by Helen Gray
He got to his feet. “I’ll go peek in on them and be right back.”
*
It took some doing, but Toni finally convinced Kyle to return to work the next morning. She promised to call him if she had any problems, and outlined her plans for safety measures regarding the boys. She moved very carefully because of her bruised and stiffened hip.
First hour was barely underway when Ken Douglas stepped inside her classroom. “I’ll watch your students for a few minutes,” he said softly, facing her with his back to them. “Chief Freeman is in my office, and he wants to talk to you.”
Toni addressed the class. “Students, finish reading the chapter and answer the first set of questions. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She entered Ken’s office to find Buck seated behind the desk, the only spot he could be comfortable in the tiny office. He grinned. “The bruise and knot on the head match the shoes.”
Her pumps were a plum color that matched her wool blazer, and her slacks were black. She gave him a sheepish grin. “Thanks. The students seem to like them.”
His expression turned solemn. “I suppose they’ve asked a lot of questions?”
Toni eased her sore body onto the chair facing him. “Of course. And I told them the truth. I just didn’t tell them I think it was deliberate.”
He leaned back, making Ken’s chair squeak. “We got enough of a description of the car, right down to the taped up rear passenger window, that we’ve found it. It’s Tom Keller’s.”
Toni’s mouth dropped open. “Was he drunk?”
“We don’t think he was driving it. He was at his usual spot last night.”
“People know he practically lives at the Railroad Bar.”
The chief nodded. “That’s right. I talked to the bartender, and he says Tom was pretty full by eight o’clock last night. He got busy after that and didn’t pay much attention to the man.”
“It was about nine-thirty when the car tried to run Garrett down,” Toni said, thinking aloud. “If Tom was already loaded by then, could he have gotten some kind of crazy idea in his head and driven a mile and a half to the school to harm a child?”
“I suppose there’s a slim chance,” Buck admitted. “But when I talked to him he seemed clueless. Plus, the bartender remembers seeing him go in and out of the bathroom several times.”
“If the man felt sick, that would make it even more unlikely he would be driving around in his car.”
“He has a little trouble keeping track of it,” Buck said. “A couple of weeks ago he called us and said his carburetor was missing.”
Toni didn’t understand. “Missing as in malfunctioning, or missing as in gone?”
The chief chuckled. “Gone. One of my deputies, Dale I think, went to the bar and checked the car. The carburetor really was missing.”
Toni shook her head slowly back and forth. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“We’ve had other reports of missing car parts,” Buck said matter-of-factly. “We figure Tom was just an easy target for kids pilfering stuff to fix their own jalopies. Tom’s drunk so much he doesn’t know what’s going on around him. I think someone borrowed that car.”
Toni agreed. “Not to change the subject, but do you think someone could have tried to hurt Garrett because of his dream?”
Buck rubbed a hand over his chin. “I’ve been wondering why in the world anyone would attack a child, but I never mentioned what you told me to anyone. It’s more likely that someone is trying to stop you from snooping. I hope you got the message. This is dangerous.”
“But could anyone know about Garrett?” she persisted.
His expression turned troubled. “I made a note in my report. I didn’t mention it when we discussed the case, but it’s in the file,” he repeated in a voice gruff with concern.
Worry built in Toni. “I wish I knew who all has seen that file.”
“I’ll do some checking,” he promised. “The connection is a long shot, but it’s all we have at this point. I promised Kyle that I’ll keep a closer eye on you while he’s gone.”
“I told him I’m fine. He shouldn’t have called you.”
“He’s concerned, and he’s right to be,” Buck said without smiling. “I wanted to see you this morning and assure myself that you’re really okay.”
“I am,” Toni said with emphasis. “But there are a couple more things I’d like for you to check if you would.” She gave him her best puppy-dog face. “Can you find out whether Rick Montgomery was working the night of the twenty-first like he claims? I would also like to know what Jimmie Huff was doing that night. Right now I need to get back to my class.”
“I’ll check,” he promised with a sigh of resignation.
On the way back to her room Toni began to shiver, unable to prevent the visions of that car coming at Garrett, and wondering why someone had tried to hurt him. She didn’t dare let him out of her presence beyond school hours. She debated about calling his teacher, but decided she would wait and talk to her after school.
Third hour she took some more pain pills. Seventh hour she took two more as the forensics class filed into the room.
“Today we’re going to start a unit on blood,” she informed the students once they were seated, relieved to see Jodi present again. When she had covered the chapter, she asked, “How many of you know what type blood you have?”
“I have hot blood,” Dustin blurted with a snort of laughter.
“Yeah, he thinks he’s a big hot lover,” someone muttered sarcastically.
“Maybe he’s a cold blooded lady-killer,” another student wisecracked.
The room went silent.
“I’m sure that was meant as a joke,” Toni said as calmly as she could. “Let’s get back to our focus here. I repeat, how many of you know in which blood group yours belongs?”
Only three students raised their hands.
“How many of you would like to know what type you have?”
This time all hands lifted.
