Judging Joey (17 page)

Joey interrupted Roger. “I must mention that anything said here can be used in a court of law should it ever come to that. So please keep that in mind. And of course you are all entitled to say nothing and ask for a lawyer.”

Madeline cringed. Joey had looked directly at her.

What would she need a lawyer for?

“That said, let me continue,” Roger said. “Nurse Hilliard always locks her office and has her keys with her at all times. Last night, someone went into her office and rummaged it. It’s a mess. We’ve contacted the parents of the students whose medicines were stolen.”

“It would appear to be an inside job. Someone who had access to a key,” Joey cut in.

“Any determined staff member could get hold of a master key.” Roger glanced at Madeline. “Or any board member.” He raised his brows and briefly turned to Vanessa, and then he addressed the nurse. “If you have nothing to add, Mrs. Hilliard, you may return to your duties.”

She shook her head, gave Madeline a sympathetic look, and left.

“Mrs. Gallo is here because it was her wallet that was stolen. She says she left her bag in your room, Miss White.” Roger waited for her to confirm, and Madeline dropped her gaze in the older woman’s direction.

Mrs. Gallo rested her plump arms across her pouch of a belly and nodded.

This was some sort of a set-up. Madeline guessed Vanessa was there because she was a member of the board and Sabrina was her mentor. Still, something was off. Madeline felt it deep within her bones. Her mother may not have given her much growing up, but she instilled her with two things. Mistrust. And how to read a situation. And Madeline knew right away this situation was not leaning in her favor. She broke out into a cold sweat.

Her best friend picked at her cuticles and avoided eye contact. Mrs. Gallo sat primly, a determined look etched into her face. Vanessa glanced at a cell phone every so often with a permanent smug grin that never wavered.

Madeline studied Joey. His jaw tight, he leaned forward in his chair. Whose interests did he represent? How was he going to handle it?

She dared to peek at her principal. Roger seemed genuinely distraught. As if he’d rather be getting his chest waxed than be in the same room with all of them.

She forced herself to swallow. She sat up straight and placed her hands on the table. She was not going down without a fight.

Chapter 14

Joey couldn’t take his eyes off of Madeline. At first she appeared like a scared rabbit about to be somebody’s dinner. As Roger spoke, he noticed subtle changes in her. Her pale skin flushed, her eyes narrowed and flickered over Mrs. Gallo. Suspicion danced in her eyes.

He’d start with asking questions of the middle-aged woman. He concentrated on Mrs. Gallo.

“Ma’am, you claim someone stole your wallet. Is it possible you misplaced it?” Joey leaned back. He wanted to appear as casual as possible.

“No. I brought my pocketbook to Miss White’s class when I covered for her. When I left, I forgot to take it. I realized it at the end of the day, after the children were dismissed. In fact, most of the teachers had already gone, including Miss White. I’m usually one of the last to leave.” She smiled and cooed as if staying late was an unheard of accomplishment. “I had to have one of the custodians unlock Miss White’s door so that I could retrieve it.”

“So someone else could have asked the custodian to unlock the door, too,” Joey insisted. “It’s simple enough to find out. Which custodian was it?” He began to jot down notes in his worn pad. He had a distinct feeling Madeline was somebody’s scapegoat and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Mrs. Gallo shook her head, no longer looking like a proud peacock. “I don’t know. He wasn’t the regular one on the night shift.”

Roger sprang to his desk and lifted the phone. “He was probably one of the substitutes. I’ll check with the office and confirm.”

While Roger questioned his secretary, Joey studied the women around him. Madeline was the only one who didn’t look guilty of something. She tried to keep a poker face, but he didn’t miss how she ground her teeth. Her jaw would surely be sore if she didn’t let up on it. Sabrina played with her hands in her lap and avoided eye contact with everyone. Vanessa’s expression seemed out of place. She appeared downright jubilant. He believed Mrs. Gallo believed what she said, but she was sorely mistaken. Madeline was no thief.

Roger hung up and came back to the cramped table. “Yes, we had a substitute on that night. Works the high school normally. Doubt he’ll remember anything since he worked a double. But I sent word to the administrator over there. If he recalls opening Miss White’s room for anybody other than Mrs. Gallo, they’ll call us.”

Joey leaned forward and turned on the charm. “Is there anything else you can add, Mrs. Gallo?”

