“That’s another sign of—”
“Shut up.”
Jeffers nodded and turned to go.
“Did you really play Dick Deadeye? I thought you’d never been to the theatre until last season?”
“I was in grade five and was so terrified, I threw up on my shoes right before I had to go on. The pillow that was supposed to be my hunchback kept sliding down and I could never remember which leg had the limp.”
I guffawed.
“Laugh as you will, my grandmother maintained to the day she died that it was the finest performance she had ever seen. And she was a very cultured woman.”
“Well, perhaps you should put your acting skills to use with Morris.”
“Somehow, I don’t think he’d share my grandmother’s opinion.” He chuckled then sighed in exasperation. “I’ve got to give him something. And soon.”
“I’ll work on Vince, but I can’t rush it and I can’t promise anything.” I said. “But I may have a way of making inroads with Ellie Penner.”
***
I saw Ellie hurrying toward class and I rushed to catch up with her.
“Good morning,” I said when I reached her side.
She smiled but said nothing.
“Listen,” I said, “I’ve been thinking about your audition.”
“Ms. James,” she said, her pace slowing, “I know you think it’s a bad idea, but I’m not going to change my mind.”
“Yes, I do think it’s a bad idea. That’s why I want to take you.” She stopped and looked at me with wide eyes. “I’ll drive you to your audition. I can get you to and from Toronto much faster than the bus. I can probably even get you back here in time for your last class. And you won’t be wandering around the city alone.”
“Oh my goodness,” she said, throwing her arms around my neck. “Thank you!”
I hoped if I could get Ellie alone for an extended period of time, I would be able to get some answers to the questions Jeffers and I had been banging our heads against the wall trying to solve.
“I still think you should let your dad know,” I said as gently as possible.
“I can’t,” she said, releasing the embrace.
“He may surprise you, Ellie. He might be much more understanding than you think.”
I flashed back to the happy family photo. Deep down, the Armin Penner in that picture still had to exist.
“Ms. James, if that’s the condition of you driving me, I’ll take the bus,” Ellie said and started back down the hall.
“It’s not,” I said, falling into step next to her. Her pace quickened, and I struggled to keep up. “I will take you.”
She stopped. “You won’t tell my dad?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
“Ellie, I promise, but—”
She started to walk away again. I put my hand on her arm and she stopped with her back to me.
“I know this is important to you,” I said.
“It’s everything to me.”
“That’s why I want to help you.” She turned and looked me straight in the eye. I went on. “The audition process is a long one—if you make it past the first round. I don’t want you taking it on by yourself. I know you think it’s just as simple as getting on a bus, but there’s a lot more to it than that. You can’t just skip school and leave town without anyone knowing where you’re going.” She lowered her eyes and I saw her shoulders sag. “You’re seventeen, Ellie. You’re still a minor. If you don’t show up for class, the school will call your father. What are you going to tell him then?”
“I …”
“And I could get into a lot of trouble for taking you out of town without permission. So we need to figure something out, okay? Something that protects both of us.”
“Ms. James, I can tell him something so he knows I’d be missing school, but it can’t be the truth.”
“Ellie, I don’t understand—”
“No, you don’t, Ms. James. How could you? Have you ever had everything in your life taken away from you?” I had, but this moment was not about me. “I want this. I want it so bad I can taste it. And I’m going to do whatever it takes.”
“Ellie—”
“Thank you for your offer, Ms. James, but I don’t need your help.” She clutched her books close to her chest and hurried off down the hall.
Armin Penner had implemented strict family changes after Adele died. It was clear Ellie was not committed to the conversion. I wondered if Armin Penner himself had bought in completely or if the changes were more a product of grief than anything else like Paul had suggested. If that was the case, there was a chance of Ellie and her father eventually finding common ground. But only if they could holster their tempers. And their judgment.
I followed Ellie’s path to class and passed a bulletin board where a memorial had been set up for Al Macie. In the centre was a framed photo surrounded by more candid pictures of him that had obviously been added by students and staff. People had started to pin pieces of paper with messages of condolence, cherished memories, and funny stories.
“It grows a little more every day.”
I turned to find Principal Harvey standing just behind me.
I smiled. “It’s lovely.”
“He was very well liked,” Gerald Harvey said. “It took a while for everyone to warm up to him because of his … well, you know. But, still, he was one of our most popular teachers.”
This was the second time Al Macie’s sexuality had been brought up as the one thing that made him only generally well liked rather than wholly. Jeffers had mentioned it after he had interviewed the staff.
“Mr. Harvey, is there anyone, in particular, who had trouble with Mr. Macie’s sexuality?”
“Ms. James.” He said it as a warning that I should keep my voice down.
“I’m sorry,” I said looking around at the nearby students, none of whom seemed to be taking any interest in our conversation. And I doubted any one of them would care even if they had been. But I heeded the warning and went on. “It’s just that I find it so sad, in this day and age, that one’s … lifestyle … is still under such criticism.”
“That’s because you’re in the theatre, Ms. James.”
