A Lesson in Murder

by Nick Bishop

“I’m sure I will, and besides, I’m starved. I think anything probably would taste good to me now—even a hot dog, which, as you know under normal circumstances, I abhor.”

  “No ‘take me out to the ballgame’ for you, eh?”

  “There are always peanuts and cracker jacks, no?” Sara said.

  “And apple pie and Mom too!”

  “I’m so glad we got together for lunch. I’ve always loved your sense of humor,” Sara said.

  “Igualmente.” He held up his hand. “That means equally, or in other words, I love your sense of humor, as well.”

  “Isn’t there an old song about a mutual admiration society?”

  “See what I mean.”

  She leaned back. “How are things going with the investigation. Anything new?”

  “Not really.” He told her again everything he and Ellie and Sam had found out, which didn’t amount to much. He also told her about talking to Laura.

  “Do you think she could have done it?” Sara asked.

  “I don’t. But then again, I don’t think any of the people we’ve talked to could have. It doesn’t add up.”

  “You know, I’m starting to get a little worried about you, Jed.”

  “Why, for heaven’s sake?”

  “You aren’t a reporter anymore, and you say you’re happy in your new job. But forgive me for saying this, but it seems that you’re becoming totally immersed in the case. It seems to me almost like an obsession. Are you sure that’s the right thing to do? I mean it isn’t taking away from the time you should be spending on teaching, is it?”

  “I don’t think so.” Jed was surprised at what she said. And maybe, he thought, he was becoming a little obsessed. Maybe, as she implied, it was time to back off a little. Yet on the other hand, Sam was counting on him, and Ellie too. She was every bit as involved in solving the murder as he was.

  “Tell you what. I’ll think about it, okay? Maybe I am overly involved because it was a fellow teacher at Caraway who was murdered.”

  “I’m just concerned about you Jed. I do care about you.”

  “And I care for you too.”

  She smiled. “I know.” She shook her head. “What ever happened to us anyway?”

  The waiter, who said his name was Carlos, brought the food, and the two of them concentrated on eating.

  “Wow!” Sara finally said. “What have I been missing all my life?”

  “Glad you like it. Now how about dessert?”

  “I’m stuffed, Jed.”

  “Tell you what. Let’s order a chocoflan and split it?”

  “I assume choco means chocolate.”

  “It does.”

  “Who on earth can walk away from chocolate?”

  Jed ordered coffee for each of them, along with the flan, which Sara said she loved. “I wonder how I can become an honorary Mexican,” she said.

  “Let’s ask Carlos. He’s sure to know.”

  “¿Estas listo?”

  “You won’t fool me again, señor. Yes, I am listo.”

  Jed dropped Sara off at her condo and was on the way home when Ellie called.

  “Hate to bother you on a Sunday afternoon,” she said, “but I’m wondering if you’ve found out anything else. Any clues? Any new suspects?”

  “Nothing,” Jed said. “How about you?”

  “I remember thinking that even though the Union Tribune is the major newspaper in San Diego, there are a lot of other newspapers in the area as well. So I looked them up. Found a bunch of them, like the La Jolla Light, and others for different communities in the San Diego area.”

  “Any luck?”

  “Maybe.” She paused. “There was a notice of the marriage in several other papers. One was the Light. I found the editor’s name and sent him an email in care of the paper. Didn’t expect to hear from him until next week.”

  “But you did hear?”

  “I did indeed.”

  “So what did you find out?”

  “Nothing much yet.”

  “But you think you will.”

  “Maybe…and it’s a big maybe.”

  “Tell me.”

  “The editor wrote back and said he didn’t remember anything about the wedding, but he’d certainly check on it. I told him when and on what page the announcement appeared. He told me he’d talk with the reporter who wrote the item and see if it was a press release sort of thing, or if the reporter actually covered the wedding. If she did cover it, there’s a good chance she’d have the names of the wedding party. He’s going to get back to me tomorrow.”

  “That would certainly tell us something, wouldn’t it? If he were there, we can eliminate him as a suspect. If not, then maybe he’s the man we’re after.”

  “Again, sorry to bother you.”

  “No bother at all, Ellie.”

  As he turned into Seneca Drive, Jed thought how nice it would be to spend the rest of the day with Sugar and Spice. He’d finished all his own ‘homework’ and had the afternoon and evening free. Maybe he’d make some popcorn and watch an old movie.

  And he did just that. With the cats snuggled on either side of him, he settled into the sofa and watched one of his old favorites, a movie he’d seen years ago on television—The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn.

  He’d made sure to be well-supplied with microwave popcorn. He didn’t intend to move until it was time to fix dinner for himself and the cats.

  As he clicked the remote, he thought back over the luncheon with Sara. He thought things had gone very well. Even better than expected. It was as if they were able to pick up where they’d left off. He was glad. He certainly hoped Sara was too.

  Once the movie started, Jed leaned back with a sigh of contentment. With every handful of popcorn he ate, he gave a kernel or two to Sugar and Spice. They seemed as content as he was. Things seemed to be going astonishingly well.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The next morning Jed decided to talk to Stuart Miller, the principal, to see if he’d thought of anything that might help with the investigation. Of course, Sam had already talked with him, but sometimes, Jed knew, people remembered things that they hadn’t previously thought of that might provide clues. He hoped Miller would agree to talk to him…and, of course, Ellie, if she was interested. And knowing Ellie, Jed was certain she would be.

