geek world they were coordinated.
They each carried a shoulder bag she assumed held e-tools that wouldn’t fit in the multitude of pockets in the baggies.
Callendar said, “Yo. Hey, girl, you’re rocking the red!”
Grinning, Peabody gave her hair a little shake. “Right?”
Eve rolled her eyes, McNab and Peabody exchanged a quick little finger wiggle, and everybody piled in the car.
“Can it be fizzy time?” Callendar asked from the back seat.
“Whatever.” Eve pulled out. “The warrant should be in by the time we get there. We need records from ’53 and ’54, student body, staff, administration. Probability’s high someone who worked or attended during that time period is our prime suspect. Possibility of a parent or a student, a close connection to one of the staff.”
As the car filled with the scent of sugar-infused bubble drinks, Eve ran it through.
“According to statements we have so far, the previous headmaster ran a loose ship, let things slide, and focused on bringing in the moolah.”
“I can checkmark that,” Callendar said between slurps. “I’m friends with a dude who went there. We go back, and I know he had to dodge and sprint to keep from getting his ass kicked—didn’t dodge and sprint fast enough one time and got banged up bad. He’d have graduated in like ’53 or ’54. His parents went in, more than once, and wanted to pull him out, but he really wanted to finish there. He works for Roarke now.”
Eve shot a glance in the rearview. “Is that so?”
“Yeah. He’s a game developer, and he’s been working for Roarke World for a couple years. I can round him up if you want to jaw.”
“I want to jaw.”
“Solid. I’ll fix it. We hung out a lot back then because, you know, gaming. He’s wicked smart, and totally nerdy. Might as well flash a Kick My Ass sign to the assholes, you know? They wanted him to hack in for tests, or do their work, like that. I was taking martial arts, showed him some moves. It helped a little.”
“And the school—the administration—let it slide?”
“From what I know, yeah. He was there on scholarship, and got a full ride to MIT, so yeah, wicked smart.”
“Grange, former headmaster, either decided to take another job in the middle of the school year or was nudged out. Rufty, spouse of the first vic, came on and clamped down. Some weren’t happy about it. Second vic’s the spouse of a teacher who complained about Grange, and who transferred to Columbia. But he and Rufty got along fine during the term they worked together. Rufty states there were rumors that Grange had an affair—either with staff or daddies. Her husband filed for a divorce about the same time. We’ll be jawing with him, too.”
McNab gulped down his own fizzy. “Are you looking at her—Grange?”
“She’s in East Washington. We’ll check her travel, though it’s a doable drive. But nothing in her background shows an affinity for chemistry. Her ex—that would be second ex—is the CEO of All Fresh, and that’s a lot of chemistry.”
The Theresa A. Gold Academy rose five weathered brick stories. Security cams winked over its double entrance doors.
Eve pulled into a loading zone, flipped on her On Duty light.
“School’ll be out for the day.” McNab stood on the sidewalk, studied the building. “That’ll make it easier.”
“Have you ever been in a school after hours?” Callendar asked.
“I guess, yeah.”
“Creepy.” And she grinned. “I can dig on creepy.”
“They board,” Eve added. “Top floors are dormitories. They have some administrative staff round the clock.”
She approached the door, tried it, found it locked. She considered mastering in just for the hell of it, but hit the buzzer instead.
Welcome to the Theresa A. Gold Academy. Regular school hours are eight A.M. to three P.M., Monday through Friday, with specialty classes from nine A.M. to two P.M. on Saturday. Lectures and performances are listed on the website. If you are here for an after-hours appointment or visit, please state your name and the party with whom you wish to meet.
Eve thought: Blah, blah, blah. “Lieutenant Dallas, NYPSD. We’re here on police business. You can inform whoever’s currently in charge.” She glanced at her PPC as the warrant came through. “We have a duly executed warrant to enter and search.”
Please wait one moment while Assistant Headmaster Myata is informed.