The crowd cheered and whistled as a tall blond-haired runner sprinted for the finish line, his lean body glistening with perspiration, his nostrils flared. Six seconds later, he burst through the tape, threw up his arms, and the crowd roared. Once again, nineteen-year-old Jason Marsh had won the Elicott College annual seven-mile cross-country race, and once again he was their hero.

Dr. David Murray, President of Elicott College, stood in the shade of a Sycamore tree, surrounded by students, faculty members, and parents. He, too, had seen the winner cross the finish line, and he too, had cheered. His heart was full of pride for the handsome young man who had been a student at the college for the past two years, because unknown to all but one other in the crowd, that young man was his son.

Looking across the campus toward the finish line, David could see that several had gathered to congratulate the winner and so he scanned the crowd. There was the girlfriend, a reporter for the school's newspaper, and there, several steps back, was Jason's mother. David's heart ached at the sight of her, a poised and beautiful woman who was recently divorced from the man that Jason thought was his father. It was difficult, very difficult, for him, Dr. David Murray, to accept the fact that he had abandoned this woman when she'd told him, a nineteen year old at the time, that she was carrying his child. Because she'd gotten pregnant, he'd thought the child was her responsibility, not his, and so he'd left her to deal the problem on her own. Since then, he had married and had three children, but this young man who had just become a hero, was his pride and joy.

Dr. David Murray still love Mary Merriweather, nee Marsh, but his actions were something he would have to live with, but she, to him was prettier than she was back then. This thing had been bothering him for the past two years since Jason enrolled here. All at once the band struck up the college song for evidently Elicott College, the EC Blue Dragons had finally beaten the Cherry Hill Community College Tradesmen, the CHCC purple Titans.

Then the band stopped and the PA system made the announcement. Dr. David Murray so much wanted to go over and congratulate his son and talk with his mother but he could not, for his reputation and his position would no stand any tarnishing for he was having a problem with the board.

Slowly the small jubilant crowd dispersed. Elicott College did not have a real sports program per se, but did have an active Cross Country team, a Rugby team and a Lacrosse team. None of which were Scholarship granting but a few Alum had gotten together and they sponsored a student for their four years of college, even hiring the coaching staff and taking care of any travel. Just a small time operation, but he had hopes for more and better things. Dr. David Murray started the walk back to his office, he had a couple letters to write and then a cocktail party at four, and a dinner at seven for a distinguished alum, who had just had their novel reach number one.

As he walked along a man walked up beside him, "Great race wasn't it Dr. Murray, that Marsh kid is some runner."

"Yes, he has really added to the name recognition of this college, I just hope he stays here for his full four years." Dr. David Murray noticed this man was well dressed, was articulate and carried himself as if he had been in the military, and he wore a large school ring on his right hand. "Yes, it would be nice to have a bona fide athletic program here At Elicott."

"That Jason Marsh, he surely does favor you, even to the birthmark on his right calf and the cowlick. Not to mention the same color eyes and both of you have a dimple on your right cheek." Dr. David Murray's heart rate went from normal to over rev, who was this man, what did he want?

"Really, I have never met the young man, what a coincidence," and he turned to enter the Administration building. The man turned with him.

"Oh well he should for you are his father." Dr. David Murray stopped and faced the man, wanting to pounce on him but thinking better. He just stared at the man. "I have the DNA tests and they match, match perfectly, how does it feel to watch your son and you cannot acknowledge him?"

"What do you want, who are you," Dr. David Murray asked in a raised voice.

"Shall we step inside where we can talk?" The man took Dr. David Murray's arm and they entered the Admin building and stopped. "Dr. David Murray, it is simple I have yours and your son's DNA tests and I want $250,000 or I leak it to the tabloids." Dr. David Murray was stunned, he coughed and shook his head. "You want what? You think I could come up with that kind of money even if your allegations were true?" Then he caught his breath, "Get out of here you scoundrel, get out now."

The man smiled, "You will hear from me, and you will receive the proof, and doc don't threaten me or think your position will afford you any safe haven." The man smiled, Doffed his hat, and in a loud voice spoke as he turned to leave, "Dr. David Murray, again congratulations on the win and I am sure the board will look positively on the program." Then he walked off.

