Page 38 of Mending Fences
“Mr. Alexander, you told me you were acting as a bodyguard for Miss Fowler. However, she seems to be ignorant of that fact, and from the way she is looking at you, I bet you have never been introduced.” Though half a head shorter, Officer Keller didn’t look the least bit intimidated.
“No, sir, we haven’t. I was asked to watch out for her. And so I came to check on her classroom this morning.”
“Who hired you?”
“I am contracted with C&O Enterprises.”
Mandy sucked in a breath.
The officer continued. “Daniel Crawford owns that, doesn’t he?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you very much, Mr. Alexander.” Mandy couldn’t help watching him leave the room.
The principal spoke up. “Your boyfriend must have hired him. That gets Mr. Alexander off my list.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.” She looked heavenward, hoping for a do-over, a candid camera, anything.
The policeman raised a brow. “Well, someone thinks you do.”
Another policeman tapped on the door, a camera in his hand. “I’m all done in there. You can clean up.”
Mr. Lee picked up the room phone. “Mrs. Janice, can you tell custodial they can clean A-103 now?” He listened for a minute before hanging up the phone with a thank-you. “Officer Keller, do you have any other questions for Miss Fowler? Students are starting to arrive.”
“Just a few.” The officer turned to Mandy. “I’d like you to look at your room and see if you can think of any art students who might be our perpetrators.”
Mandy followed the men down the hall, noting Mr. Alexander’s presence. Even knowing her room had been vandalized, she wasn’t prepared for the mess. She slowly turned to take it all in—the broken window, the words painted on the easels and cupboards, her mess of a desk. The school computer had been smashed. Mandy was grateful she kept all her art files in the cloud. She studied the walls and the handwriting. “It is odd they didn’t ruin any student art other than Roderigo’s. And although they tried to copy his style, neither vandal is practiced enough.”
“They?” The officer asked.
“Yes, there are two distinct handwriting styles going on. Notice the capitalB’s and thech. I think there may be a third as the blue paint on the front of my desk shows a lighter hand. She was also the one who painted the caricature on the board. Her strokes are not as bold as Roderigo’s, but she did a decent job of matching his style. Too bad she isn’t left-handed, I would have almost blamed him.”
Principal Lee stepped forward. “You sure it isn’t Roderigo? It looks enough like his work.”
Mandy turned to face the principal. “No, it isn’t his.” She examined the board closer. “I’m positive it isn’t.”
“Then who?”
“Not sure.” Mandy touched one of the letters. “They used tempera paint.” She pointed to the white bottle on the floor—a brand made for kids. “It should wash off easily, but the red may stain. You may want to have the custodian check the manufacturer’s website for tips on paint removal.”
The officer examined some of the words. “Miss Fowler, any reason you say these were girls who wrote this?”
“The round lettering, in general, girls tend to write with a rounder hand.” She turned to Mr. Lee. “Where should I teach?”
“Miss Fowler, I think you should take two or three sick days. With tomorrow being April Fool’s Day, I’d rather you not be here.”
“But I am not sick.” Mandy crossed her arms.
The principal pondered her boot. “You have winced more than once since you walked into the school. I say you need three days of recovery time.”
“But—”
“Look, Miss Fowler. With the threats you have received and the fact it looks like there was student involvement here, I think it’s in everyone’s best interest if you take some sick days. I have already approved the absence and called in a sub.” The principal took a stance she watched him use with belligerent students.
“Well, I guess I will sluff off, then.” She turned to leave.
Officer Keller stopped her. “If you don’t mind, we would like to look at your text messages. I can follow you home and pick up your phone. We will return it today.”
