Questionable Results

by R A Wallace

  “You could hardly be expected to contribute to the quota,” Delia said. “Given your vocation, you should be excused.”

  Hazel shifted her eyes to Delia but didn’t stop stirring the contents of the pot.

  “You’ve decided to also take care of my share?” Delia reached for a folded linen towel. “I suppose I have been slacking in my patriotic duties.”

  “We’ll need to report soon,” Hazel said.

  “I did see mention in the newspaper that the cards have been mailed out.” Delia used the linen towel to lift one of the pots from the stove. After carrying it over to the table, she began filling jars. “I guess I immediately forgot about that article.”

  “The government wants every woman to do her part to preserve our own food here at home so that the men aren’t shorted anything they need over there,” Hazel said. “We’ll have to list how many quarts we’ve put up this year.”

  “The paper said they’re hoping for nearly twice as much this year as last year.” Delia shifted over and began ladling spiced beets into another jar. “Have you made any decisions?”

  “About the wedding?” Hazel turned the range off and carried the other pot to the table. “I have. Maybe.”

  Delia laughed. “Which is it?”

  Hazel made a face of indecision. “I would like the ceremony to be at the church.”

  “Of course. I expected as much.” Delia shifted to another jar.

  “But I would want it to be small.” Hazel made a noise of frustration. “I just don’t know if I’ll have the time to plan anything. Between work at home such as this, working in the kitchen at the school, and now marriage and a family.”

  “You’re worried too much,” Delia said. “You’ve already been doing all of this. It isn’t anything new, right? You’ve been caring for Arch and Sam for years.”

  Hazel flashed her another look of uncertainty. “Sam said some of the kids are missing from school.”

  Delia’s hands paused for a moment. “Some of my students were missing from classes today also.”

  Chapter Four

  Wesley lifted the lid from the chafing dish on the sideboard and immediately slammed it back down. He scowled at it as he poured his first cup of coffee. After taking his seat at the table, he lifted the newspaper to read it. The faint smell wafting from the chafing dish earned another scowl. He doggedly forced himself to focus on the newspaper in front of him.

  “Good morning.” Otis’s voice sounded far too happy given their current predicament for the morning meal. They were in dire straits indeed.

  “We may have to speak to Cook.” Wes’s words came out in a growl.

  Otis knocked the newspaper away from Wes’s face and set a plate in front of him. It was filled with scrambled eggs. The toast was perfectly browned and covered with jam.

  “This is far better.” Wes pointed toward the chafing dish. “If I had to eat corn willy, I was going to fire Cook.”

  “You couldn’t force me to eat it.” Otis set his own plate on the table. After fetching a cup of coffee, he took a seat. “I swear I can still smell it from here.”

  “I just opened the lid to look at it.” Wes frowned at his mistake. “Whatever made Cook think to serve that?”

  “I imagine those left stateside haven’t received the same treatment of it,” Otis guessed.

  “If I never have to look at it again, it will be too soon.”

  “I thought an alternate menu the better option,” Otis said as he lifted his fork. “I surprised Cook with the request, but she complied quickly enough.”

  “Good man,” Wes said with a nod as he began eating.

  Otis reached for part of the newspaper. “I wonder where Luther Killian is now?”

  The scowl returned to Wes’s face. “Did you have any luck with your contacts on the east coast?”

  “Not yet. I made several telephone calls.” Otis reached for his coffee.

  “As did I.” Wes lowered his newspaper. “Perhaps in the meantime we should focus on finding the fiend.”

  “Might be difficult to do without the minion here to give us the name of the man who hired him.” Otis lowered his newspaper. “Unless.”

  “Unless what?”

  Otis lifted his brows briefly. “Until now, I simply assumed the fiend was a man.”

  Wes stared at him nonplussed for a moment. “So did I. You’re thinking otherwise now?”

  Otis gave an easy shrug. “How many women have you angered?”

