Severed Trust: The Men of the Texas Rangers | Book 4

by Margaret Daley

  “There isn’t nearly enough time to eat lunch. Maxwell, can’t you do something about the lunch schedule?” Jack said as the assistant principal picked up his fork and speared his bite-sized piece of meatloaf.

  “Above my pay grade. What about me? I have to grab something between hall and lunch duty.”

  Sadie finished chewing some of her turkey sandwich and washed it down with sweetened tea. “Personally, I think we need to be doing more hall and lunch duty.”

  Robin gasped. “Hush. Not with Maxwell here.”

  “I hope it doesn’t involve dumpster diving.” Jack winked at Sadie.

  Everyone chuckled, glancing at Sadie.

  Maxwell pinned her with a quizzical look. “Why, Sadie, do you think the staff needs to be doing more? Like what? We might have a teacher uprising.”

  A blush still heating her cheeks from Jack’s reference to Saturday, Sadie answered, “I think things are going on around us that we need to be more vigilant about. Look what happened to Lexie Alexander.”

  A frown darkened Maxwell’s blue eyes. “She took drugs and passed out at school. That would be hard to stop.”

  Sadie returned Maxwell’s stare. “No, she didn’t. Someone here at school slipped them into her water.”

  “What?” Cynthia said, her voice sounding over the din of voices at nearby tables. “How do you know that?”

  “I know Lexie. She doesn’t even like taking aspirin when she has a headache.”

  Maxwell scooped up his peas. “People can change. Right now the evidence points to her.”

  Sadie started to tell them otherwise, but that needed to come from Ethan or Cord. “The truth will come out. Cynthia, what can we do here at school?”

  “One is a zero-tolerance policy toward any kind of drug. The students have to come through me, even to take an aspirin. If you see someone not doing so, the person needs to be reported. After what happened to Jared and Lexie whether she did it intentionally or not, we can’t ignore there’s a problem with some of our students. I agree with Sadie. We need to be trained for signs to look for.”

  “We were last year,” Jack said, rising with his tray.

  “But we have new teachers every year and what’s popular to take changes, too.” Cynthia glanced at Sadie. “Cough syrup, in liquid and pill form, has been a problem at the middle school. Easy to get. Over the counter.”

  “Like people who sniff glue. If they want to get high, they seem to find a way.” Jack left to throw his trash away and take his tray to the cart.

  Were Steven’s friends and classmates buying cough syrup? Sadie needed to have a discussion with her son until she got to the bottom of what was going on. “I don’t think it’s just the teachers that need educating. Also the parents. Prescription drugs need to be disposed of properly. Not left half-used in the medicine cabinet.”

  “They shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. We don’t need them going through our water system,” Cynthia added.

  “I’m guilty of leaving unused medicines in my drawer, but then I don’t have kids.” Robin checked the wall clock. “I can’t believe the bell is going to ring in a few minutes.”

  “I agree with Sadie about having a presentation about drugs for the staff,” Maxwell said and finished the rest of his meatloaf.

  “Let me see what I can pull together. And we should consider doing something for the students, too.” Cynthia gathered up her lunch sack and stood.

  When everyone left but Sadie and Maxwell, she said to him, “Lexie is a victim and could have died. Our children should be safe when they come to school. You need to look into it.”

  “It happened in your class. Did you see anything?”

  “I think it happened before she came into my class. It takes a while for the pills to take effect.”

  “When I have evidence to pursue, believe me I will, but I have to have something to go on.”

  “Who are the students who have taken drugs? Start with them.”

  “Jared, as far as I knew never had, but then I guess because of what happened last week I’m wrong about that. Some kids are quite good at hiding what they do. I can’t accuse the ones who have in the past without evidence.”

  Her assistant principal headed for the cart, leaving her alone for a moment. She had a good relationship with a lot of her students. Maybe some of them would be willing to talk to her. It wouldn’t hurt for her to try.

