by Sandy McKee
Sharon looked exhausted. She gave me a hug and said that she was going to the winery. “I’ve got a lot of explaining to do. I really hope I can save my marriage. Please say a prayer for me.”
“You were great! We make a pretty good team. Let’s just hope that they catch Van without any more violence.”
I got home and found Mom and Helen having coffee. I excitedly described what had taken place. They had lots of questions and couldn’t believe it.
“You really are quite a detective!” smiled Mom.
“Thanks, Mom, but it was really Fannie’s choice to confide in me that made all the difference.”
Mom gave me a brief hug. “She called again this morning. Don’t you think it’s time?”
I nodded and stepped out onto the front porch for some fresh air. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Somebody was in my Miata and pulling it out of the driveway. I took a flying leap off the porch and hit the ground running. As the driver turned to head down the street, I threw myself onto the hood and saw Van White’s face through the windshield. He swerved sharply, knocking me to the ground. He gassed the car and laid a patch of rubber with my tires. That made me furious. It looked like a scene from Magnum P.I., but this guy was no Magnum, even with his resemblance to Tom Selleck. Toby came running to my aid, licking my face and hands. I found myself once again checking for broken bones. I figured I’d just gotten a few more cuts and bruises to add to my already scary look. I toyed with the idea of chasing Van in the Jeep, but remembered that it was still at Ralph’s garage being repaired. For once, I’d call the police and let them take care of it. I’d had enough for one day. I called the state police and reported Van’s theft of my car and gave all the relevant information on my “baby”. I’d spotted Van’s car parked up the street and passed on that information too. I guessed it had either broken down or been out of gas. It had looked and sounded like it was on its last legs.
Then I remembered that I was to be at the school to teach a class at two! I loaded up on Tylenol, took a hot shower and patched my face up as well as I could. Maybe, I could use the battered look to my advantage. I pulled some of my old teaching materials out and sat down to review the lesson. I’d taught it several times in Florida, but needed to adjust it for high school students who could care less about what I had to say.
It dawned on me that with the Miata on the run with Van and the Jeep in the garage, I had no way to get to the school. Helen might lend me her Beamer, but with my luck lately, I decided I couldn’t really put someone’s else’s car at risk. As I was despairing about Solitude’s lack of public transportation, I remembered that Dad’s old ATV was in the back of the garage. As Dad had gotten older and couldn’t walk in the woods without pain, the “four wheeler” gave him a new lease on life and hunting. Phil and his kids still enjoyed riding the ATV when they visited. I had driven it a few times over the years and figured it would get me to the school in style. I’d just have to stick to back roads, creek beds and wooded trails. The police would be combing the area for Van and my beloved Miata, and I planned to keep out of their way (for once)!
I loaded all my teaching materials into the utility box mounted on the back of the ATV. Just to be on the safe side, I tucked my holstered pistol at the bottom of the box. I would probably be breaking some laws taking a weapon onto school property, but I needed to be prepared if I happened to run into Van White. I stopped by Solitude’s only pizza shop to pick up the “treats” I’d decided to use to try to win over Sally’s class. I tied the large boxes on top of the utility box and was on my way.
Chapter 13
I tried to focus on what I’d be teaching as I drove through the beautiful rolling hills that I’d know all my life, but my mind kept drifting to where Van might be and if the police had apprehended him yet. I was finally able to visualize all that had happened during the last week in a large suitcase. I would just set the suitcase aside until I finished teaching Sally’s class. It was a technique that I’d relied upon many times over the years to maintain my professionalism in the classroom while my mind was weighed down with other pressing and personal matters.
When I finally got to the school, the principal, Todd Lewis, met me at the parking lot. “Sally said you were coming. You certainly travel in style, Dana. We’re under virtual lockdown. The police said that there’s an all points bulletin out for the person they believe killed the Amish teacher. They think he’s driving a red Miata. I guess that explains your choice of wheels.”
