The Arcane University looked different than it did at night. The buildings were large monstrous behemoths of brick, stone and glass. High medieval turrets were stationed at the end of the structures. Marius wondered how magic users studied in these dreary settings. Elsa parked her hansom mobile and waited for him.

She said, "It is a bit scary."

"I know. I could not see the university at night."

A group of students dressed in the customary blue robes of the magic order walked up the path to one of the buildings.

He said, "Do you remember the way?"

"I think so."

They walked out of the parking lot and moved up the pathway the students strolled upon. Marius pointed to the wooden sign. It pointed toward to the teacher's town houses.

"Do we have her morning schedule?"

"Yes, she's teaching a class this morning and she should be back at her apartment in a few minutes. But, I dare to say; she probably would not teach today."

"What makes you think so?"

"I will tell you after we speak to her," Elsa said.

They walked through the campus. The teacher's homes were located at the far corner away from the main student classrooms. An explosion shot from their left. In an instant, Marius had his gun in hand. They ran toward the sound. Another explosion rocked the still campus. A group of students was standing on a flat grass area with chairs haphazardly placed all around them.

"Now students, you need to know the proper way of casting a spell. You cannot just willy-nilly say the magic words and point. You have to know the end result."

Marius moved through the throng of bodies. What he saw made him made him laugh. In the middle of the students was a blond pretty woman in a dark gray robe standing next to what seems to be another student. Except the student's blue robe was burnt and his face was all dirty as if he was wiggled out of a chimney.

The blond woman said, "Hello, this is a closed classroom."

Marius took out his gold shield. "I'm a detective. I heard an explosion."

"No need to worry." She turned to her class. "Ok, students we are done for today. Please practice in a safe area. I will see you bright and early tomorrow."

The kids started to walk away. The student who was covered with soot was given a towel.

"Hello," the pretty blond lady said, "my name is Mistress Beatrice. I am the teacher of fire magic, second level."

"I am Marius and this is Detective Elsa, my partner. What happened?"

"These students think magic is a toy and to be used for sport. They have to understand the responsibility. So, what can I help Warlender's finest police officers?"

"We were looking for Professor Laurie's home."

"Yes, I can show you." She gave him an appraising look and smiled.

"You can just point the way," he said.

"No, I'm happy to help you. Follow me." They started walking back to the brick path.

Beatrice said, "Are you investigating Professor Julius?"

"Why?" Elsa said.

"Nothing. Where is Professor Julius today?"

Marius wondered if the commissioner kept the Professor's murder out of the papers. He almost forgot this was a high-profile investigation.

Marius said, "If you know something, we need to know."

A wind blew around him. Beatrice touched her hair and smoothed the front of her robe. She stopped walking. She said, "I don't want to get in trouble. But I heard Professor Julius was making some kind of revolutionary invention and only Professor Laurie knows what it is."

Elsa said, "Do you know what it is?"

"No, they kept it secret."

"Do you know anything else? Don't worry we cannot use rumors as facts. Unless we found out something that you held back," he said.

"Ok, but you did not hear this from me. I only suspected. Professor Laurie and Julius were lovers. We all knew it, but we never asked them."

Beatrice turned and continued walking. They followed and saw a group of smaller buildings. Marius recognized the town home on the right. It was Professor's Julius abode. No police officers were standing on the front steps. They moved passed it and strolled to the next structure. It was identical in size and color, except the front was decorated with potted flowers hanging from the eaves by chains.

Beatrice smiled at him. "Here is Professor Laurie's house. If you need anything, call me anytime. I am happy to help, officers." She took out a card from her robe and handed it to him. Her fingers brushed his hand.

"Thank you Beatrice. We might call you if we need more info."

She nodded and walked away. Elsa smirked at him and said, "That teacher likes you."

He shook his head. "I don't care. I only care about this case."

"Look, I think you can get more info from Beatrice. You don't have to date her."

Marius walked up the steps to the house. "Sure. I will keep that in mind." He knocked at the door. Nobody answered. They stood in the cool shadow of the patio. He shifted his weight to his right than to the left. He was about to knock again, when the door opened. A mousy woman in her mid-forties stared at them. Her eyes were red as if she was crying all morning. She wore a tattered pink robed.

"Hello," she said. Her brown short hair was sticking out in different directions.

"Are you Professor Laurie Childs?"

"Yes."

"I'm Detective Marius. We need to ask you some questions."

She nodded and moved out of the doorway letting them inside. "I have some old coffee, if you want some."

"No thank you."

Professor Laurie led them through a small hallway into a brightly lit living room. They sat on leather couches. A cup half-filled with tepid coffee sat on the table. The professor moved on a small sofa seat across from them. He didn't notice it before, but she held a small trinket on her hand. He tried to look at it, but she placed it in her pockets. Papers littered the table next to her cup. He could not read anything from his vantage point.

Marius said, "We have a few questions."

"I gave my statement to the coppers last night."

"We want to hear it again. Let's start from the beginning."