Dr. David Murray went into his office, his secretary had already gone. He sat down at his desk, then he arose, went over to the large Walnut �tag�re, opened it and took out a glass and a decanter of Vat 69, a scotch he did like. He poured a large dash into the Waterford crystal double old-fashioned glass and took a big belt; then he poured the glass about half full, and put the decanter back into the �tag�re and sat down. "What am I to do, the man knows, the man knows, what am I to do?" He took another drink and then put his hands on his head and tried to think.

After he finished his drink, he called, CL, that is Charles L Newman, head of the History department, a cantankerous old man who Dr. David Murray greatly admired and who was way past retirement but the council had granted CL an exemption to the required retirement age of 70. "CL, Dave can I come by I have a big problem and I need your wisdom."

"Sure Dave, but would you stop by the package store and get me a couple bottles of scotch and a bottle of Jack, I will pay you for them, durn Ella had the ladies over yesterday and they emptied my cabinet."

"Be there in a few CL, and thanks." He hung up and looked around his office, then turned out the light and left, when he got in his car he called Ellen Anne, his wife, "I am going to stop by CL's for a few, have something I need to talk over with him, I will be late, don't know how late, but I will be home in time for the Alum dinner. Love you." And he folded his cell phone and put it in his pocket.

"What kind of scotch does Doc CL buy," Dr. David Murray asked the liquor store clerk?

"Oh Doc drinks Chevis but keeps Vat 69 for a friend, you buying for him?" The clerk was a man of middle age and when he say Dr. David Murray shake his head, he continued. "Would you mind taking this order with you, his wife called it in and my helper hasn't come in yet?"

"Sure, and CL told me to get two bottle of scotch and a bottle of Jack, and just put it on the bill."

"Chevis, Vat 69 and a Jack Daniels, The clerk quickly got them and carried the box out to Dr. David Murray's car.

"CL I have two problems, and I need your sage advice." CL was pouring them a wee dram of throat medicine, half a double old-fashioned glass full.

"Well Dave lets hear what it is and I will see if I can help you." So Dr. David Murray related the affair he and Mary had and that she had gotten pregnant and he had abandoned her and they had parted. And that Mary's husband had claimed to be Jason's father and that Mary and he had recently divorced. Then about the blackmail.

"So CL, I am in a mess. If anyone learns of this I am out on my head and I lose out all the way round."

"Dave, my suggestion would be to go home, sit down and tell Ellen Anne about it and come clean. Then I would contact Mrs. Marsh and apologize and tell her you are being blackmailed." CL took a big swig of scotch, then walked over to the bar and opened the Jack Daniels and poured a near full glass. He picked up the Vat 69 and poured Dave's glass near full. "Then I would tell the children, for these days there is not the stigma there was a few years back."

"You would, you really would, and I would lose everything, my Presidency, my wife everything." He took two big drinks from his glass. "It would ruin me, ruin my career."

CL just smiled and sipped his Jack, he did love to sip Jack over ice, a good man's drink. "And then I would cal Mrs. March and her son, and then sit down with them and tell him and then announce to the world you had done wrong, and you were atoning and making things right." CL looked at his younger boss as he was wrestling with a devil, wrestling with a devil. Then CL finished, "Dave then in the morning call the council together and all the administrators and bare your soul and ask the forgiveness and to back you as you atone for a mistake you made."

EL then walked over and refilled his glass, this time not offering Dave a refill. "The only way."

Dave stood and started to pace, "CL that would ruin me, no way will I get to be president of another school, a larger school, and all of my work will have been in vain. All my efforts gone, and I will most likely lose Ellen Anne and the children."

"Well think about it, and get home and get ready for that dinner," CL said. "Oh how much I owe you for the booze?"

Dave started to rifle his pockets, "Oh $37 is OK for I drank most of it, where did I put that receipt?"

CL handed him forty dollars, "Keep the three dollars for gas money," and then he showed his boss to the door.

Dr. David Murray went home, quickly showered and dressed told the kids goodnight and they departed for the dinner. But his mind was turning, turning thinking.

