by Helen Gray
Buck looked at it, then pulled it closer and studied it. “Have you boys discussed any of this with your friends?”
“No!” Dack blurted immediately. The other two shook their heads.
Buck glanced around and saw that Toni’s mother was the only medical person left in the room with them. She was making herself unobtrusively busy. “What else have you been up to? What have you learned?”
“Well, there’s only one more thing,” Dack said quietly. “We talked to Cindy Fuller again. She’s the girl who told us about having a baby out at Charity Haven and that it died,” he explained. "She told us about her experience again, and that her roommate also had a baby that died. I asked her if she ever looked a death certificate, and she said she didn't."
Buck pulled out a notepad and pen. “Can you give me the name of her roommate and the dates they gave birth?”
“The girl’s name was Melanie Wheatley, and she delivered on August eighth. Cindy said she went into labor three days later, on the eleventh. Oh, and the doctor’s name was Spurgeon. Dr. Spurgeon,” he repeated.
As Buck finished noting Dack's information, the door swung open and the parents of all three boys entered, one set behind the other. Their expressions were etched with worry, but they calmed when it became clear that the boys were all right.
“We’re probably going to be stiff and sore for practice tomorrow,” Jeremy told his mother. “But we don’t play in sectionals until Wednesday. That gives us nearly a week to loosen up.”
When their respective parents took the boys home, Toni spoke to her mother. “Are you going home now?”
“As soon as I get some of these things sterilized,” Faye said. “You run along.”
Toni caught up with Buck as he reached the parking lot. “Are you going to look for death certificates on the girls’ babies?”
“I think it’s worth checking,” he answered. “I’m not sure what’s going on out there, but I’m starting to form a picture in my mind.”
“Me, too,” Toni said. “But I’m not ready to lay it out yet.” She started to get into her van, but paused. “I went by Keith Ryker’s house and talked to him yesterday. At least I tried to talk to him. He was way too anxious to see me leave and wouldn’t tell me anything. I think he’s hiding something, but I don’t have a clue what it might be.”
“I may have to talk to him myself,” Buck said. Then he grinned. “Your instincts are starting to intrigue me.”
Chapter 18
When Toni arrived at school Friday morning there were seniors pulling into the parking lot again, making the day seem back to normal. They would meet in the gym first hour to practice for that evening’s graduation ceremony. Then they would be given a lineup, rehearse the processional and recessional, and go over the procedure for crossing the stage and receiving their diplomas.
Because she still had unaccustomed time on her hands, Toni watched the rehearsal from a spot at the top of the bleachers. When they began a second run-through, she left for her second hour class.
At the end of second hour she went to open the door for her students to exit, and found Q Lakowski squatting against the wall just outside the doorway.
“Do you need something?” she asked, glancing up and down the hall for his usual companions.
“Isn’t this your free hour coming up next?” he asked, pushing to his feet.
“Yes.”
“I’d like to talk to you for just a minute. Mr. Douglas gave me permission to come see you.”
Seniors were not allowed inside the building during senior week because of the disruptions their presence would cause. Underclassmen still had finals to take and didn’t need the distraction of partying graduates.
The bell rang just then, and students crowded to the door. “Go on inside,” Toni instructed him. “I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”
When the hallway cleared, she returned to her desk. Q stood uneasily next to it.
“My dad went over my truck,” he said at once. “He found a hole in my brake line, and he’s sure it was cut. It was small, so the brake fluid would leak out when I pumped the pedal. That’s why we were out of town when they quit working.”
It was the longest explanation Toni could recall hearing from the taciturn Q. And it set her mental wheels to clacking—along with a cold chill of fear. “Do you think they were tampered with while you were inside the school?”
His red hair flashed before her eyes as his head bobbed.
“Does Chief Freeman know about this?”
“Dad said he would call him right after I left for school.”
“Good. Let’s let the police deal with it. But I appreciate you keeping me up to date.”
“See you tonight.” He turned and darted out the door.
*
As Toni took a shower, did her makeup, and put on a navy pantsuit with a pale blue blouse, she couldn't shake the growing sense of terror inside her. Only once before had she experienced such fear—while running for her life from the killer of their superintendent. But now her fear was for the safety of her students.
A picture rose in her mind, of some young chicks spying a hawk overhead. As they began to run, the mother hen spread her wings, and they ran under them for safety. She wished she could do that for her family and students.
God, spread your wings over us. Keep the boys safe. Keep us all safe.
“I’m married to a very sharp lady,” Kyle said, startling Toni as he came up behind her and nuzzled her neck.
Toni turned and looked him over critically. He wore dark slacks and a lightweight dress shirt of light tan, his summer short hair still damp. "You're not bad yourself.”
“Hey, Mom, we’re ready.”
They turned to see Gabe and Garrett in the open doorway. They were dressed identically in tan dress slacks and the new orange polo shirts they had begged for a couple of weeks earlier—and orange shoes.
“Where did you…” Toni swallowed the question as she recognized the color of the shoes. It was the exact shade of orange they had painted the bug box they had given her for Mother’s Day.
Beside her Kyle’s body vibrated in silent laughter.
