Dying to Teach

by Cindy Davis

  “Guess he doesn’t believe in cooking.”

  He stood and shook his head. They eased the doors closed. Evan motioned for her to duck into the shrubbery. He had his cellphone in his hand and was dialing. “Mr. Chalmers, it’s Dawson—Dawson Young. I’m sorry if I woke you but there’s kind of an emergency at school…I know you’ve been suspended, and I know Mr. Todd has taken over coaching the team, but…can you just come? I’ll explain when you get here.”

  Evan shoved the phone in his pocket. He urged Kiana deeper into the bushes and further back on the property. They didn’t have to wait long before the gym teacher raced from the house and sped away.

  “Now, all we have to worry about is whether he locked the place.”

  “Or if he has a Rottweiler.”

  They tiptoed to the backyard and up to the door. The unlocked back door. Evan went in first, peering in all directions for a huge dog amidst the mess. No dog launched himself out of the rubble, but two kittens mewed from under the kitchen table. Kiana started to pick one up but Evan rushed her along. “He won’t be gone long.”

  They performed a cursory search of the kitchen, bathroom and living room, finding nothing. Evan opened Mr. Chalmers’ bedroom door. The bed was unmade; the sheets and spread were heaped in the center. Evan searched the dresser. Kiana went for the closet. “Sheesh.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  When she didn’t reply, Evan appeared at her side. “Wow. There’s more of Ms. Forest’s clothes in here than his.”

  Kiana fingered a lavender dress with a short flowing shirt. “This doesn’t look like anything I ever saw her wear.”

  “Kee, we never saw her outside of school.”

  Kiana had. Not in a dress-up sort of situation like this dress would go with—but she had been in Gwen’s apartment and never seen any indication her mentor wore thongs or frilly dresses. Gwen was a jeans and T-shirt kind of person most all the time. She slammed the door shut, not at all liking what her brain was saying—that Gwen might’ve been the kind of woman who played dress-up sex games.

  She forced herself to ask, “Find anything in the dresser?”

  Evan reached into a top drawer and came up with a handful of fancy underwear. “Just more of this. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  “There’s one more room.”

  “Waste of time.”

  Kiana took the initiative and pushed open the door to what was probably a spare bedroom. And nearly fainted. This room was perfect in every way, spotlessly clean. The pink canopy bed was covered in a frilly pink spread.

  “Wow,” Evan said. “I didn’t know Mr. Chalmers had a daughter.”

  “He must be divorced.”

  “Well, at least one member of the family is neat. Let’s get out of here.” His words were calm but held a measure of trepidation, as though he’d learned something about his teacher that he hadn’t wanted to know. As they drove away, Evan’s voice came over the headphones, “I bet those underwear belonged to his wife.”

  Kiana almost said the words that squeezed into her throat. His dead wife. And he killed her just like he killed my Gwen.

  THIRTEEN

  Jarvis and Irish Red arrived at the police department by 7 a.m. Jarvis carried a steaming jumbo-sized cup of coffee bought moments ago at the local drive-thru. He had printed the photo Angelina sent. It rested in the pocket of his flannel shirt. Red had finally reached the stage where she didn’t need a leash to go from the car to the station. She pranced along beside him.

  They spent a moment in the inner lobby where the dispatcher made cooing sounds at the puppy and presented her with a St. Bernard sized treat. Finally Jarvis was able to extricate the pup from the dispatcher and they made their way to his office, the treat almost knocking Red over as she dragged it down the hallway.

  He sat at the computer terminal, coffee in one hand, photo in the other, and Irish Red wedged between his feet. He laughed at how she just fit in the space under his desk. What would she do when she reached her full weight of sixty pounds? No—a better question would be, what would he do? Not that it was a question at all. No doubt he’d scrunch up his legs and go home all bowed up and arthritic looking, which would make Angelina laugh. She couldn’t understand his compulsion to keep the dog comfortable in spite of his own discomfort. Someday maybe she’d understand how dog owners acted around their children.