The following morning about ten fifteen the UPS man came in with a package for Dr. David Murray and when he opened it he nearly fainted, for there were old photos of he and Mary about a dozen of them, then there were DNA test results for he Jason and Mary, a DNA for Jonas W. Marsh from whom Mary recently divorced, which showed that Marsh was not Jason's father, and the authentication from the lab who did the analysis. The test said there were hair strands, saliva, and a scraping from his inner mouth. There were photos of the two and comparisons, plus a copy of Jason's birth certificate, and of Mary's marriage license to Marsh. Plus there was a plain typewritten sheet of paper, which said, "$250,000, cash by next Friday or the Baltimore Sun, and the Tabloids get this. I will contact you."

Dr. David Murray immediately called Fred Stokes the University head of security, "Fred, I need the tape from yesterday of the entrance to the Admin building, and quickly please. There was a man who I talked with and I want to know whom he is. Fred he may be a possible donor."

"Yes Dr. Murray, I will get someone on it and have it to you within the hour." Fred was helpful.

"And Fred, I think I have the Board and the Council sold on two more Patrolmen and one more vehicle, I am pretty sure of it. Thanks Fred."

Within the hour Fred was there with the tape and it took them about ten minutes to find It., "Oh that is Doc Skimmer talking with you," Fred said. "Doc was a FBI agent and then retired and taught at three or four local schools. Yeah I know Doc Skimmer.

DD's jaw dropped, so this retired FBI agent and Law Enforcement teacher was now into blackmail. "A good man then?" He asked with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.

"Want the honest truth Dr. Murray, I would not trust Doc as far as I could throw a Mack truck." And his face said this was not a man with whom you wanted to tangle.

"If you would Fred give me you low down on him," for Fred was no simpleton, and he himself was a retired Detective Captain from Baltimore. "Doc is bonkers, always looking for the big score, and he figures since he was with the FBI he is too smart to get caught."

"Really?" Dr. Murray said.

"Dr. Murray, you have been against adding a Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice degree here at the college and Doc has been working the board and supporters for the department and since he has a PhD and retire FBI he feels he will become the department chairman." Then he looked at Dr, Murray with those steely gray eyes, "Please do not repeat what I have said."

Dr. Murray was shook, really shook, "Sure Fred, mum is the word, and I do appreciate the help and the information, guess I had better watch my back door," and with that Dr. David Murray saw his chief of security out of his office. He had some serious thinking to do, some serious planning. First he considered CL's recommendations, and decided it would mean his downfall, and the end of his career, and he was going to become president of a major university. Then he remembered a John LeCarre Novel and then he had his plan, a plan to get rid or Doc Skimmer and his problem.

That night when he got home, after dinner he went into his study and with his scotch he started thinking and planning. Then about eleven half schwocked he went upstairs to bed. The following morning he was up at five and quickly did his work out and then he went into the garage and rummaged around until he found what he sought, then he took it to the basement and cleaned it up.

After the staff meeting he wandered over to the labs and conned a small piece of dry ice and then went back to his office and did some experimenting. Saturday morning he went by the grocery store and bought a small piece of dry ice and then went fishing, fishing alone as he sometimes did in his small sailboat. The bay was smooth and his experiments worked just fine. He had phase one ready.

"Dave what is wrong with you, what is your problem?" Ellen asked him when he got home from his fishing.

"Nothing, nothing, just some school things that have come up. And after lunch he left for a meeting with a couple boosters, but instead he found where Doc Skimmer lived and staked it out. Then after about an hour he changed his plans and went down to the wharf and had some crabs and beer in a little pub.

And from the pub he called Doc Skimmer, "Doc this is Dave, meet me at Fort McHenry at five PM, I have part of the money and need to talk with you."

"I don't talk, I want the money," Doc replied, "How did you get my cell phone number?" He then asked. Dr. David Murray smiled for Fred had told him how to find telephone numbers years ago.

"Just meet me there, five PM," and Dr. David Murray hung up. He then drove to Ft McHenry and parked and waited and as the patrons departed he finally pulled into the first parking slot next to the walkway, then he hung his Handicap parking sticker in the window and waited. At about three till five he saw Doc's Lincoln Towncar with all the antennas drive in and Doc got out and started toward the Fort.