  He was just opening his classroom door when Ellie passed by. “Good morning,” she said.

  “Morning. And how are you on this beautiful, sunshiny day?”

  “All sunny and bright,” she answered with pretended sarcasm. “And how is Clark Kent today?”

  “Clark Kent?”

  “Clark Kent, the undercover crime fighter posing as an ex-reporter and mild-mannered junior high teacher.”

  “Clark Kent has packed an extra cape today, just in case,” Jed answered. “You never know. Clark, in the guise of a mild-mannered teacher has decided to talk with Old Sneaky and see if he can think of anything that might help the investigation. And on this occasion, he wonders if Lois Lane would like to accompany him in the guise of a high school science teacher.”

  “You’re darned right she would, Mr. Kent. In fact, you couldn’t stop her.”

  “Thought I’d ask him at lunchtime if he’d be willing to talk with us, maybe for a few minutes after school,” Jed said. “What do you think?”

  “I have nothing planned.”

  “Good.”

  Jed and Ellie were sitting with a few of the other teachers when the principal entered the cafeteria. Instead of sitting with the others, he went to the second table where two teachers were sitting and talking at one end. Ignoring them, he went through the line and sat at the opposite end of the table, clearly telling everyone he didn’t want to be bothered.

  “The king is too good to sit with anyone?” Ellie said. “Is that it?”

  “Meow,” Jed answered.

  Ellie burst out laughing. “Guess that was a little harsh, wasn’t it?”

  “Maybe he
just doesn’t feel sociable today?”

  “Today?” She raised her eyebrows.

  “Okay, maybe he’s just not the sociable type.”

  “And like you said, he’s sneaky!”

  “Would I say such an unkind thing?”

  “Mr. Kent, what about truth and the American way!?”

  “You forgot ‘justice.’”

  “And is it just to call poor Mr. Miller sneaky?”

  “Maybe not, but you have to agree it is the ‘truth.’” He picked up his knife and fork, ready to attack his boiled chicken. If there was any way to ruin good food, he thought, it was to have it cooked at a school cafeteria. “I don’t suppose you’ve heard from the man in La Jolla.”

  “Actually, I have.”

  Jed was surprised that she hadn’t mentioned it before school.

  “I was just going to tell you that the editor must have checked on the story last night because when I turned on my computer this morning—I always check my email before leaving for school—there was a message from him. I guess he called the society editor to ask her about the story and she just happened to have the notepad with her at home, the one in which she recorded her notes for the story.”

  “Well, what did it say?”

  “Things, as Alice once said, are becoming ‘curiouser and curiouser.’”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means she had the names of the people in the wedding party, which included the archer and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Thompkins.”

  “So what makes that so curious?”

  “It seems Mr. Thompkins was not in attendance.”

  “At his son’s wedding!”

  “As Alice said…”

  “Wow, so where was he?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Hmmm. But he said he and his wife stayed on to see the sights in San Diego.”

  “Maybe he was lying.”

  “But what excuse could he possibly give for not attending the wedding?” He thought for a moment. “Do you think it’s possible he didn’t go to California?” Jed asked.

  “Or could he have flown back, killed Joe, and then returned to Southern California?”

  “Maybe. But that seems like going to a lot of trouble,” Jed said. “And it still doesn’t sound logical that he’d miss his son’s wedding.” He paused for a moment. “You know, we could ask him. See what sort of answer he gives us.”

  “I’ll call him after school and let you know.”

  On the way out of the cafeteria Jed stopped at Miller’s table and asked if the principal had time after school to meet with him and Ellie.

  “For what purpose?” the principal asked.

  “As you may know, I’m helping the Dover police in the investigation of Joe’s murder.”

  “Mr. Johnstone’s murder. Are you?”

  “Ellie Steiner and I are, yes.”

  “I guess I can understand your working with the police. After all you were a reporter until very recently.”

  “I was indeed.”

  “But Mrs. Steiner? Why on earth is she involved.”

  Jed crossed his fingers behind his back. “She has worked with the Dover police on a number of occasions. In fact, she regularly consults with the chief.”

  “Indeed? I had no idea she had investigative skills.”

  “She’s an astonishing woman.”

  “Be that as it may, I hope neither of you is letting these extracurricular things interfere with your job. First and foremost, you are teachers.”

  Wow, Jed thought, not only was Miller sneaky, he was also a jerk.

  “I wouldn’t think of neglecting my teaching duties. But since Joe was a member of the Caraway faculty, I particularly want to do whatever I can to find out who murdered him.”

  “Back to my original question. What purpose would it serve for you and Mrs. Steiner to meet with me after class? I assume it’s somehow connected to your investigation of the murder.”

  “It is.”

  “You know I already talked to the Sweet River police.”

  “Detective Sam Branson told me you had. He told me the Dover and Sweet River police departments are working together on the case.”

  “I assumed so, but I still don’t understand why you want to talk with me.”

