A Lesson in Murder

by Nick Bishop

“I assume that’s good.”

  Jed smiled. “At least…well, different.”

  The principal smiled, a real smile this time. “Not sure if I can arrange to have the substitute I’m thinking of, but I hope I can.” He glanced into Jed’s eyes. “So be prepared for tomorrow. And if not then, we’ll do it as soon as possible.”

  With kids doing math problems on the board, a different student for each problem, the morning passed by more quickly than seemed possible, though Jed couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen tomorrow. It made him nervous, self-conscious. Well, all he could do was act normal, get through the day in the same way he usually did. Maybe for a day or two, Teri would cut back on the glue, and he’d certainly ask Dotty to stop trying to trip everyone even if just for a couple of days.

  At lunchtime, as usual, he joined Ellie. In a moment Don Staunton came up to him carrying a tray with a plate of macaroni and cheese, with a slice of bread and the most unappetizing mixture of vegetables—shriveled peas, limp carrots, and sickly-looking corn. “Ah, bon appetit,” Jed said. “Our princely fare of the day.”

  “You mock the menu!” Ellie said. “I’m horrified.”

  “No, you’re not,” Jed answered.

  Ellie laughed. “I think you’re mixing up the food for the pauper with that for the prince.”

  “Could be; could be,” Jed answered, chuckling.

  “Mind if I join you?” Staunton asked.

  “It would be an honor,” Ellie said.

  Staunton flushed. “Well, hardly that.”

  “Of course, it would. Please sit down.”

  Staunton turned to Jed. “You know, of course, what Mr. Miller is planning.”

  “I do.” He glanced at Ellie.

  “I’d like to talk to you a little about it. It really bothers me.”

  “Bothers you?”

  Staunton glanced at Ellie.

  “It’s okay,” Staunton said. “Everyone’s going to know about this anyhow.” He turned to Ellie. “As everyone knows, I’m a total failure.”

  “Mr. Staunton—”

  “No, you can’t sugarcoat it. It’s the truth. I don’t know what I was thinking when I decided to try to teach.” He shook his head. “I guess I had this idealistic view of what I could accomplish. How I could help kids.”

  “I’m sorry,” Ellie said.

  “Thank you.” He took in a deep breath and let it out. “Everyone knows what my classes are like, and I’d give anything if it weren’t so. But it is.” He swallowed hard. “And I’m ashamed. Ashamed and embarrassed. Everyone already knows, but to have me sit in on someone else’s classes—someone who’s a good teacher—”

  “I’m sorry, Don. I probably should never have agreed to let this happen.”

  “No. You did the right thing, and I don’t blame you one bit. I blame myself.” He shook his head. “What I started to say before… The worst thing is to have it pointed out in front of the entire school what a bad teacher I am. It’s at the point that I’m even ashamed to show my face in the cafeteria.”

  “You certainly shouldn’t feel that way,” Ellie said.

  “How should I feel? How would you feel?”

  “I admit that it would bother me. A lot. But I think you have to look at observing Jed’s classes not as an embarrassment or being shameful. I’m sure Mr. Miller just wants to help.”

  “And I don’t blame him,” Staunton said. “But I’m sure everyone will—”

  “What?” Jed asked.

  “Have a very low opinion of me, as if they don’t already.”

  “For what it’s worth,” Jed said. “Yes, people may have a not-so-great opinion of your teaching. But that’s your teaching. Not you. Other teachers aren’t against you. Of course, many are bothered by the disruptions, the noise. That’s what they hate. They don’t hate you, the person. In fact, Don, I think you’re a pretty good guy, the kind of person I’m sure I’d like very much to have as a friend. You’re kind, compassionate, considerate of others.”

  “I…don’t know what to say.”

  “No, need to say anything. Just remember what I said. And don’t worry about tomorrow. I won’t call attention to you. I’ll proceed just as if there’s nothing unusual happening.”

  “Thanks.”

  Was that moisture Jed saw in Staunton’s eyes?

  “Well,” Staunton said, “princely or not, I’m afraid the macaroni just isn’t my cup of tea.”

