Murder Is Private (2 page)

Chapter 2

Lynette and Susan flopped down on the beds of the musty hotel room. Annalise had fallen asleep in the cab and Susan transferred her to a portable crib near the window, closing the blinds against the late afternoon sun.

“Lynette, what are your thoughts about this murder?”

“I’m wondering what the chorus teacher was doing out alone at night.”

“I know. When I was working, the last thing I wanted to do after a long day was to come back to campus. She was wearing jeans and sneakers, so she must have gone home between school ending and her walk in the arboretum.”

“She may have been meeting someone,” said Lynette.

“Why was she carrying a briefcase? What do you think was inside?”

“I have no idea. She could have been meeting a student with graded work or a recommendation letter. Sounds farfetched, I know.”

“Maybe we can find out what was in the briefcase. You’re a detective; maybe you could talk to…..”

Lynette abruptly changed the subject. “So, Mom, what do you think of Audrey? How do you feel now that you’ve met her in person?”

Lynette was going to keep her out of the investigation, as usual. Since they were away from home, Susan doubted Lynette wanted to be involved herself. Always careful not to step on anyone’s toes, Lynette wouldn’t interfere with the local police. She, on the other hand, had made a promise to George. She came to help him find out about the attack on a security guard and an ‘accident’ involving the school principal––but now the stakes were higher. A teacher had been murdered.

“It’s surreal,” said Susan. “It feels like I’m going to wake up any minute now, back in front of my computer in Westbrook, still searching for my birth mother.”

“No more searching. You found her. She looks great for her age. Hardly a wrinkle.”

“And she has so much energy.”

“Probably because her adrenaline was pumping, but I think you’re right. How many people do you know who are still working in their seventies?” Lynette said, grabbing the remote. “Something is off about George, though. When he smiled with that chipped canine tooth, he reminded me of Edward from that
Twilight
movie.”

“Not pale enough,” said Susan.

“Hey. Look! There’s the school on the evening news!” Lynette pointed at the TV. A reporter was standing in the arboretum, interviewing a student dressed in a Hemingway High t-shirt and basketball shorts.

“What do you think about this horrendous incident happening right here at this exclusive performing arts high school?” asked the reporter, pointing her microphone in the student’s face. “Do you fear for your safety? A murder right in the middle of the campus…”

“My parents aren’t happy,” replied the student. “They’re flying down from Georgia to take me home. I was already looking over my shoulder when walking between classes, especially at night after rehearsals.”

The reporter turned to the camera. “This brutal murder comes on the heels of an armed attack last week on a security guard, as well as the tragic attempted suicide of a promising dance student. School was once a safe harbor for America’s youth. What has education come to?” The station went to commercial break.

“Lynette, did you hear that? An attempted suicide? An armed attack? That must be why Audrey warned me to stay away.”

“No doubt. But you just couldn’t, could you? Three crimes in such a short time span at a school campus, in a good part of town? They must be related. Too much of a coincidence otherwise. Audrey must be beside herself as acting head of the school.”

Susan nodded. “I agree with you. I wonder if there was a relationship between the three victims.”

“Mom, I know this mystery is tempting you, but you came to reunite with your birth mother, period. Focus on that.”

“Actually…”

“Actually what? I have a feeling I’m not going to like what you’re about to tell me.”

“I told you George came to New York to get me to visit my mother in Florida. That she was dying to meet me.”

“And…”

“And he’d done his research. He knew I’d been instrumental in solving those school-related crimes in Westbrook. He asked for my help. He told me Audrey was desperate, at her wit’s end.”

“So Audrey asked him to fetch his sister Audrey’d given up at birth, the sister he didn’t know he had, because the police department down in Florida was just too incompetent to handle it.”

“No, of course not. He thought I’d be helpful since I was at ease in the school setting. Thought I might have a unique perspective. He never said anything about the police not being able to handle it. I don’t know why you think every time I’m called in to help solve a case, it’s because someone is accusing the police of being buffoons. That’s simply not true. Having taught for thirty years, I know a thing or two about how schools and teachers work. Call it insider intel, if you will. I have nothing but respect for law enforcement.”

“I don’t want to get into that right now. Those layers run deep. You’re here as a guest. Period. Let’s stay out of police business and enjoy the sunshine and getting to know our biological family. Besides, I’m on leave while I’m recuperating. The last thing I want to do right now is get tangled up in a murder, miles from home.”

Susan’s phone vibrated on the nightstand. It was Audrey. She sounded calmer than she had this afternoon, but Susan heard lingering fatigue in her voice. The call was short, and Susan relayed the conversation to Lynette.

“Audrey wants to meet us for breakfast tomorrow.”

“That sounds good. What a day. Let’s order some room service, watch a little TV, and hit the sack. I’m exhausted and I’m sure you are too.” Lynette yawned as she spoke.

“Check the menu while I call Dad. I’m in the mood for some comfort food. Macaroni and cheese, French fries…and ice cream for dessert. Chocolate. I’ll go back on my diet after breakfast tomorrow.”

