Sonja could tell she had irritated the woman and decided not to pursue the topic further. “I’ll make sure to be as compliant as possible with those requests.”
Donna’s smiled returned. “Great. I’m glad you’re on board. For a second there I thought you were going to be like some of our more unenlightened parents in the district.”
This new comment interested Sonja. “Parents?”
“Oh, a few of them are throwing a big stink about our canceling the Halloween party. It’s like they don’t even care about what their children are exposed to.”
Sonja hesitated. “Tanya Sander isn’t involved, is she? Sam Sander’s mother?”
Donna paused, looking around the room to make sure no one was listening. Leaning in, she whispered her bit of gossip. “As an administrator, it really isn’t my place to make judgments, but Tanya Sander is troublesome. She’s sort of a ring leader for this whole protest against our Harvest Festival.” She shook her head with a disappointed clicking of her tongue. “I do not envy those two poor boys of hers.”
Sonja leaned back in her chair and folded her arms, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from saying something she’d regret.
“I got the paperwork,” Alison declared, appearing from the back room.
Thank goodness, Sonja thought.
CHAPTER 4
* * *
The breakfast rush was in full swing after they finished signing the paperwork, and Sonja knew she needed to get into the kitchen right away and begin cooking. Her original plan had been to reveal her new Bacon and Salted Caramel Waffle as next week’s special. After Frank’s rave review, she felt comfortable serving it to the public. Now, however, she was thinking about serving it in miniature versions at the Harvest Festival. Between the crispy dark brown bacon and the autumn shades of the caramel sauce, it seemed like a great choice for the party.
Slipping her apron over her head, Sonja started pulling order slips off the turnstile and cooking them up. Fresh batter went into one iron after another, followed by rounds of syrup, powdered sugar, fruit preserves, and butter for toppings.
She rang the bell for order pickup repeatedly, hardly giving it time to finish vibrating before she hit it again.
About an hour into the rush, Ally burst into the kitchen. “Sonj’, do you have a second to run my tables? I have to call Alex. He says Cynthia has caught some sort of cold and he doesn’t know how much medicine to give her.”
“On it,” she agreed. When it came to Alison’s family, her husband and young daughter, Sonja was willing to bend over backward to offer her assistance.
“I’ll do some orders while I talk to him,” Alison offered, putting the phone on speaker mode as she hit the dial button.
“Great,” Sonja agreed, high fiving her friend. They always worked together like a well-oiled machine during these types of moments. Removing her apron, Sonja darted out front to check on the tables.
At a quick glance, it seemed like most everybody had their food and were happily eating. There was only one table which hadn’t been served yet, and only a single blond-haired woman sat there, the menu hiding her face.
“Good morning, ma’am,” Sonja greeted her with a smile, retrieving her order pad and pen from her pocket.
As the woman slowly lowered her menu, two swollen red eyes looked up. A quiet sniff tried to hide the fact that she’d just been crying.
Sonja hesitated. Customer service was always a fine line when it came to situations like this. Some patrons preferred a moment of consoling, but others just wanted to be served their food and left alone.
Ultimately, Sonja figured it didn’t hurt to ask if the woman was okay. If she said she was fine, Sonja could go about her day cooking and serving. “Are you all right, ma’am?”
The woman, who had clearly worked hard to regain her composure, licked her lips nervously before answering, slightly smearing her lipstick. Tears were coming back up into her eyes again. “S-sorry, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? I mean, do you need a hot cup of coffee or something?”
“No, no,” she waved a hand to show that she wasn’t looking for handouts.
“It really is no problem,” Sonja offered, always unable to help herself when someone appeared in need.
“No, no. I’m really am sorry about this. I was just feeling a little lonely this morning. You see, my husband and I were supposed to grab something to eat here before he went into work.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s okay. It isn’t your fault, of course. Instead, he went off to the police station for some reason or another and told me to just go grab breakfast myself, on my own.”
Sonja paused as she considered what the woman had said. “The police station? Your husband doesn’t happen to be the principal at Haunted Falls Middle School?”
The woman glanced back up at Sonja with shocked eyes behind the tears. “How did you know that?”
Sonja let out a light giggle. “I don’t mean to sound nosy. I’m dating the town’s sheriff, is all. I happened to run into your husband when I dropped off breakfast for Frank this morning.”
“Oh, I see.”
“He seems like a very determined and busy man.”
“Too busy, if you ask me. Ever since he took this job here in Haunted Falls, I’ve seen less and less of him. If I’d known he’d be this dedicated, I would have insisted on staying in Denver.”
“I can’t blame you. Frank gets awfully busy at the police station sometimes.”
The woman couldn’t help but smile. “I shouldn’t complain. I bet your boyfriend is far more occupied than my Packer.”
“Sometimes he is pretty consumed.”
The woman held out a hand. “How rude of me. My name is Cherry.”
Sonja took the offering, smiling. “I’m Sonja, Sonja Reed. I own this diner.”
