The Happy Housewife (Samantha Sherman Book 1) (19 page)

Pat nodded and made a move back towards his ladder. “I’m afraid there isn’t anything you can do, accept maybe bring Lindsey up for a visit. I think she might do a lot to cheer Dwayne up. He’s going to have an awful day today. Maybe you could come this weekend if Dwayne comes home on Friday? Maybe on Sunday?”

“Sure, Pat, I’ll give you a call this weekend to find out what the situation is and we’ll come by. Try and take care of yourself.”

The side of Pat’s mouth twitched up in a little half smile and he nodded again, “You too.”

Sam started walking down the street towards her house and suddenly recalled how dehydrated she was. She picked up her pace and quickly reached her own home. After downing two glasses of water and stretching out in the family room, she flopped on the floor. The pictures of Helen’s that she had pushed under the couch caught her eye and she pulled them out.
I’m such a joke
, she thought. Sam Sherman, a modern day Hercule Poirot.

Sam sat up and set the pictures on one of the end tables next to the couch. She was headed for the shower, replaying her conversation with Pat. His family had been destroyed in less than a week. How would they cope? Would there be a trial? She still found it hard to believe that William would lead that kind of thing or even be a follower. His ‘mission’? What, did he think he was a soldier? What a waste. Sam was almost to the top of the stairs when she froze. A mission? The revolution? Could it be? She raced up to the top of the stairs and into her bedroom. Fumbling through her purse for Don’s number, she told herself to calm down. Just because Pete spoke of a mission didn’t mean he was connected to this. Yes, but he still thought he was in the movement, didn’t he? And William must have learned this stuff from somewhere. Who better to teach him than someone in his own school?

She found Don’s number and hesitated. So far Don had been very generous with her. This was nothing, a loose thread, and wouldn’t they have all this information already? After all, the two detectives had talked to William and Pete. How sure was she? Not at all, really, but if William had an adult influence, if he was not the leader, it surely would help him when he was sentenced.
So I’ll feel stupid if I’m wrong, but what if I’m right?

Sam decided to go for it. And then, she determined, she would go early to pick up Lindsey and watch her daughter practice gymnastics. It was time to be done with this whole messy week and get back to concentrating on her family.

Don answered on the first ring. Sam rushed right in, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible. They exchanged pleasantries and then Sam said, “Mr. Vitriola, I’m not trying to do your job and to be honest I feel very silly coming to you with this. But if it means anything I would feel terrible not sharing.”

“Well, Sam, your instincts have been really good this week. What have you got?”

Gosh, he was so nice
, Sam thought. “I just ran into Pat Walters today and he filled me in on what’s happening with William, his arrest I mean. Anyway, he was telling me about some of the language William used and I realized later that it was eerily similar to language used by Pete when I talked to him at the high school. Of course, that high school is where William just graduated. I may have seen one too many
Law and Order
episodes, but I thought I should at least pass it along to you. I really hope I’m not wasting your time.”

Sam held her breath, half expecting Don to start laughing at her. At least he didn’t laugh, “That is interesting. We did find a duffle bag in Pete’s office that had some fertilizer and other items that are dual use, one use of which is for a bomb. Pete is a janitor but he doesn’t do work on the school grounds, and the gardener denies ever storing any of his materials in Pete’s office. The gardener also said Pete’s behavior was erratic and made him uncomfortable, if you can imagine that.” Don gave an easy laugh.

Sam realized that once again the police were probably all over the situation. “So you probably already had thought of a connection.”

“Well, we had discussed a possible link. We also have the FBI working on this so we brought this news to them. They are questioning Pete as we speak, actually. Surprisingly, he seems quite willing to talk. So far he won’t implicate William or his friends, but he has admitted to his involvement in the fire. He’s proud of it actually. I must say I’ve heard enough lectures about revolution to last me a while. The guy is clearly out of his mind, however loyal he might be. This isn’t information for public release though. I’m not sure where it will go.”

“Your secret is safe with me. Does all this mean that Marjorie, Clint, or Dan could have been involved?”

