Murder Is Private

by Diane Weiner

  “And for protection. Florida has a Stand Your Ground law. If someone breaks into your house and you perceive it as a threat, you’ve got a right to protect yourself.”

  “That really happens here?” said Susan.

  “As a matter of fact,” said Kevin, “Celia herself shot and killed an armed robber in her own home about ten years ago. The robber was with his brother. The brother’s in jail.”

  Lynette came down the stairs with Annalise. Susan scooted next to Kevin on the sofa, planting herself between him and Lynette.

  “I gotta get back,” said Kevin, rising. “Stop by the station tomorrow, Lynette. We can grab lunch.”

  “Sounds good,” Lynette said, rising and walking him to the door. she locked it and returned to her mother.

  “Lynette. You’d better stop leading that man on! You’re a married woman. A mother!” Susan demanded.

  “What? Are you crazy? There’s nothing going on between us,” said Lynette sitting down next to her mother with the baby in her arms.

  “Maybe not on your part, but I see the way he looks at you. I’ll bet he’s still in love with you.”

  “That’s so ridiculous!” Lynette chuckled. “Let’s drop this, Mom. I love Jason and would never cheat on him.”

  “I’m just telling you to watch out before he gets the wrong message.” Lynette huffed and took the baby outside.

  Susan decided to ignore her daughter for the moment and follow up on something Kevin had said. She grabbed her laptop and searched home invasion/stand your ground. She scrolled through the results and found what she was looking for. The first article was from the day of the robbery that Kevin had mentioned. Like Kevin had said, two robbers had invaded Celia’s home in the middle of the night. She’d come downstairs with a gun, and saw one of the robbers was armed. When he took a step toward her, she shot him. She’d called the police before coming downstairs and soon heard sirens. Turns out the robbers were brothers. Celia had killed one of them. The other was arrested.

  Susan kept reading. The next articles were about the trial. Celia wasn’t charged. According to the newly implemented Stand Your Ground law, she had the right to protect herself. The trial of the surviving brother lasted less than a month. He was found guilty of armed robbery and sentenced to ten years in prison. According to one article, he stood up and screamed at Celia after the verdict was read. He warned her that he’d get revenge for his brother’s death no matter how long it took. Susan looked at the date of the article. It was ten years ago––almost to the day…

  Chapter 12

  “I can’t wait to meet my grandson,” said Audrey. She and Susan were on their way to the airport.

  Susan shuddered when Audrey referred to Evan as her grandson. Evan had only known one grandmother his whole life––and it wasn’t Audrey.

  “Can’t wait to see him either. It’s been a while,” said Susan through clenched teeth.

  Traffic was light early on this Saturday morning. The two women waited at Evan’s gate. “Audrey, did you know that Celia shot an armed robber?”

  “Yes, years ago. It was big news. I say good for her, defending herself like that.” Audrey looked down at the floor. “Maybe if she’d been carrying a gun in the arboretum the other night she’d still be alive.”

  Passengers started coming through the gate—couples, families, and an abundance of young people wearing college t-shirts. Susan stood on her tiptoes and strained to see.

  “Look! There he is!” Evan ran up to Susan. She gave him a bear hug. “You got taller. And handsomer.”

  “Mom,” replied the young man, “I’m pretty sure I’ve stopped growing, but I’ll accept the handsomer part. Missed you.” He kissed her cheek.

  “Evan, this is Audrey, your…” Susan swallowed hard, “grandmother.”

  Evan extended his hand. “Mom has told me a lot about you.” Audrey smiled.

  Susan knew he was trying to be polite. She’d told him nearly nothing about Audrey. After all, she knew very little herself.

  “Are you hungry? Did they feed you on the plane? A little bag of peanuts, right? And they probably charged you for a drink,” said Susan.

  “I’m a little hungry. They have an IHOP here in Florida, right?”

  Audrey answered, “You bet they do. There’s one right on the way home.” With smiles all around, they headed out.

  “Mom, how is Lynette doing with her vision issue?”

