Academic Curveball

by James J Cudney

  “Listen, pot. This kettle already told you I'm worried about the county. Since that school is what keeps this town running, it's important I pay attention.” Nana D stood indicating it was time to leave.

  I couldn't argue with her since I'd also inserted myself into the search for the killer or killers. Nana D said she had one more meeting to find out who the anonymous donor was, then left. As I walked to the foyer, Connor approached me. “That grandmother of yours sure likes to make an entrance and exit. I think she might have pinched me as she walked by.”

  I felt my skin flush at the thought of Nana D doing that to Connor. I was going to ask where she pinched him but thought better of it. “It must have been an accident. She was in a rush.”

  “Somehow I'm not sure I agree. I know she's not the sheriff's biggest fan, but that wouldn't win her any points,” he replied while smirking. “April is waiting on some test results today. They picked up a few fibers under Lorraine's fingernails. She's hoping they might match the same samples they found under Abby's, too. I can't tell you anything else, yet.”

  I temporarily ignored the fact he called the sheriff by her first name. Connor was certainly taking advantage of his admirers these days. I told myself I wasn't jealous, but the jury was still deliberating on that one. “That's good to hear. Hopefully, it will give them a big lead.” I updated him on the news Alton and Nana D shared with me earlier.

  “Are you going to tell Sheriff Montague what you've learned?” he asked.

  “I thought I might get a chance to speak with her here, but she left while I was talking to Nana D. I could stop by the sheriff's office on my way home.” I considered my options yet found myself reticent to be the guy always delivering the news to her. Both pieces of information had fallen into my lap. I didn't go in search of the clues. Didn't the responsibility belong to Alton and Bridget to tell Sheriff Montague? After all, April did tell me I'm just a private citizen, and I should stay out of it.

  After Connor headed back to Braxton to finish some of his interviews from people seen on the CCTV tapes, I updated Derek with everything I'd learned to date. When I finished talking, he mentioned he'd bring up the new details to the network executive the following morning when he met with them. They'd called an impromptu meeting to talk about Dark Reality, but he wasn't sure what it was about. He asked for my advice on how to handle the meeting explaining he didn't have a good feeling. It was the first time I'd ever heard or seen him act nervous and ask for my opinion as opposed to informing me to do something for him. Part of me wanted to tell him not to worry, but just like sharing the updates with the sheriff wasn't Kel-baby's responsibility, I needed to let things happen without my interference in Derek's world too. It seemed I'd found a way to stand up for myself with my boss and letting that twenty-four-year-old know-it-all learn a lesson on his own was a step in the right direction.

  * * *

  Thursday morning passed quickly given most of my time was focused on convincing Emma's first-grade teacher and a few administrators why I had to pull her out of classes for three weeks. Then I struggled with my former mother-in-law to defend my position on why Emma needed to be with me until I finished my temporary teaching assignment. Once that was settled, we coordinated the flight arrangements for Cecilia and Emma to arrive in Braxton on Monday afternoon when I was done with my final class of the day. Eleanor would meet Cecilia at our parents' house ensuring my delay wouldn't interrupt the driver's schedule to arrive in Manhattan that evening for dinner with her best friends at a Michelin star restaurant. Oh, to be a Castigliano and have the world drop nearly everything to impress you. Or ensure they didn't wipe your existence off the face of the earth.

  After a run and a simple lunch, I set off for Braxton to prepare for the next day's classes and to meet with both students on their makeup exams from the previous day. The first student showed up on time and finished the pop quiz in less than twenty minutes. When Jordan arrived, I took the opportunity to get to know him a little better before making him complete the quiz.

  “Getting ready for Saturday's game?” I inquired while waiting for him to get settled in a seat.

  “Yep. I spent most of my morning working on my curveball with Coach Oliver. The scout was there to watch us for a few minutes, too. I didn't know he was Coach Oliver's best friend.”