She perked up at the attention. “Yes, as a matter of fact. And I’m sorry, Miss White, but I have to be truthful. Honesty is the best policy, I always say. I saw you later that night. Must have been around six. I was still here correcting papers.” She bristled in her seat, again reminding Joey of a peacock ruffling its feathers. “I had thought it odd since you had already left for the day. And the next morning the nurse found her office had been ransacked.”

“Can’t be a coincidence.” Vanessa chimed in for the first time. “Roger, don’t you think it strange that other teachers had their things stolen and Miss White’s was the only one whose stuff was returned? Was what it? A picture and a datebook?”

Madeline pounced. “How did you know that, Mrs. Booth?”

Joey wanted to hear the answer to that as well.

Vanessa waved a thin arm in the air. “Everyone at the PTA meeting the other night heard about it. News travels fast.”

Madeline narrowed her eyes and glared at Sabrina.

Uh-oh, that can’t be good, Joey thought. If he didn’t know they were friends, at the moment, he’d think they were enemies. He turned to his notepad and, in a shorthand only he could recognize, he made a note to ask Madeline about it later.

“It seems that no news is off-limits,” Madeline said, her tone even, but fury stirred in her eyes. “As for the nurse’s office, I have no idea what happened or who’s responsible. I came back that night because I had forgotten my grade book and needed it to do my paperwork. I live close enough to do that.” Madeline turned and stared down Mrs. Gallo. “As for your wallet, I didn’t take it and resent the implication.”

“Now, now, Miss White, we’re just having a dialogue,” Roger interjected. “No one’s accusing you of anything.”

“With all due respect, Mr. Denby, I disagree. This seems like an inquisition. Perhaps I should have a union rep here. Maybe even a lawyer.” She clasped the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white.

He nodded. “A union rep would probably be wise.” He got back on the phone and told his secretary to find the head rep. “She’s on her way. Meanwhile, Mrs. Gallo you may leave.”

Joey began to fume. The union rep should have been called from the beginning. Even though Roger seemed to be fair, this whole thing smelled rotten. A lawyer might be a good thing. Maybe he should call Caitlin and ask her for advice on Madeline’s behalf. His father and brothers were probably waist-deep in court at this time of day. Caitlin would be much easier to reach.

The union rep, a tall, no-nonsense blond named Claire, whisked in and asked to speak with Madeline privately for a few minutes. While they went into an empty classroom, Joey went outside to call Caitlin. He filled his sister in. Her advice to Madeline was to say as little as possible and turn to the union for help. The union had lawyers that could advise her, too. He went back to Roger’s office and sat down. Seconds later, Madeline came back in with the rep.

Roger began the meeting again. “I’m sorry, Miss White. I should have suggested the head rep, Claire, be here from the very beginning. In any event, let’s proceed. Vanessa, please state your piece.”

“Thank you, Roger. I am distraught over the events that have occurred the last couple of weeks. And even though there is no proof that Miss White has stolen school supplies, children’s medicine, or Mrs. Gallo’s wallet, there is speculation and innuendo. After I attended the last PTA meeting and heard the gossip, I realized I could no longer stand by Miss White. She’s new to this school, has no history here. And if I’m being honest, I find it strangely suspicious that she always seems to be involved near the stolen property. Isn’t that right, Joey? Remember your mother’s brooch?”

Joey expected Madeline to defend herself against Vanessa’s tirade, but she said nothing and worked her jaw like a vise.

Claire piped in and pressed an unmanicured nail into the old wood table. “She may be a new teacher, but tread carefully here, Mrs. Booth.”

Vanessa seemed to heed that advice and backpedaled a bit. “I’m not accusing her of pilfering. I’m just saying that there’s a cloud of suspicion hanging over her head as I discussed at the board meeting last night. It’s my duty as a member of the Board of Education to protect our school district’s reputation. You’re on notice here, Miss White. If Roger wants to rehire you next year, I will vote against it and do my best to convince the other board members to do the same. You’re not tenured and technically we don’t have to give a reason for not rehiring you, but being a person who believes in fairness, that’s the reason.”

Madeline’s mouth dropped. She looked at Roger and then the union rep. The rep put her hand over Madeline’s.

“Although that may be your right, and even if Mr. Denby doesn’t want her rehired, the union will stand behind her and offer her legal representation.”

