Toni Donovan Mysteries- Books 1-3

by Helen Gray

  Q tapped Dack on the shoulder, pointing to his watch.

  “Gotta run,” Dack said. “Thanks.”

  As soon as they had filed out the door, Toni called the beauty shop and made an appointment for a trim the next day after school. Then she called her parents and asked if she could leave the boys with them early the next morning.

  “Sure, we’ll feed them breakfast and take them to school,” Faye said when Toni explained the situation. “They don’t need to be there with you that early. In fact, why don’t you just bring them over this evening and let them spend the night?”

  Toni agreed and disconnected. Then she gathered her things, anxious to head to the office and talk to Ken. “I’m leaving,” she called at John’s doorway where her sons were having their after-school Popsicles. “Meet me at the office in ten minutes.”

  “Okay,” Gabe called back.

  When she told Ken about her conversation with the trio, he shook his head in skepticism. But then he thought about it a bit. “I think it’s a waste of time, but I don’t see how it can hurt,” he said at last, meeting her gaze across his desk. “Our culprit has to know we’re checking and will be afraid to try any more changes right now.”

  “I agree, but the boys have a point about the money. It’s amazing what some people will do for just a few dollars.”

  “I’ll get a password from Dillon and meet you in the morning,” he said, picking up his phone.

  After supper that evening Toni had Gabe and Garrett pack an overnight case and delivered them to her parents.

  *

  Jeremy entered the library Thursday morning, yawning. Ken Douglas had unlocked it for them, given Toni a folded slip of paper that contained a password, and left five minutes earlier. As instructed, she had immediately looked at the password and then destroyed the paper.

  “I’m not quite awake yet,” Jeremy moaned, giving his head a shake.

  “I’ve only booted a couple of computers,” Toni said as she pushed the start button on one.

  He went to the next row of tables and started booting the machines on them. There was a total of about twenty in the room.

  They worked quietly for a half hour. Toni would log onto a machine, and then Jeremy would check it.

  “Got one!” the boy exclaimed from one in the back row next to the wall. “Should I delete the program?”

  “No,” Toni said. “Let’s just keep a list of any we find. Dillon can handle it however he wishes from that point.”

  They were able to finish in the library by class time, finding only the one with keylogging software. They agreed to meet again the next morning and begin checking classrooms with labs. Toni doubted whether they would be expected to check the middle school or elementary machines, since the changes were only being made for high school students.

  “Oh, I almost forgot,” Toni said as they were shutting down the last machines. “Mr. Douglas said it’s all right for you boys to try your plan on getting some grades changed.”

  The day passed quickly. Senior final exams had begun. In sixth hour Toni gave the juniors a textbook assignment that they could work on quietly while the seniors tested.

  When Dack Murphy arrived for seventh hour class, he paused at the doorway where she was standing. “We’ve decided to wait until tomorrow to leave the note and money,” he said softly. “We hope you and Jeremy can have at least most of the computers checked by then.”

  Toni nodded in understanding, and Dack went on inside the classroom.

  After class she met Gabe and Garrett and drove to the beauty shop. The boys perched on chairs at the front of the shop. Three dryers occupied one wall, a desk and manicure table the other. In the back portion of the shop, where the work was done, were four stations and two shampoo bowls.

  “You should have been here all day,” Lana, her regular operator, said as Toni slipped into the chair where Lana waited for her, a floral patterned cape in her hands. “Gossip has been heavy, and your name has been mentioned more than once.”

  Toni eased back into position at the shampoo bowl. “Why don’t you fill me in?” She let her eyes drift closed, knowing the gist of what she would hear.

  “All anyone can talk about is the article in the paper and how the skeleton you found turned out to be Reverend Goldman,” Lana said, wetting Toni’s hair, squirting shampoo onto it, and working up a lather with her fingers.

  “I didn’t find him,” Toni denied, not bothering to open her eyes. “My students did.”