“You got it,” I fumed. “I can’t imagine that he’d stay in the area, but who knows? He’s not the brightest bulb in the drawer. My car isn’t that fast and stands out around here. I guess he just took it when he saw the keys in the ignition, figuring the cops would be looking for his junker. Dumb move on my part.”
Todd helped me carry all my props to Sally’s classroom. There were no students in the room when we arrived. Sally looked surprised to see me. “I wasn’t sure you’d make it. Rumor has it that you were in on finding our local murderer. You look like hell. What happened?”
“I’ll give you the details later, but I got thrown to the ground when the guy stole my car and I tried to stop him. I hope the police catch him soon.”
I set up some learning stations around the room and explained to Sally how I hoped to teach the lesson. The bell rang and sixteen bored looking sixteen year olds dragged in.
Sally introduced me as Dr. Blades, an educator who grew up in Solitude. The kids perked up when she mentioned that I was also a part time sleuth who had just helped identify the man responsible for murdering the Amish school teacher.
I put the class into four groups of four and explained what I wanted them to do at each of the four learning stations. I also gave each student a handout with written instructions. They seldom listen the first time through. I explained that the fifth station would be after they returned to their seats and included pizza and salad. They were curious enough to humor me and went to their assigned stations. I’d allotted seven minutes per station so that there would be plenty of time for follow up discussion or debriefing as teachers like to call it.
Station number one featured an activity that featured the photos of a variety of people of different races, nationalities and physical features. Students were to match photos with labels. For example put all of the Jewish people in one group, all the Muslims in other, and so on. Students then self check their answers and hopefully realize that many of their stereotypes are incorrect.
The second station had a short video clip about Jane Elliot, a third grade teacher who taught her students a powerful lesson on discrimination by treating the blue eyed children better than the brown eyed and then reversing it. Her experiment had been repeated numerous times with various adult audiences. All who participated seemed to agree that it was a very effective way of helping them see how painful prejudice and discrimination could be. Students at this station had to brainstorm ways and times they’d been the victim or perpetrator of discrimination.
The third station asked students to examine pictures and profiles of people and decide which one was most likely to be a racist. They would hopefully see that discriminatory behavior was tied to low self esteem, ignorance and other negatives.
The fourth station had photos, poetry and short writings of people who had witnessed or been the victim of discrimination. It included some graphic photos of genocide in Nazi Germany, Africa and Cambodia. It also had descriptions of violence aimed at the Amish in Europe in the 1600s.
I gathered the students back together and debriefed them about the stations. They were more receptive than I had expected. I invited them to come up and help themselves to salad and pizza. Each individual salad just contained plain head lettuce. Each slice of pizza was plain. Students could add other vegetables and toppings to their salads and pizza. Once the students were seated with their snack, I asked how many took a simple plain salad or plain piece of pizza. No hands went up.
“Now I realize that people aren’t fo
od, but most of us enjoy some variety in our lives. Would it be dull if all salads were nothing but lettuce? Wouldn’t life be pretty dull if everyone looked or acted just like us?” I queried.
A few students offered some interesting points to the contrary while most seem to agree that we needed to be open minded. I opened the class up to questions and wasn’t really surprised when the students were more interested in the murderer on the loose in their community. When the bell rang, the students rushed for the door, excited for the upcoming weekend.
Sally thanked me and invited me back. Drew stopped by and said that the police said it would be O.K. to send the kids home although they still had not apprehended the suspect. “Just who is this guy anyhow?”
I told them what I knew about Van White, and they both seem to have a vague idea of who he was. They invited me to go out for drinks after work, but I declined feeling more exhausted than I had in a long time.
As I left the building and was loading my stuff onto the ATV, one of the girls from the class came up to me. “I enjoyed your class, Dr. Blades. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute?”
“Of course, what’s your name?”