  “She’s had a few more episodes, but knowing it’s genetic and not going to make her blind makes it much easier to handle.” Susan couldn’t help but remember that it was finding Audrey and her valuable family history information that had provided much needed health assurance for her daughter.

  “Your Mom told me how proud she is to have a soon to be doctor in the family,” said Audrey. Susan winced. She knew Evan hated it when she bragged about him.

  “Still have to finish another year of med school, and then a residency. I have a ways to go.”

  “There’s a shortage of doctors here in Florida, you know. Maybe you’ll wind up down here,” said Audrey, dropping an obvious hint that Susan did not appreciate.

  Susan was hoping Evan would find a residency in New York. He’d once told her the best programs were in the Northeast. After that, she wanted him to settle down and start a family nearby. She’d love more grandchildren. St. Louis was far enough way. What was Audrey doing trying to sell him on Florida?”

  “Here we are!” said Audrey when they reached the IHOP. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving, and pancakes are one of my favorite foods.”

  “Mine too,” said Evan. “Especially blueberry ones.”

  “Those are the best,” said Audrey. “Great minds think alike, isn’t that what they say?”

  Once inside, the hostess brought them to a booth in the corner of the restaurant. Audrey faced the wall, but Susan could see the whole dining room from her seat. As they were eating, two familiar faces walked in. Susan found it strange. When she was teaching, she wouldn’t have dreamed of socializing with a student. So it upset her to see Kymani, the sinister violinist, and Alonzo, the orchestra conductor, sitting down across from her. She turned her head away so Alonzo wouldn’t notice her.

  “The beach is wonderful. Water’s nice and warm. We’ll have to spend a day there. Maybe tomorrow,” said Audrey.

  “I’d love to,” said Evan. “After getting through exams last week, vegging out on the beach is exactly what I need.”

  Susan noticed Alonzo lean across the table, close to Kymani. He did all of the talking and it looked serious. It was not a carefree social breakfast. Kymani nodded occasionally and fixed his gaze on Alonzo the whole time. I wish I could hear what they are saying, she thought.

  “Mom, are you listening?”

  “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

  “Beach tomorrow,” said Evan. “We can stop at Subway and bring some sandwiches. Lynette and Annalise too.”

  “That sounds great. Annalise loves the beach.”

  Susan turned her attention back to Alonzo and Kymani. Their table was right next to the restrooms. “Excuse me a minute,” she said. “I need to use the ladies room. All that coffee, you know.”

  Susan sauntered to the restroom. Kymani and Alonzo were deeply engaged in conversation and she knew they wouldn’t notice her pausing near them as she walked by.

  “Got it?” said Alonzo. “Tonight at the recess beach.”

  “I’ll be there.” Kymani pushed away from the table. Susan hurried past and ducked into the restroom. When she came out, the two men were gone. She made her way back to her table.

  “Susan, do you want anything else?” said Audrey.

  “No, I’m stuffed after that stack of chocolate chip pancakes.” So much for eating a healthy breakfast. She’d have oatmeal tomorrow. With fat free milk.

  When they arrived at Audrey’s, Lynette and Annalise came out to the car to greet them.

  “Hey, big guy! You chose a great place for spring
break,” said Lynette to her brother.

  “I’m no fool. Hi there, Anabanana.”

  Susan was amazed when Annalise reached out as Evan took her from Lynette. She hadn’t expected the toddler to remember her uncle. Then again, that grandbaby of hers was one smart cookie.

  “How’s the arm?” said Evan to Lynette.

  “It’s healing. Should be able to ditch the cast in a week or so.”

  “Let’s go inside and you can settle in,” said Audrey. She led them all into the den. It was just big enough for a twin bed and small dresser. The sliding glass door allowed a spectacular view of the flowering trees and backyard fountain.

  “Evan, you can pull down the blinds so no one can see in,” said Audrey. “After you settle in, would you like a tour of the school?”

  “Sure.”

  “Let’s go into the living room. Would you like something to drink?”

  “I’m good,” he said. “I want to unpack my suitcase first.”