  While Jordan searched through his bag for a pen, I tried to keep myself from looking shocked about what he'd just told me. No wonder Coach Oliver was so focused on ensuring the team looked good. I filed that under a list of things to analyze later in the day when I had more time.

  “How are you handling being so close to the accident that happened at Grey Sports Complex on Tuesday?” I asked remembering that Jordan was one of the people listed in the building when Lorraine was pushed from the third-story window.

  “Two accidents in the same month. That's pretty scary, huh?” He slunk further into his seat and uncapped a pen. “I can't believe I'd just seen Mrs. Candito a few minutes before it happened.”

  “Really, I didn't know. You must have been one of the last people to see her alive.” I was surprised he volunteered the information, but he must have been questioned by the sheriff or campus security. “Did you already talk to Director Hawkins?”

  “Yeah, he grilled me a little while ago,” Jordan replied.

  I removed the test from my folder and leaned against the main desk in the classroom. I didn't want him to start, so I continued asking more questions. “Where did you see Mrs. Candito?”

  “I wanted to talk about an issue with Striker while working out, but Coach Oliver wasn't in his office. Mrs. Candito was on the phone talking to someone. I felt awful. I wish I'd done something to stop her from jumping out the window.” It seemed like news hadn't gotten out that it was murder, yet.

  “What time was this?” Could he have seen the killer? Or was it him?

  “Had to be just before a quarter to six. I was in a rush to meet my study group. I mentioned it to Director Hawkins, but I didn't actually speak with Mrs. Candito. I don't think she saw me.”

  “What was the issue with Striker?” Jordan must have seen Lorraine talking to me on the phone.

  “Umm, Striker had been working out while I was at the fitness center. We had some words. I didn't want to cause any more problems,” Jordan said wrinkling his brow and groaning loudly.

  I made him confirm what time he was there. Jordan said he showed up at four fifteen and worked out until five when Striker came in. After their disagreement, Striker left. Jordan finished his workout, then went to the locker room by five fifteen to shower and change. “But I thought you mentioned you and Striker were friends the other day in class. What happened?”

  “Carla broke up with him after class the other day. He was angry and confronted me about it. I wanted to give him some breathing room, I guess,” Jordan said.

  “Why would he confront you?” While he was nattering, I took advantage of the opportunity to learn as much as I could about what was going on between the three of them.

  “I think Carla finally told him something happened between her and I the night Professor Monroe fell down the stairs. Striker accused me of moving in on his girl, but that's not how it happened. Honest.” Jordan sat back up and placed his hands on the desk. “Can I take my quiz now?”

  I was about to hand Jordan the paper when I remembered that Striker and Carla previously told me they'd spent that night together drinking in the dorms. Someone was lying. “Sure, in a minute. I don't mean to pry, but I've seen you and Carla together a few times. It didn't look very much to me like you were completely innocent, Jordan.”

  “We went to the movies that night just as friends. Carla said she needed a break from all the work and drama with Striker and his stepfather freaking out over who would be the starting pitcher in the opening game. Halfway through the movie, she started grabbing my hand, then asked if I wanted to leave early. On the walk home, she kissed me. I told her I wanted to see her again, but not until she brok
e up with Striker. I know what it looks like, but she came onto me, Professor Ayrwick.”

  “What time did you end up leaving the movies? Did you meet up with other friends or see anyone else?” I needed to find out if he had a real alibi for the night of Abby's murder.

  “I dropped Carla off at her dorm. She promised to think about what I said, then I went home. I guess it was somewhere between eight fifteen and nine. I hung out in my room by myself and caught the end of the Phillies first spring training game. Oh yeah, and my aunt stopped by to chat.”

  “What about Carla? Did you hear from her again?” If he spoke with his aunt, that could give him an alibi. I knew it was the Phillies first spring training day, too, because I'd caught a few news clips the next day. Either he was telling the truth, or he'd seriously rehearsed his explanation should anyone ask his whereabouts that night.