Dr. David Murray opened the ice chest, took out a Dry ice pellet, put it into the air pistol and as Doc approached, he jumped out stuck the pistol in Doc's nose and fired. Doc crumpled to the ground.

Dr. David Murray got back into his car and drove away. On the way he stopped and threw the air pistol into the bay then he dropped the ice chest on a street corner, and drove back to the seedy part of town. He got out, leaving the keys in the car; the car he had bought for $200 from a local hood. He walked through the alley to where his car was parked in a church handicap parking spot. Quickly he removed his wig, clothing, and shoes, then he put his own clothing on, got into his car and drove toward home. He drove into his garage, and cleaned the grease paint off his face, and put the rubber gloves in the trashcan and his clothing in a brown paper bag. He then went into the house and had a drink, and had dinner with his wife.

Dr. David Murray slept well for his worries were over but how could he acknowledge his son?

The following two days were the normal thing, an Alumni get together, two international speakers and the Rugby team had a scrimmage game against the Terps.

Dr. David Murray scrutinized the newspapers and all he found about Doc was that an ex FBI agent had been killed at Ft McHenry, and police were withholding the autopsy report due to the nature of the crime. But there was speculation the death was related to Doc's FBI career, for he had spent a lot of time fighting organized crime. Fred called, "Dr. Murray, I heard Doc Skimmer was killed over the weekend in Baltimore, seems like he made one too many enemies."

"No Fred, I hadn't well I guess I won't get any money from him and won't have to worry about him pushing for the Criminal Justice Department." Dr. David Murray, paused then added, "Thanks for letting me know."

That night after dinner Ellen Anne when things were cleaned up and the children were in their room, said, "Dave we must talk, we must talk now and seriously."

"Sure hon, want a drink? In here or in the den?"

"No drink for me thank you, and you seem to be drinking a lot more than normal, what is eating you anyway?" She turned out the kitchen light and went into the den and sat down, she on the brown leather couch and he in his brown leather recliner, his reading chair. "Dave, I am thinking of leaving you!"

"Huh, did you say leaving?" It took a couple seconds for her statement to soak in, and register. "You have to be joking."

"No Dave, you have become obsessed with your job and polishing everything so you can move up, and I am only something attractive for the men to look at as I hold your arm. And the way you are going I get the feeling I will be asked to service important people so you can get larger and better endowments." Then Ellen looked at her husband's eyes and facial expression to see how it registered. "The children have been pushed to the background unless they do something wrong then you pounce upon them."

Dr. David Murray looked at his wife and in a serious tone asked, "Would you sleep with and service them if I asked you to?" And his expression showed no signs of jest.

"If it would give me the sex life like we used to have, Yes! Yes I would become your hook and take care of them as you became my pimp," fully expecting to hear a laugh and for him to come over and hold her. He didn't; rather she saw his brain switch gears. For Ellen Anne Murray was an attractive woman, a loving woman who knew how to please a man and she did enjoy it; although she had not had another man since she married Dave.

"You don't like the life you have, a college president's wife?" He smirked, "You don't like living in a big house having two paid servants, and rolling along at the top of he heap?" Now he was getting to the vindictive stages where he would curse her and demean her, then if his temper rose enough he would knock her around a bit. "You are my wife, and supposed to help me, and support me, you should be proud of me and what I am doing, for I aim to go far, I have only started."

Ellen Anne knew that the conversation was over it would only be one way from here out. "Fine Dave, you have given your answer," so she arose, and went up stairs and prepared for bed.

Dr. David Murray refilled his scotch glass and did some thinking. "I cannot let my wife leave or divorce me, that I cannot do, so if she wants to leave I shall keep that from happening." Dr. David Murray always talked to him self out loud when he was bothered and deep in thought. "And if Ellen Anne were gone, Mary would marry me and I could acknowledge Jason, my son, my real manly son." With that he too went to bed. Needless to say there was a lot of space between the two in that King sized bed.

