

      “Friend it is, as long as you promise not to run into me again when I get my car back,” she replied, taking my hand and shaking it. “Now I had better be on my way. I have the little matter of reporting the accident to my insurance, and you definitely have to notify your insurance. By the way, the garage said it will take about a week to fix my car.”

      “I assume you want to go home?” I asked as we exited the cafe.

      “Yes, sir,” she replied.

      She directed me to her house, which was on the opposite side of town from the college. It was an average-sized two-story house with white frame and slate-gray trim. It had a porch with a swing hanging on it, which was the perfect sitting area for them long, lazy summer evenings. A chain-link fence enclosed a small green yard. I pulled up in the short driveway, stopped, and jumped out to open the car door for Denise.

      “Do you live by yourself, Denise, or am I getting too nosy now?”

      “No, I don’t mind you asking, John,” she said with a very pleasant, upbeat voice. “I live with my mother and my German shepherd dog, Shadow. Do you like dogs?”

      “Yes, I do. Dogs and I get along fine.”

      We got to the front door. Denise pushed the door open. Shadow started to bound out of the door to greet Denise. He stopped on a dime when he saw me. He fixed his dark eyes on me, trying to make up his mind whether I was friend or foe.

      “It’s okay, Shadow,” Denise said, petting him. “This is a friend. Come on in, John. He won’t do any more than tear your leg off.”

      “That’s what I’m afraid of,” I replied jokingly as I stepped through the doorway. I eased my hand down, palm up, toward Shadow. He sniffed my hand then turned back to Denise.

      “Is that you, dear?” a mature woman’s voice called out from another room.

      “Yes, Mom. Come into the living room, please. I would like you to meet someone.”

      A brunette came out of another room and into the living room. She had a full figure, but not an overweight figure. I felt a warmth radiate from her that put me instantly at ease. She had a stature about her that also demanded respect.

      “Mom, I would like you to meet Mr. Brennon. He is a new professor at the college.”

      “You might say I ran into her downtown today,” I said, sticking out my hand. “And I’m very happy to meet you, Mrs. Cole.”

      She shook my hand with a firm grasp. She swung her eyes back and forth between Denise and me when we both softly chuckled.

      “He actually did run into my car today, Mom, literally,” Denise explained.

      “Are you hurt, dear?” her mother asked, instantly anxious.

      “No, Mom, I’m fine. The car has a few wounds, but I’m fine.”

      “I’m sorry, but I have to run, ladies. It was very nice meeting you, Mrs. Cole. Since this semester hasn’t started yet, do you have things you need to get done at the college before classes start, Denise?”

      “Yes. I’ll be busy most every day.”

      “Oh, dear,” her mother said in a worried voice. “How are you going to get there with no car?”

      “It isn’t that far, Mom. I’ll just walk.”

      “Honey, don’t you realize how dangerous that would be for you? That maniac hasn’t been caught yet.”

      “Maniac?” I asked, stepping back into the house. “I just got into town today, Mrs. Cole. What is this about a loose maniac?”

      “Well, Mr. Brennon, over the last couple of months, there has been several women attacked and raped. The first two victims survived. Unfortunately, the last one didn’t. There has also been a dog killed just a couple of days ago in the very same manner as the last rape victim.”

      “Mom, I will be walking in broad daylight. Nobody would be fool enough to try to kidnap or kill someone in broad daylight.”

      “What time do you usually go in, Denise?” I asked.

      “I like to get there at eight o’clock or at least close to it.”

      “I will be here at quarter to eight to pick you up.”

      “I can’t let you go out of your way like that, John.”

      “Mrs. Cole, sit on her if you have to tomorrow morning until I pick her up. Okay?”

      “Okay, John. Thank you. It would worry me to death to have her walking.”

      Denise’s mother followed me with her eyes as I walked out to my car. After I had left, she turned to Denise.

      “How did he manage to run into you, dear?”

      “He wasn’t watching where he was going. He smacked into my car in an intersection. My car was still drivable, so he followed me over to the garage and then brought me home.”

      “He seems like a very nice guy.”

      “I agree. He does seem like a real nice guy. He just got into town this morning.”

      “I suppose he is staying in the motel until he can find someplace to rent.”

      “No. As a matter of fact, he will be living in Jeremy Cooper’s house over on Fifth Street.”

      “Jeremy Cooper? Didn’t he die just not too long ago?”

      “Yes, he did. John is Jeremy’s nephew, and Jeremy left the house and property to John.”

      “Well, your professor friend fell into a sweet deal there. I hope he turns out to be as good as my first impression of him. Come and help me get supper on now.”

      I left Denise’s house and headed back uptown. I still had to get them groceries that I had started out to pick up when I ran into Denise. I didn’t have any problem finding the grocery store because I had passed it while taking Denise home. It was a big enough store that it had a good variety of products. I got what I needed home and put the items away in the cupboard and refrigerator.

      I then settled down with the phone. I reported the accident to my insurance company and put in a change of address while I had them on the line. I also called the courthouse to find out the time when they would open and where I had to go in the building to change my driver’s license and register my car for this county. There wasn’t time to do either one of them things now before they closed. Taking care of them two things would be my first order of business tomorrow morning after taking Denise to the college.

      The rest of the afternoon and evening I spent getting settled in and relaxing. It had been a long day, and tomorrow was going to be a busy day, so I went to bed early.

      “Good morning, Denise,” I said after she climbed into my car the following morning. “I’m glad to see you took your mother’s advice and didn’t walk.”

      “I thank you for the ride, but I don’t want you to feel you have to take me everywhere either.”

      “Friends, remember? Friends do things for friends,” I reminded her.

      “Right. Friends. I promise to keep that in mind,” she said with a big smile.

      She directed me to the Music Building. When she got out of the car, I told her I would pick her up at the end of the day to take her home. She told me when she would be done.

      The courthouse was a large stately gray stone building. It had to be close to eighty years old, judging from its architecture. I parked, and following directions given to me over the phone, I found myself in a short line of four people