“Sandy Ross.” She hesitated, seeming to carefully choose her words. “It’s just that I have an older brother, and I’m afraid he might be involved in some of the things that are going on against the Amish people. I’ve heard him and some of his friends laughing about some of the stuff they’ve done. I know it’s wrong, but was afraid to say anything. I still hope you won’t tell anyone who told you, but I’ve written down the names of my brother and his pals. They need to grow up. They drink too much and then decide to go out and raise hell.”
“I really appreciate your courage. I’ll handle it as privately as possible. “
Chapter 14
The afternoon had turned sunny, and I looked forward to the ride home. I was anxious to hear if Van had been caught, and knew everyone would sleep better when he was behind bars. I took a rutted lane that should eventually lead to a gas line right of way and then a place on Big Bass Creek where I could ford it in the ATV. Over the roar of the ATV, I could hear rotors and spotted a state police helicopter above me. Well, Van must still be on the run, I mused. Maybe, he’d gotten out of the area before they got enough police cars to block off all the roads out of Solitude.
I ‘d gone about four miles when I spotted a figure ahead of me. I couldn’t believe it. It was Van! It looked like he was throwing brush over my Miata! I quickly stopped the ATV and dug my pistol out of the utility box. I fired two warning shots hoping to attract the helicopter and approached Van on the ATV. Van looked at me in disbelief.
“Dana! Don’t shoot. I’m unarmed. What the hell are you doing here? Are you obsessed woman?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. You jerk! This isn’t about you. What are you doing to my car?”
“I realized not long after I ‘borrowed’ it that the low gas warning light was on. Thanks a lot. I decided I best get off the road and hideout until it got dark. I’m sure the cops are all over the place. Give me that gun before someone gets hurt.”
“Right,” I spat. “You put your hands up and step away from the car. We’re about five miles from anywhere, so you’re going to take a hike. I’ll follow behind you in the ATV.”
I wondered if our township would ever get a cell phone tower. Maybe this situation would merit some consideration by the powers that be.
“Come on, Dana. You wouldn’t shoot me. Let’s just part company now before someone gets hurt. The cops will catch me soon enough and you can get out of this safely.”
“Sorry, Van. What you did is unforgiveable and I can’t wait to see you back in prison. You had no right to take that girl’s life.”
“I just meant to scare her. I would have taken a gun if I really planned on killing her. I just freaked out. I’d never hurt anyone. I’m a lover not a fighter.” Van pled.
I was so disgusted. “Van, I would have no problem shooting you. So get moving. If I can flag down a helicopter, you’ll save yourself some steps.”
The helicopter had moved on and we started the forced march. Van was purposefully taking his time and protesting constantly. “Dana, I’ve had nothing to eat or drink all day. I’m gonna pass out.”
O.K., I’m a soft touch, but I remembered that I had some leftover pizza in the utility box. I told him to sit down and dug out a couple of plain pieces for him and wrapped them in a napkin. This is the part where the bad guy gets the gun and blows away the good guy, I reminded myself, being vigilant to keep the pistol aimed at Van.
Van wolfed down the pizza, and I tossed him a bottle of water. He laid back on the grass. “Thanks, Dana. Just let me catch my breath.”
“One more minute, Van, then we’re moving.”
“Let me get this stone out of my shoe.” Van sat up, untied his tennis shoe and shook it. The next thing I knew, he threw his shoe and the water bottle at me while charging forward. I fired a shot but he caught the pistol knocking it out of my hand and the shot went over him. Van outweighed me by at least fifty pounds. He landed on top of me and grabbed my neck with one hand while reaching for the gun with the other. I tried kicking, biting and scratching, but in the end was overpowered. Van stood up pointing the gun at me while kicking me in the head and stomach. I wretched and fought blacking out.
“O.K. Dana, I don’t really want to hurt you. I just want to get the hell out of here. Do what I say and you’ll be free to go back to your little busy body life. Now stand up and get moving.”
