by Cynthia Raye
“Shaken. In denial, I guess. I arrived at school just after Emma, o found the Sylvia lying on the floor. At least, Emma told me she saw Sylvia lying on the floor, not moving. She tried to get her to respond, but, of course, she didn’t. That’s when Emma screamed.”
“Wow, I just thought. I was supposed to meet with Sylvia’s parents this evening. They must be totally devastated.”
“I’m sure they are. Her mom came to Watson-Collins right away, but the police wouldn’t let her into the main part of the school. The murder scene. When she arrived, the body hadn’t been moved. Oh, it was horrible. Just horrible.” She swallowed hard. “They finally took Sylvia’s body away, and the police quarantined everyone. No one can leave or enter the building till they’ve finished the questioning.”
“They questioned you?”
“They did. I’m just now back in my office. They may talk to me later too.”
“But you don’t know who killed her.”
“No. The police haven’t found out yet, at least so far as I know.”
“I can be there in less than half an hour.”
“I appreciate that. You don’t know how much. But as I said, no one is allowed in or out of the building.”
“Oh, man. I keep thinking about Jake and his wife. What do you even say in a situation like this? I just don’t know. Anyway, how about letting me know when the police leave? I’ll come and get you.”
“I drove today, Peter. Instead of taking the bus.”
“Let me know when you leave school, and I’ll come to your apartment. Okay?”
“Thank you, Peter. I really don’t want to be alone this evening.”
Chapter 11
Ronni sat with Liz at a small table near the middle of the cafeteria. “So,” Liz said, “the police have already questioned you, I’d guess.”
“Yes, but they said they may want to talk to me again.”
“I suppose… since you’re the one who came upon Emma and poor Sylvia.”
“Yes,” Ronni answered. “I’ve told them everything I know, but maybe I overlooked something. I was so upset I wasn’t really thinking clearly.”
“I’m sorry you’re the one who had to find them.” Liz gave her a sympathetic look.
“Well, I suppose it had to be someone. But I’m sorry too. It was the worst thing that I’ve ever experienced.”
“I’m sure it was.” Liz reached out and patted Ronni’s shoulder.
“It’s going to haunt me for a long, long time. At least Peter’s coming over tonight to spend time with me. That should help.”
“Your boyfriend?”
“You know about that, do you?”
Liz chuckled. “The whole school knows you’re dating a member of one of the most important families. To the school, I mean.”
Ronni laughed. “Little ole me. People are talking about little ole me?”
Liz took a sip of water and learned forward. “It probably doesn’t matter now… with what happened this morning. But you asked me to keep an eye on Sylvia yesterday.”
Ronni frowned “And something occurred that involved her? She tried to do something to someone?”
“No! She was the picture of decorum. But it was her so-called friends, three of whom are also in the class. I heard them talking afterward.”
“Talking about what?”
“Do you know Suzie Valentine? She’s at that little table by herself on the other side of the room.”
“I see. And I do know her. She’s in my directing class. A good student.”
“Well, this apparently happened in biology class. The teacher called on Suzie to define a term, and she got it mixed up with something else.”
“I don’t understand.”
Liz held up her hand. “There’s a lot more.” She shook her head. “It seems that right away Sylvia started making fun of her—calling her dummy, loudly enough for her to hear but not the teacher. Apparently, she kept this up till the end of class, and Suzie ran from the room. The girls were talking about how Sylvia raced after her telling her she was really stupid, that she needed to go back to kindergarten. The girls talked about how Sylvia kept calling her names, so other kids could hear. Suzie was extremely embarrassed and kept trying to get away.”
“But Sylvia kept after her?” Ronni asked.
“Until she ran from the building.” Her voice was filled with disgust. “By now Suzie was sobbing and Sylvia kept telling her she was a baby.”
“People always tell you never speak ill of the dead!” Ronni said. “But in this case…”
“Yes. It seems our Sylvia was really a very nasty person. ‘It was hilarious,’ I heard one of the girls say.”
“They’re just as bad as Sylvia, aren’t they?” Ronni exhaled sharply. I don’t understand that sort of behavior.”
