Page 4 - Labelle Gramercy, Detective

Road Kill

Kerr looked pained. “No, damn it. Fassner has to interview them,
and to protect ourselves we should have a school official present as
witness so they can’t say later that he browbeat them. They’re minors,
but he says their testimony will have to do in the absence of any
other evidence. So, just sit back and let the man do his job. He’ll be
in your office at 11:15. He’s coming in plainclothes in an unmarked
car, thank god, so that shouldn’t rattle any cages. The man is a
professional, and we’re just plain lucky that I know him.”
“Right,” I said, and stood up. “I had an appointment with a
student at 11:00, but I’ll send a note down to his classroom and
postpone it. Is the, uh, body...?”
“Off to the morgue, of course. You think they would bring it back
here, the slain hero’s casket rolling in on a caisson with muffled
drums and draped flags?” He laughed, a dry, brittle spasm of the
vocal cords. “Get with it, Holloman. The police will notify next of
kin. I’ve already pulled his personnel file and called downtown for a
substitute teacher starting this afternoon. One more thing: on your
way back to your post, stop at the registrar’s office and make sure the
parental consent forms are properly filed for this field trip. Don’t
want any irregularities.”
“Yes, sir.” I turned and went out of his office at a brisk pace. That
military mood was infectious.
Foster Kerr’s idea of keeping the tragedy under wraps by
dismissing the participants in the field trip might have worked on a
disciplined, battle-hardened corps of foot soldiers, but it didn’t stand
a chance with high school students. I was there as scheduled when
the bus came to a halt. The police escort, actually just one motorcycle
cop, departed as soon as the bus turned off the street into the parking
lot, leaving me as the only authority figure in sight. Too bad; they
might have given more respect to a large man in uniform with a
pistol in his belt.
The front door of the dark yellow bus opened and I moved as fast
as I could up the steps. I raised my arms and began with, “Please
remain calm. I’m Mr. Holloman, the school counselor—many of you
know me. In view of the extraordinary circumstances, the principal
has given you permission to miss the rest of your classes today.
Please do not loiter in the halls or the lunch court: if you need to get
anything in your locker, do so quickly and quietly.”

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