Page 57 of Scorched

Cars left the parking lot in a steady stream as the campus cleared of students. An equally steady stream of vehicles entered and filled the parking lot as parents ran or trudged through the puddles of water, hunkered beneath umbrellas to get indoors.

Paul climbed out, forgoing the umbrella since he was already soaked through to the skin. He just wanted to get to Elise.

Tables had been set up in the entrance where parents stood in line for course schedules with class numbers for each of their children. Paul bypassed the masses and hurried toward Elise’s classroom.

A dark-haired woman in a navy-blue skirt suit stepped into his path. “Agent Fletcher, is it?” She stuck her hand out, forcing him to stop and shake it. “I’m Anita Ford, the principal here at Breuer High School.”

“Nice to meet you.” He shook her hand, his gaze shooting past her to the hallway where Elise’s classroom was located.

“Are you here on official business, or personal?” Her brows rose on her forehead, her mouth stretched in a thin line.

What was this all about? Paul shifted his full attention to Principal Ford. If he told her it was official, he’d be obliged to give her some of the details of which he wasn’t prepared to impart to the woman. “Personal.”

“As the principal of this school, I’m responsible for the students as well as the teachers. If this is official business, I have a right to know what it’s all about.”

“It’s personal.”

“Ms. Johnson is new to us here at Breuer, yet I like to think I treat all my teachers the same, new or tenured. If she’s in any kind of trouble, I’d like to know what I can do to help.”

Paul studied the woman. She seemed sincere, yet it wasn’t his place to tell her anything about Elise’s past. If Elise wanted her to know, she’d have told her. “Thank you, Principal Ford. As Elise’s...fiancée...” Hopefully, knowing Paul was Elise’s fiancé should keep her from questioning his continued presence at the high school. “I’m relieved to know someone is looking out for her welfare.”

“Fiancée?” Principal Ford’s lips curved into a smile. “Is this something new?”

Paul forced a smile, hoping it looked natural and not strained. “Well as soon as I pop the question, and she says yes. You won’t say anything to her, will you? I’d planned on surprising her this Friday.”

Principal Ford was all grins. “You have my word. She should be in her classroom.”

While he had the principal’s attention, he might as well ask. “Principal Ford, do you have a man working here by the name of George Slater?”

The lady’s smile softened. “Why yes. George is a janitor here at the high school.” She paused. “Why do you ask?”

“Is he working now? I know he lives close to Elise, and I haven’t had the opportunity to meet him.”

“I’m sure he’s around somewhere. He usually does the cleaning at the end of the school day after the students leave.” She turned toward the office. “I can have him paged.”

“That won’t be necessary. I can meet him another time.” Paul smiled. “I’m more interested in seeing Elise first.”

“If you’re certain.” She motioned toward the office. “Won’t take a minute to put an announcement over the intercom system.”

The offer was not Paul’s idea of subtle. “No, that’s okay. Maybe next time.” Paul sprinted down the hallway toward Elise’s room, more anxious than ever to see that she was truly all right, almost certain she would be, surrounded by parents, other teachers and students.

It gnawed at him that George was an employee of the school. In a perfect position to have access to Elise’s mailbox. If the boys had somehow alerted him to theirformer name and circumstances, he might be the one threatening her and killing the women.

First, he’d check on Elise, then he’d find George. His gut twisted at the thought of young Luke standing at the back fence talking to the crazy man. How close to death had the boys been in their own backyard?

His cell phone rang, and he answered. “Fletcher.”

“Hey, Paul. I called the bug exterminator company you mentioned before I picked up the boys. I got hold of their dispatch office in Breuer and found out something interesting.”

“What’s that?”

“One of the bug trucks was stolen yesterday morning before their office opened.”

“Has it been located?” He couldn’t imagine a truck as distinctive as one with a giant bug on it could go missing for long.

“As a matter of fact, yes. It was located a mile away in an empty lot. The police think it was kids taking it for a joy ride.”

“I’ll bet it was our killer.”

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