  “I agree,” Ellie said. “It tastes like little pieces of composition board covered in a sort of hideous glop I wouldn’t feed to my pig…that is, if I had a pig.”

  “Well, maybe the cherry pie will save us,” Ellie said.

  “Cherry pie?” Jed asked. “In my entire slice I found only one cherry. The rest was filling.”

  “But not so filling,” Ellie said. “Especially, since I can’t even force it down.”

  “Excuse me,” Staunton said as he stood. “Want to get back upstairs before I’m overwhelmed by the thundering herd.”

  “So what do you think?” Jed asked. “About this little experiment of having Don observe my teaching.”

  Ellie shrugged. “To misquote Hippocrates: ‘Desperate times call for desperate measures.’”

  “And I do suppose you could call the situation desperate.”

  “I can tell you’re a little apprehensive. Look at it this way. You’re the one out of several that Miller entrusts with the job. He must think you’re doing fine, in fact, that you’re an exemplary teacher.

  “Wouldn’t go that far. Maybe an okay teacher. An adequate teacher—”

  “Didn’t know bigtime investigative reporters were such shrinking violets.”

  “Investigative reporter? Yeah. Bigtime? More like little fish, little pond.”

  “Mr. Fredericks, I won’t have you saying things like that about my favorite ex-journalist.”

  “Anyhow, I assume you still want to go to the Yoder farm this afternoon.”

  “Of course.”

  “And we’re going to try to talk to Mrs. Yoder too. And maybe even some of the kids.”

  “Okay. He stood and glanced at the two barely touched plates on the table. “The end to a perfect lunch. All we can do is look forward to equal fare tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow…”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Jacob is out in the field cutting down hay for the animals. Soon the weather is going to change, and it will be too late,” Emma Yoder told Jed and Ellie when they knocked on the door. “You’re welcome to take a seat. Come inside, if you like, or sit out here on the porch.”

  “Is the porch okay with you, Ellie?”

  “Of course. We probably won’t have a lot of warm sunny days left, so we’d better enjoy them while we can.”

  “I just made lemonade. Would you like a glass?” Emma asked.

  “That would be very nice,” Jed said, “if you’ll come and join us.

  “For a little while. Then I have to get back to my cooking and canning. Vegetables, you know. Peas, green beans…”

  “You must keep yourself very busy,” Ellie said.

  “Indeed we do, Mrs. Steiner.”

  “Ah, you remember me?”

  “The nice lady that Mattie invited to visit us a long time ago. I do remember.”

  “Remember, my name is Ellie. Only my students call me Mrs. Steiner.

  “And my name is Emma. Very nice to see you again.”

  “And this is Jed,” Ellie said.

  “Pleased to meet you, Jed.”

  Jed is a teacher at Caraway like I am. This is his first year of teaching.”

  “It must be wonderful to teach youngsters.”

  “Jed teaches seventh grade.”

  “Ah, yes, one of my sons will have you as his teacher next year.”

  “Oh?”

  “His name is Caleb. He says all the other kids say you’re a very good teacher.”

  “Emma, you’re embarrassing me.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to off
end.”

  “You certainly didn’t offend me. I was just kidding.”

  “I’ll get the lemonade. Maybe Caleb can come and meet you while I’m getting it ready.”

  “That would be nice.”

  A moment later a boy, who Jed figured must be about eleven, opened the door and came outside. He had dark brown hair and a bright smile. “Mama told me to come outside and welcome you.”

  “That’s very nice.”

  “My name is Caleb, but I know who you are. Mrs. Steiner and Mr. Fredericks.” He turned to Jed. “I’m going to be in your classroom next year.”

  “How nice, Caleb. I look forward to it.”

  “That is…if I pass.”

  Just then Emma came outside carrying a tray filled with glasses of lemonade. “If you pass!” She turned to Jed and Ellie. “He always has the highest marks in his class.” Her face clouded. “Like Mattie.”

  “That’s good, isn’t it?”

  “It wasn’t so good for Mattie.”