  “None to my knowledge.” Wes heard the affront in his own voice at the insult. Then his mind turned to his wife, Barbara. Would a woman stray from her marriage vows unless she was angry about something? He pushed the thought from his mind. Her death removed the possibility she was in any way involved.

  “It was just a thought,” Otis said as his newspaper went back up.

  “Have I thanked you for your help lately?” Wes watched Otis lower the paper.

  “As I have mentioned before, it is not necessary.”

  Wes offered a wry smile. “And yet, without your word that I was not running from the enemy, I would be dead. My entire family would have suffered greatly from my besmirched legacy.”

  “Given I was with you when it happened, I could hardly do otherwise,” Otis said.

  Wes lifted his coffee cup and toasted Otis. “Not everyone would have been as diligent at the attempt to find our shooter.”

  Otis motioned to his wounded arm. “I have my own score to settle with that.”

  Wes believed in giving thanks when it was due. “Still.”

  Otis lifted his newspaper. “They’re talking about the lack of manpower. Calling for more women to backfill the empty positions but even then there are problems in some cases. Steel mills, for example.”

  “As much as they’ve helped, I’m not sure the women can do some of those jobs,” Wes said thoughtfully. His eyes went to the back of Otis’s paper. “Huh. There’s talk of restricting some of the football games.”

  Otis flipped the paper around. “You think it’s to do with the influenza?”

  “I have no idea.” Wes pushed his empty plate away. “I know the confusion is driving me crazy. On the one hand, there’s concern by some regarding large gatherings at football games.”

  “And the other hand?” Otis prompted.

  “The military wants me to hold an open house for the induction ceremony,” Wes said slowly. “Invite the whole town.”

  “For the incoming students?” Otis pushed his plate away.

  “Indeed. The boys will officially be inducted into service.” Wes wrapped his hands around his coffee cup. “Nurse Noble is against it, of course.”

  “I don’t doubt it. She was the one who recommended you cancel the football game last week,” Otis pointed out.

  “And this week.” Wes frowned. “You wouldn’t believe all the pushback I got from that.”

  Otis grunted a noise of understanding. “You’re planning to cancel this week as well?”

  Wesley’s eyes went down to the open paper in front of him. “How can I not? Have you seen these numbers? Tens of thousands of people all over the country have this influenza. There have been over twenty thousand cases in the military camps within the last forty-eight hours alone.”

  Otis waved the paper in his hand. “Well over a hundred thousand total are sick just with the numbers I see here. What are you planning to do?”

  Wes leaned back in his chair. “I have no idea. I’d rather avoid large gatherings if possible but it may be out of my control.”

  “The service has a mind of its own,” Otis said with understanding.

  “Exactly. According to a recent phone call, they may be dispatching someone to oversee it.”

  Otis finished his coffee as he considered it. He stood to remove their plates. “The military officers have already arrived to begin the training?”

  “Yes, as well as other necessary personnel. There will be a gathering to introduce them to the rest of the faculty and sta
ff on campus.” Wes pushed his empty cup over when Otis reached for it.

  “A nice gesture,” Otis said as he filled the cup. He was returning it to Wesley when Virginia entered.

  “I hope you’ve left some coffee for me.” Virginia moved over to the sideboard but stopped just short of it when Otis remained where he was.

  He reached for an empty cup and filled it for her.

  She ignored him when he held it out, choosing to lift the lid of the chafing dish instead. She was still holding the lid when she turned toward her brother at his noise of disgust. “What? It’s corned beef.”

  “You wouldn’t abide standing in the same room with it if you’d spent any time in the war.” Wesley’s scowl settled back on his face.

  Virginia returned the lid and took a seat. Otis set her coffee next to her.

  “Thank you.” Her voice was without warmth.

  “Don’t mention it.” His voice held dry humor, but his face was expressionless.

  She ignored him and motioned to a section of the newspaper. “There’s the mention of Remembrance Day this past weekend. I understand some from Glennon attended.”

