A Simple Suburban Murder by Zubro Mark Richard

Author:Zubro, Mark Richard [Zubro, Mark Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2003-12-30T14:00:00+00:00

The next day at school started deceptively normal. The morning passed without a summons to the office. I’d about decided what he’d said to Meg was an idle threat when Georgette appeared at my classroom door. She beckoned me over.

“Mr. Sylvester wants you in his office,” she whispered nervously.

“Someone has to stay with this class,” I replied.

“I’m to stay with them.” She looked petrified.

“They’re only kids,” I assured her.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she said.

Sylvester was in the outer office.

“You wanted to see me,” I said.

He spoke stiffly. “Mr. Armstrong will speak to you in my office.”

I went in. Sylvester closed the door behind me. He stayed outside.

Armstrong moved from behind Sylvester’s desk. All of his fat friendliness from our first meeting was gone. Neither of us sat down.

“Well, Mr. Mason, you seem to have forgotten the directive we gave you in this office last week.” Armstrong began to pace as he talked. “I thought you understood from our little chat that you weren’t to speak to students and faculty about the incident, and you have.”

He stopped and stared at me, seeming to expect an answer. I stared back. When I remained silent he resumed pacing. “You’ve questioned Mr. Vance several times. He’s one of our finest teachers, head of one of our most successful departments, a prize-winning department. He’s a loyal faculty member, not to be harassed by the likes of you.”

I wondered if Vance told voluntarily or under pressure.

“Furthermore, you’ve spoken to current as well as former students, making all kinds of wild accusations about a man who can no longer defend himself.”

I guessed that Sheila had called school and told about our visit. I wondered why. She didn’t seem to fear any official involvement.

“How dare you talk to children who are incapable of dealing with such an issue. And I imagine you expected your little investigation to go unnoticed. It hasn’t. I’ve been trying to get Detective Robertson on the phone. I’m sure he’ll have a number of things to say to you about playing detective.” He stopped in front of me, waving a finger in my face. “But worse for you, you crossed me, buddy, and you’re going to pay.”

He settled his bulk behind Sylvester’s desk and stabbed a fat finger in my direction. “It would be far better for you if you turned in your resignation right now. In fact, if you resign in the next five minutes, I’ll guarantee you a positive letter of recommendation from the district.”

I sat down. “On precisely what in state law, school code, teacher contract, board policy, job description, or anything else do you choose to base this threat?”

“It’s more than a threat, and I don’t need any of those things. You disobeyed a direct order. That’s insubordination. I don’t need anything else but that.”

“I have no intention of resigning,” I replied. “If you wish to state your threat in front of my union representative and then follow proper dismissal procedures, go right ahead. I’d be delighted to have a formal hearing about all this.

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