“Your shoes always match your clothes,” Garrett said, standing proudly next to his slightly taller brother. “Now ours do, too.”
“Uh, they certainly do,” she managed to say.
“I’m sure you’ll be a sensation,” Kyle said with a straight face. “Why don’t you boys run on out to the truck? We’ll be there in a minute or two.”
When they turned and took off, Toni glared at her smirking husband. “They just defaced two almost new pairs of shoes.”
“They just emulated their mother, the highest form of flattery,” he returned, releasing the laughter he had been restraining.
“But now they’ll never be worn again,” she said in a near wail.
“Sure they will. Who knows, they may start a new trend. Let’s go.”
Graduation was the usual mix of tears, pomp and circumstance, amateur speakers, and presentation of diplomas. When it was over, Toni and her family was making their way toward the gym exit when someone tapped her on the shoulder.
“Good evening, Toni,” Gerald Murphy greeted her when she stopped and turned.
She smiled. “How are you doing?”
“Okay, I guess,” he said with a shrug. “Dack and his friends are going to be out all night for Project Graduation. I guess we’ll go home and cry about how the years have gotten away from us.” He glanced back at his wife, who was talking with another teacher.
“I’ve enjoyed having your son in class,” Toni said. “I’ll miss him.”
“Are you and Kyle busy in the morning?” he asked. “If you could come out to the club for brunch, there's something I’d like to discuss with you.”
Toni looked over at Kyle, who was listening. “I’m not scheduled for anything. How about you?”
“I’m free. What time?” he asked Gerald.
“Make it abou
t nine-thirty. See you.”
When they got to the parking lot, Buck's patrol car was parked next to Kyle’s pickup. The chief leaned against the right front fender. “What’s up?” Toni asked as they approached him.
He grinned and shifted upright. “Just touching base. I figured this was the easiest place to catch you.”
“Anything new?”
He gave a nonchalant shrug and twist of his mouth. “Not a lot. We checked with Doctor Spurgeon and asked to see the records of birth and death certificates he has signed from Charity Haven. There was only one death certificate for the five-year period of his service with them. But there was quite a list of births, as you would expect. We looked for the names of Cindy Fuller and Melanie Wheatley and found nothing with either of their names on them. However, there was a birth certificate that corresponded to each of their delivery dates—in other names.”
“So now you’re looking for the parents named on those certificates,” Toni surmised.
“It may be a wild goose chase, but we’re looking,” he confirmed. “I also have a deputy checking with moving companies. Hopefully one or both searches will turn up something significant.”
Toni blew out a long breath, struggling to make sense of all this. “Thanks for sharing.”
Buck grunted something affirmative sounding and ambled to his car. He opened the door, paused, and looked back at her. “Your boys are sporting some… interesting shoes.”
Before Toni could form a response, he was gone.
*
Saturday morning Toni’s dad picked up Gabe and Garrett about eight o’clock to take them fishing. The boys had already been up and ready for an hour, excited about the outing.
“I’ll bring ’em home after lunch at McDonald’s,” he promised.
At nine-fifteen Toni and Kyle hiked the short distance to the country club. Gerald Murphy stood on the deck watching their approach.
“Good morning,” he greeted them, and turned to lead the way inside the clubhouse. The walls and woodwork in the dining room were light, and an air of casual ambience permeated the place. Two tables had been pushed together in the center of the room, with place settings for eight. Toni directed a questioning look at Kyle. He shrugged lack of knowledge.
Gerald indicated the readied tables. “Make yourselves comfortable.”
A waitress came from the kitchen, carrying a large covered pan that was hot, judging by the oven mitts she was wearing. She walked past them as they were being seated, and proceeded to the tables in front of the windows overlooking the deck and golf course where Rita Murphy, Gerald’s wife and Dack's mother, had just finished covering them with a long white tablecloth. Tall and energetic, she wore stylish shorts and sandals, her makeup applied with a professional hand. Her dark hair was styled in a soft wedge cut.
“The table’s ready, Connie,” she told the waitress before crossing the room to join Toni.
“I’m pleased you could come,” Rita said, pulling out the chair next to her.
At that moment Jeremy's parents came through the doorway. “Hey, I’m hungry,” Rudy Barnes announced as he shook hands with Gerald Murphy. Of medium height, with sandy hair and high cheekbones, he wore metal-framed glasses over intelligent blue eyes.
“We have plenty of food,” Gerald returned with a grin. “Glad you didn’t have to work today.”
“At least not yet,” Rudy said. “I hope my pager stays silent until I’m fed.” He advanced on into the dining room and greeted Toni and Kyle.
“How are you doing without your seniors?” Linda Barnes asked with a chuckle. “Too quiet?” A dishwater blonde, she had a pleasant smile and manner that served her well in the classroom. She was dressed casually in jeans and a tee shirt with a school logo on it.
“I miss them,” Toni admitted. “They populated my advanced classes, and it’s not as exciting without them.”
Linda shook her head knowingly. “I wish I could give you a few of my fourth graders. They’re so anxious to be out of school that they’re hard to control.”
“I’m done teaching for this term,” Toni said. “All we have left is final exams.”