“Good. In today’s lab we’ll be doing just that. Here are all the materials you need. You may work in pairs. Be sure you wear gloves and place all used items in the bio hazard bucket.” She slipped off her blazer and replaced it with the lab coat draped across her desk.
Toni facilitated the students as they worked. While helping Beth prick her finger, she glanced up and saw Dustin blowing up a latex glove like a balloon. “Dustin,” she snapped. “This is neither the time nor place for horseplay. Put that glove on your hand, and let’s find out what kind of blood you really have.”
She moved over by him. “Here, I’ll help you.” She waited for him to put on the glove. Then she massaged and swabbed a finger.
He made a big production of enduring pain when he pricked his own finger, but then he settled down and completed the lab, determining that his blood was Type A.
After school Toni hurried to the elementary building and explained to Garrett’s teacher that she didn’t want the boys walking anywhere alone before or after school, that they were to wait inside the building or by the door for her to pick them up each day. When she arrived home with them, she put a casserole in the oven and made phone calls while it cooked.
First she called Sam Brinkman, the school board member she knew best, and arranged to visit with him after supper. Then she called her parents and explained that she needed to leave the boys with them for a while.
“Why don’t I just come to your house and stay with them,” Russell offered. “That way I can be sure they’re in bed on time.”
Toni accepted.
*
An hour later Toni sat on Sam Brinkman’s couch facing him. A tall, lanky farmer, Sam wore western jeans, shirt and boots. A dark mustache adorned his upper lip.
He sat in a worn leather recliner. “Susan and the kids are in the basement rec room. Now what can I do for you?”
Toni took a deep breath. “I’m not sure where to begin. I’m looking for any information that might help
identify Marsha’s killer.”
Sam leaned back in the chair. “I understand that. I just don’t know how I can help.”
“I don’t want to breach any ethics or rules of confidentiality, but if there were any major problems brewing, it would help to know about it so we could look for a connection.”
“I’m afraid I have to say that the district was never trouble free from the time Marsha took over,” Sam admitted in a raspy tone, his shoulders sagging. “I know you found the body, and I heard about the incident in the parking lot, so I understand your feelings. But I don’t know anything that would help.”
“Do you know who benefits the most from her death?” Toni asked. “I mean like insurance money.”
Sam leaned forward and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Marsha had the same group policies as the rest of the staff. I wouldn’t know about any extra ones.”
Toni made a mental note to ask Buck if he knew about any life insurance policies. “What about money problems? Do you know if she had any unusually big debts?”
Again Sam shook his head. “I know nothing of her personal finances. As for the school district, it’s common knowledge that we’re facing some serious budget constraints. Naturally those have been under discussion. Marsha had been preparing a plan for some staff reductions and reassignments.”
Who did she plan to terminate or reassign? “Do you have any written reports on that yet?”
He shook his head. “She was supposed to present one at the next board meeting. It was shaping up to be an interesting session.”
Toni heard something in his tone that made her interest sharpen further. “What do you mean?”
“Well, this is confidential,” he said, rubbing his neck with a hand. “But now that we don’t have to worry whether to fire her, I guess there’s some justice in this world after all.”
So the board had been considering firing Marsha. “Things were that bad?”
“There were just too many conflicts. I’m not even sure what the board vote would have been.”
“So there was division even there,” Toni mused, meeting his gaze. “Do you think …“
Sam read her mind. “I can’t see anyone on the board getting into a fight with her and killing her.”
Toni studied the grim line of Sam’s mouth and decided to not push any further. “Thank you for talking to me.” She stood to leave.
Sam came to his feet and extended his hand. “I hope you have better luck elsewhere.”
On the way home Toni pondered everything she had learned over the past week. Jack’s alibi seemed airtight. The police still suspected Ken, which to her way of thinking was way off base. It would be more reasonable to think that a student had done it. Could someone have talked a student into doing it for them? Bribed or paid them? She couldn’t fathom that, but she had to consider all possibilities.
Marsha had made enemies, firing and threatening people. She had brought her lover to the district, only to dump her. Those acts would have caused anger. But to the point of murder?
Were Rick’s and Jimmie’s alibis sound? Were the police finding any prints or other evidence as to who might have been driving Tom’s car? Would Buck search Marsha’s computer again, this time looking for anything that looked like reports meant for the school board?
The questions were getting tangled in her brain. As Toni went over and over the facts, only two of them were clear to her. One, whoever had killed Marsha was strong enough to beat her to death and drag her body up the hill. Two, that person now seemed to have targeted Garrett.
Chapter 8
All day Thursday Toni struggled to stay focused. By seventh hour she felt a little better about life in general. But when she had to mark Jodi absent again she lost that sense of comfort. Whatever was going on in Jodi’s life was not good, and she was helpless to do anything about it.
In elementary school a teacher had the same twenty-five to thirty students all day, providing numerous opportunities for interaction with them. It became more complicated in middle and high school. Teachers now had one hundred fifty or more students circulating through their classes each day. Communicating with parents also became more difficult.
Toni kept trying to reach Jodi’s parents though. As soon as her last class ended, she made another futile attempt to call them. Then she checked to see if the counselor had been any more successful. Kelly had not.
