Page 26 of Scorched (Killer #2)

“That ought to narrow it down some. I’m on it. Where are you headed now?”

“To the high school. One of Elise’s neighbors works at the high school. I’m going to check him out.”

“Think he was the one to leave the note in her box?”

Paul’s jaw tightened. If this guy was loco as Maria indicated, there was no telling what he was capable of. “I don’t know, but I plan on finding out.”

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 their former 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.”

“Did the police have the truck dusted for prints?”

“Yup. Only the regular drivers’ prints showed.”

Whoever had stolen it knew the ropes. Leaving no trace evidence.

Paul headed toward the cafeteria. Could a high school janitor be the culprit behind such an elaborate operation?

Or was Paul wasting his time and the real killer was out there preparing to strike again?

He feared Elise would be his next target.

Maybe Elise was right, and it was Stan Klaus.

Who else would have sufficient motivation to kill others to torment her?

Who else would be motivated to ultimately kill her?

“Oh, and Paul, while I was still at the office, Cain showed up for all of five minutes. I couldn’t follow him because I had to pick up the boys. He looked like he was in a hurry. He left at the same time as I did. Pealed out of the parking lot in his SUV without so much as a word to me.”

Paul’s jaw tightened. Between protecting a woman from a crazed killer and dealing with a troubled employee, he had his share of frustrations. “I’ll deal with him when I get in the office tomorrow.”

Elise sat behind her desk with her grade sheets neatly printed, waiting for parents to show up and ask about their child’s progress. For all outward appearances, she hoped she appeared calm and relaxed. While inside her stomach churned, her palms sweated, and she still felt a little light-headed.

Every time a person appeared in the doorway, Elise teetered at the edge of terror. What if Stan entered carrying an Ethernet cable, ready to take her out like he had the other women he’d killed?

Her more hopeful side watched the door, hoping Paul would step through and allay her fears.

She fought the urge to call home and check on the boys.

Agent Bradley had been there to see them off the bus.

She’d called as soon as they arrived and again when they were safely tucked inside the house with the doors locked.

Elise would rather have skipped the parent-teacher conference night, but she feared for her job. Especially after passing out in the classroom and then lying to the principal about why.

She hadn’t seen Alex and Kendall since the earlier incident.

They hadn’t shown up for class, either. She’d called their homes and left a message, but they hadn’t checked in.

Now, not only did she have to worry about her own children, but she was also worried about her students.

The burden of her situation weighed heavily on her.

Just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, Gerri Finch walked in, her three-inch stilettos clicking sharply against the tiles. Ashley followed her mother, her head down, her cheeks pale.

“I’ve had about all I can take of this school, Ms. Johnson.” Gerri plopped her Gucci bag on Elise’s desk and planted her hands on her hips. “My daughter will be at the cheer competition on Saturday, do you understand? If she’s not, I’ll hold you responsible and do my best to have you fired.”

All the frustration, fear and anger that had built up over the past couple of days rocketed up inside Elise.

She stood, heat rising up her neck into her face and all the way to her scalp.

“Mrs. Finch.” Elise sucked in a deep breath in hope of calming her rising fury.

“Ashley is responsible for whether or not she performs on Saturday. She needs to understand that there are consequences for her actions. And you, as her parent, should know that and provide the guidance she so desperately needs and obviously isn’t getting. ”

“Mom, leave it alone.” Ashley grabbed her mother’s arm and tried to pull her away from Elise’s desk. “So, I’ll miss one competition. The world won’t end.”

“Shut up, Ashley. You’ll be there if I have to file a lawsuit against this school and particularly against this teacher.”

Ashley’s face reddened and she shot a helpless glance at Elise. “But I don’t want you to sue the school. I like it here. I have friends.”

Mrs. Finch’s cheeks flushed an unbecoming beet-red. “I said shut up! If you hadn’t kept your mouth shut in the first place, and gotten to class on time, you wouldn’t be in this situation. Let go of me!” Gerri Finch jerked her arm loose and raised her hand as if to strike her daughter.

Ashley flinched and backed away, color draining from her face.

Elise gasped. “Mrs. Finch!”

“Don’t.” Paul’s deep voice penetrated the woman’s rage and halted her hand in midair.

Relief washed over Elise, and she rushed across the room and into his open arms.

Gerri’s hand remained frozen, hovering over her daughter’s head, her breath coming in ragged gasps. “You have to be at the competition.”

“Why, Mom?” Ashley’s color came back, tears filling her eyes. “ You’re the one who wanted me to cheer. You’re the one who made me go to all those gymnastic lessons. Did you ever ask me what I wanted? I hate gymnastics. I hate cheering!”