“I don’t think that has anything to do with it. It’s—”
A commotion started up somewhere down the hall. In five huge strides, Gerald Harvey was between two boys with a finger pointed at each of their chests and was uttering something I couldn’t hear. I saw both boys adopt attitude and throw blame before heading to the office, the large mass of Gerald Harvey looming over them.
I turned back to the memorial. To Al Macie’s kind face and warm eyes. “Who did this to you?” I whispered. I was answered only by more questions.
Could Vincent Leduc have been carrying around a wrong done to him years ago, carefully planning payback? If Armin Penner was indeed firm in his new beliefs of the Old Order and knew of his daughter’s planned defection from the faith, how far would he go to stop it? What did Ellie mean by “whatever it takes”? And there was something else. Something new. There was something about the fact that Al Macie was only “generally” well liked that made me wonder if we’d been looking in entirely the wrong direction.
Chapter 14
Three texts to Jeffers went unanswered and his phone went right to voice mail when I tried to call. I had an hour before I needed to be at rehearsal and my mind was racing. Against my better judgment I found myself dialing Glynn Radley’s number. He picked up on the fourth ring.
“I’m so sorry to bother you,” I said. “Is now a good time?”
“I’m waiting to get in to see the vet. Edith is off the yams. Hasn’t eaten in two days. I don’t know what to do.”
“Do you mind if I come wait with you?”
“Be my guest.”
Glynn was sitting on the front stoop of the clinic when I arrived. Edith was lying next him. She raised her eyes when I approached but didn’t look like she had the ene
rgy to manage much else.
“I’ve never seen her like this,” Glynn said. “I didn’t know dogs could get depressed.”
“I think they feel things much more deeply than we realize,” I said. “Of course, it might be something else altogether. It’s good you’re having her looked at.” I crouched down and stroked the dog’s head. “Why aren’t you inside?”
“They wouldn’t let us in. The girl met us at the door in a haz-mat suit and asked if we could wait out here.”
“A haz-mat suit?”
“Well, not really. But she was all covered up. Opened the door just enough to talk and barely even that.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“She said it shouldn’t be much longer, so I doubt it’s anything serious. What did you want to talk about?”
I sat down on the other side of the Great Dane. “I want to ask about whether Al ever mentioned having trouble with anyone at work regarding his … your … relationship.”
“Because we’re gay?”
I nodded.
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t use the word ‘trouble.’”
“But there was something?”
“You have to understand, this is a pretty religious town. I’m not saying homophobic. I’m saying that homosexuality is not something a lot of people here grew up with. I think it’s still new for a lot of people. Something not everyone understands. Or is comfortable with.”
“So?”
“Al was always very respectful. And careful. He tried to keep his personal life personal. Everybody knew, of course, but he chose to keep it out of the workplace as much as possible.” He paused, taking a moment to stroke the length of the large dog beside him. “It’s still not easy. Being gay in this world. I’m not out at the firehouse. The boys think Al is short for Alison. I don’t know that they’d have trouble with the truth, to be fair, but it’s easier just to let them think what they want.” Another pause. “What’s this about, Bella?”
“It’s probably nothing. But it’s been implied that there might have been someone on staff at the school who may have been less than accepting of Al’s sexuality. I’m wondering if he ever mentioned anyone to you.”
“What are you saying? You think Al’s death was a hate crime now?”
“No! No.” In the back of my mind, I could see Jeffers wagging a finger at me for getting poor Glynn all worked up over a cockamamie theory that likely had nothing to do with anything. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to upset you. I just want to be sure we’ve covered everything as far as Al’s death is concerned. And if there is someone—”
“There are a lot of someones. Bella, things have changed over the years, yes. People and organizations have become much more progressive and diverse. But there are still a lot of old boys’ clubs out there and the education system is a big one. Al played the game for years. Manipulated his personality so people wouldn’t guess. Endured dinner after dinner given by well-meaning colleagues as a means of introducing him to their female friends. Going to gay bars in the States because he was petrified local people would find out. And when he finally did come out, there were golf tournaments, fundraisers, other work events where he bit his tongue as people around him said fag instead of cigarette and remarked on what queer weather we’d been having. It was a constant struggle for Al. Don’t get me wrong; he was out and he was proud. He didn’t hide who he was anymore and he’d made some wonderful friends at work, but he always knew it was more comfortable for everyone when he kept his personal details … quiet. The effort was conscious, you know?”
“Mr. Radley?” The door opened behind us and a vet tech stuck her head out. “Sorry to keep you waiting. You and Edith can come in now. Oh, hi, Bella.”
“Hi, Stephanie,” I said, getting up and following Glynn and Edith inside. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”
She was in the process of removing full-body coveralls made out of some rubbery material. I could see one of the other vet techs doing the same behind the front desk.
“Oh yes, fine,” she said smiling. “Brimstone was in for his annual physical. We don’t like to take any chances. One year he got loose and we … let’s just say we weren’t prepared. Want me to let Paul know you’re here?”
“Thanks.”