  Ethan was running a little late, but he hit the reception area as his sister and niece went into Maxwell Howard’s office. In “uniform”—tan pants, white long sleeve shirt, boots, tie, cowboy hat, and his Texas Ranger silver star over his heart—he didn’t stop to explain his presence to the secretary, but quickened his pace and stepped into the entrance before the assistant principal closed the door.

  The man’s eyes widened slightly before he smoothed out his expression into a neutral one. “You’re joining us, too?”

  “Yes.” Ethan entered the office and took a seat at the round table next to his niece, covering her hand on the arm of her chair. “I have information important to this meeting.”

  Howard settled himself at the table. “Unless you can erase the fact Lexie took tranquilizers that led to her being taken to the hospital from her sixth-hour class, I don’t see the need for you to be here. Your position as a law enforcement officer must make it clear to you the school has to have a tough policy in place concerning taking any kind of drugs at school, over-the-counter, prescription, or illegal ones. Then we have to enforce it. If we didn’t do that consistently and without any exceptions, we would have a worse problem than we have.”

  “So you acknowledge there’s a drug problem at school?” Ethan relaxed back against his chair, feeling as though he were going into battle.

  “Why are you here, Ranger Stone?” A tic jerked in the assistant principal’s face, emphasizing the man’s tension.

  “To tell you about a piece of evidence we recovered—Lexie’s water bottle.”

  “Where?”

  “From the trashcan in the hallway up by Ms. Thompson’s room on Saturday. She didn’t throw it away. Lexie kept it in the side pocket of her backpack. When Ms. Thompson brought it by my sister’s house Friday night, there was no water bottle in it.”

  “So you came up to the school and searched for this bottle?”

  “No, Ms. Thompson was coming to school as she often does on Saturday and said she would look to see if it was in her classroom.”

  “But it wasn’t. Is that why she dumped the trash on the floor?”

  Ethan grinned. “Yes.”

  “So how in the world do you know what she found was Lexie’s?”

  “I have my name on my water bottle because so many kids have the one that is blue and yellow with the school emblem on it.” His niece’s hand gripping the arm of the chair tightened beneath Ethan’s palm.

  Howard’s gaze swung from Lexie to Ethan. “So what kind of evidence did you find in it?”

  “The bottle had been cleaned in the dishwasher the night before. Lexie filled it Friday morning and put it in her backpack. Her fingerprints are on it, but so are one set that is clearly not Lexie’s and another smudged set that the lab can’t match.”

  “Well, that can be explained. Someone must have thrown it away.”

  “Exactly. Why would anyone take it out of the side pocket of her backpack? Unless they wanted to cover up the fact the water in the bottle was spiked with tranquilizers. We tested the small amount left in it, and it was spiked.”

  Howard released a long swoosh of air. “How does that exonerate your niece?”

  Ethan didn’t miss the emphasis the assistant principal put on the fact he was related to Lexie. “Why would she crush tranquilizers, which by the way she doesn’t have access to, into her water? It’s much easier to swallow them and could be done without anyone seeing her if she wanted them so bad to take them at school.”

  “How do you know she doesn’t have access? I’m sure Mr. Montgomery would say the same
about Jared, and yet somehow he took a combination of different prescription drugs. I also understand that Lexie was having a difficult day because of some rumors going around about her lying to the police.”

  “Okay this is enough,” Beth said, scooting to the edge of her chair. “My brother will be investigating this as an attempted murder because my daughter almost died from the tranquilizers someone else gave her.”

  Howard leaned forward. “He can do what he thinks is best, but I also have to. Lexie will be suspended for four weeks and will have to meet with our school nurse, Ms. Proctor, concerning the use of drugs before she is allowed back into school.”

  Beth bolted to her feet. “I’ll appeal this to the school board.”

  “That is your right.”

  “Lexie was going to be staying home until Ethan found the person responsible, but I’ll not have a suspension for drug use on her permanent record. She’s innocent.”

  “I’m sorry to say this, but many kids caught doing something like that plead the same thing. However, in my experience they aren’t innocent.” Howard rose, facing Beth across the table.