“Another one of them laughed. ‘Sylvia’s going to drive Suzie Valentine totally crazy. It’s the funniest thing!’ Disgusting behavior. I’d like to turn them over my knee and give them the spanking of their lives.”
“I don’t blame you,” Ronni responded, shaking her head.
“They then started to talk about Suzie’s running around the building. It seems a couple of the girls followed and found her hiding behind a dumpster. Then they started making fun of her too.” She spread her hands. “At least Sylvia won’t be able to do that sort of thing anymore.”
“Think maybe we should go talk to her? To Suzie?” Ronni asked. “I feel sorry for her, sitting there all by herself.”
“I’m not sure what to do. I don’t want to make her feel worse. But I would like to give her a little sympathy, at least.”
“Let’s do it.”
Suzie a slender girl with wavy blonde hair and bright green eyes., sat at a table on the other side of the cafeteria. Ronni and Liz walked over to her.
“Ms. Adams? Miss Lindquist? Did I do something wrong?”
“Oh, no, no, no!” Ronni said. “We’d just like to talk with you for minute. May we sit down?”
The girl had a puzzled look on her face. “Of course.” She looked from one to the other. “But what’s this about? Am I in trouble or something?”
“We wanted to talk to you about what happened with Sylvia.” Ronni’s voice was hesitant. She didn’t know how Suzie was going to react.
“Oh, that!” Suzie said.
“Do you mind talking about it?” Liz asked.
“I… I guess it’s okay,” Suzie answered, her voice unsure.
“If you’d rather not,” Ronni told her, “we understand.”
“No, we just thought you might like some sympathy,” Liz told her.
Suzie raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“Want to tell us exactly what happened?” Ronni asked.
Suzie looked from one to the other. “It was just an example of Sylvia being Sylvia—the teacher’s pet exposing her real self.” Her face flushed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“From what I understand about what happened,” I think you have every right to have said it,” Ronni told her as she reached out to touch Suzie’s hand.
“But she’s dead,” Suzie said. “It’s not fair to say bad things about her.”
Ronni shook her head. “An old belief. I know this may sound harsh. But if a person who dies did unacceptable things, why not talk about it?”
Suzie sighed. “I have never been so ashamed in my life.” Tears sparkled in her eyes. “I just wanted to disappear off the face of the earth. So I ran away and tried to hide.” She gave a single sob and then glanced at Ronni. “Sorry. I’m making a spectacle of myself.” She pulled a tissue from a small purse and wiped her eyes. “Look, I’m sorry Sylvia’s dead. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone—being murdered. But to be perfectly honest, I can’t grieve for her. If she’d been a different sort of person—” Suddenly, she stopped. “You really don’t think I’m the one…”
“What?” Ronni asked.
“The one who killed her.
The one who hit her with the statue?”
Ronni was surprised. “That hadn’t even entered my mind.”
“Mine either,” Liz said.
“I just…” She shook her head. “It’s not important.”
“We just wanted to be sure you’re okay,” Ronni told the girl.
Suzie shrugged. “A year from now no one will even remember.” She tried to smile.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Liz told her. “Nobody’s perfect. Even Sylvia got things wrong sometimes.”
“I know,” Suzie answered. Again, she tried to smile. “And I’ll be okay.”
“I’m sure you will,” Ronni said as she stood up. “We’ll let you finish your meal in peace.”
“Do you think she will be okay?” Liz asked as she and Ronni walked back to their table.
“I think she’s a pretty strong kid, and I can certainly understand her reaction. If something like that happened to me, like it did to her, I’d feel ashamed too.”
“Like the victim of an assault somehow feeling the attack was her fault.”
“Human nature, I guess.”
Just as they sat back down, Emma Miller came toward them. She still looked shaky and pale.
“Emma,” Ronni said. “You look like you need to lie down.”
“I know. I feel awful. But as the police said, no one can leave the auditorium till they finish questioning everyone.”
“I suppose I can understand why they’re insisting on that,” Ronni said, “though I wish we could all leave. But no matter what, this is going to haunt us for a long time.”
“Anyhow,” Emma said, “I just wanted to thank you.” She tried to smile.
“Thank me?” Ronni asked. “I don’t understand.”