  He set the coffee on the corner of the desk and punched keys to bring up marriage records. He knew the general year and probable location so it wasn’t long before the records appeared. Gwendoline Marcia Forest and Randall Jacob Reynolds were married by a Justice of the Peace in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts on December 14th, 1993. A few more keystrokes turned up their annulment on November 2nd of 1994. Eleven months was all it lasted. Sounded right. Eleven months was just long enough to become comfortable enough to desert your best behavior in favor for your normal personality.

  Still not sure of the compulsion driving him to do this Jarvis telephoned the records office at Bridgewater State College. After a mere three minutes, he located a woman named Vicki Fredette who not only was willing to help but also remembered Gwen.

  “Gwen worked with me here in the office for two years. A lovely girl, kind and polite. She stood out from the others in that way. Kids these days have forgotten about manners.”

  “Do you remember her being with Randy Reynolds?”

  “Heavens yes. Gwen was head over heels for him. I think he was a year older, so that’d make him a junior. I tried to warn them about jumping too quickly; these things never last, but you know how hearts can be at that age. They think nothing’s going to change that initial flood of passion.”

  “What was Gwen’s major, can you remember?”

  She was quiet a moment, then said, “I’ll have to check.” Jarvis waited while computer keys tapped in the background. “Oh yes, here it is. She entered as a major in business administration. Then in September of her sophomore year, she switched to childhood education. I have a note here that she worked part time in a local kindergarten.”

  “Was switching like that anything unusual?”

  “Definitely not. Students frequently ‘discover themselves’ after a year or so.”

  “Did she work in the kindergarten to earn money?”

  “I’d expect she was planning using it as part of her thesis for graduation.”

  “What do you remember about Randy?”

  “I always thought he was a little weird. A nice guy but a little weird. In spite of that, he and Gwen complemented each other pretty well. He wasn’t freaky weird or anything, just different. You know, like if all the other guys were wearing blue shirts, he’d be wearing a pink one.”

  Jarvis made notes.

  “I’ve always wondered if there was something physically wrong with him.”

  “Care to elaborate on that?”

  “Well, since I worked with Gwen I saw them a lot. They still held hands, but after say, around Christmas, they seemed different, like there was something wrong. No, not wrong in the sense of not getting along. I just had the idea something wasn’t right. You know what I mean?”

  He did, sort of. “No idea what it could have been?”

  “No. He still came and walked her home every day. And, like I said, they still held hands, still laughed together. There was just something different.” She sighed.

  “So, you never asked.”

  “No. It wasn’t my place. I figured if she wanted to tell me, she would.”

  There was a moment of silence that Jarvis didn’t break. Good to let her arrange some thoughts. Finally she said, “I’m sorry, I guess all that gibberish wasn’t much help, was it?”

  “Linda, you never know what’ll turn out to be helpful. When did they graduate?”

  “Oh, Gwen never did, at least not from here. One day in early September of, let me see, it had to be ’94, Gwen and Randy came into the office and she gave her notice. She said she and Randy were getting an annulment and she was tran
sferring out. She wouldn’t say where she was transferring but she wrote a few times after that. She never gave an address so I could write back, but the postmarks were from different towns in California.”

  “Seems funny she didn’t want you to write back. If you were friends, that is.”

  “Detective, I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. Gwen and I weren’t friends, just co-workers. She and Randy spent all their time together. I don’t think either of them took time to make friends with anybody else. While we worked we talked. You know?”

  “I don’t suppose you kept any of those letters.”

  “No, sorry.”

  “You say they came to the office together when Gwen gave her notice?”

  “Stood not two feet in front of my desk, holding hands like always. She said they were getting an annulment and she was transferring out west.”

  “How did each of them act at this time?”

  “Not sure what you mean.”

  “Did you get the idea Gwen’s announcement was in any way coerced?”