  “I’m sorry,” Ellie said. “I know it must be hard for you, now that she’s not a part of your family anymore.

  “She’s an outsider, like an English woman. But…” She broke off. “Oh, listen to me.” She held out the tray. “If it needs more sugar, let me know.”

  Jed took a sip. “It’s perfect.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I suppose you came to see Jacob again. About the bad thing that happened to Mr. Johnstone.” She took a sip of lemonade and placed the glass on the porch railing. Then she sat down. “He didn’t do it, you know.”

  “We’re here only to talk to him…and to you, if you don’t mind.”

  “Just so long as you don’t call the police and have him arrested.”

  “We wouldn’t do such a thing, Emma,” Jed said. “We’re only here to try to clear things up and to find out who really murdered Joe.”

  “Joe. Joseph. I always loved that name. Joseph like in the Bible.”

  “It’s a terrible thing to have happen,” Ellie said. “Did you know him at all?”

  “No, I never met him. I suppose he thought he was doing the right thing with Mattie. And I know she had this great hunger to learn everything she could. I do not blame him. The Bible says that if you don’t forgive others, our Heavenly Father will not forgive your own sins. I miss Mattie; I cannot pretend that I do not. But she made her own choices, and we must all go on from there.”

  “Do you mind if we ask a few questions?” Jed said. “About the morning Joe died.”

  “You’re concerned because Jacob was in Dover that morning. Isn’t that right?”

  “I can’t deny it,” Jed said. “But it’s just so we can clear your husband’s name, so we can prove he is not the murderer. Incidentally, I didn’t know he was in Dover.” He turned to Ellie. “You didn’t know either, did you?”

  “I had no idea,” Ellie said.

  Emma took another sip of lemonade. “Once every month Jacob takes the buggy to Dover to buy tools he may need and also feed for the animals that we ourselves, cannot provide.”

  “Why Dover?” Ellie asked. “Couldn’t he just go into Sweet River?”

  “I suppose so, but he tells me that for some of the things he needs—farm equipment, and so on—the quality is better at the hardware store there. Other things he finds in Sweet River are just as good or better than those in Dover. So whenever he can, he buys what he needs closer to the farm.”

  “And it was just happenstance that he was in Dover the day Joe was murdered?”

  “Yes, a coincidence. Who could have known ahead of time?”

  “You can ask Caleb. The children often like to go to Dover with Jacob to see the sights. They take turns. This last time Caleb was the one to go.”

  “We went to the hardware store, and then we stopped for ice cream. My vater bought me my favorite kind, pistachio.”

  “Jacob spoils them. Each time he buys a treat for the children, whatever they like—usually ice cream or candy. Since this happens only once a month, each girl or boy misses the morning of school. I know that is bad, but once or twice a year shouldn’t put them behind.”

  “It certainly shouldn’t,” Jed answered. “And I think that’s a very nice thing to do.”

  “On the way home,” Caleb said, “I thought I saw Mr. Johnstone’s car parked in a field. And I thought I must be mistaken. Why would his car be there? I thought that it must be another car, one that is just like his.”

  “Really!?” Ellie said. “Jacob didn’t mention this.”

  “He told me he didn’t. He said it seemed of little importance.”

  “But he has a witness to back up his story,” Jed said, “to acknowledge that Jacob certainly didn’t murder Joe.”

  Emma shrugged. “That’s Jacob.”

  Emma sat facing the doorway and so she didn’t see Jacob approach.

  “It is Jacob indeed,” the man said.

  Emma jumped. “I didn’t hear you coming.”

  “I was pretty sure you didn’t. I’m sorry if I frightened you.”

  She gave him a big smile. “As you see, we have visitors.”

  “Welcome,” Jacob said. “I guess you are here once again to talk about the terrible thing that happened to Mr. Johnstone.”

  “Unfortunately,” Jed said, “we are.”

  “There’s nothing else I can tell you that I feel would help. I did not murder the man. I could not do such a thing. And I have no idea who did.”

  “Caleb tells us that he went with you that day, and that he saw a car he thought at first belonged to Joe.”