  “Striker had called her while we were walking home. I'm guessing she went to meet him. I didn't talk to either of them again until Monday in class. You've got a lot of questions, Professor Ayrwick. What's up with that?” Jordan was getting irritated with my rapid-fire technique. His perceptive manner meant the inquisition needed to slow down.

  “Oh, I'm just worried about this all getting too far out of hand. I've been in your shoes before. It's hard when you have feelings for your buddy's girlfriend. I guess that was the only time something happened between you two, huh?” I remembered Eleanor also mentioned seeing them hooking up in the parking lot of the Pick-Me-Up Diner recently.

  “No, we met a few times to talk about the connection between us. We kissed and well, you know how things happen.” Jordan shrugged his shoulders and reached his hand toward me for the quiz.

  He sounded like a mini Coach Oliver. I couldn't keep harassing him without some pushback. I let him take his quiz and thought through everything he'd revealed to me. Carla and Striker's alibi didn't match what Jordan had mentioned. Jordan also put himself on the suspect list by stating he was possibly alone after eight fifteen unless his aunt could prove part of his alibi. Connor had to have security records from that night for all students entering the dorm room unless there were no cameras there either. Jordan finished the quiz and left in a rush without asking to know the results. As I scooped up his exam to head back to my office, I fortuitously encountered another person I needed to speak with.

  “Good afternoon, Myriam,” I said while blocking her from heading back downstairs. “I'm glad we ran into one another. Do you have a minute?”

  “I have to teach a class. What can I do for you now?” Myriam seemed to forget I'd witnessed her behavior and argument with Coach Oliver at the funeral parlor, but it was crucial for me to bring it up.

  “I'm curious about your decision to push for Craig Magee's suspension from the baseball team over his grades. Can you give me any background on what happened?”

  “Why is it any of your business, Mr. Ayrwick?”

  “The student is in one of the classes I'm teaching. If there was an issue with past exam performance, I think it's important for me to know about it now. Don't you agree?”

  Myriam nodded then took off her glasses. “After you expressed concerns about grading processes within the department, I looked at copies of Magee's past exams. Not only was the handwriting different, but his sentence structure and word choices were dissimilar. There's little chance he actually took Monroe's last test, and I intend to find out what happened. In the meantime, until we know the truth, he shouldn't represent Braxton on the baseball team nor should his suspension have been lifted.”

  “I happen to agree with you assuming something funny has happened with that last exam,” I replied. I suspected it would be one of the only things Myriam Castle and I would ever agree on. “Would you mind sharing with me who's looking into it right now?”

  “Based on discussion with your father, Magee has been placed on suspension for one week while Dean Terry, Dean Mulligan, and I investigate other student papers and exams to see if this is an isolated incident or happening with multiple students in Abby's classes or others in the communications department.” Myriam looked quite angry over the situation as she wandered away.

  “I'd be happy to help in any way I can,” I added. On my walk toward the cable car station, I ran into Dean Terry. “What brings you to South Campus? It's not often I see you here.”

  “I'm meeting with your father, Kellan. We have a few things to work out before Monday's announcement about the new president. He asked if I could join him this afternoon for a discussion with the Board of Trustees in the executive offices. And he's the current president, right?” she said with a curious smile and a slight bit of nervousness.

  “I suppose there will be big changes coming soon,” I said.

  Dean Terry shook her head and sighed heavily. “You're telling me. At least we can take pride in all the positive impacts the baseball players have brought to Braxton this year. We should all be thankful to whatever stroke of luck has blessed the team and the scout's presence on campus this year. The sports program has been a great source of comfort and excitement for the community despite the students' concerns over the two shocking deaths we've had recently.”

  Dean Terry excused herself for the meeting with my father while I hopped on the cable car for North Campus. I'd never known her to be so interested in the school's athletics program. When I'd been a student, Dean Terry focused on the honor societies and student government rather than sports, sororities, and fraternities. I suppose a decade could change a person.

