by Harper Lin
“I’m sorry, Amelia,” Dan started. “One of the students was found dead in the gym. We weren’t sure what we were dealing with, so the whole place was locked up tight. Once we made a sweep of the place, we had to contact the student’s parents. We didn’t want them to find out about their son from other students or parents.”
“Of course.” Amelia looked at Meg. “Why don’t you go sit in the car and keep your brother company?” When she looked back at Dan, she had to ask. “What happened?”
“The boy, Brian Richtman, was found dead underneath the bleachers in the gym,” Dan said. “At first, it looked like he might have lost his balance and fell, hitting his head on the way down. But that’s the problem. His head was hit just right.”
“Too right?” Amelia sniffed and blinked.
“Yeah.” Dan rubbed his chin and looked at the school, which was now empty save for the teachers and police. The local media trucks had arrived but were corralled at the far end of the parking lot, and the reporters were not allowed to talk to anyone until the police gave them the okay. “I’ve got to go. How are you feeling?”
“This little incident got the adrenaline going, so I think the remaining germs got fried up in all the worry. I’m better. Thanks for asking.”
“How about I bring some sandwiches over tonight. Moody’s burgers sound good?”
“When do they not? The kids will be thrilled.”
“Just the kids?”
Amelia blushed. Dan had developed a habit of keeping his face stone serious while he asked her silly questions. She’d laugh and blush and shake her head and stroke the back of her neck. Then Dan would chuckle, give her a wink, and be on his way as he’d just done.
“See you around six?” she called.
He waved before heading back into the school.
When Amelia got in Lila’s car, she looked at her kids, who were not speaking.
“Don’t pay too much attention to your dad,” she said soothingly. “He doesn’t handle crisis well. You know how he likes to control everything. When he doesn’t, he feels helpless and acts like, well, a jerk.”
“You can say that again.” Meg huffed. “Speaking of jerks. Why didn’t you answer your phone when I was calling you?” She turned around in the front seat and stared at her brother.
Adam continued to look out the window.
Amelia looked at him in the rearview mirror.
“Fine. Be a jerk,” Meg snapped, her eyes watering.
“Meg. That’s enough.” Amelia pulled the car out. “Do you kids know what happened?”
“Just that some kid had been hurt and they weren’t sure if someone got onto the school grounds.” Meg clicked her tongue. “They wouldn’t tell us anything. Like we are a bunch of babies or something.”
“I hate to break this to you, but to every parent that was out there, even your dad, you are babies. You are our babies, and if anything had happened to you…” Amelia got choked up. “Well, any mother worth her salt always sees her children as babies, and when someone tries to hurt you, the claws come out.” She looked at Adam again in the rearview mirror.
He looked deep in thought. Amelia was sure he hadn’t heard a word she said.
“So tonight, Dan is bringing by Moody’s.”
That got his attention. If his appetite wasn’t affected, then he would be okay. Amelia let out a sigh only she could hear. “I’ve got to bring Lila’s car back to her. I’m going to finish off the day at the truck, and I’ll be home straightaway.”
Both kids told their mother goodbye, but Amelia watched as Adam walked well ahead of his sister, stepping inside the house without even looking behind him to see where she was. It wasn’t like him. Something was off.
Bake Sale for Murder is available everywhere