  “Heavens no.”

  “So, Randy’s demeanor was exactly as usual? He wasn’t nervous, angry, excited?”

  “Oh, I see what you’re saying. No, he seemed like always, except serious, of course, since this was a serious announcement.”

  “Randy wasn’t usually serious?”

  Linda laughed. “He could be quite the comedian sometimes. Loved telling jokes. You know, just enjoying life.”

  “Did either of them have roommates? Can you think of anybody else I might talk to?”

  “Gwen’s freshman roommate was Deb somebody. Let me think a second…” And she did. Jarvis watched six seconds tick off the big wall clock. “Yes, I’ve got it. Her last name was Fingerman. But she’s married now. Last thing I heard she had a couple of sons. She stayed right here in town after graduation. She married someone who didn’t go to school here—Jason Ellis. I hear he’s a stockbroker. As far as Randy’s roommates…I didn’t know any of them. And of course, he and Gwen moved in together after they were married.”

  “Did Gwen write anything specific in her letters? Anything that might give an idea of how she was doing? What I’m wondering is if she moved in with family or something like that.”

  “Well, she said she was moving to be with family but she never said anything like you should see what my sister did today. You know what I mean?”

  “Sure. What was your general opinion of her situation?”

  “If it’d been the forties or fifties I’d thought she was pregnant and ran away to have the child. But, she was happily married, so if there was a problem they would’ve worked it out together, right?”

  “Right.”

  “Even so, my general impression said it was nothing like that.”

  Jarvis felt the conversation winding down and searched his brain for more questions. It wasn’t often you got such a cooperative witness. “I assume Randy graduated.”

  “Yes, the following spring. That would make it 1995, with a degree in elementary education.”

  He scribbled information on a notepad. “Did he get a job right away?”

  “Yes, in upstate Calif—ooh, I wonder if he and Gwen got together after that.”

  “Be good if you could recall some of the towns Gwen’s letters came from.”

  She thought a while longer but came up with nothing.

  Jarvis could think of nothing else to ask. “I thank you immensely for all your help.”

  “I hope it helps find her killer.”

  So do I, Jarvis thought as he hung up.

  The office door opened and the captain stepped into the small windowless room that was resembled a closet. Irish Red launched herself from under the desk and ran over to wiggle around the tall man. Jarvis smiled. She really knew who to kiss up to.

  “Didn’t think you were coming in today.”

  “Change of plans.”

  “What’re you working on?”

  “That murder case down in Carlson. And before you remind me it’s not our jurisdiction, I’ll remind you that—”

  “I know, that’s where Angie is.” He leaned on the edge of Jarvis’ desk, one hand fondling the pup who’d put her front paws up on his knee. The captain laughed. “She’s been in that school for two days and hasn’t solved the case yet? You’d better call the doctor and get her a checkup. There’s got to be something seriously wrong.”

  “Very funny. Actually, she’s determined not to work on this one.”

  Jarvis laughed along with his captain but knew the real reason Angelina hesitated to build the clue puzzle. Though she hadn’t been physically injured in the accident a month ago, her mental scarring was more severe than his two-inch ass crater. He wasn’t a psychologist but knew there was some mega-conflict going on in her head. Solving puzzles wasn’t something she did to pass time or to gain notoriety. An uncontrollable force inside her pushed her to assemble pieces. It was as natural as eating and sleeping. Angelina Deacon had to fix things.

  She laughed recently saying how weird it was that this affliction hadn’t hit till she was in her fifties, but he pointed out that she’d always been that way. That was why she’d become a nurse. It just wasn’t till her fifties when that her need transferred to crime solving.

  What would happen now? Would she continue to stifle this urge? Maybe she’d go back to work in the hospital. All he knew for sure was, she couldn’t continue holding things inside.

  FOURTEEN

  “Evan, will you take me home?”

  “It’s almost time for school.”

  “I don’t think I’m going today.”

  “You have to, we have a test in calculus.”