  “That is true. He mentioned that to me. But then he felt he was wrong because there didn’t seem to be a reason for the man to park in a field.”

  “What time was this?” Jed asked.

  “I like to finish the buying of materials as early as possible. The hardware store opens before most other businesses. And then we stopped at a little restaurant that is open all day long. I bought an ice cream cone for Caleb and a soft drink for myself. That probably took about fifteen minutes. So I’d say by eight-thirty or so we were on the way home.”

  “And the car was still there?” Jed asked.

  “And was the door open?” Ellie wondered.

  “I do not remember if the door was open or not,” Jacob said. “Do you, Caleb?”

  “Yes, it was open because I thought that was strange since no one was around.” He flushed. “Then I thought maybe someone… you know, someone had to go to the bathroom and couldn’t wait. And so he went back into the woods.”

  “So,” Jed said, “you must have passed by before the police even arrived.”

  “But you didn’t see any cars or trucks around?” Ellie asked.

  “No, Mrs. Steiner,” Caleb said. “Nobody at all. There wasn’t very much traffic on the road.”

  “Which may help explain how the murderer got away with it,” Jed said. “There wouldn’t be much of a problem shooting Joe if there was little traffic. The murderer could have kept the bow at his side while he talked to Joe. Then when he saw the road was clear, he shot Joe.”

  “But wouldn’t Joe realize what was happening? That whoever it was had the bow hidden from view?”

  “Maybe,” Jed answered. “But if it were someone he knew, he probably wouldn’t have thought anything of it if the person were standing talking to him.”

  “I see your point,” Ellie said.

  Jed turned to Jacob. “So if Caleb is telling the truth…” He glanced at the boy, “and I’m sure he is, that certainly takes you off the hook.”

  Jacob looked puzzled.

  “Sorry,” Jed said. “It’s a slang expression that refers to taking a fish off the hook and putting it back into the water. It means there’s no doubt anymore that you could be the one who murdered Joe. It means you’re clear.”

  “Thank you for explaining.”

  “No problem,” Jed answered.

  “So you see, though I disagree with what Mr. Johnstone did in p
roviding a way for Mattie to go on with her learning, I do not hold a grudge.”

  “Too bad everyone can’t feel as you do about holding grudges,” Ellie said.

  “As I told you earlier, I wish things would be like they were when Mattie was a girl. But although Mattie is no longer a part of our community, I love her with all my heart.” He turned and went into the house.

  Jed stood. “Thank you very much for the lemonade and for talking with us, Emma.”

  “You’re welcome. I hope you will come back to visit again but under better circumstances.”

  “I’d love to do that,” Jed said.

  “So would I,” Ellie said.

  ***

  “So what did you think?” Jed asked once they were inside the car and headed back toward Sweet River.

  “I believe him, and I’m convinced Caleb was telling the truth.”

  “What if they had stopped to investigate?” Jed said. “It would have been traumatic for Caleb.”

  “I’m glad they didn’t.”

  “So you truly think Jacob is innocent?” Jed asked.

  “I do.”

  “I think so too. But then where do we go from here?” Jed asked.

  “I think the next step is to call Thompkins. Try to find out why he missed his son’s wedding. It surprises me why someone would fly all the way from Michigan to California and then miss the wedding, the reason for the trip.”

  “Except, as we speculated, he left for a day, came here, and murdered Joe.”

  “It seems too far-fetched to me.”

  “Tell you what. Why don’t you give me the info you have on the man, and I’ll give him a call. As a reporter, I could be very insistent, very persuasive. Is that okay with you?”

  “No problem whatsoever. I’ll email you as soon as I’m home.”

  “Good. Michigan’s in the same time zone, so I’ll wait until I’m sure the man is home from work. Around seven or so. Then I’ll give you a call. What do you think?”

  “I’ll be waiting with bated breath. As one of my kids wrote in an essay for English class, that’s b-a-i-t-e-d breath, right?”

  “Of course. And I’m going to go home and cook myself a nice batch of worms for dinner.”

  Jed laughed as he pulled into the school parking lot and watched as Ellie climbed into her car.