Toni picked up the boys and stopped for pizzas on the way home. As soon as they finished eating, she delivered them to her parents and drove to Janet Rayford’s house. It was just turning dark when she rang the doorbell of the modest brick home situated at the back of a subdivision. Sidney opened the door.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her tone not exactly welcoming. She made no move to admit Toni.
“I want to talk to your mother.”
“She’s not feeling well.”
“Who’s there, Sid?” Janet’s too loud voice came from behind the girl.
A pained expression crossed the teenager’s face. “It’s Mrs. Donovan from school,” she said over her shoulder.
Janet’s face appeared behind Sidney’s shoulder. “Why, it sure is,” she declared, her voice slurred. “Please come in.” She stepped back and swung her hand in a sweeping arc.
When Sidney opened the door wider, Toni stepped inside. The house was neat enough but lacked an air of loving care. A partial bottle of whiskey sat on the coffee table, a half full glass next to it.
Janet plopped onto the sofa and reached for the glass. “What can we do for you, Missus … Teacher?”
Sidney gave Toni an apologetic look and the slightest of shrugs, conveying that she had tried to spare them this embarrassment.
Toni debated whether it was a mistake to talk to Janet, but decided that a loose tongue might not be a bad thing. “Would you mind talking about Mrs. Carter?” she began carefully.
“Now why would I mind talking about dear Mrs. Carter,” Janet said in a sarcastic slur, rolling her eyes. “The woman was a saint. Saints are dead. She’s dead. That makes her a saint, right?” She laughed harshly at her own black humor and nearly spilled her drink.
“Mom, you don’t have to do this.” Sidney scooted onto the sofa next to her mother.
“It’s okay.” Janet sat up straighter and patted Sidney’s knee. “Mrs. Carter was a friendly woman, more friendly than most of us. She had friends everywhere. For instance, she had her friend Jimmie.” Janet paused to hiccup. “’Course, that didn’t last long, ‘cause she got to be better friends with Jack. Now they were some great friends, those two. Good old Jack and Marsha.”
“Mother, please.” Sidney cast another embarrassed glance at Toni.
Janet ignored Sidney and raised her glass in the air. “Don’t you think Mrs. Carter was a friendly woman, Mrs. Donovan?”
“I’m sure she was,” Toni said evenly.
“She was real friendly with the bookkeeper, too,” Janet prattled on. “I used to wonder if there was something kinky going on there, but I guess ole Dana was just playing up to the woman because of her paycheck.”
Something in that last statement grabbed at Toni. “You found their friendship unusual?”
“I sure did.” Janet sloshed more whiskey into the glass and took a gulp. “Dana is just a bookkeeper, and Mrs. Carter,” she put a sneer on the woman’s name, “didn’t make a habit of being friends with people lower than her.” She emphasized the word lower. “So the ole gal musta been up to somethin’ with Dana, is how I figure it.”
This was probably just the reasoning of a woman scorned and turning to the bottle, but it was the best she was going to get. Toni stood. “Thank you for your time. I’m sure you have things you need to do, and Sidney probably has homework.”
“I need to read tomorrow’s chapter for your class,” Sidney said, and then hesitated as a new thought struck her. “I guess I won’t have your class tomorrow.”
Toni nodded. “That’s right. We’re being dismissed early fo
r the funeral, so the afternoon classes won’t meet.”
“Sidney really likes your class.” Janet started to get up, but slumped back onto the sofa. “She talks about it a lot.” She gave her daughter a sappy smile.
“I enjoy having her in the class. Did she tell you how she helped me with a lab just before Christmas?”
Janet drew back, her expression blank.
“We do some simulated crimes and try to solve them in the class. Sidney played the part of the criminal in one of our labs. I appreciate the way she handled it.” Toni gave Sidney a smile meant to convey encouragement as she buttoned her coat. “I’ll see myself out.”
When she was in the van, Toni called her parents and asked them to have the boys meet her in the driveway in five minutes. As soon as they were home and the boys had gone to their room, she called Sam Brinkman.
“Hello, Mr. Brinkman,” she said when he answered. “This is Toni Donovan. I’m sorry to bother you again, but I want to ask a favor. I don’t have proof of anything, but more than one person has mentioned how chummy Marsha was with Dana, the bookkeeper.”
“I believe I recall a comment or two along that line myself,” Sam responded. “What are you suggesting?”
“I think an audit of the district’s finances would be a good idea.”
There was a long silence. “You realize that’s not a decision I can make by myself, don’t you? The best I can do is bring it up in board meeting. Of course, if you think it’s urgent, I guess I could call Guthrie and see if he thinks we should call a special meeting to discuss it.”
“I don’t know how urgent it is,” Toni admitted. “I do know that we have an unsolved murder, and money seems to be at the root of most criminal cases.”
“I’ll call him,” Sam promised in resigned acceptance.
She thanked him and disconnected.
Sleep didn’t come easily that night as Toni wrestled with the thunderstorm in her head. A tempest of questions raged like a tornado. What if she had not gotten to Garrett in time? What if he had not had that dream? How could she go to that funeral?