Vanessa nodded. “Of course. Also, Roger and I have already discussed my next point. Starting Monday, my son, Derrick, is no longer in Miss White’s class. He will be in Miss Perez’s class.” She nodded toward Sabrina. “Besides being surrounded by controversy, I feel Miss White is too inexperienced to handle my son’s needs.”

Roger pressed his hands together, briefly closing his eyes before saying, “If that’s all, Vanessa, then I’ll show you out.” He guided her to the door and closed it behind her. “I’m sorry, Miss White, it’s out of my hands. She has the right to not approve my recommendation next year if it comes to that. And with regards to Derrick, I feel it’s best to comply with her request on that for all involved, especially Derrick.”

“Which leads me to Sabrina. Vanessa did bring this up at the board meeting recently. And since Sabrina is your mentor, I feel this has put her in an awkward position. Not only will she be Derrick’s teacher, but you have a strong friendship as well. Sabrina has asked to be removed from being your mentor for personal reasons.”

Madeline gasped and glared at Sabrina.

“Hold on,” Claire exclaimed. “Miss White is entitled to a mentor. And it’s not going to be in her favor to have her present mentor drop her, especially since Sabrina is a close friend. In addition, I understand Sabrina was instrumental in getting Madeline hired here in the first place.”

Roger nodded. “Precisely the predicament. I spoke with Sabrina last night and she feels she’s in over her head as Madeline’s mentor. They are friends and now Derrick will be in her class. I must insist that for everyone’s sake, Madeline needs an objective mentor. I have another teacher in mind who has offered to step in. She’s more experienced and can handle this controversy. This will be done discreetly. No one else will know why the change has occurred. Unless you tell them. Of course this is assuming Miss White is innocent of these allegations.” He didn’t hesitate to add, “Miss White, protect yourself and hire counsel. Now that the police are involved, they are bound to question you.”

Chapter 15

“This is all your fault!” Madeline hissed at Joey after he had followed her to her car. She needed to get out of there, and since she was still on her break she’d gone outside for fresh air and maybe a good cry in her car. She jabbed her fingers into her handbag and fished for her keys.

He placed a hand on her arm. “Hold on there. How is this my fault?”

She jerked away, threw her handbag onto the car’s hood, and continued to dig through it. “Don’t you see? It’s because of your problem with George. Sabrina’s angry with me because I listened to you and butted in. Now she’s so mad, she not only doesn’t want to be my mentor, she doesn’t want to be my friend!”

“You’re upset.”

She whipped around. “You’re damn right I’m upset!”

“This has nothing to do with George,” he argued. “It’s about Vanessa. Don’t worry, I know how to handle people like her.”

She rolled her eyes. “Honestly, men are so blind sometimes. This
is
about
George
. Sabrina has a terrible track record with her relationships. She tends to pick the wrong guy, and I’ve always sat on the sidelines knowing that they would eventually end. I sensed from the beginning that her relationship with George was different, but I stupidly listened to you and told her George wasn’t right for her. It’s only been a short amount of time. I should have kept my mouth shut and let it play out and let her make her own decision about George.”

Still unable to find her keys, she hugged her handbag against her chest and leaned against the car in desperation. “Oh, why didn’t I listen to my instincts?”

“George
is
bad news. Sabrina will see that soon enough and thank you. Trust me.”

“You still don’t get it. I think George may be ‘the one.’ And I, her best friend, disapproved of him. She feels she has to choose between him and me and she’s picked him.”

Madeline suddenly realized she had felt this way before. Back in high school. Back when Allison chose to turn her back on her. Sabrina was acting the same way, like she had no other choice. Madeline’s handbag slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground, its contents spilling out.

She looked down at her personal items displayed on the blacktop and sighed. “Great. Everything in my life’s a mess.”

Joey moved closer to her and placed both hands on either side of her. He leaned over so close she could feel his warm breath on her face. “She’ll come around. You’ll see. You need to concentrate on Vanessa and your job. She’s out to get you.”

“Wow, you should be a detective or something.” The sarcasm dripping from her lips surprised even her. But it didn’t stop her though from saying her piece. “I don’t know what I did to her, but she’s made her point. She was definitely referring to Scott accusing me of stealing. Vanessa doesn’t want me teaching here. And it looks like her wish will come true. Even Sabrina, my mentor, AKA best friend, wants nothing to do with me.” She poked him in the chest. “I have you to thank for that part.”