“Sure thing. Mr. Radley, we’ll be right with you,” she said and disappeared into the back room.
“Brimstone?” Glynn asked.
“The meanest cat in the world,” I said. “I don’t understand how he puts up with it.”
“Because of Laura,” the girl at the front desk said.
“I’m sorry?”
“Brimstone was Laura’s cat.”
“Who’s Laura?”
“I have no idea!”
“He’s never mentioned her to you?”
“No!” I was on the phone with my best friend, Natalie, during a break from rehearsal. “And before you ask, no, he doesn’t have a sister.”
“Cousin, maybe?”
“Natalie!”
“What? I’m just going through all the possibilities before we jump to the obvious.”
“That she’s an ex?”
“That seems the most likely.”
“But why hasn’t he mentioned her? We’ve had enough conversations about that damn cat you’d think he would have said something.”
Natalie and I had met years before when we were both at university in Montreal. She had become more of a sister than a friend and the only person who had known me at my very worst and still managed to love me.
“Maybe it ended badly,” she said.
“Then why does he still have her cat?”
“Maybe that’s his punishment.”
I laughed out loud in spite of my mood. “I just don’t understand why he’d hide this.”
“Have you told him about all your exes?”
“I don’t have ‘exes.’ I have one significant ex. And no.”
“Hmmm.”
“Not because I’m hiding anything!” I said. “There’s just nothing worth mentioning.” I checked the time. I had to get back. “Brimstone is the cat from hell. And Paul loves him. Which means he must have loved her.”
“And now he loves you.”
“Then why has he kept this from me?”
“Talk to him.”
“I don’t want to be one of those insecure girlfriends …”
“Then don’t be. It’s not like Laura’s a secret. The girl at the clinic knew.”
“I know, but—”
“You are going to drive yourself crazy wondering. And I’m going to have to listen to you. So, for my sake, talk to him.”
I told her I would. And I knew I should. But I wasn’t sure I could.
“You okay?” Paul asked later that evening. “You’re awfully quiet.”
He joined me on the couch, stretched out on his back, and put his head in my lap. Moustache jumped on top of him and curled up on his shins.
“I’m fine,” I said. To prove it, I rattled on about my morning with the students, my alienation of Ellie, and Jeffers’ labelling of Vincent Leduc as a psychopath. I told him about how Eeyore had actually told a joke in rehearsal and how Manda Rogers had seemingly moved on from Powell and set her sights on the director of Juno and the Paycock who was visiting from Ireland. I talked about everything and anything, except what I really wanted to talk about.
“Maybe he’ll take her back to Ireland when his contract’s over.”
Paul had been on the receiving end of Manda’s wiles the previous season, but had managed to resist succumbing to them. Another reason she had it out for me.
“From your lips …” I said.
I stroked his hair. The scent of his shampoo met my nose and I leaned down to kiss his forehead. He took my hands in his own, kissed each one in turn, then held them against his chest. I wondered if he had sat like this with Laura. He must have sensed the shift in my psyche because he asked again whether I was all right.
“Actually,
there is something I’d like to ask you about.”
“I knew it,” he said, proud of himself.
He kissed my hands again.
“This afternoon,” I started slowly, hating the insecurities that were taking over, “when I was at the clinic, one of the girls mentioned—”
My phone rang. Jeffers.
“I’m sorry,” I said, reaching for the phone.
Paul sat up. Moustache snorted at the interruption.
“That’s okay. Take your time. I’m going to make us some popcorn.”
At the mention of popcorn, Moustache’s ears twitched. He leapt off the couch and ran into the kitchen, skidding as he rounded the corner.
“Sorry I’m so late getting back to you,” Jeffers said when I’d answered. “There was a torso floating in the Niagara River. What’s up?”
“A torso?” It amazed me how Jeffers could be so nonchalant when discussing the discovery of random body parts.
“Happens more often than you’d think. So …?”
I launched into the details of my exchange with Ellie.
“Ballsy move, Samuel. If you want to get arrested for kidnapping.”
“I said I wouldn’t take her without permission.”
“Best find another way altogether. Even if she tells you she cleared it with her dad, she’ll probably be lying. You can get in a lot of trouble.”
“I know if I can just get some time alone with her, I could get her to talk.”
“Whatever you come up with, make sure it’s above board or Morris will have our heads. Anything else?”
I mentioned my conversation with Gerald Harvey. Then told him of my meeting with Glynn.
“I wish you hadn’t said anything to him. The guy is barely hanging on.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I thought I might be able to learn something that could help.”
“And did you?”
“No,” I said. “Well, that’s not entirely true. But nothing that pertained directly to the case. When you interviewed the staff, you said you got the feeling not everyone was accepting of Al’s being gay. Was there anyone specific?”
“I’d have to check my notes, but I’m sure I was just picking up on the kind of vibe Glynn was talking about.”
“It seems strange to me, that’s all. First you commented on it, then Harvey. What if it’s more than just discomfort? What if someone really had a problem with Al’s sexuality?”
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