  “Whatever.” After a slight pause, the massage resumed. “A lot of people are really upset. They just don’t understand how such a thing could happen or who could have done it.”

  “They’re scared,” Donna said from her work station. “Knowing there’s a murderer in our community makes people real edgy. They’re talking about putting extra locks on their doors and how to protect themselves from a killer on the loose.”

  “I can’t imagine who in the world would have killed a preacher,” Heather said, joining the conversation.

  “People are outraged that someone murdered the man,” Donna added, moving to the other shampoo bowl next to Toni and Lana. ”They’re also angry that he was accused of stealing the town’s money. Mrs. Greeley and Mrs. Keene, who are members at Temple of Light, were talking about it and how upset they felt. But they did admit that they thought he might have run off with a woman.”

  “What made them think that?” Toni asked as she sat up for Lana to towel her hair.

  Donna had to think a minute. “One of them said that when he first came to town he was seeing someone he had met in St. Louis who was from here and was a member at Temple of Light. He visited down here with her and got acquainted with the church people. Then, after their pastor was gone, he began preaching for them on a fill-in basis, and eventually moved down here. But, according to the ladies, sometime after he moved here he dropped the girlfriend for a nurse from Brownville, and the girlfriend moved back to St. Louis. I don’t know either of the women.”

  “Mrs. Keene said the church is planning a memorial service for him Sunday,” Heather informed them. “I bet there’ll be a huge turnout for it.”

  “His mother will probably come,” Lana predicted, stepping back for Toni to move to her work station.

  Toni scooted into the chair. “Do you know Goldman’s mother?”

  “Not personally,” Lana replied. “I just remember that she came in for a shampoo and styling one time when she was here to visit him.”

  “One of my ladies said she was here a few days after he disappeared,” Donna said while winding a protective cape around her client’s neck. “Said she made quite a fuss at the police department, demanding that they go out and find him. She stayed around for several days, kept telling them he hadn’t done anything bad, and that something had happened to him.”

  “I feel sorry for her,” Lana said in quiet sympathy. “But I can kind of understand the situation. The police didn’t have anything to go on, other than his reputation for squabbling with people around town. “I can see both sides,” she continued, speaking more firmly now. “Mrs. Goldman was mad because they wouldn’t believe her, and they couldn’t believe anything had happened to him because there was no evidence of anything except that money was missing.”

  “Well, I for one think he was a troublemaker who ended up in trouble,” the client Donna was working on spoke up suddenly, her tone a bit shrill. “He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and he even had words with some of those guys. Keith Ryker, for instance.”

  No one responded for several moments, apparently having no more idea than Toni did what the woman was talking about. Toni was curious. She turned slightly so she could see her. “Did they argue?”

  The woman’s face twisted into an expression that looked almost malicious. “Yes,” she snorted. “I don’t know what it was about, but several of my friends and neighbors mentioned it. Someone saw them outside the Ryker Steak House after a meeting of the Chamber, and they were argui
ng. The friend who told me this said it looked like Reverend Goldman was doing most of the talking, maybe even threatening Mr. Ryker.”

  “Did this lady have any idea what they were arguing about?” Toni asked, not expecting a factual response.

  The lady shook her head slowly. “No-o-o. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but she said they both looked mad, and she wondered about it.”

  Tongue wagging in a small town often went like this. There were some people who, if they saw something the least bit questionable, would tell it and exaggerate it until it in no way resembled the truth. Toni’s guess was that there had probably been some kind of scene, but she also recognized that this lady was one of those people who relished gossip and maybe even had some kind of personal grudge. She didn’t ask any more questions. But she got more information anyhow.

  “Another neighbor said, one evening a day or two later, she and her husband were having dinner at the steak house and saw Reverend Goldman enter the restaurant. He and Mr. Ryker went into the back room, and then they could hear them talking real loud and angry like.”