He recoiled like she had thrown ice-cold water in his face. “It’s funny. I never thought I’d quote my parents. Guess it comes with getting older. But I can hear my mom’s words back when we were kids saying to Caitlin after having a fight with one of her friends, ‘If she were truly your friend, she’ll get over it, and this will pass.’”

Madeline thought about that for a second. Her mom had never had pearls of wisdom, but her Aunt Patty had had plenty. Madeline could imagine both her aunt and uncle saying something similar. Madeline reached down and picked up her wallet and threw it back into her handbag. She grasped for her brush and other scattered items as well.

Joey bent down and handed her a pen and a pack of mints. “I’ll help you get through this.”

She gritted her teeth, a bad habit she hadn’t been able to break despite the wishes of her oral surgeon. “Listen, thanks, but no thanks. You’ve done enough damage. I don’t want to see you anymore.”

Joey cupped her chin and stared into her eyes. “You don’t mean that. You’re just upset.”

She pulled away. “I do. I was right about you in high school. You go through life not thinking how your actions impact others, and then somehow you come out unscathed. Like Teflon.”

He shook his head, obviously not getting her meaning.

“Nothing sticks to you. Well this is going to stick. First Allison, now Sabrina. I lost two best friends because of you. I can’t forgive you this time.” She threw the rest of the stuff in her bags, blinking back tears.

Madeline winced. She saw the hurt in his eyes, but she didn’t waver. She had lost too much in life. She had a right to blame someone for once.

He held up her keys, and as she seized them, he said, “What about Halloween? You promised to come trick-or-treating. Christopher and the other kids will be disappointed. So will I.”

If it were only Joey who would be affected, she wouldn’t care. It would serve him right. But she couldn’t upset her students. She would never disappoint a child. She nodded grimly, gripping the key’s hard metal, which stabbed into her flesh. “Okay, I’ll go for the children’s sake, not for yours. You and I are through.”

“Roger, something’s not right about Vanessa Booth. I know she’s a friend of yours, but my gut tells me she’s involved with these school thefts.” Joey paced Roger’s office and mulled over the facts.

Roger sat at his desk and stared at Joey. “Impossible. It makes no sense. Her husband, who is really my friend, not her, gives her everything. She wants for nothing. I did speak with him as I promised I would and he denied it. He actually asked me if I had lost my mind. Besides, she’s a board member. I’ve known the woman for years. Ridiculous.” He waved Joey off. “More importantly, all of these things didn’t start to happen until Madeline came here.”

“Maddie didn’t do this. She couldn’t.” This much Joey was sure of. Madeline was Vanessa’s target and he was going to get to the bottom of why. “I, too, have known Vanessa for years.”

When Roger stayed silent, Joey continued, “Hear me out, Roger. Maddie was there at that party and when she first told me, I thought Scott threw suspicion on her because he wanted someone to take blame and she was the easy target. But what if he did it to throw suspicion on someone other than the real thief?”

“Vanessa?”

Joey smiled at Roger’s quick deduction. “Yes. I think Scott had that party because he was a teenage punk with little parental supervision who preyed upon two geeky girls. Vanessa found out about it and had to clean up her son’s mess and stole the jewelry in the process.”

“But for what reason? It makes no sense.”

“People do lots of things that make no sense. But don’t you see a pattern here? The brooch was stolen and returned just like the school supplies, and just like Maddie’s date book and picture frame.”

“Exactly. Just like Miss White’s things. She looks equally guilty.” Roger shuffled some papers around on his desk as if he was ending the conversation. “It doesn’t look good for her. Even her best friend isn’t sticking by her.”

“I’m afraid I had something to do with that.” He filled Roger in on his thoughts about George and the pain George had put Alex through recently.

Roger sat back in his chair and ran his fingers over his chin. “I don’t know George well, but I’ve known his father for years. We play golf together at the club. The boy’s had a rough time of it, losing his young wife that way, trying to raise his son alone.”

Joey stopped pacing and stared at Roger. This was a new development. He had always assumed George was divorced, not widowed. “How’d she die?”

“Cancer. It was brutal. Long, drawn out. So painful for the family to watch her wither away. Such a pretty woman. Sunny disposition, always laughing. And their son was just a baby at the time. She had the disease while she was pregnant, but refused treatment. She didn’t want to harm the baby. George has really been both mother and father to the tike. George’s father once told me she was the love of his son’s life and George hasn’t met anyone to take her place. Not even close.”

