By four oclock, Elise gave up her pretense at sleeping, afraid shed go right back to the same nightmare. Instead, she paced, working through every possible scenario. If the note wasnt from Stan, who would be sick enough to send it to her? Since it hadnt gone through the postal system, someone who had access to the school had to have left it there. How many people could she have angered in the past few months? Angry enough to send her threatening notes? One of her students? A parent? The garbage man? Her next-door neighbor? Who? Her head ached and she still hadnt come up with one viable suspect.
INSTEAD OF LETTING THE BOYS ride the bus that morning, she dropped them off at school. If Stan were alive, hed want his boys. How could she keep them safe? She couldnt stay home and lock the doors forever, could she?
Before the boys got out of the car, she warned them that she was the only person allowed to pick them up and they were not to talk to strangers. Ever.
Brandon nodded, his face somber.
Luke bounced out of the car, shouting, Okay, Mom.
On her drive to work, she almost wrecked when she saw a man who vaguely resembled Stan. She circled the street, looking for him, but hed disappeared. By the time she arrived at the school, she swore shed seen at least a dozen Stan Klaus look-alikes.
This is crazy! How could she live like this, scared of every man with brown hair and brown eyes?
Afraid someone would stop her in the hallway and ask her what was wrong, she ducked into her classroom and hid behind her computer, hoping no one would talk to her before class started. What could she say? Im not sleeping well because my demented, serial-killer husband is not dead like I thought.
Ten minutes before the bell rang for second period and Elises first class, Gerri Finch flounced into the room, a sullen Ashley in tow. Ms. Johnson, what do you mean by giving my Ashley three tardies in your class?
At barely eight in the morning, after a sleepless night of worry, Elise was in no mood to put up with Gerri. Did you ask Ashley?
Dont get flippant with me. I pay your salary out of the god-awful amount of taxes I pay each year. Dont think I cant pull the plug on your little vendetta against my little girl.
Elise would bet Gerri Finch hadnt worked a day in her life and if she had, she hadnt paid a dime of taxes. As the general manager of one of the larger auto dealerships in San Antonio, her husband raked in a six-figure salary plus bonuses, enabling him to keep his wife and daughter in the manner to which theyd become accustomed.
Oh, Mom. Ashley tugged against her mothers clawlike grip. Just leave it.
I will not. Shes been out to get you since the first day of school and I wont have it. Gerris voice rose with each word she said until she was yelling.
Ms. Finch, my class starts in five minutes. Unless you plan to stay and keep quiet, I suggest you take your complaint to the principals office. To Ashley, she said, Youve been late to class five times. The rule says three tardies and youre in Saturday school. I gave you two freebies. Elise raised her brows at the girl. Didnt I, Ashley?
Ashley shrugged instead of answering.
Gerri stepped between Ashley and Elise. If she goes to Saturday school, shell miss the cheer competition. Shes captain of the cheerleading squad, for chrissake.
Then maybe she should set the example for her peers and get to class on time. Elise stood and herded the mother and daughter toward the door where students waited to get in. Im following the rules, Ms. Finch. Now, if youll excuse me, the bell is about
As Elise opened the classroom door, the earsplitting school bell blared in the hallway.
Teenagers filed in looking no more rested than she felt, but probably possessing a lot more energy.
Elise braced herself for the day ahead, wondering if shed get a moment to call Paul and Melissa for an update.
Gerri glared at her over the heads of the teens. Ill take this matter to the principal. Just you wait. Were not through yet.
Oh, goody. One more thing to worry about. As if she didnt have enough on her mind with a death threat. She stared after Gerri Finch. Could the pushy mother be the one whod sent her the letter? She certainly had access to the school. She volunteered on occasion and knew every teacher by name.
Elise made a mental note to talk to Paul about Gerri. In the meantime, she had a full day of teaching to get through before she could meet up with the FBI agents later that afternoon.
The day passed much like the others in her teaching job. With the added stress of the note, she fought to be patient with the teens. Every minor thing was a major problem to them. Drama, always drama. The me mentality wouldnt let them see past their own little worlds to the bigger, harsher world outside Breuer, Texas.
On good days, Elise put herself in their shoes and tried to empathize, but todaynot a chance. What to wear to the football game on Friday was the last thing she considered important.
How to survive a serial killer ranked just a bit higher on her list.
If the constant chatter wasnt bad enough, Caesar Valdez was up to his usual tricks, as well, in her last class of the day. Her challenging class, as the seasoned teachers called it. The young man couldnt sit still to save his life. After Elise had told him to return to his seat for the fourth time, she snapped.
Caesar, I cant teach when youre interrupting the class constantly. Go to the principals office. You can spend the rest of the week in the Student Alternative Center.
Caesar stood, puffed out his chest and said, No.
Elise blinked, surprised by his blatant refusal to do as he was told. What do you mean by no?
He shrugged, his lip curling into a sneer. No.
The bell chose that moment to ring, indicating the end of the longest day of Elises life.
While most of the students grabbed their books and raced for the door, Caesar stood his ground.
Thats fine, Caesar. Ill inform the principal of your behavior. She can deal with it.
Why dont you deal with it? He stepped forward until he was only two feet away from her.
Her personal space threatened, Elise refused to back down. Just because youre bigger than me, doesnt mean you can push me around, Caesar. Back off.
You heard her, Caesar. Back off. Kendall dropped her backpack on her desk and stepped up beside Elise.
Thats right. Were tired of you pushing people around. Alex moved to stand on Elises other side.
Caesars brows rose at the united front. After a quick glance around at the room still full of his peers, Caesars glare returned. You three dont scare me. You cant do anything to me.
Maybe they cant, but I can. Paul Fletcher stepped through the doorway and stood a good six inches taller than Caesar. His muscular chest was developed and solid. Not to mention, Paul was a trained federal agent and he looked like it, from the way he stood to the cold look he directed toward Caesar.
Elise let the breath out that shed been holding. Glad for the interference, she knew shed ultimately pay for not dealing with the problem herself. Now that Paul had stepped in, Caesar would find another time to test her and possibly Kendall and Alex. Not good.
Caesar stared at Paul as if weighing his options and then he shrugged. I got better things to do. He pushed past Paul and left the room.