  “I’ve heard he had differences with some people,” Lana spoke up quietly. “But I know that the people at his church really loved him, and I think the memorial service they’re planning will be nice and well attended. I think I’ll go.”

  “I think I will, too,” Toni decided impulsively.

  Chapter 10

  At her mother’s insistence, Toni left Gabe and Garrett with her again that night, which seemed to suit the boys just fine. Faye and Russell were probably spoiling them, but Toni figured grandparents were entitled to a certain amount of that. The fact that the boys truly loved staying with her parents was comforting—and gave her a quiet evening to grade research papers.

  When she arrived at school Friday morning, Toni found Jeremy waiting for her in the front lobby. To her surprise, Dillon was with him.

  “I’m going to help you guys so we can get this job finished today,” he said as Toni joined them. “After all, it’s Jeremy’s last day of classes. Let’s go.”

  They worked steadily, moving from room to room, including the offices, until Toni and Jeremy had to go to class. Dillon continued without them. As they left him in a classroom and started to part at the doorway, Jeremy spoke quietly to Toni. “Dack is planning to leave a message and money this afternoon, with an e-mail address where he can be contacted. Wish us luck.” He held up two crossed fingers and took off down the hall.

  As her first hour class arrived, Toni sensed the barely restrained excitement of the seniors entering their final day of high school. After she had taken attendance and posted the report outside her door, everyone settled down. She returned their research papers and gave them a few minutes to look over the grades and read the comments on them. Then she collected their textbooks and gave their exams. When they left the room at the end of class, they were high fiving and chanting the number of hours left in the day.

  By the time the seventh hour group arrived, Toni was battling a barrel of emotions. It was like this every year. When a group graduated, it was always a wrench. Bonds had been formed over the years, more with some students than others, until they seemed almost like her adopted children—at least Monday through Friday daytime hours.

  As in first hour, she returned research papers, gave the students a couple of minutes to examine them, and then collected their textbooks and administered their final exam. When the class ended, there was a round of cheering, and then a rush from the room—except for the trio. Dack, Jeremy, and Q hung back until Toni returned to her desk from hall monitoring. Then they approached and stood awkwardly before her.

  “Uh, Mrs. Donovan,” Dack said, swallowing visibly. “We, uh…we want you to know how much we, uh, will miss you. We really liked your classes—and you,” he added in a rush. He reached into his notebook and pulled out a pink envelope. “Here,” he said, shoving it toward her.

  Beside him, Jeremy rubbed his hand nervously on his pants leg. Q waited in silence.

  Toni took the envelope, realizing it had to be a card. She opened it and began to read. The professionally printed message of appreciation was pretty standard, but the handwritten note brought a lump to her throat.

  Dear Mrs. Donovan:

  We appreciate all you’ve taught us and all the extra time you spent with us.

  We love you.

  All three boys had signed it, and there was a postscript after the signatures.

  P.S. We got you a little going away present, something to give you strength as we go away. There is a supply of Cokes with your name on it at the club. You can pick it up tomorrow at the tournament. Don’t drink them all next week.

  Toni blinked as tears of emotion welled in her eyes. She placed the card on her desk and moved around to the boys. She wrapped her arms around Dack and held him for a long moment. Then she did the same with Jeremy and Q.

  “I’ll miss you guys. Maybe I should just flunk you so you’ll have to come back next year,” she threatened mockingly. She smiled at them mistily, choking back tears.

  “Hey, I’m glad I caught you guys,” Dillon Reed said from the doorway. “I just finished that job we were working on.” He glanced from Toni to Jeremy.

  Toni returned to her desk, mustering her composure. “Come in,” she said with a wave of her hand.

  “I think an attempt at a contact has been made,” Dillon said.

  She glanced at the boys for confirmation.

  “I left a note this afternoon,” Dack said. “I offered to pay double since it’s so near the end of school.”

  *

  When Toni and her sons arrived home, Kyle’s truck was in the driveway. As they entered the utility room through the garage door they met him coming out, a golf bag dangling from his shoulder.