  Since I'd remembered to bring gym clothes with me this time, I stopped by the fitness center to get in a workout before going home. Upon arriving, I averted my eyes from the second floor as it would bring too many memories of Lorraine lying helpless at the statue's feet. After a few minutes of stretching my muscles, I focused on strengthening my back and legs since the bed at my parents' house was destroying my body. An hour later, I overheard a conversation between two students who'd just entered the fitness center and sat side by side on the rowing machines.

  “Totes. My boss just came back from the executive building and kicked everyone out of the office. She was royally pissed off.”

  “What did Dean Terry say?”

  “She was angry about the selection of the new president.”

  “Yeah, weird day. The cops were on-site today interviewing students who were at Grey Sports Complex on Monday. I told you something funny happened to that professor and the president's assistant who bit the dust.”

  “Seriously, I thought they both fell.”

  “Don't be so dense. Two people falling and dying so closely together can't be a coincidence. Even your boss was trying to cover it up when I asked her for a quote for the school's newspaper. I got the distinct impression she was hiding something. After I pushed her more, she warned me that people sometimes get hurt by asking too many questions.”

  When my cell phone rang, the girls looked in my direction. Since I didn't want them to know I'd been eavesdropping nor did I want to interrupt anyone's workout, I stepped into the hallway to answer the call. I'd little time left to get Emma's input on a possible permanent move to the East Coast.

  Chapter 21

  Emma had just gotten home from school and was excited to visit Braxton the following Monday. I promised her a trip to some local farms to see a few horses, sheep, and goats. By the time I finished explaining the potential job change I was considering, Emma's pure excitement became contagious. She astutely admitted while she would greatly miss Nonna Cecilia, she hardly ever got to see my parents. Emma had reasoned out we should come back to Pennsylvania for six years since she'd spent six years living in Los Angeles.

  “That's fair, Daddy, right? Splitting my time between both sets of grandparents?” Emma said with the assured confidence of a much older girl.

  “Yes, honey. I think maybe you're looking at things the proper way.” When I hung up, I thanked the powers-that-be for blessing me with the most amazing daughter. Now that I had her opin
ion, I was ready to make my decision.

  While showering and changing before the trip back to my parents' house, I processed the conversation I'd overheard in the fitness center. What had gotten Dean Terry so irate she kicked everyone out of her office and threatened a student for asking so many questions? I was certain she'd gone to see my father to learn she'd be the new president, but given the reaction, that didn't seem logical anymore. I tried to connect all the dots, but it was time for me to see Nana D.

  Between the new paella recipe she was testing out and the scrumptious coconut cream pie, I was in a food coma for most of the evening. “Nana D, I might need to crash here tonight. I don't think I'm capable of driving home the way I feel,” I mentioned while rubbing my stomach and curling up with a blanket on her couch. As I wrapped myself in it, I fondly remembered spending cozy afternoons in the summer with her and Grandpop while they babysat us as young children.

  “I've been telling you it's about time you came back home and moved in with me. I'm not getting any younger, and that daughter of yours needs my guidance,” she smiled while dropping off a cup of tea on the end table next to me. “And this four-week teaching gig you committed to your father ain't gonna cut it, my brilliant one.”

  “I know what you mean. There's something going on at Braxton that might be a reason for me to stick around longer. Dad doesn't want me to talk about it. I respect his need to keep the information quiet for a little while. But it's a hard decision, Nana D.”

  “You must be talking about those plans to expand the college, huh? Don't think I haven't already heard about them,” Nana D replied sinking into the recliner across from me. “Not that your parents ever thought to mention it to me. I've got my own ways to keep in the loo.”

  “I think you mean in the loop.” It hurt to laugh at her confusion, but I managed to push through it. “I should've assumed you picked up clues somewhere. I won't even ask how this time.”

  Nana D sipped from her teacup looking exorbitantly satisfied with herself. “Good boy. What do you think you're gonna do about the new university? Is the offer big enough to convince you to stay?”