  The color washed from Lexie’s face. Ethan squeezed her hand gently, conveying his support. He might be as jaded as the assistant principal, but Sadie and Beth were right. Lexie wouldn’t have taken the tranquilizers knowingly.

  Ethan stood at the same time as Lexie. “I want a list of students in every class that Lexie has.”

  “If you wait a few minutes, I’ll have the secretary run the class lists for you.”

  “I would also like to know if anyone in those classes has been in trouble concerning drugs of any kind. I’ll have a court order to you later today.”

  “I’ll glance at them and see if any students stand out, but I don’t see why a person would give Lexie a drug when pills can bring money on the street. I strongly recommend you and your sister get Lexie the help she needs. That would be the best use of your time.”

  Ethan ground his teeth together until his jaw hurt rather than tell the man he was wrong. The assistant principal had made up his mind Lexie was guilty and wasn’t willing to listen to reason. Ethan intended to prove him wrong.

  Ethan escorted his sister and niece outside to Beth’s car while the secretary pulled up the student names he required. He wanted Beth and Lexie away from the school before the final bell rang for the day.

  The second Beth left the building, she rounded on Ethan and exploded in anger. “When this is all over, I’m going to complain to the superintendent and the Board of Education about Mr. Howard. I’m not without some pull. I went to school with two members sitting on the board.”

  “Beth,” Ethan waited until she looked at him before continuing, “Mr. Howard is doing his job. Discipline isn’t an easy job. Most of the problem students go through his office.”

  “All the more reason he should realize Lexie isn’t one of them. He’s never seen her in the couple of years she’s been in high school. That ought to give him some pause.”

  “I doubt he ever saw Jared either except to congratulate him on how well the football team was doing. I didn’t like how the meeting went either, but he has a tough job. I’ll get to the bottom of what’s happening. Don’t worry. This’ll work out.”

  “How, Uncle Ethan?”

  “For one, I want you to go home and think about your moves through the whole day on Friday until sixth hour. Who did you run into? Who could have had access to your water bottle? How were you feeling each hour? I know we talked a couple of days ago, but we need to again. I’ll be over later this evening. As something comes to you, write it down. Okay?”

  Lexie nodded, her eyes glistening.

  He ran his index finger along her jaw and tapped her chin. “I know this is hard, but you’ve got me, your mom, and Ms. Thompson on your side. We believe in you.”

  She attempted a smile that didn’t stay long on her face. “You forgot the Lord. He knows I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  Ethan continued their trek to Beth’s car. “Well, then that’s all you need.”

  “But it would be nice if everyone else believed what was true.” Beth went around to the driver’s side.

  Before Lexie climbed into the vehicle, she twisted toward Ethan. “Are you going to interview Kelly again?”

  “Yes. She knows something she isn’t telling me.”

  “She didn’t have anything to do with drugging me.”

  “How do you know?”

  Lexie’s gaze latched onto his. “She told me, and I believe her. If you do, please do me a favor. Go easy on Kelly. She’s vulnerable and fragile right now. I’m worried about her.”

  “I am, too. When I’ve seen Mary Lou, she isn’t the same person I knew in high school. Has Kelly ever said anything about her mother drinking or something like that?”

  “Yes. I’ve seen her drinking when I’ve been at the house.”

  It may be more than that. “Don’t you worry about Kelly. I’ll take good care of her, as if she were my niece.”

  Lexie stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “You’re a great uncle.”

  “And Kelly has a good friend in you. I hope she appreciates it.”

  “She does.”

  Ethan moved back and watched them drive from the parking lot before he traipsed back into the building to get the class lists. He’d stop by Kelly’s house on his way to see Lexie later.

  Sadie input the finishing touches to the instructions for the essay about addiction she would have her classes write this week. She would tie it into literature by having them read an approved novel with a character that was addicted and analyze how the author dealt with the problem and portrayed it in the story. Cynthia, as not only the nurse, but also the drug counselor at the high school, agreed to talk to her classes tomorrow to kick off the unit.