Chapter 3

Franklin Avenue, an eclectic mix of franchises and Mom and Pop shops, was teeming with students, shoppers, and tourists, even at this early morning hour. The line at Starbuck’s snaked out to the sidewalk. A
closed
sign hung from the door of Jo’s Antiques.

“What a cute street,” said Lynette. “Looks like a cross between a college town and a resort destination.”

“Audrey said the café is next to Barnes and Noble,” said Susan. “I see it.”

Through the latticework window with the frilly white curtain, they immediately spotted Audrey drinking coffee at a round table.

“Susan, Lynette!” she greeted them. “Hope you got a good night’s sleep.”

“Slept like a log,” said Susan.

“And how are you, little lady?” Audrey bent down to Annalise’s eye level. Annalise receded into Lynette’s pant leg, then gradually snuck a peek at Audrey. “Well, at least she didn’t cry when she saw me this time.” She smiled at the toddler.

Lynette ordered a stack of pancakes for herself and a scrambled egg with toast for the baby. Susan wished she could eat all those calories and stay as trim as Lynette. She ordered an egg white omelet, inspired by looking out the window at an array of short shorts and mini-skirts. There’d be no hiding beneath bulky sweaters on this trip. Audrey’s phone vibrated on the table.

“Good morning, Dean Whittiker. Yes, that’s true. I know, it’s already all over the news. She was our music teacher….walking at night through the arboretum. No, she wasn’t on school business. We do have a security guard….yes; he’s in the hospital. No, we didn’t replace him. Lawsuit? Yes, I’ll go over it with the school attorney. I’ll be in touch.”

“Are you okay?” said Susan.

“The owners of our school are concerned about a lawsuit and keeping Hemingway High’s reputation untarnished. The sooner Celia’s murder is solved, the better.”

“I’m sure the police are making it a priority,” said Lynette.

Susan had a million personal questions for Audrey, but saw the fatigue in her eyes, and heard the stress in her voice during the phone call. She decided to put them on hold for the time being. She’d focus on the present and, as the waitress set down their food, she asked, “Have you gotten any updates about the murder?”

“The police are working on it. That’s all I know. We opened the school as usual this morning. The board of directors decided that was best. Of course, the arboretum is closed off. I already have an answering machine full of parent calls waiting for me in my office. Now I have the Dean on my back, too.”

“On the news last night, the reporter mentioned an armed attack and a suicide. What’s that about?” said Lynette. She took a bite of her blueberry pancakes.

“Please,” said Audrey, “that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Our principal was in a horrible, unexplained car accident recently. That’s why I came back. I’m retired and enjoy being a respected emeritus, but I would do anything for this place. Headed it for forty years. Our principal is still in the hospital and they need me to run the show. There’s speculation she was run off the road, but it hasn’t been proven. She’s been suffering from short-term memory loss since the accident, so she’s not able to give the police any details about what happened that night. Thank God they’re predicting a full recovery.”

“Why did you warn me to stay away?” said Susan. “Celia hadn’t been murdered yet then. What were you anticipating?”

“Besides the suspicious accident, a security guard was severely beaten a few weeks ago,” explained Audrey. “He’s still in the hospital. I didn’t want you walking into danger. Now I have to find someone to replace poor Mrs. Watkins––the murdered woman. Not that she’s replaceable. Few substitutes are capable of teaching music. And some are afraid to come, especially since the attack on the security guard. Now what? Those poor students. This incident could scar them for life if not handled sensitively.”

Susan started to open her mouth, then noticed the daggers shooting out of Lynette’s eyes and stopped herself.

Audrey continued. “Parents are going to pull their kids out of our school. We’ve enjoyed a wonderful reputation for years, but this could drive us right into bankruptcy.”

Susan took a deep breath and, avoiding Lynette’s eyes, made Audrey an offer.

“You know, I still have a valid teaching certificate. Maybe I could give you a hand.”

“Oh, Susan, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking. I’m offering.”

“You’d do that?”

“I could fill in at least until the fuss dies down. I’m sure the police will catch the perpetrator soon.”

“You’re a Godsend ten times over!” gushed Audrey. Susan watched her biological mother’s worry lines melt. “Tomorrow…”

Lynette interrupted. “But, Mom…”

“I know what you’re going to say, honey, but it’s just to get the students through the crisis. They need me.” She took a sip of coffee.

Lynette sighed. Susan knew she was angry, but figured she’d understand once she thought about how badly Audrey needed her help.

“Can you start tomorrow?” asked Audrey. “I’ll show you around the campus after breakfast. We have an amazing choral suite.”

Susan unfolded the umbrella stroller and buckled Annalise, still holding a piece of toast, into it. The sun was warm, and Susan shed her sweater as soon as they were out the door. Audrey led them to the campus.

“This is the original building. The stones were brought over from Italy. When subsequent buildings went up later, the Italian stones were replicated. You’d think the whole campus went up at once.” Susan could tell this wasn’t the first time Audrey had given this tour.

