by Cynthia Raye
“It’s a poem by Emily Dickinson,” Liz said. “And a book by Woody Allen.”
“What the hell’s that got to do with anything?” Solomon demanded.
“About as much as you’re saying it would be difficult to find who owned the earring,” Ronni retorted. She figured she shouldn’t have said that, but she was tired of the detective’s pomposity.
Solomon’s face took on a tinge of red. “Is that supposed to be funny?” He scowled. “No! It’s more like making fun of me.”
“Sorry,” Ronni answered, though, of course, she really wasn’t.
Solomon laughed. “Okay, okay. Sometimes I am a jerk. You’re trying to help, and I come across like I’m fighting you ever step of the way. Can we just go on?”
Maybe he was human, after all, Ronni thought. “Why not?” Ronni answered.
He looked from Ronni to Liz to Emma. “None of you has any idea who the murderer could be? Nor the motive for the murder?”
All three shook their heads.
“Then I guess we’re back, as they say, to square one.” Solomon sighed. “In other words, the only thing to do is to question students again. All those who had problems with the murdered girl.”
“That’s at least half the students,” Emma said and then flushed red. “Sorry. I should keep my nose out of it. I want to know who killed her, but…”
“Are there really that many kids who had problems with Sylvia Hawkins?” Kolonich asked.
“We’ve all talked with students she tried to bully or worse.” Ronni shrugged and shook her head. “You wouldn’t believe how many who told me about problems with Sylvia.”
Kolonich turned to Emma. “Do you agree?”
“I talked to a lot of other kids today, and I was surprised at how many had reason to dislike her.”
“There’s one in particular that Ronni and I were talking about,” Liz told the two detectives. She told him about Chen Huang.
Kolonich shook his head. “What was wrong with this girl!” He shook his head. “Well, we’re going to have to talk to Chen Huang then, aren’t we?”
“That reminds me,” Solomon said. “I’d like the three of you to make a list.” He looked from one to the other. “We’ll start with them. First, we let Mr. Hostetler know and tell him we’d like to call students on-by-one to one of the conference rooms.”
“Not much use starting today,” Ronni said. “Most of the students have already left.”
“You’re right,” Kolonich answered. “Tomorrow will be a better time.” He stood. “Thank you. All three of you,” he said. “I think it’s time we head back to the station. Have the lab take a look at the earring. Maybe they can find a trace of DNA or—highly doubtful—a useful fingerprint.”
The two of them stood and left, followed by Emma.
Ronni chuckled. “As you witnessed, I got a little miffed.”
“You had a right to be miffed,” Liz answered. “As we all did. The detective was, as he admitted, being a jerk.”
Chapter 17
“Darn it. I know I’ve seen that earring on someone.” Ronni pushed her empty coffee mug back and forth on the cafeteria table. “I still just can’t think who. Too bad we can’t replay events like we can videos,” she said wryly. “Then I’m sure I could go back and spot whoever it was.”
“Unfortunately, we aren’t at that stage… yet.”
“That implies you think it’s possible.”
“With all the advances in technology the past few decades, who know? Already, there are devices—prosthesis, for instance—that can read thoughts.”
“Scary!” Ronni said. “The thought that someday people will be able to read others’ minds. I wouldn’t want anyone else inside my head!”
“You certainly have a point. Just think—”
Emma rushed into the cafeteria again and up to their table.
“Ms. Adams! Miss Lindquist!”
Ronni was alarmed. “What is it, Emma? Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing wrong,” Emma puffed.
“You’re all out of breath,” Liz said.
“Just heard something I wanted to tell you right away.”
“For goodness’ sake,” Liz said. “Have a seat.”
Emma pulled out a chair and sat.
“Now,” Ronni said, “what did you want to tell us?”
“Someone just told me she saw a girl sneak out the back entrance of the school yesterday morning.”
“Before school?” Ronni asked. “Before it was time for the bell?”
“Apparently so,” Emma answered, still a little short of breath.
“You mean it was someone who could have been in the building when Sylvia was killed?”