This was shocking news to Joey. Alex had never once mentioned a dying wife. And only recently did Joey learn George even had a child. Joey plunked down in a leather chair and ran his hands through his hair. Also surprising was the fact that George’s father had told golf buddies that George hadn’t found love again. Not even close. That had to include Alex. She had been dating George for several years before finally getting him to propose.

He looked at Roger and asked the obvious question, well aware that he already knew the horrible truth. “So he wasn’t in love with Alex? He asked her to marry him because she pressured him into it?”

Roger shrugged. “All I know is that at last weekend’s golf game, George’s dad mentioned how happy his son looked recently. He hadn’t seen him smile like that since before his wife’s illness.”

Joey slumped into the chair and frowned. It couldn’t be a coincidence. It had to be Sabrina who affected George that way.

Roger went on, clearly aware that he had Joey’s full attention. “I think the world of your partner but maybe she and George weren’t right for each other. She doesn’t strike me as the mothering kind, and well, quite frankly, George needs a mother for his son. Sabrina might be the one.”

Joey didn’t know what to say. He had judged George to be a jerk because he’d strung Alex along, but maybe the guy was just being a dad, protecting his son. Alex was a great person, but Joey suspected she wasn’t ready for motherhood. Once, he recalled, at a family gathering at his parents’ house, he found her holed up in the basement watching a game. She had said all his nieces and nephews running around stressed her out and she needed a break. She was a true believer of children being seen but not heard.

Roger’s phone rang. “Yes?” He nodded. “Be right down.” He hung up and rose. “Time for the parade to start. Are you staying to watch?”

Joey went to the door. He was still on official duty as Safety Officer. “Wouldn’t miss it. Promised Christopher I’d be there.”

Of course Joey wanted to see Maddie in her witch’s costume, too. She’d probably looked sexy as anything, but Roger didn’t need to know that.

The weather was spectacular for the Halloween parade. Not a cloud dared to mark the cornflower sky. A welcome breeze kept the participants from overheating since they were dressed in costumes meant for fall-like weather, not the unseasonable warm conditions. Under normal circumstances Madeline would have been in her glory. She loved the holiday and spending time with her class, but she felt far from glorious. In truth, she couldn’t wait to go home and throw herself under her covers and take a long and isolated nap.

Madeline waited in the queue outside in the school’s parking lot until it was her class’s turn in line for the parade. Harold, her most impulsive and challenging student, strategically led her class so that she could keep an eye on him. He smiled up at her and reached for her hand as they began to circle around. She met his sweet grin and with her other hand, held down her witch’s hat as it flopped on her head in the slight wind.

She hadn’t strolled ten feet before spotting members of Joey’s family waving at the crowd. Madeline plastered a wide smile on her face and nodded to parents she recognized as she passed, including Mikey’s mother who was waving cheerfully at her. Smiling was the last thing she wanted to do, especially after Sabrina had given her the cold shoulder earlier in the hallway as they had lined up for the parade. Sabrina wouldn’t even look her in the eye and had pretended to admire a student’s superhero costume instead of acknowledging Madeline.

Now halfway around the circle, Madeline spotted Uncle Mark and Laura. Her smile grew genuine. Her uncle had mentioned he wanted to see the parade and she was never happier to see a friendly face. They waved proudly to her class as she passed, which nearly brought tears to her eyes. Uncle Mark was always there for her and he was the one person she could count on.

Madeline saw her uncle slip his arm around Laura. The two made a handsome couple. Something caught in her throat. Her uncle was moving on and he wasn’t all hers anymore. Not one to kid herself, she feared she’d be alone again soon. The rational adult in her knew the time would come, but the scared child that still existed deep within her bones, refused to accept it. That lost adolescent girl still needed the comfort and safeness her uncle had provided. Although she was happy for him, she couldn’t discard the feeling that her life was about to take a dramatic turn.

No sooner had the thought risen to the surface than she spotted Joey amongst the crowd. Alex stood at his side. Both still in full uniform, they waved at the students. Joey shot a wink at his nephew, then he caught her eye. He stood up even taller, alert, and looking ever so confidant.

Madeline’s stomach tightened. Her palms grew sweaty. She released Harold’s hand. Then Joey did it. He had the nerve to smile at her. She tore her gaze away. How it was possible for him to affect her that way with a simple smile? He brought her right back to high school with a flash of his pearly whites. All these years later, he still got the same reaction from her.

And she hated that.