“Are there classrooms in there?” asked Lynette.

“Originally, yes. Now it’s our main auditorium. We store scenery and props upstairs.”

“Are those dorms behind it?” said Susan.

“That’s the girl’s dorm. The boys are housed over by the arboretum. Come on, this is the music building.” They followed Audrey through the heavy wooden doors. As soon as they entered, the sound of violin études, piano arpeggios, and a symphony of winds and brasses engulfed them, reminding Susan how much she missed teaching music. Of course, she kept that secret close to her chest. Retirement was wonderful. Isn’t that what everyone said?

Audrey led them to the second floor choral suite, complete with built-in risers and acoustic tiles. “First and second periods are ear training classes,” said Audrey. “Music History is period three. The rest of the day is for chorus rehearsals.”

“This is a lovely set up,” said Susan. “I’m looking forward to meeting the students.”

“We have the best of the best here. Students audition from all over the country to get a spot. We even have a handful of international students. We’re more like a conservatory than a run-of-the-mill performing arts high school. Let’s go to my office,” suggested Audrey. They walked across the quad to the administration building. Susan compared this five-building campus to Westbrook High back home. It was easily triple the size. When they walked into Audrey’s office, a handsome detective was waiting for them.

“The secretary said to wait in here,” said the detective. As he stood up, his eyes fell on Lynette. The corners of his serious mouth turned up into a smile.

“Lynette? Lynette Wiles? What are you doing here?”

“Kevin? Kevin O’Hara? Is it really you?”

“Sure is. I haven’t seen you since we left the academy. I swear you don’t look a day older.”

“I’m flattered. It’s Lynette Green now. This is my daughter Annalise, and you remember my Mom, don’t you?”

“Mrs. Wiles. How could I forget? I was your star tenor back in the day.”

“You sure were. Look at you now. Detective, living in sunny Florida. Glad things worked out for you. Are you married?” Susan and her husband Mike had expected Lynette and Kevin, the golden couple from Westbrook High, to marry. The whole town did. Lynette had abruptly ended the relationship shortly after their graduation from the police academy.

“Nope. After Lynette, the bar was set so high it’s impossible to find someone who measures up.”

Lynette had never revealed why she ended things with Kevin, so she and Mike played the role of supportive parents and, hard as it was, they didn’t pry. A year later, Lynette met Jason, and Susan never gave Kevin another thought. Until now.

“Are you still with the police force?” asked Kevin.

“Yes. I’m also a detective. I’m with the Westbrook Police Department, but, as you can see, I’m a bit disabled at the moment.” She patted her cast. “I came down with my Mom to meet Audrey here, my biological grandmother. It’s a long story.”

Kevin cleared his throat. “Mrs. Roberts, I’ve been assigned to the murder case. The crime lab is processing the evidence from the scene. Meanwhile, I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

“Ask away. The sooner this is solved, the better. Poor Celia. Her family is devastated.”

“Was Mrs. Watkins in the habit of walking the campus at night?”

“Not that I know of,” replied Audrey. “She lives––I mean lived––in town only five minutes away. I don’t know what she was doing out in the arboretum.”

“Was there a meeting or some other school event that night?”

“No. It was an ordinary, run-of-the-mill school night.”

“Can you think of anyone who may have wanted to harm her? Did she have any enemies?”

“Everyone loved her. She was like a mother to her students, and easy to get along with. She had a good working relationship with the rest of the faculty.”

“If you think of anything, here’s my card.”

“I’m going to be substituting for Mrs. Watkins, Kevin. I’ll let you know if I hear anything from the students,” said Susan. Lynette rolled her eyes at her mother.

“Thank you, Mrs. Wiles. I’d appreciate that.” He flashed her a smile perfect enough to be an advertisement for an orthodontic practice.

After Kevin left, Audrey suggested Lynette and Susan take Annalise to the beach. “The water is still a bit cold, but I’ll bet Annalise will love playing in the sand.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Susan. “Can’t wait to see Annalise in that frilly-bottomed bathing suit I bought her before we left for our trip.”

“Be sure to slather her with sunscreen. Babies burn easily.”

“We will,” said Susan.
Of course, we’ll use sunscreen. Does she think we’re idiots?

“Come over for dinner tonight. I get home around five. I’ll have George pick you up.” Lynette nodded.

“We’d love to,” said Susan.

“Onward,” said Lynette. They began to walk away, when Susan stopped and said, “Just give me a few minutes, Lynette. I forgot to ask Audrey something. You can wait here on the bench.”

Susan pretended to go back inside, but instead, went back to the crime scene at the arboretum. She walked around outside the perimeter of the yellow police tape, scanning the interior for overlooked clues. Near the tape, she spotted something on the ground. She bent down and saw it was a tiny, coated rubber band. It was the kind used to hold small braids. Probably has nothing to do with the murder. Lots of kids pass by here. Strange, it has a clump of hair tangled in it.
She took a tissue out of her purse and used it to wrap the rubber band. She didn’t want Lynette to accuse her of contaminating evidence.