Murder is Elementary (A Susan Wiles Schoolhouse Mystery Book 1)

by Diane Weiner

  Rebecca was getting ready to meet her gym friends for dinner. She pulled her wavy brown hair into a high ponytail. She’d gotten it cut right before the move. It had been very long––all the way to where her butt started. In her three decades of life, she remembered getting it trimmed maybe half a dozen times. At least Locks of Love will be able to make a few wigs out of this donation, she remembered thinking at the time. It somewhat eased the pain of giving up her youthful persona for a mature one. It was time to step up to the plate and take charge of things.

  Chapter 41

  Vinnie’s Pizzeria was always busy. It was a Wednesday night and Jody and Theresa actually had to wait for a table as if it were a Saturday night. The chef was putting a pizza into the brick oven using a wooden board with an extra long handle. While they waited to be seated, people continually came up to the counter, picking up white boxes to carry home for dinner. Theresa wore jeans and a button-down shirt under her jacket. Jody wore corduroys and boots, projecting a retro look. She wasn’t crazy about the clunky boots but it was hard to find delicate ones in her size.

  “Right this way.” The hostess led them to a table and gave them menus.

  “We’ll need a third place setting,” said Jody. Then they ordered a pitcher of beer.

  “So how are things going with David?” asked Jody.

  “Okay. He’s a bit possessive though. An old friend who happens to be a guy came to visit last week. David really gave me the third degree and insisted on coming along for dinner. He gets jealous if I even mention a man’s name.”

  “Hey, sorry I’m late.” Rebecca took off her coat and sat down.

  “No problem, Becky. Have some beer. How are things going?” asked Jody.

  “Everything’s good. My legs are still sore from the kickboxing we did yesterday. It’s midterms time so I’ve had a lot of grading to keep up with,” said Becky.

  “At least you get to work in your pajamas,” said Theresa

  “Well, it’s not always easy. There are too many temptations like sleeping in and watching The View. It’s nice to get out and spend some time with friends. It gives me a reason to get dressed.”

  As she smiled, Jody couldn’t help noticing that Becky’s teeth were as straight as the guards outside of Buckingham Palace. And they were so white. Either she completely shunned wine, coffee, and any other potentially staining foods, or she’d recently engaged in tooth whitening.

  A waitress who was dressed in the colors of the Italian flag approached their table and took their order.

  Chapter 42

  Crackle, crackle, crackle. The stone fireplace was Hayley’s absolute favorite part of her dream house. Antonio was at a PTA meeting and she’d just gotten the boys to sleep. When the baby starting crawling she’d have to cover the hearth with a quilt like she did when Tony was a baby so he wouldn’t get hurt. The heat warmed her cheeks and hands while her thoughts turned icy. If Antonio went to jail she’d be here alone with the kids. Maybe that wasn’t so bad. She wouldn’t have to put up with his cheating anymore. It was so embarrassing going into school or even the grocery store knowing everyone she passed pegged her as a naïve fool. Hayley pretended she didn’t know what Antonio was up to, but she’d known for a long time. She just hadn’t yet decided how to handle it. One of Hayley’s greatest attributes was her patience. The purse. She imagined it being snuck out to the car during the first half of the show so the Epi-pen wouldn’t be available. Everyone knew how severely allergic Vicky was. Then it was smuggled into their closet. A poor hiding job? Or a cleverly planted piece of false evidence. In a flash of genius she’d thrown away the bag of chopped nuts she used for baking. The police surely would have found it and jumped to conclusions when they searched her pantry. Quick thinking.

  ***

  Antonio was grateful for the solitude even if it meant driving to a boring meeting. His hands were freezing even inside the car. It always took a while for the heat to kick in. He and Hayley hadn’t been getting along so well since the police search. It was puzzling that the purse showed up in the closet. The police thought that either he or Hayley––maybe he and Hayley––had hidden it there. Obviously, they had no proof since neither one of them was behind bars. When he first met Hayley they had such a connection. He revealed things about himself that he hadn’t ever told anyone. Now he wasn’t sure if she trustworthy at all. He was realizing that she had some secrets of her own.

  Chapter 43

  I need to get Mike to clean the windshield, thought Susan. The glare at night is making it hard to see. Downtown was far brighter than the country roads that dominated Westbrook.

  “That movie was hilarious. It’s the first time I’ve laughed in a while,” said Carolina.

  Susan had taken her to Vinnie’s for pizza and then they went to the dollar movie downtown. Midterms were this week and Susan knew Carolina had been stressing out over them. She’d hoped to offer Carolina a brief respite.

  “I enjoyed it a lot,” said Susan.” I had wanted to see it when it first came out but Mike and I never got around to it. The pizza was good too.” She’d eaten four slices but it was topped with mushrooms and green peppers so at least it was healthy. She couldn’t wait to get home and unbutton her jeans.

  “That social worker is really friendly,” said Carolina. “I remember meeting her at Mom’s funeral.” They had run into Jody at Vinnie’s. “Her friends seemed nice too. “I’m glad she’s fending off the DCF while we look for my aunt. I can’t believe I even have to worry about being taken out of my own home. Like I don’t have enough to deal with.”