I felt like I was going to throw up, but did my best to stand. I felt a loose tooth and there was some blood dripping from where I’d cut my forehead a few days earlier. I was as mad at myself as I was at Van for not seeing it coming. I was also mad at myself for thinking that I was going to need a good plastic surgeon if I lived long enough.
“Just take the ATV and go,” I coughed. You’ll have a good head start and can travel on the back roads and fields.”
“I’m not that stupid, Dana. No, we’re going to wait until it’s dark. There’s an old mine shaft close by. We’ll cover up the four wheeler with brush and hide in the mine or under some trees. You can help me figure out how to get out of here. I want to go to some country where they can’t bring me back. I just can’t go back to prison. I had some really bad shit happen to me there. Now show me how to run this thing.”
This time I was marching in front of the ATV. Van had tied my hands behind my back with some rope he’d found in the utility box. I knew where the mine shaft was so stumbled toward it. It was within a half mile. When we got there, Van ordered me to sit under a tree where he tied my hands behind my back to it and bound my feet. He then covered the ATV with brush and checked for gas. Unfortunately, it was pretty full. He got the pizza from the ATV and sat down under the tree. “ You better eat something, when I take off, I’m going to duct tape your mouth shut.”
I shook my head. “ I feel too lousy right now. I don’t suppose you have any aspirin on you?”
“My luggage was in your Miata. Just sit there quietly and let me think. It will be dark in about three hours and I need to figure things out.”
I felt sick knowing that my mother would be frantic. I’d never forgive myself if she had another stroke on my account. I wondered how long it would take her to call Phil or Helen or the police. I actually dozed off for a few minutes as Van sat talking to himself.
“I woke up when he kicked my feet. “Hey, wake up.”
“Dana, How can I get to Cuba? I think I’d be safe if I could get there and start a new life. You lived in Florida all those years. You must know some Cubans.”
“That’s a great idea, Van. I’m sure they’d love to have you. Most of the Cubans I know in Florida wanted to leave Cuba though. I suppose you could steal a boat or take a raft over like the Cubans who come here. Get to Key West, then shop around.”
“I guess the biggest problem will be getting out of this area undetected. I need to come u
p with a disguise. I do have a few old girlfriends around who might hide me as I try to get away.”
“Good luck with that.” I snorted. “Those girlfriends didn’t know you are a murderer. I imagine your mug will be all over the news. If it were me, I’d follow the creeks and rivers. Most of them flow south.”
“You know what, Dana. You could actually be a decent person, if you’d just mind your own business. What is it with you? No husband, no kids, no job to speak of and living with your mother. Most folks would say that you’re a loser. You’re not bad looking when your face isn’t all beat up. What gives?”
“None of your damn business. I’m happy. I stay out of jail and pay my way. That’s a lot more than you can say!”
“Sure, but let’s face it, Dana. You’ve had all the breaks. You had two decent parents, a nice home, plenty of money to go to school, nice clothes and cars. If I’d had all your privileges, I’d have really made something of myself. What do you think your life would be like if your mother was a drunk who slept with every guy around. When she finally gets it together, she gets killed. I never even knew my old man, but have been told he was a pig.”
“Oh stop feeling sorry for yourself. You had a grandmother who loved you and you blew that. You have a cousin who has stood by you. You just want to blame everyone but yourself for your life. A lot of people have overcome a lot worse. Some women would even say that you’re nice looking and charming. You could have been someone if you’d been willing to work at it. You had Sharon fooled. She actually fell for you. But you got greedy.”
Van actually got tears in his eyes. “You make some sense. I know. I’ve made a ton of mistakes, but there are things you don’t know. I actually got raped by some of the guys in prison and had to be this one slob’s “girl friend” if I wanted to stay safe. What do you think that does to a man?”
I shook my head. “That Amish girl was innocent and just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Did you really think through what she could have even done to you? Worst scenario was that she told folks you were fooling around with a married woman and you were a greedy pig. Big Deal! I’m guessing she would have kept it to herself and it would have been forgotten.”