  “Go on, Audrey,” said Susan. “I’ll help him and then we can take a tour.” Susan was surprised at how efficiently Evan had packed. She doubted she herself could have squeezed as much as he did into a carry-on. Evan filled her in on his classes and the girl he was currently dating. It felt good to catch up. It had been months since she’d seen him.

  “The sunsets are beautiful here. Maybe after dinner we can take a walk on the beach,” said Susan.

  “A walk on the beach. I’m game.”

  Chapter 13

  Audrey’s tender pot roast took longer to cook than expected. Although dinner was worth the wait, the sun had already set before Susan and Evan got to the beach behind the school auditorium.

  “It’s beautiful here,” said Evan. “I haven’t seen the ocean in ages.”

  The rhythmic ebbing and flowing of the current was hypnotic. They strolled past the auditorium, farther down the sand than Susan had yet been. Trudging down the deserted beach, she felt her calves getting more toned by the minute. Evan stopped walking.

  “What’s that?” he said. He pointed at a wooden pier.

  “It looks like a fishing pier.”

  “I’d say it’s an invitation to sit and rest before heading back.”

  They walked out onto the pier, took off their shoes, and hung their legs over the side. Moonlight shone on the water.

  “Audrey seems nice, Mom. Was she how you pictured her?”

  “It was hard for me to imagine her. I guess so. I wasn’t expecting the southern accent.”

  “Georgia Babes. Yeah, wasn’t that the foundation that helped you find her?”

  “Thanks, Captain Obvious. If I was a smarty-pants med-student like you I guess I would have anticipated the accent.”

  Angry waves crashed against the pier. A sound reminiscent of a lawnmower crescendoed toward them.

  “That sounds like a motor boat. A speeding motor boat,” said Evan. Susan could barely hear him over the noise.

  The water splashed up at the pier as the boat whizzed by. The sound waned, then dissipated.

  “The driver must be drunk, going at that speed without lights on. Good thing the moon is full tonight. He could have crashed right into us.”

  “Lots of kids here on spring break, according to Audrey.”

  “I’m here on spring break,” said Evan, chuckling. “You don’t see me drinking and driving a boat in the dark. Some people are so irresponsible it makes me crazy.”

  “I saw only one person aboard. Did you see anyone else?”

  “No, just the driver. Let’s head back to Audrey’s, Mom. It’s been a long day and I need to sleep,” said Evan.

  Susan scanned the area looking for Alonzo or Kymani on their way back. The beach was dark and desolate at this hour. Hard to believe it had been teeming with beach chairs, loud music, and umbrellas when they’d toured the campus earlier. She was exhausted and trod through the sand, her legs like iron weights. When they finally reached the back of the auditorium, she saw a flicker of light.

  “Evan, did you see that? The light was on in the top window of the auditorium, then suddenly it’s off.”

  Evan looked up. “I did see that. Maybe someone was practicing in there.”

  “Not on the second floor. The entire floor is used to store props and scenery. No one would be up there, especially not at this hour on a Saturday night.”

  “Maybe it’s haunted,” he moaned with his eyes widening.

  “Not even funny. My students told me strange things have been going on in the auditorium at night––eerie music…flickering lights. And with the choral teacher’s murder and the assault on the security guard, they have to be related.”

  “You may be right. Tell Lynette. She can talk to the local police about it. Meantime, I’m about to fall asleep right here.”

  An attack, a murder, flickering lights, a secret alliance between the orchestra conductor and an eccentric violin student, a speeding motorboat with no lights, a clandestine rendezvous in the arboretum. Susan’s heart fluttered. This enticing mystery begged for a solution.

  Chapter 14

  Susan wished she didn’t have to teach today. Yesterday, they’d spent nearly the entire day at the beach––Audrey, Lynette, Annalise, Evan. Even George showed up to meet his nephew. George was obviously ill at ease around people. His tongue twisted up when he tried to speak, like he was hiding something. He didn’t seem all that bright, either. Evan asked him the name of the flowering trees in Audrey’s yard and he didn’t know. He was a gardener, right?

  Bibi greeted Susan at the classroom door. She was smiling and bubbling like a bottle of newly opened champagne. “I think Trish is coming back to school!”