“For helping me this morning. It meant a lot. If you hadn’t been there, I think I would just have collapsed.”
“You’re certainly welcome,” Ronni said, touched by Emma’s words.
“What I don’t understand,” Emma said, “is how anyone would know Sylvia would be here early today. I mean, the person who killed her. The only people who knew we’d be here were the two of us. Unless… unless it wasn’t planned.”
“What do you mean?” Ronni asked.
“Someone saw her and wanted revenge for something Sylvia had done to her or him. And it was a spur of the moment sort of thing.”
“We could ask the guards if they let anyone else into the school?” Ronni suggested.
“But what if they say they didn’t?” Emma asked. “Anyhow, I just wanted to thank you for your help.”
“I appreciate that, Emma. Very much.”
It was about two in the afternoon. when the police announced that they had finished questioning everyone, at least for the day. Mr. Hostetler announced that classes would be canceled the following day. “But we’ll have counselors available to meet with anyone who wants to talk with them. We’ll be bringing in a few extra people—mostly from other schools. They’ll be here all day. The cafeteria will be open for snacks, soft drinks, and coffee. That’s it for the day. You may all leave. Or if you need to wait to be picked up, that’s fine too. The security guards will be on duty until everyone can leave.”
She was glad she’d be seeing Peter. She certainly didn’t feel like spending the evening alone in her apartment.
Chapter 12
Ronni called Peter who said he’d leave right away and meet her at the apartment. Students stood around the front of the main building waiting for someone to come for them.
Just after Ronni parked in front of the apartment building and got out of her car, Peter pulled up. He rolled down the window. “Let me find a parking space, and I’ll be right back,” he called.
Peter found a space about half a block away and hurried back toward Ronni. “Are you okay?” he asked as he gave her a big hug.
“Much better now that you’re with me.”
“I’m so sorry this happened.”
“I know.” She stepped back from him. “Let’s go inside.” Again, she started to tremble and wanted just to go up to the apartment and sit down. It was such a comfort to have Peter with her. “You’re not neglecting work, are you?” she asked.
“Light day,” he told her. “Have those every once in a while.” He waited while she opened the gate. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Be here, that’s all.” She gave him a weak smile.
“Well, that’s pretty easy. But also, is there anything I can do to help you find out who killed Sylvia? I’d be happy to do anything you ask.”
“Nothing I know of, Peter.”
“Tell me, if you think of anything.”
As they headed toward the stairs to Ronni’s apartment, she noticed Rose was in her usual place, sitting at the table on her porch, a cup of steaming coffee in front of her.
“Ronni, are you all right?”
“Not really,” Ronni answered.
“What is it?” Rose asked. “What’s wrong?” She turned to Peter. “Anything I can do to help?”
“It’s… A terrible, terrible thing happened at school today, Rose,” Ronni told her.
“I’m sorry?”
“It’s Sylvia, the girl I told you about?”
“Did she do something else? Hurt someone?”
Ronni shook her head and gulped. “She was… She’s dead, Rose.”
“Oh, my. What happened?” Rose stood up. “Here, have a seat, both of you.”
Peter glanced at Ronni. She nodded.
“I’ll get two cups,” Rose said.
“Thank you,” Ronni answered.
Rose went inside and then returned, holding a tray with two steaming cups of coffee, milk, and sugar. “Here you are,” she said.
Rose sat back down and then looked toward Ronni. “Did Sylvia have an accident?”
Ronni started to answer, but her voice broke.”
“The girl was murdered,” Peter said.
“Murdered! I can’t believe it.”
“Just as I went inside the school this morning, I heard a horrible scream. Then I saw Sylvia lying on the floor. And her friend Emma—the one I told you about—standing there screaming.”
“You don’t know who did this?”
“No,” Ronni said. “There was no one else around. I felt for a pulse but couldn’t find one.” She felt a lump in her throat. “Whoever did it used a small statue. About two feet tall and is displayed on a pedestal at the bottom of the stairs to the second floor. The person who killed her hit her with the statue.”
“I am so sorry,” Rose said, “both that you had to go through this and that someone murdered her.” She looked from Ronni to Peter. “No idea at all who did it.”