The following morning Ellen Anne made a few phone calls and then called an Attorney and set up an appointment. She selected a well-known attorney who had the reputation for getting the wife a good deal and for not being a new hound. The meeting went well, and the attorney said, "Mrs. Murray, I would recommend that you not move out, and that you try to work this out, seek counseling for both of you and try to be as amiable as possible. Also I would recommend you hide a recorder in his study and tape all phone calls he makes. It may be wasted but most times it is the straw that turns what could be a nasty court heard divorce into a mutual agreement with no press."

"What about the children? Should I tell the children or wait?" She was concerned about them as much as about herself.

"No, do not tell them anything and try to keep everything quiet and low key till we develop our stand and then decide on what we will ask for in the settlement." Ellen Anne had written down what all she needed and what she needed to write down.

The autopsy was released on Doc Skimmer and the paper said it had been a special killing for he had been shot with a dry ice bullet and nothing had been taken from the body for he had nearly two thousand dollars in cash on him when he died. Dr. David Murray, felt good for he had pulled off the perfect murder. And if he could do it once he certainly could do it a second time. And with that he leaked out that the President's house on campus had a very expensive collection of art, which had been donated to the College, and he must get the University, who owned the house to install a good alarm system. And his mind began to weave a plan.

"Mary, Dave Murray, Saw Jason run and he is such a fine boy, and you are more lovely than you were years ago." He paused for her comment.

"Yes Dave I have followed your career and wondered if you would have risen as fast or faster if we had been married."

"Mary, I do still love you and would you marry me so I could acknowledge Jason as my son if I were to suddenly become free?" Mary sensed something so she thought she would follow along as she pressed the record button on her phone.

"Would you repeat that Dave, I don't think I heard you correctly," all the while she was looking at the red recording light and it was still on. He repeated the question.

"Mary if I suddenly become single, would you marry, so I can acknowledge Jason as my son and we could live as we should have?" He felt she was on the hook.

"What about Ellen Anne, what about your position?"

"If something did happen that I was no longer married. Mary is there another man, do you have a steady?"

"Very interesting, very interesting, Dave, and I would become the College President's wife, and live in that large house?" She paused, hoping he would say more.

"Yes you Jason and I in that large house and hopefully in the near future I will be moving to a larger and more prestigious President's house."

"Dave right now I have just finished a divorce, and I do not need any publicity, but if it does, I will be here and listening." Then she paused a second, "Night Dave and good luck." Then Mary removed the tape and put it into an envelope and addressed it to her attorney for safekeeping.

The following three days Ellen Anne Murray tried to talk with her husband about the divergence of their marriage, but alas to no avail, "You are paranoid Ellen, you just do not like the lime light and the pressures required thereof." And he had retreated with his scotch bottle into his study. The next morning Ellen called the attorney and told him to start the proceedings but not to file yet, "Just give me one more chance, maybe I can get him to come around." At dinner that night six year old James David Murray the youngest son was all excited about his marbles and he had actually won some marbles shooting on the playground.

"Just put them away James before , ,, , ,, , , , ," and it happened the boy dropped his marbles, and immediately jumped up to collect his fallen treasures. As he walked around the corner of the table he stepped on one and did a half gainer, kerplop. He was not hurt. Then as Pietra got up to help him she too fell, and a light lit up in Dr., David Murray's head.

Dave, won't you just think about it , won't you, for I don't won't us to break up but you have just isolated us from yourself and your mania to go further in your career."

Dr. David Murray jumped up, finished his scotch, "I am going out for a few minutes, I will be back in a while," and he took his jacket and hat then left. Two hours hater he was back. Ellen had just finished locking all the doors and windows and retired when she heard his car enter the driveway. Funny Dave seemed to go out for an hour or so most every night lately.

A funny thing had been happening in the house the last week or so , it seemed every morning when she arose, every outside door and window was unlocked, when she knew she had locked them. She had asked each of the children if they had unlocked a door or window and each had replied, "With the way day gets so upset if we do, no mom, most definitely not."