  “That’s wonderful, Bibi. Didn’t you tell me she was going into rehab? Has she gotten the help she needed?”

  “She swears she doesn’t have a drug problem. She didn’t sound depressed on the phone, at least not until we started talking about poor Mrs. Watkins. Then she bawled for a long time.”

  “I heard she and Mrs. Watkins were close.”

  “Mrs. Watkins was like a mother to Trish. Trish had her cell number. They texted all the time. Mrs. Watkins had just spoken to her the day before her overdose.”

  “I’m anxious to meet Trish and glad she’s doing well.”

  The morning passed quickly. The sky threatened rain, so Susan took her lunch to the teacher planning area. Schwartz was already there, eating.

  “You seem to be doing a great job,” said Schwartz. “The students are happy; Audrey is happy. Hope the kids aren’t wearing you out.”

  “I’m having fun. I’ll have plenty of time to recuperate when I get back home.”

  Alonzo joined them a few minutes later. Damp from head to toe, he took off his jacket and sat down. When he shook out the jacket and hung it over a chair to dry, Susan noticed a few light pink leaves clinging to it. I’ve seen lots of purple trees, lots of yellow ones too, but pink––not so much.

  “It just started pouring. Lucky you beat the rain,” said Alonzo.

  “Didn’t you stay under the awning?” asked Schwartz. Alonzo shrugged and abruptly changed the subject.

  “Spring break for us will be here before you know it,” Alonzo said. “Anyone got fun plans? Schwartz, you traveling again?”

  “Not this break. Planning a long European visit next summer though. Touring more World War II sites. I also hope to get back to Salzburg. That’s one gem of a city. Spent two weeks there last summer, but it wasn’t enough.”

  “I went there one summer back in my college days,” said Susan. “What I remember most is taking the tour bus to see the places where they filmed The Sound of Music. Couldn’t believe I was standing right there in the church where Julie Andrews got married.”

  “You mean Maria von Trapp. Julie Andrews was the actress who played her,” said Schwartz.

  “Of course. And the Alps were breathtaking. I think I even found some edelweiss.”

  “What’s up, Alonzo? You look like you’re a million
miles away,” said Schwartz.

  “Me? Oh, I was just thinking about this week’s concert at Trinity.”

  “I was there last week. What a wonderful job you all did,” said Susan.

  “Thanks.”

  “Who was that violinist with the dreads?” asked Susan. “I recognized the others from Ear Training. He’s the only one I don’t know. Is he a senior?”

  “I don’t know,” replied Alonzo. “His name’s Kymani, but I barely know him. He’s not the chatty sort.”

  Barely know him? Why’s he lying? wondered Susan.

  “Schwartz here plays the violin, you know,” said Alonzo, redirecting the conversation.

  “Really?” she asked.

  “It’s just a hobby. I’m not very good.” Schwartz gathered up his garbage. “I better get back. Hope the rain stopped.”

  Alonzo glanced at his phone. “Yep. It’s that time.”

  When Susan got back to the rehearsal room, the door was unlocked. She always locked her classroom door. She realized she’d left her purse was in her desk drawer. In her office, she saw the back of a man pawing through the desk.

  “Hold it right there!” said Susan. “I’m calling security.”

  “Hold your horses! Who do you think let me in?” When he turned around, Susan recognized him as Celia’s husband. The last time she’d seen him was at the funeral where he gave Schwartz the bloody nose. Forget security. She’d call the police.

  “What are you doing here?” She stood with her hands on her hips.

  “Relax, little lady. I just came to pick up Celia’s things. I’m going.”

  Susan grabbed her purse and fished out her wallet. She quickly checked the contents––Barnes and Noble discount card, Visa debit, picture of Annalise, a twenty dollar bill. Phew, it was all there! What a condescending creep. No wonder Celia had an affair.

  Chorus rehearsal zipped by. Susan released the students a few minutes early so she could get back to the house and see Evan. The rain had stopped, but the air was still heavy. George passed her by, riding a lawn mower. Not that she was an expert, but she’d never seen someone mowing wet grass. Especially when it had been sunny every other day since she’d been here.