“Oh, no. The whole gang has alibis. Besides, Dan had already moved before the fire in the housing development had been planned. Additionally, they have all been good citizens for years and were actually trying to do Pete a favor by getting him the job. Pete has an arrest record that post dates his time in the movement. My only beef with ‘the gang’ is that they were so trusting of Pete.”

“Well, Pete was certainly scary to me. I was just thinking of how hostile Clint was at my house. Perhaps that’s just my dislike of him talking though. He wasn’t that nice to his wife, I mean girlfriend. That, and Helen was so convinced that Pete was well intentioned. Anyway, if Pete is considered to be the ring leader, will that help William?”

“William was eighteen when this happened and someone died. That means murder or at least man slaughter and arson charges. It is likely he will go away for a long time regardless of Pete’s involvement. Confessing got him away from the death penalty at least. Pete’s leadership probably gets him away from life in prison without the possibility of parole. I would guess he gets fifteen to twenty years. I bet William could do as little as five years if he testifies against his friends and Pete and the district attorney allows him to plead to manslaughter. Stupid kid, I hope he wises up.”

“Yeah, it’s a horrible situation. He would have been one of the last kids I would have expected to get involved in something like this. He’s kind of an All-American type.”

“You know, I’ve kind of moved away, over the years, from trying to figure out the why of these things, particularly if the case is already solved. You just get numb to it. Nathan still goes there, however. I think he sees it as an intellectual exercise. He thinks William is kind of the golden child in his family. He’s the good-looking one who is great at sports and gets perfect grades. Things come easily to him and are given to him. Perhaps it all went to his head. He started to think the rules didn’t apply to him. Add in the influence of someone with their own agenda, and a kid’s prank turns into murder. I mean, William had no clue about the deeper side of ELF and ALF, or their history. His understanding was all surface stuff. He probably got mad about some environmental cause and went to an extreme with it.”

Don trailed off, and Sam reminded herself again that she had wasted his time and should let him get back to work. “Mr. Vitriola, I am really sorry to be second guessing you. What a week it has been in your career. You and your partner should be very proud to have completed two investigations simultaneously.”

“Thanks. I’ve actually decided in the midst of all of this to retire this year. It’s a good note to go out on.” Don paused, and Sam fought her desire to keep asking questions. Don filled in the empty space. “I do appreciate your calling. You know when we develop cases we take in all the information and then decide which way to go. Your instincts are good.”

Sam thanked Don and congratulated him on the decision to retire. After they hung up, Sam found herself staring into space for a time and then automatically getting her shower, gathering her things and heading downstairs to go to Lindsey’s gymnastics camp. She paused before going outside and grabbed Helen’s pictures off of the end table in the family room and then went out to her car. She would just stop by the school and give Helen her pictures. Didn’t Helen say the teachers were going back today and she was going to drive over to the high school?

Sam felt better after making her decision. She had a plan so this
thing
was going to be out of her life. Maybe after all this she would get herself a hobby, or maybe she would finally confront Doug about adopting or foster care. Now why was she thinking of that? After all, this wasn’t his fault. He had told her to stay out of it.

Sam found herself speeding on the way over to the high school. When she arrived, she jumped out of the car, took the pictures and marched over to the main doors. She slowed as she realized that she had no idea where Helen’s classroom was. She would just have to go into the administrative office and ask. There shouldn’t be a problem with her being in the school since the kids weren’t back.

When Sam went in through the main door of the high school, butterflies started jumping around in her stomach and her throat constricted. She reminded herself that Pete was in jail but she was still uncomfortable. This time she would do things the correct way. She resolutely turned left and found the door to the administrative offices open. She strolled in and chatted briefly with a friendly secretary whom she identified herself to as a friend of Helen’s. She was prepared to give a slightly made-up education reason she needed to see Helen, but it wasn’t necessary. The secretary was just fine with telling her where to go. The secretary added, “I’m actually not sure if she’s in today. We’re expecting her though.” Sam decided that she would just check Helen’s classroom and then head to Lindsey’s camp.