“Oh, you do? I’ve heard so many good things, but this is the first chance I’ve had to try it. I’ve been trying to get Packer to come with me for a while, but he’s always busy.”
“What can I get for you, Cherry?”
She glanced down at the menu in front of her. “Hmm, what do you suggest?”
“I personally like things simple. A tasty butter waffle with syrup or jam with a mug of coffee and cream. However, if you’re looking for something a little fancier, I could give you a sneak peek of next week’s special,” she chuckled quietly.
“I like surprises, sometimes. How about we go with that?”
“Coming right up,” Sonja announced. She turned to go, but then paused as a thought crossed her mind.
“Is something wrong?” Cherry asked, her tears all but completely gone at this point.
Sonja looked back to the woman. “I have been a little concerned about something, and you may not even know anything about it.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, I know a few of the young men who attend the middle school and they are pretty upset that your husband has cancelled the annual Halloween party.”
Cherry offered a half-smile. “Oh, that. Yes, it’s caused quite the uproar among the students and parents alike, but Packer is dead set on it. You see, his family never celebrated Halloween while he was growing up. In fact, they were anti-Halloween in most respects—thought it encouraged violence.”
Sonja tapped her pen on the order pad. “I gathered as much. How do you feel?”
“Honestly, I don’t see the problem with the whole thing. I’ve enjoyed Halloween many years, even if it wasn’t my favorite holiday. When it comes to Packer, however, there is just no changing his mind.”
“So, you couldn’t put in a good word for me?”
“He doesn’t listen to me about much of anything, honestly.”
“Do you think he would listen to me? I promised some of the kids I’d at least talk to him and share their concerns.”
“I don’t see what good it would do, but I suppose it doesn’t hurt to at least ask. The worst he could do is say
no.”
Sonja slipped the order pad and pen into her pocket. “You’re right.”
“He is usually in his office after school ends for a couple of hours.”
“I’ll try and stop by after work, then. In the meantime, I have a waffle to cook for you.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Cherry beamed.
Sonja was happy to have made a new friend, and happy to have helped someone feel better—even if it was just a little.
CHAPTER 5
* * *
It was nearly seven in the evening when Sonja finally pulled up outside the Haunted Falls Middle School and parked in the lot. She had gotten caught up in plans for the Harvest Festival with Alison and lost track of time. She only hoped that Principal Heins was still in his office.
Getting out of her van, she noticed two other cars in the parking lot. One was a deep red convertible with the license plate that said Cherry. Sonja knew in an instant who it belonged to. Her next assumption was that, if Cherry was here so was her husband.
The other car which was gray and unremarkable, likely belonged to Packer Heins.
Walking across the small lawn area and up the front steps, Sonja tried the front door. Much to her dismay, it was locked up tight.
“Oh, well,” she murmured.
Without any warning, the front entrance burst open, sending both metal doors flying outward toward her.
Letting out a yelp, she jumped back, grabbing onto the railing and saving herself from nearly falling down the stairs.
The doors pushed apart with such great force that they caught on the magnetic doorstops attached to the cement.
A tall, bald-headed man stood there with heaving breaths. His face was a deep shade of red and there was a stench of musty beer coming off him. “E-excuse me,” he sputtered, hardly able to push the words out as he stumbled to the other side of the steps, grasping the handrail for support.
“Are you okay?” Sonja managed to ask once she’d caught her breath and reconciled herself.
“He wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t give me my job back,” he blubbered, leaning over on the railing so far that it looked like he might slump over the edge into the bushes.
“Who? Principal Heins?”
“I e-even offered to polish his name p-plate on the door and desk. It would be alllll shinnny.” His speech had slurred, and Sonja wondered just how many drinks the stranger had consumed that day.
“Do you need help?”
“But no,” he spit, waving an arm wildly and falling onto his rump on the stairs. “He wouldn’t have it. Jus’ sat there ignorin’ me like he didn’t even see me.”
“Can I call someone to give you a ride?” She took a step forward, attempting to help him back to his feet.
“Don’t, don’t, don’t,” he cried, pulling away and practically rolling down the steps to the bottom.
Sonja rushed down after him. “Are you okay?”
“Fffine,” he gasped, crawling away on all fours.
“Are you sure? If you need, I can give you a ride to your house.”
“No house. Not anymore,” he was talking more to himself than anyone else as he got to his feet and wobbled off across the parking lot.
Sonja was tempted to follow, but wasn’t sure it was the appropriate course of action.
She had been shocked to the core. While she’d seen people get a little tipsy before, especially around Christmas time and New Year’s, she’d never seen someone who was full on drunk like this. It was a startling experience, to say the least, and she only hoped the man made it home safely.
Then she had an idea. Rummaging in her purse, she located her phone and pulled it out, dialing Frank’s number.
“Sonja. How are you? I hope you’re not planning on dinner together tonight, I’m working late.”
“No, nothing like that,” she told him.