  Satisfied with her start on educating the students about the dangers in taking prescription drugs, Sadie relaxed in her chair, set her head on the backrest and closed her eyes. Slowly, the awareness of someone else in the room with her seeped into her mind. Tension whipped through her.

  When she sat forward, she stared at Ethan in front of her desk. “Sneaking up on me is not allowed. What are you doing here?”

  “Lexie’s meeting with Mr. Howard.”

  “Ah, I forgot it had been changed to this afternoon. I let him know how I felt earlier today. How did it go?”

  “The evidence with the water bottle didn’t impress him. He suspended Lexie.”

  “I guess I can’t blame him. All day he deals with the problem kids at school.”

  “Sorta like I deal with criminals all the time in my job?”

  “Yeah, you’re looking for reasons a person is guilty—not innocent. I think that is how Maxwell sees his job.”

  “He’s wrong in this case, so now I just have to prove it. I don’t want this affecting Lexie’s future in any way.” He placed some sheets on her desk. “Will you take a look at these class lists and let me know if there’s anyone on there I should look into? I know that Lexie really likes you and often talks to you. Anyone she’s mentioned that has bothered her. I’ll be asking her but would appreciate your thoughts, too. You may see something she doesn’t.”

  “There are a few of Jared’s friends on this—Brendan, Missy, Carrie, Luke, Kalvin. She has a class with all of them. But really no one else stands out. Kelly doesn’t even have a class with Lexie. The ones in the morning you can probably rule out. I’d take a look at fourth- and fifth-hours. Maybe lunch. What does Lexie say?”

  “I’m going tonight to talk to her again. I need to recreate her day. Who she saw? Where she went? When her backpack was left alone? We’ve discussed this before, but that was not long after the incident. I’m hoping time will help her remember more.”

  Sadie unlocked her desk drawer, withdrew her purse, then grabbed her tote bag. “I need to leave to pick up Steven. He’s going to his first counseling session. I may have to drag him kicking and screaming, but I’m praying in the end
this will help him.”

  “I’ll walk you out. I’m going by Kelly’s house. Lexie thinks she’ll be willing to talk to me now.”

  “It sounds like they made up. Good.” Sadie locked her classroom door then strolled next to Ethan toward the parking lot. “Robin, Kelly’s English teacher, told me that Kelly wasn’t at school today when I mentioned I didn’t see her going into her room earlier.”

  “Kelly was absent? Then maybe she’s home now.”

  At her car, she waved good-bye to Ethan, then slid behind the steering wheel and started the engine. Ten minutes later, she picked up Steven and Ashley at the middle school. After dropping her daughter at home, Sadie drove Steven to his therapist, Dr. Morgan, a man in his forties with wire-rimmed glasses. For the first meeting, he wanted to talk to Steven alone.

  Sadie pulled out some papers to grade while waiting. But she couldn’t keep her mind on her work. What if she did a little investigating of Jared’s friends? Talk to the teachers and counselors. Someone knew what was going on. If she got a lead, she’d give it to Ethan. It would be easier for her to talk to the kids rather than Ethan.

  When her cell phone sounded, she hurriedly answered it, glad the reception area was empty except the lady behind the glass partition. “Ashley, what’s wrong?” Sadie asked in a low voice.

  “Mom, you were upset last time I asked Dad to come to see me. I’ve done the little homework I had and want him to come tonight. This’ll give you a chance to see how he has changed.”

  “How would you know? You didn’t know him until last week.”

  “The man I’m getting to know regrets walking out on us. That must mean he’s changed. Remember what our pastor said yesterday about how the Lord gives us second chances all the time.”

  Sadie swallowed the moan that welled up in her. “Fine, but it’s a school night. He can’t stay long.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Steven came out of his therapist’s office with Dr. Morgan right behind him. Her son kept walking toward the door into the hallway.

  Sadie approached Dr. Morgan. “How did it go?”

  “About how I expected for our first session. He didn’t say a whole lot. He did share his father is in town. That he hadn’t ever seen him until a week ago Sunday.”