night to reach Homer Knapik, but he didn’t answer his phone. Heck, with the threat of Leroy Yoder’s vengeance hanging over Homer’s head and the repercussions of the fire ready to crash down on his shoulders, she’d bet big money that the principal was screening his calls, hiding under his bed, or maybe even back in St. Louis.
Skye used her foot to flip the useless swimsuit into a corner and stomped into the adjoining bath. A hot shower would have to substitute for her missed laps.
After dressing, she downed a quick cup of tea, then drove to the high school. It was still early, but she really needed to catch Homer before the day started.
Skye ambushed the principal as he walked into the schoolat seven-thirty, cornering him between the teachers’ mailboxes and the front counter. “Homer, I need to talk to you.”
The tufts of hair sticking out from his ears twitched in annoyance. “I’m late for an administrators’ meeting. Can’t this wait?”
“It’ll only take a second.” She outlined her plan to have the homeroom teachers make a brief statement about the fire and announce Skye’s availability to any student who wanted to talk. “Is that okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” Homer edged away from her and slipped through the door of his office. A second later his head popped around the corner like a giant jack-in-the-box. “You better stick around here all day today. I’ll let the other principals know I need you.” He disappeared back into his office without waiting for her assent.
Skye had planned on staying at the high school anyway, but it would have been nice if Homer at least pretended he was asking, rather than issuing an order. She sighed and headed to the photocopy machine. Who was she kidding? Homer thought of her as his lackey, and that was pretty much the reality of her situation.
After putting information about the fire and its aftermath in all the homeroom teachers’ boxes, Skye went in search of Trixie.
She found her friend standing on a stepladder stapling book jackets to the wall. “Hey, what’s up?”
Trixie swung around, swayed, and then hopped off the ladder, making a perfect four-point landing. “I was just changing the display. Valentine’s Day is officially over.”
“Can’t say I’m sorry to see it gone.” Skye followed Trixie to the circulation desk and leaned a hip against the counter. “How’re things with your mother-in-law’s estate?”
“Owen’s meeting with someone today to see if we have enough equity in the farm for a loan.” Trixie changed thesubject without looking up from the stack of books she was processing. “Any news on Frannie?”
“She’s home from the hospital and doing fine. She’ll probably be at school today.”
“I take it we’re canceling the school newspaper meeting after school?” Trixie asked.
“I think we should, don’t you?”
“Yes. I’m busy Tuesday and Wednesday. Can we reschedule for Thursday?”
Skye flipped open her appointment book and checked. “Sure. I’m free that afternoon.”
“Good. I’ll let the kids know.” Trixie started to reshelve books. “How about the fire? Anything on that?”
Skye followed her. “It looks like it was deliberately started.” She lowered her voice. “Maybe to cover up a murder.”
“Do they know who the victim is?”
“Not that I’ve heard. Wally seems a bit … distracted.” Before she could say anything else, the first bell rang. “I’d better get to my office. I told the homeroom teachers they could send any kids who were upset about the fire to see me.” She waved and rushed off.
As Skye hurried down the hallway, she noticed that the students appeared the same as they did most Mondays—some hyper, some sluggish, and some asleep on their feet. During the next hour, only one girl showed up at her office. For the most part, the kids seemed to think the fire had been no big deal. She was puzzled but relieved.
With the exception of gym classes being held in the
Skye used her foot to flip the useless swimsuit into a corner and stomped into the adjoining bath. A hot shower would have to substitute for her missed laps.
After dressing, she downed a quick cup of tea, then drove to the high school. It was still early, but she really needed to catch Homer before the day started.
Skye ambushed the principal as he walked into the schoolat seven-thirty, cornering him between the teachers’ mailboxes and the front counter. “Homer, I need to talk to you.”
The tufts of hair sticking out from his ears twitched in annoyance. “I’m late for an administrators’ meeting. Can’t this wait?”
“It’ll only take a second.” She outlined her plan to have the homeroom teachers make a brief statement about the fire and announce Skye’s availability to any student who wanted to talk. “Is that okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” Homer edged away from her and slipped through the door of his office. A second later his head popped around the corner like a giant jack-in-the-box. “You better stick around here all day today. I’ll let the other principals know I need you.” He disappeared back into his office without waiting for her assent.
Skye had planned on staying at the high school anyway, but it would have been nice if Homer at least pretended he was asking, rather than issuing an order. She sighed and headed to the photocopy machine. Who was she kidding? Homer thought of her as his lackey, and that was pretty much the reality of her situation.
After putting information about the fire and its aftermath in all the homeroom teachers’ boxes, Skye went in search of Trixie.
She found her friend standing on a stepladder stapling book jackets to the wall. “Hey, what’s up?”
Trixie swung around, swayed, and then hopped off the ladder, making a perfect four-point landing. “I was just changing the display. Valentine’s Day is officially over.”
“Can’t say I’m sorry to see it gone.” Skye followed Trixie to the circulation desk and leaned a hip against the counter. “How’re things with your mother-in-law’s estate?”
“Owen’s meeting with someone today to see if we have enough equity in the farm for a loan.” Trixie changed thesubject without looking up from the stack of books she was processing. “Any news on Frannie?”
“She’s home from the hospital and doing fine. She’ll probably be at school today.”
“I take it we’re canceling the school newspaper meeting after school?” Trixie asked.
“I think we should, don’t you?”
“Yes. I’m busy Tuesday and Wednesday. Can we reschedule for Thursday?”
Skye flipped open her appointment book and checked. “Sure. I’m free that afternoon.”
“Good. I’ll let the kids know.” Trixie started to reshelve books. “How about the fire? Anything on that?”
Skye followed her. “It looks like it was deliberately started.” She lowered her voice. “Maybe to cover up a murder.”
“Do they know who the victim is?”
“Not that I’ve heard. Wally seems a bit … distracted.” Before she could say anything else, the first bell rang. “I’d better get to my office. I told the homeroom teachers they could send any kids who were upset about the fire to see me.” She waved and rushed off.
As Skye hurried down the hallway, she noticed that the students appeared the same as they did most Mondays—some hyper, some sluggish, and some asleep on their feet. During the next hour, only one girl showed up at her office. For the most part, the kids seemed to think the fire had been no big deal. She was puzzled but relieved.
With the exception of gym classes being held in the
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