  “I wish I could have made the trip, but I’ve been too swamped,” Wesley said.

  “Not sure how you would have gotten there on a Sunday,” Otis said as he moved away from the sideboard. “Not with the gas ban.”

  “Still, it would have been good to have the town of Glennon represented,” Wes said as he reached for his coffee cup.

  “I understand Cyrus Wickersham went,” Virginia said as she lifted her own cup. “I ran into Cyrus in town. He said there were several from Glennon in attendance.”

  “Makes one wonder how Wickersham made it without using gas,” Otis muttered as he reached the door to the dining room.

  “Wickersham. They came here with Glennons.” Thomas appeared at Otis’s side.

  “That they did,” Wesley said with a smile for his nephew.

  “I learned about the geography of Pennsylvania in school,” Thomas said.

  “You’re enjoying your new school then?” Wes asked.

  “It’s brilliant.” Thomas grinned.

  Virginia lifted her brows at her brother. “We’ve acquired a new word that we apply to most everything.”

  “Indeed.” Wes tried to hide his smile. “All ready for school today?”

  “Almost.” Thomas looked up at Otis.

  “I’ll help him finish and see that he gets there.” Otis nudged Thomas from the doorway.

  “Have a good day,” Virginia called. She turned to Wesley. “What’s wrong with corned beef?”

  “You wouldn’t ask that if you’d eaten as much corn willy as Otis and I have.” Wes gave a mock shudder. “It was often a mix of corned beef, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and just about any other vegetable they could get their hands on at the time.”

  “I don’t know. It doesn’t sound so bad,” Virginia muttered as she reached for the newspaper.

  “You wouldn’t be saying that if you had to eat it with any regularity,” Wesley said with confidence.

  A movement near the door caught his eye. The smile on his face disappeared when he saw the look on Judson’s face.

  Wes pushed himself up from his seat. “Judson? What is it?”

  Judson stepped into the room.

  “Coffee?” Virginia asked quietly.

  Judson gave a slight shake of his head. “I’m here on official business.”

  “Judson, no.” Virginia stood and moved closer to Wesley.

  Judson’s momentary confusion cleared quickly. “There’s been a death.”

  “Someone we know?” Virginia’s hand went up to her neck as her brother stepped closer to her.

  Judson grimaced. “The victim? I doubt it.”

  Wesley shifted his focus from Virginia to Judson. “You’re saying that we know the killer?”

  “That I do not know,” Judson said stiffly to Wesley. “Yet.”

  “What are you saying then?” The exasperation in Wesley’s voice was evident.

  Virginia shifted her gaze between the two men. “Wesley,” she said quietly. “I am sure Judson is here to explain it.”

  “I came to inform you that at least two of your teachers were involved in finding the victim,” Judson said as he locked eyes with Wesley. “I have not ruled them out as the killers.”

  “What exactly does that mean?” Wes asked Judson.

  “It means that they made a mess of the crime scene,” Judson bit out. “I sincerely doubt they could have done a better job if they had tried.”

  “You believe they deliberately attempted to conceal evidence?” Wesley challenged.

  “Gentlemen,” Virginia said calmly.

  Judson gave her an apologetic look. “There were footprints everywhere.”

  “Where exactly was this?” Wes asked.

  “The new game preserve,” Judson supplied. “It is one of several in the state.”

  Wes pulled his brows together. “I’ve read about that. You’re talking about several thousand acres of land set aside by the state?”

  “Exactly.”

  “What were my teachers doing there?” Wesley asked.

  “That’s what I plan to find out.” Judson’s lips flattened.

  “You weren’t informed?” Virginia asked Wes.

  He shook his head.

  “The arborist was with them,” Judson said stonily.

  “The arborist?” Wesley had to think hard to come up with the name. “It’s Boardman, isn’t it? Alexander Boardman.”