Dr. David Murray was quite happy with himself, for he had burglarized seven houses in the neighborhood these last few nights, taking the loot to a storage place he had rented some months before. The neighbors had been up in arms and he had leaked the story that he was concerned because his house had art and no burglar alarm. It had bee easy to know who was home and who was not and where stuff was, because all the neighbors were professors or retied well off locals. Tonight was it, and there had been a simple change of plans. He had talked about how of late his wife was such a light sleeper and how he didn't wake up for anything. He had laughed in a staff meeting," If a burglar entered my house and my bedroom I would not hear him unless he woke me up, until it was morning time."

He took the sack of marbles and the three-foot long piece of pick handle into his study and poured himself a big drink. "Ellen Anne go to sleep for this will be your last sleep before you die," and then he laughed a macabre laugh. Finally it was one AM and he opened the door and started up the back stairs. This house since it was built a long time ago had a grand stair in the front and a servants really steep stairs in the rear, for the servants quarters were on the third floor and the were not allowed to use the front stairs. He had pulled on rubber gloves and had slipped those surgical scuffs over his shoes and then he unlocked each outside door and window. He then broke the bottom windowpane in the back door and opened it. Slowly snuck up the back stairs toward the second floor.

Slowly he crept being ever so sure not to make any noise. Then he reached the second floor landing and as he stepped onto the second floor, his foot slipped, he fell back and with a scream fell down the stairs crashing through the between floor window where the stairs doubled back and fell upon the stockade fence which was around the back yard. His limp dead body still holding the pick handle and the top of the marble bag plopped onto the ground which activate the motion detector lights he had in the back.

The college was closed the next day for a horrible accident had occurred. The honorable president of the college Dr. David Murray, had suffered a most horrible accident. It seems he would have to wait to acknowledge his son Jason Marsh.

When Jason got home form school, he found his mother reading the afternoon paper and Jason looked at her sort of smirked and offhandly said, "Damn mom, I lose My Marsh dad and then I lose my real dad. Sometimes it is hell being a bastard."

His mother rose, "When did you find out?"

"When I was in the sixth grade and you had pneumonia, and were delirious." Jason then hugged his mother, "Thanks for trying to protect me, I love you mom." After the funeral Ellen Anne Murray smiled for when it was learned that Dr. David Murray had three one million dollar insurance policies, and his investments and schemes had netted Ellen Anne and the three children two and a quarter million. David's death did not seem so tragic after all.

Fred Stokes solved the Doc Skimmer murder, but it was left unsolved because of the damage it would do to the College. Fred knew Doc was a crook and he would not meet the president of the college on the sly, and Fred figured it had to be some shady business deal for Doc had blackmailed three people that Fred knew of. The just after Doc's death, Bo Jones, who was a patrolman on campus, told Fred that he had seen the college president giving money to a local hood over in the area where he lived. And that the college president had driven off in the car, the same car which was in the video surveillance tape at Ft McHenry which showed a black man jumping out of the car, running up to Doc, sticking the pistol barrel up Doc's nose and shooting him then getting into the car and driving off.

"Now ain't no brother going to shoot no white dud with a air gun loaded with a carbon dioxide bullet," Bo had told his boss. Fred became interested and with Bo's help had found that Dr. David Murray had been in a bar in that neighborhood that afternoon, for he had drunk half a dozen beers and had three orders of spicy crabs.

And Bo had found a lady who had seen Dr. David Murray's Volvo sedan parked in the handicap-parking slot in from of the Ebenezer Baptist church. "No brother or sister at our church would drive a car like that for that ain't what we drive if we got money to drive." The lady had told Bo. And then Fred had found that there was a phone call from the bar where Dr. David Murray had drunk to Doc's cell phone.

And then when Fred found out that Dr. David Murray had bummed a piece of dry ice from the lab, he had all the area places which sold dry ice reviewed their video surveillance tapes and lo and behold, twice Dr. David Murray's face showed up buying dry ice.

Also it was determined that only one marble, the marble found on the second floor matched those of James Murray, all of the others matched the ones from the bag Dr. David Murray was holding when he fell to his death. Also Fred had been told that the president had told people about all the art in the house and he personally knew it was correct. A big help had been Ellen's giving Fred the audio tapes made by the sound activated tape recorder in his study.