“I don’t know about that,” Emma said, “but she was certainly here shortly afterward.”
“Who was this?” Ronni asked.
“Millie Petrosky,” Emma said.
“What would she be doing here? Maybe she knew somehow that Sylvia would get here early—”
“I don’t see how,” Emma said. “I didn’t tell anyone we’d be here, and I doubt Sylvia would. Not with her attitude. Usually the only other kids she talked were o her followers and me. So I don’t know. Besides, we decided to come here only a short time before we both left home.”
“One thing is for sure,” Ronni said. “We’re going to have to talk to Millie. Find out whether she did sneak out and what this is all about.”
“Well,” Emma said. “I just thought I’d let you know.”
“That could be a big help,” Ronni said. “Thanks for telling us.”
Emma stood. “You’re welcome.” She turned and left.
“Let’s go talk to the guard,” Ronni said. “See if he noticed anyone leaving the school.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Liz answered. “He may have seen her coming down the stairs before sneaking out. Which would be terrible for Millie.”
“I hope it’s the same guard who was here yesterday morning,” Ronni said. “I know they rotate days off, as well as changing entrances.”
The guard was sitting in a folding chair outside the back entrance. He looked to be in his mid- to late-thirties, with a neat mustache and brown hair. He held an open book in his hand.
”Bob?” Ronni said.
“The guard looked up and smiled. “Ms. Adams, how may I help you?”
“We were wondering if you were at this entrance yesterday morning.”
“Yes, I was.” He sounded curious.
“Did you see anyone leave the building after the students were being told to stay outside?”
The guard frowned. “I may have, but I’m not sure.”
“You’re not sure?” Liz asked.
“I vaguely remember catching a glimpse of someone inside—someone who pushed through the door and quickly mingled with the gathered students.” He shrugged. “But I’m not really sure. There was too much going on. I kept trying to keep students back and explain to them that there was a problem and they had to stay outside. And, of course, I was focused on what was going on in front of me. Answering demands from students wanting to know why they couldn’t go inside. Trying to keep order. So I wasn’t paying attention to what was going on behind me.”
“But you think someone may have slipped out the door during that time?” Ronni asked.
“I’m pretty sure someone did. But, as I said, I was concentrating on talking to all the students standing out in the hot sun and wanting to know when they could go inside.”
“So you have no inkling about who the person could be?”
He thought for a moment. “If I’m even right, it was a girl. Seemed vaguely familiar, though she was gone before I had a chance to get a good look.”
“That means you didn’t see her before she slipped outside?” Ronni was becoming frustrated.
“I did not. As I said, I was concentrating on keeping students outside and keeping order. Finally, I locked the door behind me. Unfortunately, I didn’t think of that at first.”
&nb
sp; “Too bad.”
“The orders to keep students out came so quickly, I guess I just didn’t have time to think.”
“I certainly can understand,” Ronni told him, sympathetically. “At first, it was close to chaotic with students wanting to get inside to do some last minute studying before mid-term exams.”
“Yes,” the guard replied. “A lot of them seemed to be upset at that.” He shook his head. “Sorry I can’t be more helpful.”
“Well, at least you tried. And you do vaguely remember someone sneaking out. Or think you remember.”
“Right.” He shook his head. “Again, sorry.”
“Not your fault,” Ronni said.
“Well, that was a bust,” Ronni said as she and Liz walked back to the cafeteria.
Moments later Millie came into the cafeteria and up to Liz and Ronni’s table. “I need to talk to you,” she told Ronni.
“Of course,” Ronni answered. “Have a seat.”
“Would you rather I leave?” Liz asked.
Millie hesitated for a moment. “No, it’s okay.” She bit her lower lip. “There’s something I should have told the police. But I didn’t want to get into trouble with my parents, and I didn’t think it would matter.”
“What is it?” Ronni asked.
Millie took a deep breath. “I was here yesterday when Sylvia was killed.”
“You were here?”
“Oh, no!” Millie was shocked. “Not to witness the murder. I was upstairs.”
“What on earth were you doing there?” Liz asked.