  “Boardman and your teachers claim they were checking for life signs,” Judson said with a frown. “They trampled evidence everywhere. If I learn it was done on purpose, I’ll have them all brought up on charges.”

  Chapter Five

  As Wesley walked across the campus toward his office in Biltmore, he noted that Arch had been busy with the various gardens he passed. Though several now sported blooms appropriate for the autumn season upon them, others had been readied for the long winter ahead. The campus was obviously well tended. He knew Arch was to be credited for all of it. The man not only handled a great deal of the work himself, he also supervised the work of others.

  That included the normal school students who often participated. It enabled the future teachers to learn important skills necessary for work in rural schools. Those rural students would expect instruction in such matters involving the proper operation of farms, orchards, and dairies. Many students, including those living in town, would grow at least some of their food.

  Everywhere Wes looked, he saw evidence of the new military school. There were new faces of men still obviously learning their way around and they weren’t all students. The day-to-day operation of the military required a great deal of manpower to function. There were officers on campus to do the training. There were other soldiers, including medical staff, who were setting up to handle the incoming students. More arrived daily. He saw some of them near the gymnasium as he passed by. It was the location being used to perform the physical examinations. The auditorium was pressed into service to measure for their uniforms.

  He knew that the new military instructors had already been putting the recruits through marching practice. In addition to the other activities that kept the boys busy most of their waking moments, they also spent a great deal of time interacting with Bennie, Wes’s office assistant. It was Bennie who handled all of the necessary paperwork required by the military to offer the training at Glennon Normal School.

  Wes found Bennie immersed in various piles of documents all over his desk. “Any of that for me?”

  Bennie barely spared him a glance. “Morning, Captain. You’ll need to sign off on most of it.”

  “If I haven’t said so before, Bennie, I appreciate the additional responsibilities that have been added to your work.”

  “It’s for a good cause.” Bennie’s lips flattened as he ducked his head to focus on the papers in front of him.

  Wes knew Be
nnie was still smarting that the Army denied his admittance due to a health problem. He wondered again at the greater incidence of goiters discovered around the area of the Great Lakes.

  “And the school would be much worse off if not for your attentive handling,” Wes said as he moved toward his office.

  After checking the notes on his desk, he returned to Bennie’s desk. “Care to go for a walk?”

  Bennie’s eyes were filled with surprise at the offer. “Sir?”

  “A walk,” Wes repeated. “I need to touch base with the new military instructors.”

  “Yes, sir!” Bennie stood so quickly his chair nearly toppled over behind him.

  Wes tried not to wince. “I take it you haven’t been getting out of the office much?”

  “It’ll be a nice change,” Bennie said diplomatically but the smile on his face didn’t dim.

  “Have you had much chance to become acquainted with the military officers?” Wes reached the first floor of the Biltmore Building long after Bennie.

  Bennie waited for Wes to catch up. “A few of them. Mostly, I’ve spoken with just two of them. They seem to be the ones tasked with getting the boys started off on the right foot, so to speak.”

  “Which officers?” Wes asked as he followed Bennie from the building.

  “Second Lieutenant Arlie Gibson is one. The other is also a second lieutenant. Pierce Byers is the name.” Bennie took a deep breath as though enjoying the fresh air.

  “Young men?” Wes guessed.

  “Recently graduated themselves, sir.”

  “I thought as much,” Wes said. “What have you learned so far?”

  “About the lieutenants?” Bennie nodded to a group of faculty as they walked past. “They seemed alright.”

  “You’ll be able to attend the gathering I had planned?” Wes asked.

  Bennie did a double take. “Me, sir?”

  “It’s for the new military personnel, including the instructors. I’d like them to feel welcomed to the school by both faculty and staff. It will help to orient them to our way of doing things. Give them faces and names of people they’ll be working with.”

  “Very thoughtful of you, sir.” Bennie glanced at Wes then slowed his pace. “I’m sure they might feel a bit awkward.”