Golden in Death (In Death 50)

When the bag finally hit the peroxide, a big cloud puffed out of the bottle. The kid grinned as if he’d just split an atom or something, and his teacher grinned with him.

“That’s so mega, Mr. Rosalind.”

“Yeah, it’s frosty all right. Now, I want you to write out the experiment, what you used, what steps you took. Then explain what reaction took place. Go ahead and take your tablet into the lounge and get started. Mac, gloves and goggles,” he added as the boy grabbed his tablet.

“Oh yeah.” He stripped them off, put them in labeled bins. “Thanks, Mr. Rosalind. Hey, Ms. Myata.”

Myata stepped in as Mac rushed out. “Is Mac still having trouble with his labs?”

“He gets flustered, and does better one-on-one. I don’t see a budding scientist in him, but he’ll do all right with the course. Hello.” He walked over, offered Eve his hand. “Ty Rosalind.”

“Lieutenant Dallas.”

“Ah.” His smiling greeting faded. “Kent. We’re all still reeling.”

“You were friendly with Dr. Abner?”

“I was, yes. I talked him into speaking with some of my advanced students who planned to go into medicine. He always made the time.”

“How long have you taught here, Mr. Rosalind?”

“Thirty-seven years. And one more if we count my year as a teaching assistant.”

“So you were on staff when Lotte Grange was headmaster.”

“Yes. Martin is the fourth headmaster I’ve worked with.”

Martin, she noted, not the formal Headmaster Rufty.

“Dr. Rufty implemented a lot of changes when he took over.”

“Yes, he did. I’m sorry, would you like to sit down? Kim, I’ve got some tea bags with leaves still in them.”

“Oh, thank you, but perhaps I should leave you to talk. I can wait in the teachers’ lounge until you’re ready to go back down, Lieutenant.”

“I can find my way back, thanks. You’ve been very helpful.”

“If you need me for anything else, I’m available. I’ll see you in the morning,” she said to Rosalind.

“Interested in one of those tea bags?” he said to Eve.

“Not even a little.”

But she walked in and took a good look around.

12

A good, organized space with a desk in the far front of the room, an old-fashioned blackboard behind it. Numerous counters and workstations, screens, comps, stools instead of chairs.

Beakers, vials, bottles, portable heaters for experiments.

“You’re well equipped in here, Mr. Rosalind.”

“We are. This is one of three chem labs. We have a smaller one on this level for advanced chemistry. Students need to qualify to take that course.”

“Do you teach that, too?”

“I do.”