“What’s up, then?”
“I just got to the school to visit with Principal Heins about this Harvest Festival and some guy came stumbling out the front door. He was really drunk.”
“He was drunk? Could be the janitor that was just fired yesterday.”
“Well, I don’t know anything about that, but I’m worried about him. Do you think you or one of your deputies could drive out here and help him home?”
Frank paused, shuffling papers and seeing if he had the extra moment to go himself. “Sure thing. I’m at a stopping point in these reports. I’ll just finish up this one sheet and be on my way.”
“Good.”
“It isn’t urgent, is it?”
“Not really. He still hasn’t even made it out of the parking lot yet.”
“Okay. Be there soon.”
“Thanks, Frank.” Letting out a sigh of relief, she hung up. She felt bad for the guy, but also very embarrassed as well.
Trying not to worry too much about the situation, she turned and headed into the building. The lobby was filled with rows of lockers where students could unload their bags and lunches upon arriving in the morning. A glass enclosure with a speaker window sat to the right, where the school’s staff would check in guests and give them an official name tag to show that they weren’t just some random stranger on the grounds.
At that point, it was late enough that the room was empty and the lights turned off. She noted the odd presence of a chain with a padlock sitting on the desk, then remembered that the school security always chained all the outer doors at night to prevent vandalism. The chain on the desk likely went to the front door, but because the principal was still there, the security guard hadn’t put it on.
To the left of the lobby was a hallway with several doors into administrative offices. Sonja headed in that direction and found the brass sign next to the closest door marked Main Office – Principal, Records, Nurse. The glass window looked in on a waiting room with chairs lined up along the wall. There was a long counter with rows and rows of filing cabinets behind it.
Sonja tried the door, found it unlocked, and stepped inside.
On her left side was a door into the nurse’s office. On the right, the door to the principal’s office stood slightly ajar. Light spilled through onto the carpet in one long cone shaped line.
Knocking softly, she called out. “Mr. Heins?”
When there was no answer, only silence from inside except for a quiet whirring noise that Sonja couldn’t quite place.
“Mr. Heins? My name is Sonja Reed, the caterer for the Harvest Festival. I thought I could discuss something with you.” Pushing the door further open, she stepped into the room.
Instantly, she was hit with a strong astringent scent of some sort of alcohol. Was it some sort of cleaning product maybe? She wrinkled up her nose, trying not to gag at the overwhelming smell.
“Mr. Heins?” Stopping dead, her mouth fell open as she noticed Principal Heins was lying face down on the desk. His tie was tightened around his neck in a death noose.
He was dead.
CHAPTER 6
* * *
If it weren’t for her phone buzzing, Sonja might not have ever broken out of her shocked stupor. Finally closing her mouth, the strange astringent taste of rubbing alcohol settling on her tongue, she answered the phone.
“Frank. Please tell me you’re outside.”
“I’m here in the lot but I don’t see anyone. Do you know where your intoxicated gentleman wandered off to?”
“Frank, get in here to the Principal’s office right now.”
“Did he wander back inside?”
“No. A drunk janitor is the least of our problems. Principal Heins is dead.”
“What?” Frank exclaimed. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“Just get in here, will you?”
“Okay, I’m coming,” he replied before hanging up.
Sonja shoved her phone back in her pocket, keeping her eyes on the morbid façade of the body in front of her. As she tiptoed closer, the smell of rubbing alcohol grew stronger and she was forced to cover her nos
e.
Smudged along the collar of the victim’s white shirt was a deep splotch of red, maybe blood. It was very possible that the tie had forced a blood vessel to pop, or maybe a tie tack cut into the neck. Sonja couldn’t be sure without getting closer and touching the body. She wasn’t about to do that. She knew the rules of police procedure and didn’t want to break them, thus incurring the wrath of her boyfriend.
Rushed footsteps in the hallway quickly approached and Sonja turned on a dime when Frank entered the outer office.
“Sonja.”
“He’s been strangled with his own tie.”
Pushing his way in, he looked at his girlfriend. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just check the body,” she insisted, taking a step back into the doorway while Frank moved next to the desk. Reaching down, he placed two fingers on the man’s wrist. After a moment of pause, he shook his head. “He’s dead all right.”
Sonja sighed.
“You better wait out in the hall for now. I have to call in my deputies and the coroner.”
With an obedient nod, Sonja vacated the crime scene.
* * *
“He was freshly dead when you found him,” Frank commented as he stood with Sonja between the rows of lockers at the front of the school.
A symphony of red and blue lights flashed from the parking lot, including an ambulance and police cruiser.
“Oh, my gosh,” Sonja whispered.
“That means the killer was here only minutes before you, maybe seconds even.”
“You think I stumbled into the killer while I was going in? That janitor?”
“I can’t say anything for sure, but I need you to tell me everything that happened here tonight after you arrived.”
“You already know most of it,” she admitted.
Bacon Caramel Murder Page 3
