Read Ray Elkins mystery - 02 - Color Tour for Free Online

“Thank you for being here. The school community will meet at six o’clock. I urge you to attend. The students will need help from all of us to get through this difficult time.”
    Sue Lawrence and Ray Elkins stood with Sarah James as the faculty and staff wandered out of the room.
    “The angry man,” said Ray, “what was that all about?”
    “That was Alan Quertermous, and it’s impossible to say for sure what he was railing about,” Sarah said. “There’s seldom a logical connection between his outbursts and the facts.”
    “Give me your best guess.”
    “He might have been talking about something that happened a few weeks ago. We had a young man working here in the kitchen, a social services client. The poor kid just didn’t seem to catch on. When his supervisor told him that he no longer had a job, the kid blew up, yelled something silly like he would come back with a gun and shoot a lot of people and burn the school down. The students who were working in the kitchen saw the confrontation and heard his threats. It was the talk of the school for an hour or two. You know how kids are.”
    “What is his name, the person who was fired?”
    “Arnie Vedder. Do you know him?” Sarah asked.
    “Yes,” Ray said. “So no one treated Vedder’s threat… ”
    “Of course not. He was just an angry, hurt kid. He probably weighs less than ninety pounds, and he’s physically and mentally handicapped. What kind of threat is he?”
    “So why would this Alan… ”
    “Quertermous.”
    “Quertermous, thank you. Why would he, according to your theory, bring Arnie Vedder’s threat into the discussion?”
    “He was just looking for a way to get at Ian Warrington,” explained Sarah. “At the time, he said we should have Vedder arrested.”
    “Did you have any further problems with Arnie?”
    “No, I don’t think he has ever been seen on school grounds again. But Quertermous, he’ll use anything he can to get at Dr. Warrington.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “He’s one of the old guard. They’re all angry about the changes Ian has instituted. But Quertermous is particularly outraged. I think we’ve all become immune to his attacks.” Sarah glanced at her watch. “Sheriff, if you don’t have any further questions, I must look after some… ”
    “Yes, of course. Thank you for giving us some background.”
    Ray and Sue watched her depart. The room was now empty. “What now?” Sue asked.
    “I’d like you to stay here for the meeting with the students and handle any questions. Stick around this evening, get a sense of the place. Talk to their security people. Let’s plan to meet early tomorrow morning and go over what we have.”
    “And you?” Sue asked.
    “I’m going to stop by Vedder’s. He’s not a likely suspect, but I’ll stop by and see how he and his mother are doing.”

6
There were lights on in the trailer when Ray pulled off the road onto the short gravel drive. He parked next to a sagging, purplish-red minivan. He had been here before, the bearer of tragic news. The door opened as he approached, first a tentative fraction, then wider as the woman inside identified her visitor.
    “Sheriff, it’s about Arnie, isn’t it? What’s happened?” The woman moved back from the door allowing him to enter. She muted the television, the pulsating flicker from a M*A*S*H rerun illuminating part of the room.
    “Nothing has happened, Kim. But I am looking for Arnie.”
    “He didn’t come home last night. He hasn’t been here today. I was starting to get worried.”
    Ray looked around. Everything was neat and orderly, but old and worn. The poorly constructed dwelling was years beyond its intended life.
    “Sit down, sheriff. I was just heating some water. Want some coffee?”
    “Please,” he responded.
    Ray watched her spoon instant coffee into two mugs and add boiling water. She placed one in front of him. “You want some sugar or milk?” she asked.
    “No, this is fine. Thank you. Kim, we need to