Helen’s room was down the same hall that Sam had walked on Tuesday to talk to Pete. The actual room was halfway along the last hallway before Pete’s office. Sure enough, the room was empty, without any gear to indicate someone was there. Helen did not come in after all.

Sam glanced around Helen’s classroom. It was decorated with posters depicting ‘great works’ of literature.
I guess Helen is an English teacher
, Sam realized. She glanced around the room one more time.
What are you looking for, Sam
, she asked herself,
a hammer and sickle?

Sam smiled as she turned to leave the room. She caught a flash of color as someone moved away from the door. Sam expeditiously went to the doorway and saw an olive green skirt disappear into the classroom across from Helen’s. Out of curiosity she went to the classroom and peaked inside. She saw Marjorie at the back of the classroom busying herself doing, what? Marjorie glanced over her shoulder and looked visibly disturbed to see Sam, like she had been caught.

Well, no need to be rude. Of course Marjorie would check if she saw someone going into Helen’s classroom. “Hi, Marjorie.”

“Hi,” she said and then glanced over at a pile of papers she now started to shuffle through. Clearly, she was not going to make any effort to continue the conversation.

“Were you looking for Helen?” Sam asked.

“I was. I didn’t know if she was coming in today. I guess she’s not feeling well. It’s only the first day back for teachers. She won’t miss much.”

“So your classroom is right across the hall from Helen’s.”

“Yes, we’re all English teachers. Clint is too. His class is two down on the left. We each teach a different grade.”

Marjorie was being very open and Sam didn’t know why, but she felt like pushing her. “So do you feel better now that Dan’s killer has been caught?”

Marjorie visibly flinched and Sam immediately regretted what she said.
No need to carry out my frustrations on Marjorie, the weakest of them all,
she chastised herself. Coming to the high school was supposed to be about moving forward. There was no need to backtrack. Sam apologized, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Good luck with your school year, Marjorie.”

She turned to go but paused when she heard a soft voice, “I really didn’t think Pete would do something like that.”

Marjorie was looking guilty when Sam turned around. She felt a wave of pity for her. Were these people so wedded to the past that Marjorie felt bad even discussing the death of her former lover? Sam suddenly realized that this small group that stayed in touch for support was, in fact, holding its members back from actually moving on. What they really needed was to get away from each other, she decided. Sam hoped that Helen would follow through on her mentioned desire to leave the area.

“This must be hard for you. I understand that you and Dan were very close at one time. You know, it’s all right to talk about it. Maybe you don’t feel comfortable talking to me, but maybe you have a friend who’s not in the group?”

Marjorie gave a harsh sounding laugh, “So she told you about Dan and I, did she? I should have known. Loyalty …” she ended with a snort.

“Look, Marjorie, I overheard you guys talking and I guessed it. Helen was so vulnerable at that point when I pressed her, she caved in. It wasn’t said to hurt you in any way. You know, at some point in your life you’ve got to start trusting other people.”

The angry look on Marjorie’s face gave way to a very sad one. Sam took a long look at her. She really wasn’t that old, maybe in her late fifties, but she seemed older. Her clothes were drab and they hung loosely on her. She probably had a nice figure under them but didn’t make any effort to show it off. He face had some lines but not too many. With a little makeup, some covering up of those gray hairs, and a good night’s rest to get rid of those dark circles, Marjorie would really be pretty. “You know, Dan was a good man,” she finally said. “In the end I guess I just didn’t believe I deserved him.”

“Marjorie, do you know how many women do that to themselves? Of course you deserve to be with someone who is a good man. Just because you were involved in something bad years and years ago, it doesn’t mean you have to live the rest of your life finding ways to beat yourself up.”

“Clint’s a good man too. Don’t forget I cheated on him.” Marjorie’s defensive tone alerted Sam. She knew Clint did not treat Marjorie well, but Marjorie had to figure that out for herself. If Sam ‘told her how it was,’ she would be just one more person in Marjorie’s life who pushed her around.