Millie sighed. “I came in to study.”
“You came here to study?” Ronni asked. “I don’t understand.”
“Sometimes I do that. Like yesterday, we were to have a mid-term in biology. I couldn’t study well at home because of all the distractions. My two little sisters always argue. Every morning they get into it. I needed to concentrate.” She looked from one to the other. “I do that sometimes, especially when I want to be alone. It’s quieter here. Yesterday, I came in before my parents were even awake. Biology is not my best subject, and I need a good grade so I won’t ruin my chances at a scholarship.”
“You’ve done this other times?” Liz asked.
“Especially around the middle or end of the semester. Before exams.”
“But how do you get in?”
“Dad.”
Ronni frowned. “What do you mean?”
“My dad’s a teacher here, right?”
“Algebra and solid geometry,” Liz answered.
“That’s right,” Millie answered.
Millie blushed. “Well, a couple of years ago I did something I shouldn’t have done.”
“What did you do?” Liz asked.
“Took his key to the back door of the school and had a copy made.”
“So you could get in. To study?” Ronni said.
“Yes. I shouldn’t have done it, but I need a quiet place where I can concentrate. Yesterday, I came in about two hours before classes were to start.”
Ronni was puzzled. “And your parents don’t know about this?”
“They think I go to the coffee shop. In fact, Mom told me it’s probably nosier there than at home.
“I always stop there for a take-out first, and it is a little noisy. But it’s more like a general din. So I could study there. I don’t exactly lie to her and dad about where I’m going, but I just don’t tell them.”
“I’m surprised this has worked out so well for so long,” Ronni told her.
“Well, I do have to be out of dad’s office before the school opens, but so far it’s been okay.”
“You know,” Ronni said, “someone did see you sneak out when everyone was being kept outside by the guards.”
“Someone saw me! Oh, no! Who was it?” She sounded worried.
“I don’t know,” Ronni told her, “but whoever it was told another student, who told us.”
“Actually, just right before you came in now,” Liz told her.
“Oh, no! I was hoping nobody noticed.”
“Obviously, at least one person did,” Liz said.
“I tried to sneak out when the guard wasn’t paying attention. When I saw him talking to everyone, I knew something had happened. I didn’t know what. Then I saw…” Tears filled her eyes. “I saw people wheeling a gurney out, and I knew something bad had happened. Someone was hurt… or since the person was covered up completely, I knew it must be more than that. I guess I panicked. Maybe if I hadn’t tried to sneak out, no one would have found out I was here. When the kids started coming back in, I could have left dad’s office then. Maybe just blended in with everyone else. Now I’m in big trouble!”
“Millie, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to tell the police about this.”
“But I didn’t do anything!” She started to cry.
“I don’t mean to be unkind. But whether you did or not,” Ronni told her, “we’re going to have to let the police know.”
“Oh, man! Mom and Dad are going to kill me.” Suddenly, she turned white. “I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean to say that.” The sobbing became worse.
“Millie!” Ronni said. “It’s okay. I’m sure everything’s going to be fine.”
Millie stared at her.
“You’re just very, very upset.”
Millie lowered her head and rested it on her forehead on her arms, her eyes closed.
Chapter 18
“Millie,” Ronni said, gently.
The girl raised her head and stared intently at Ronni.
“I have to call the police.”
“Oh, my God, I didn’t kill her. I’d never kill anyone.”
“I’m sure that’s true,” Ronni said sympathetically. “But still you were here, and no one knew about it.”
“It would have been better,” Liz told her, “to talk to the police about it yesterday.”
“I couldn’t,” Millie sobbed.
“You couldn’t?” Ronni asked. “I don’t understand.”
“My mom and dad.”
“You mean because you’d get in trouble?”
“For stealing and copying Dad’s key. For letting them think I studied at the coffee shop. They’d have been really angry. I just couldn’t let them find out.”
“What was is Sir Walter Scott wrote?” Liz said, the question obviously rhetorical. “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.’” She shook her head. “I’m sorry this happened and I’m sure Ronni is too. But we have to let the police know.”