“Here are Jake and Patty,” Gerald announced from the doorway. He greeted the couple as they entered. Jake Lakowski was lean and trim, with close cut red hair and a fair complexion. He had strong hands with cuticles stained from garage work, and he spoke in a slow drawl, an older version of Q. Patty was petite and reserved, with hazel eyes in a round face, and shoulder length strawberry blonde hair.
“Find seats,” Gerald instructed the new arrivals. “Then fill your plates at our little buffet.” The waitress had finished setting it up and was placing pitchers of orange juice on their table.
It took a few minutes for the four couples to fill their plates. As Toni filled hers, she glanced out the window and spotted Wendy Rutherford teeing off. When everyone was seated, they got serious about putting away the mountains of eggs, bacon, hash browns and pancakes the Murphy’s had supplied.
Toni sensed something was up—there was an air of waiting in the room—but just what, she didn’t know. Table conversation during the meal was friendly chatter with no overtones.
When they finished eating, Gerald pushed his plate back and tapped a fork on his water glass. He cleared his throat, in effect taking the floor without standing. “Thank you for coming,” he said to them all, but his eyes focused on Toni. “The three of us—three couples, I mean—have met this morning because of concern about our sons.”
Now all eyes focused on Toni.
“I think all three of those sons are at home in bed right now, sleeping off their Project Graduation all-nighter,” he continued.
The Lakowski and Barnes couples were nodding.
“My son, and I’m assuming Q and Jeremy as well, have been warned to back off from our local crime investigation and stay out of trouble.”
More nods from the other parents.
“This last incident is just too scary,” Jake Lakowski said. “I checked that truck, and someone deliberately cut those brake lines.”
“We’ve told Jeremy we want him to leave the investigating to others,” Rudy Barnes spoke up. “But Jeremy and Q are eighteen now and Dack will be in a few more days, making them legally adults and high school graduates. I’m afraid we can’t control them any more.”
“That’s why we’re asking for help.” Gerald Murphy looked directly to Toni.
She took a deep breath, realizing that she now had the floor. “I don’t understand what you want from me,” she said, uneasy at having all eyes on her.
“We want you to get actively involved in the murder investigation and find the preacher’s killer,” Gerald stated with the air of a man accustomed to having his orders heeded.
“We know you’re friends with our chief of police,” Rita Murphy spoke up now.
“You teach classes dealing with forensics and crime solving techniques,” Linda Barnes added, a note of approval from a fellow teacher.
“You were instrumental in finding Marsha Carter’s killer,” Rudy added. “I wrote stories and took pictures for the paper about it, and I was impressed.”
Nods of agreement passed around the table.
“You got involved in that case because your son was threatened,” Patty Lakowski said softly. “Now our boys have been threatened, and we don’t have the skills or resources to do what you did. We’re asking you to help us.” There was pleading in her words.
“Please help us,” Jake Lakowski said, making the request unanimous.
“That’s right. We want you to put your skills to use for us,” Gerald Murphy said, reclaiming the floor.
Toni looked around at her friends and felt a sense of empathy for them. She understood all too well how they felt about their children. “I’d like to help you,” she said. “I care about your boys, and I want to see justice served, but I’m not sure what I can do.”
Kyle reached over and placed a hand over hers on the table. “Maybe I need to say so
mething,” he said. “I know how real your concerns are, and I know Toni’s capabilities. I also want my wife’s safety considered. She ran into personal danger in that last case. I'll worry about her if she pursues this, but I’ll support her, no matter what she does.”
A new surge of confidence flowing through her at his support, Toni gave his hand a squeeze. Then she spoke to the group again. “As I said, I don’t know what I can do. It would be presumptuous on my part to think I could walk into a police case and solve it for them. But I’ll continue communicating with Buck Freeman and do whatever I can, within the bounds of reason and safety.”
Jake pushed his chair away from the table and rose. “That’s all we ask. Now I need to see what I can do for an ailing truck.”
The meeting over, they all got up and headed out. As Toni and Kyle stepped off the deck, she made a decision. “Why don’t you go on home? I saw Wendy Rutherford on the course when we got here. I want to talk to her again.”
Kyle grinned knowingly. “See you in a bit.”
Toni set out across the greens, searching for Wendy. Within a couple of minutes she spotted the woman driving a cart alongside the pond between the seventh and eighth holes. Breaking into a sprint, she caught up with the cart and hopped onto the seat next to Wendy.
Wendy’s head swung around to face her uninvited passenger. “What are you doing here?” she demanded irritably.
“I came to have another little chat,” Toni replied, as if this were an everyday social call.
Wendy braked so suddenly that Toni was jerked forward and nearly tumbled out of the cart. When the vehicle stopped, the woman faced Toni angrily. “You can’t go around harassing people like this.”
“I’m not harassing you,” Toni said, easing back in the seat. “I’m just dropping in for a friendly chat.”
“We already chatted.”
“But I’m hearing contradictions to what you told me in that chat,” Toni said, injecting a thread of steel into her words. “This time I want the truth. And this isn’t harassment. It’s just giving you a chance to explain why you lied.”