  “Hi,” he said, giving Toni a quick buss on the cheek. “Some of the guys are meeting at the club to play a practice round. Why don’t you just concentrate on getting your grades done, and when I get back we’ll go out for something to eat?”

  “You talked me into it,” she said with a laugh.

  He released her and gave each of the boys a hug. “I’ll be in around dark.”

  That night after they returned from a late supper at the steak house, they made ice cream and ate it in front of the television. Toni finished her grades and took a soothing bath. About ten o’clock the boys went to bed and Kyle got in the shower.

  “I hung around the airport after coming in yesterday,” he said when he came to bed a few minutes later. “Within thirty minutes of the time they got stuff unloaded, your nurse arrived, showed her ID, and took the box. It was a pretty big one this time. I tagged after her and watched her get into a late model car. It was a classy looking pale blue Cadillac Seville, in case you’re interested.” He gave her an arched brow look and snuggled down next to her.

  Toni swatted at him as he reached over and pulled her to him. “You think you’re so smart.”

  He laughed and wrapped his arms around her. “I know you. You can’t resist a puzzle that needs solving.” He nibbled at her neck playfully.

  Toni sighed and relaxed. “I ask myself what difference it makes to me, why I should care. But you’re right. I can’t let a matter of this sort drop, ignore it while others deal with it.”

  “You’re curious, and the truth matters to you.”

  Toni snuggled closer. “I have now been in the arms of four different men in the last eight hours.”

  He became still, but his fingers continued to travel over her back. “Let’s see, that’s three besides me. Would your trio be involved?”

  She nodded. “They gave me a card and a gift at the end of our last class together, and I hugged each of them.”

  “Hmm, there’s even riches involved. Do I get to know what they gave you, or do I have to guess?”

  Toni chuckled. “You might get to haul it home.”

  *

  It was eight o’clock Saturday morning when Toni pulled into the parking l
ot of the upper level near the swimming pool at the country club. Tee off time was nine a.m., so workers were reporting early to get things prepared.

  Situated on rolling green acreage, the club was close enough to their house that Toni could have walked, but she had a couple of large empty coolers in the van that she hadn’t wanted to tote a quarter of a mile. Kyle and the boys would be there around eight-thirty. Since the charity tournament had full use of the place for the day, families of workers would have the run of the grounds and use of the pool. Gabe and Garrett had been looking forward to cavorting in the pool for the first time of the summer.

  Wearing khaki shorts, a white blouse and white Reeboks, Toni scooted out of the van and went to the back of it for the coolers. She dug them out and headed for the club, dragging each one by a handle.

  By the world’s standards Toni figured her life rated as pretty dull. Being a science teacher in a small town in the Missouri Ozarks made her a hillbilly. But she was an educated hillbilly and found her life satisfying.

  She was also a curious and determined hillbilly. The way she saw it, today was an excellent opportunity. Any investigation involved systematically questioning friends, colleagues, associates, and relatives—anyone who might provide leads in a case. This tournament always drew a good representation of the community, and some of the people she wanted to talk to should be present today. She meant to take advantage.

  “Hey, Mrs. Donovan. Let us help you with those,” a voice called.

  She looked around to see Dack, Jeremy, and Q loping up the hill from the shed below the swimming pool where golf carts were housed.

  When they reached her, Dack and Jeremy each grabbed a cooler. “Where do you want these?” Dack asked.

  “Wherever they need to go for filling,” she answered. “I’m in charge of keeping cold drinks out on the grounds for the players today.”

  “Good assignment,” Dack called over his shoulder as he and Jeremy headed up the sidewalk.

  Toni and Q followed them into the storage room at the back of the clubhouse. When they set the coolers down next to the ice machine, all three boys turned to face her. “Now we’ll put your present in your van,” Dack said. “Look back here.” He stepped to the rear of the room, motioning for her to follow.