  Susan parked in front of Carolina’s house. “I’ll walk you in. The lights are all off so Araceli must already be in bed.”

  Carolina opened the front door and flicked on the light. “Come in for a cup of coffee.” She took Susan’s coat and led her into the kitchen. “Brrr, it’s freezing in here.”

  “Okay, but I’ll just stay a little while. You have school tomorrow and Mike should be getting back from his poker game soon,” said Susan.

  Carolina filled the coffee maker with water and scooped coffee into a filter. “Did you just hear a noise?” asked Carolina.

  “No, I didn’t hear anything.” Susan was more determined than ever to find Vicky’s murderer. She saw how jumpy Carolina seemed these days. Maybe if the killer was locked up in jail Carolina could rest easier.

  “Did I tell you I’m already on page two of the scrapbook I’m making?” Susan tried to sound like that was an accomplishment. She really didn’t have the patience for scrap booking. Suddenly, they heard the front door slam shut.

  “What’s that?” asked Carolina.

  “Maybe Araceli went out for a walk,” said Susan. She tried to sound reassuring but was starting to feel a bit uneasy––like someone was lurking around outside maybe.

  “She never does that,” said Carolina. They flew into the living room. The door was closed but no longer locked. Carolina opened the door and turned on the porch light. Although Susan didn’t see anyone, she heard the muffled sound of a car starting in the distance.

  “Who would have been here?” asked Susan. “Is anything missing?”

  Just then Araceli came running out to the front porch. “Que paso? What happened?”

  They walked in and out of the bedrooms, checked the den, and made sure the silver was still in the kitchen drawer. Nothing appeared to be missing.

  “I’ll call Lynette,” said Susan. Having a daughter on the police force had proven to be a convenience on more than one occasion. Within half an hour, Lynette was knocking on the door.

  “Thanks for coming,” said Susan. “I think someone was here in the house. We heard the front door slam closed. It was unlocked but Carolina had locked it when we came in. Then we heard a car start and zoom away. It must have been behind the trees of the neighbor’s yard.” Susan took Lynette to the window and pointed out a dense row of evergreens that lined the neighbor’s driveway and obscured the view.

  Lynette wro
te down the details. Susan knew Lynette would make an official report when she went to the station in the morning. Susan watched as Lynette took a flashlight from her car and checked out the rest of the house. The storm door on the porch was latched from the inside.

  “I guess that wasn’t the point of entry,” said Lynette. Susan followed her as she walked around the perimeter of the house searching the bushes and shrubs.

  “Mom, what are you doing? You can’t be following me around. It’s dangerous. Go back in the house.”

  Nothing unusual here anyway, thought Susan. She reentered the living room where Carolina and Araceli were waiting.

  “Did you find anything?” asked Carolina.

  “Look here,” Lynette said. She led them down the hallway. “The bathroom window was open. That’s how he got in. I’ll get the officers who are on duty tonight over here and have them dust for prints. I’m going to go talk to the neighbors. Maybe they saw something.”

  Susan watched as Lynette crossed the lawn and went next door. The house appeared dark but she saw Lynette climb onto the front stoop and knock. Susan could hear a dog barking but no one answered the door. Even if the neighbors were asleep inside, Cujo’s barking would have woken them up, thought Susan. She watched as Lynette tried the neighbors on the other side. She saw a middle-aged couple answer the door but couldn’t hear what they were saying to Lynette. Susan waited with Carolina until the officers were finished.

  “Come and stay with us tonight,” offered Susan. “It may not be safe. Araceli should go home also.”

  “I’ll be okay,” said Carolina. “The police did a thorough search and I have to get up early and get ready for school.”

  “Lock the doors and call me if you hear anything else,” she said to Carolina. “I’ll call you in the morning before you leave for school.” Susan gave Carolina a hug and left after she heard the door being locked behind her.

  Chapter 44

  “Do you want some more coffee, Mom?” asked Hayley. Without waiting for an answer, Hayley went into the kitchen, grabbed the pot and brought it back to the table. She poured herself another cup. “The baby was up three times last night. I think he’s teething.”

  “No, thanks. I think you’re right.” Her mom took a bite of a homemade banana muffin. “He’s drooling a lot. You got your first tooth around his age. Rub some teething gel on his gums or give him a frozen teething ring. Poor baby. How’s Antonio doing with his new job?”

  “Fine, I guess. We haven’t been communicating much these days.” Hayley felt her eyes beginning to tear up.

  “Is anything wrong? Now that he finally has a respectable position is he screwing it up already? I figured he wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

  “Why are you always so negative about him?” Hayley was beginning to feel anger in the pit of her stomach. “Right from the day you met him you didn’t like him. Remember? I brought him home for Thanksgiving and I was so excited for you to meet him. You made that grimace you make right when you first shook his hand.”

  “I did not. I thought he was perfectly lovely,” said her mom.

  “Don’t lie, Mom. You gave him the third degree during dinner. You asked him what his parents did, why he was studying theater, what his plans were. Then after dinner when you and I were loading the dishwasher you told me I could do better. You hadn’t known him more than six hours and you already thought he was a loser.”