  He was right. She had to go to school, but the reason had nothing to do with calculus. Anyway, she needed to go home a while first. Needed a quiet place to think. “We still have an hour.”

  Evan did as she asked, pulling up in front of her house. “I’ll pick you up at 7:15.”

  Kiana’s mother was in the kitchen. She waved the note as Kiana came in. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were up to something sneaky.”

  With a sigh, Kiana dropped into a chair. “It’s nothing like you’re thinking. Evan and I are trying to find out who killed Gw—Ms. Forest.” Seeing her mother’s shocked expression she hurried to add, “I know it’s dangerous but…there’s nothing you can do to talk me out of it.”

  Now it was her mother’s turn to sigh. She pulled out a neighboring chair and sat. She took Kiana’s hands in hers. “I know what a determined young girl you are. Usually I applaud that. I also know the drive you feel to avenge your teacher’s senseless death.” She gave a small laugh. “I’ve never in your life been able to talk you out of something you’ve resolved to do. So, I won’t try. I’ll pray I taught you to be careful and sensible and then I’ll ask you to promise one thing, to keep me apprised of what you do, where you go.”

  In light of all the things she could’ve said, it seemed a fair request. Kiana told her mother about going to the school, leaving out the part about luring Mr. Chalmers from his home. They shared a laugh over the neon green thong.

  “Mom, do you know if Mr. Chalmers was ever married?”

  “No. I don’t know anything about him except what they printed in this morning’s paper.” She pushed the paper across the table for Kiana to read. Nothing interesting about him at all. But she could imagine the uproar it would create at school now that the news was out. She stood up. “I’m going to take a shower.”

  Kiana’s mother stood too, took her head between her hands and kissed her forehead. “Be careful, daughter.”

  Kiana stood under the sharp needles of the hot water. For the first time in her life she considered staying home from school. The image of Mr. Chalmers as a murderer was hard to digest. Worse than that at the moment…she couldn’t face Mrs. Deacon. Not after the embarrassment of last night in the green room. Mrs. Deacon had specifically warned them to stay out of the case or they might get
hurt. They had deliberately ignored her. And almost gotten hurt, or maybe even kidnapped. Or worse.

  What might’ve happened if Mrs. Deacon hadn’t shown up? How far would the janitor have gone to get hold of that picture? A better question, why did he want it? He didn’t know who was in it. He only knew they’d found a picture.

  How long had he been standing there, listening to she and Evan talking? What did either of them say that made him suspicious? She replayed the conversation in her head. The only thing she could recall talking about was that they were in school after hours. And then they’d discussed the identity of the man in the photo.

  So, why would a janitor be interested in that picture?

  Because he was the man with his arm around Ms. Forest! Come to think of it, he did look like the guy. Kiana laughed. That would mean he and Ms. Forest were…

  Not possible. Simply not possible. Mr. Chalmers had asked Gwen to marry him.

  Maybe the janitor was her brother or cousin. No. If he were family, he wouldn’t care if there were a picture of them together. But…if they had a bad relationship and the cops found the picture, then he might be suspected of killing her. No—wrong track. News about Gwen’s relatives and their relationships would come out no matter what. Besides, that janitor acted more like a blackmailer than a brother.

  Okay, think about the picture. It was old. Maybe twenty years old. So, probably he and Gwen weren’t seeing each other right then. It could mean Mr. Chalmers found out and—well, so what if she and the janitor knew each other twenty years ago? What could it mean to anybody now? There had to be more.

  What if the janitor found out Ms. Forest and Mr. Chalmers were seeing each other? Their relationship was supposed to be a secret, but secrets had a way of squeezing out. Maybe he found out and 1-was jealous, 2-wanted her back, 3-threatened to tell the school board. Would they care? What was the worst that could happen? Maybe, to keep their jobs, Mr. Chalmers and Ms. Forest would have to get married. Big deal since they probably would’ve anyway.