  “Sometimes people remember details or think of things that might help after they already talked to the police.”

  “I have no idea what I could possibly know or what I might think of that would help.”

  “It won’t take long.”

  “That’s not what concerns me. It’s that I see little point in it.”

  “Maybe you’re right, but I hope you don’t mind our coming to your office after the final bell.”

  “If you insist. But please be prompt.”

  “Thank you,” Jed said and silently added “jerk” to the end of the sentence.

  ***

  The afternoon passed slowly. It was funny, but when he worked on the newspaper, Jed never felt sleepy in the afternoon. Now, around two each day, he felt he could hardly keep awake. The feeling was especially bad when he gave the kids work, and he had little to do but bide his time until they finished. Occasionally, he did nod off and then jerked awake. He wondered if anyone in the classroom ever noticed.

  Ellie’s homeroom was on the second floor, and so was Miller’s office. As soon as the kids were out of his room, he hurried upstairs and stopped for Ellie on the way to the office. “Ready?” he asked as he poked his head through the doorway to her classroom.

  “So he agreed to see us, did he?”

  “Reluctantly,” Jed answered.

  “I’ll bet…since I didn’t expect him to agree at all.”

  “I was afraid he wouldn’t. He kept insisting it wouldn’t help. He also wanted to make sure you and I weren’t spending time on the investigation that we should be spending on our jobs.”

  “He said that?”

  “He did.”

  “Of course, I shouldn’t be surprised.”

  “He also wondered why you’re a part of the investigation because you don’t have any background in the area.”

  Ellie rolled her eyes. “So what did you tell him?”

  “That you have worked closely with the Dover police.”

  “You didn’t!” Ellie threw back her head and laughed.

  “I did. Further, I said, you often consult with the chief of police in criminal investigations.”

  “Oh, my God. Isn’t that pouring it on a little thick?”

  “Well, I did cross my fingers behind my back.”

  “You’re incorrigible.”

  “I told him we’d be at his office right after the final bell.”

  “Let’s go,” Ellie said.

  The principal’s door stood ajar. Jed tapped on it.

  Miller approached the door and opened it completely. “Come in,” he said. “And let’s get right down to it. I haven’t the time to waste on frivolous endeavors.”

  “Frivolous endeavors!” Ellie blurted. “But Mr. Miller, this can’t be considered frivolous. We are investigating the murder of another teacher.”

  “Be that as it may…” He sat behind his desk. “Well, since you two are determined, let’s get on with it. Ask me what you’d like, and I’ll do my best to answer. But I still think this is a waste of time.”

  “First,” Jed said, “do you suspect anyone? Anyone who could have a motive for the murder? Anyone who had a grudge against Joe. Or worse.”

  “That sort of thing is far removed from my world,” Miller replied. “And I don’t relish the thought of being dragged into it.”

  “I’m sorry,” Ellie answered, but she sounded far from sorry. She sounded annoyed. “But anything you can tell us might help. Anything having to do with the murder itself or anyone you’ve thought of that could be a suspect.”

  “Of course, like everyone else, I’m a human being and am bound to suspect certain people. But I have no evidence to point a finger at anyon
e.”

  “If you wish,” Jed said, “nothing you tell us about those you suspect need go beyond the door of this office.”

  “Oh?”

  “If you like,” Jed said, “we can keep your name out of it. Except—”

  “Already, you’re contradicting yourself. You won’t let anyone know, but now you’re implying you will.”

  “Only the Dover police.”

  “I see.”

  “So have you considered anyone?”

  “I venture to guess it’s the same ones you suspect.”

  “The first one we visited was Jacob Yoder. You know, of course, that Joe—”

  “Mr. Johnstone,” Miller corrected.

  “You know,” Jed continued, “that he helped Mattie Yoder further her education.”

  “So I found out. But if you think Jacob Yoder is responsible, you’re way off track. He would never do such a thing.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Once I found out what Mr. Johnstone had done…in his so-called helping of Mr. Yoder’s daughter, I went to him to apologize.”

  “For what?” Ellie asked.

  “For Mr. Johnstone’s interference. For his being responsible for leading the girl astray.”

  “Now wait a minute, Mr. Miller,” Ellie said. “It was she who approached him about wanting to go on beyond eighth grade.”

  “Be that as it may, he should have ignored her request.”

  “Are you telling us—Jed and me—that you don’t believe in youngsters advancing beyond the eighth grade. If so, that’s unbelievable. Particularly for a school principal.”

  “Think what you will, Mrs. Steiner. Mr. Fredericks. It was wrong, and if I’d learned what Mr. Johnstone was doing when it was taking place, I’d have put a stop to it.”

  “So you definitely don’t approve of Amish kids furthering their education.”

  “I do not. The Amish have been in the area for decades. They get along. They follow their own set of rules. And they thrive.”

  “But,” Jed said, “their futures are limited. They can do farm work, create crafts to sell… and I think not much else. Isn’t it wrong to tell bright kids that they can’t become architects, or writers, or musicians?”

  “In my opinion, it is wrong. And I warned Mr. Johnstone that if he ever tried a similar stunt again, I would see that he was immediately let go.”