  “I was just looking out for you and I was right, wasn’t I? How many years did it take before you could afford this house? How many years were you married to a teacher? Guys that go into teaching are either lazy or not very bright.”

  “You had to keep pushing me to push him. That’s why he felt he needed to cheat on me. He knew he could never live up to my expectations, which is ironic because at first I really didn’t care how much money he was going to make or how much status he had. I loved him just as he was. But then, you kept second-guessing me and making me feel like I’d settled for less than I deserved.”

  “Where’s the violin music, Hayley? He cheated on you. See, I was right, wasn’t I? You’re going to divorce him and clean him out of every penny he has. Dad will get you in touch with a good divorce lawyer. I’m sure Arthur will have a colleague he can suggest. And he will never see his sons again. You have to get full custody.”

  “No, Mom. He’ll pay for this but I will determine how, not you. I loved him––I still do. It’s about time I told you to butt out.” Hayley folded her arms across her chest.

  “Hayley, you really need to move on while you’re still young enough to find someone else. My friend Tanya has a son who is a cardiac surgeon. His wife died of cancer last year––so tragic. Anyhow, I know the two of you would get along. That’s the kind of husband you deserve.” Just then, the baby began to cry over the monitor.

  “This discussion is over. You can see yourself out. I have to get the baby.”

  Chapter 45

  Westbrook Elementary was eerily quiet first thing in the morning. Schools were meant to be full of children, thought Jody. Many of her teacher friends loved the early morning serenity but Jody thought it was depressing. This morning she and Antonio were meeting with the parents of the school terror. Their little blond dynamo was by far more of a terror than any boy Jody had ever worked with. Her rap sheet included setting a fire in the girls’ bathroom, throwing a tray of food at the cafeteria manager, and bullying a myriad of students. Her parents didn’t look like the parents of a problem kid. They were both well dressed and articulate. Something must have been going on at home though. This type of extreme behavior had roots.

  “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Vigliotti. Have a seat,” said Antonio. The conference room was warm and inviting. The walls were paneled and the carpet was plush. Antonio liked that the chairs were thickly cushioned. Sometimes meetings went on for a long time. Jody shook their hands and had a seat. They’d met before on several occasions.

  “As you know,” said Antonio, “Savannah has a history of disciplinary issues stemming from the day she entered kindergarten. We’ve suspended her countless times, taken away field trips and parties, and even had her write reflections on her behavior. Nothing seems to be working.”

  “I know,” said Mr. Vigliotti. “We can’t control her at home either. I’m so sorry that she’s causing such a disruption. We’ve been to three different therapists and they couldn’t give us answers.”

  “Sometimes kids act out for attention or to express anger,” said Jody.

  “Yes, believe me we know that. She swears she isn’t angry and God knows she gets plenty of attention,” said Mrs. Vigliotti.

  “We’re going to try a new solution,” said Mr. Vigliotti. “We’ve been doing research on the internet and there’s a facility not far from here that offers a behavior boot camp. It’s an eight week session. We’re going to pull Savannah out of school for that amount of time. The boot camp has an academic component and they promise the children will not fall behind academically.”

  “No.” Jody’s vehement opposition caused Savannah’s parents and Antonio to jump. Jody even surprised herself with the power of her own voice. ”You must not do that. They will ruin her.” Jody stood up and slapped her hand against the oak table.

  “Calm down,” said Antonio. “These are her parents and they have obviously researched this a great deal.”

  “You just don’t want to deal with her at home.” Jody spit the stinging words out of her mouth. “Do you think they will tame her? Make her into your ideal child? What are you thinking?” She felt her face flush with rage.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs.Vigliotti. Excuse us a moment.” Antonio led Jody out of the conference room.

  “What on earth is wrong with you? You can’t talk to parents that way. They didn’t do anything wrong. They’re exploring a possible solution––that’s more than most parents around here are willing to do. At least they realize there’s an issue and are trying to fix it.”

  “Those camps are horrible.
Haven’t you seen those stories about kids who go there and are beaten or made to do hard labor in the heat all day without water. A kid even died at one of those places just last year. You know how passionately I feel about the unjust treatment of children,” said Jody. She was practically out of breath by this point.

  “These parents have done their research. I know the facility they’re talking about and it has a wonderful track record. Over the years we’ve had a few of our students go there and they came back much better behaved,” said Antonio.

  “They need to accept who that child is and work with her from a position of love and understanding. Do you know how traumatic it will be for that child to be taken out of her home for eight weeks?” said Jody. She had seen this scenario before and it didn’t turn out well.

  “It’s been traumatic for the adults and students here who Savannah has been impacting these past few years. Setting that fire was the last straw. If she doesn’t get aggressive help now she’ll wind up in jail. You need to apologize to those parents and just maybe I won’t write up a discipline report on you,” said Antonio. His stern tone caused Jody to step back.

  “I’m sorry. This issue is close to my heart.” Jody took a deep breath and walked back into the conference room.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Vigliotti, I apologize. I know you’re doing what you think is best for Savannah. I should never have reacted that way.”