“Do you think this picture is a clue?” Everly asked, seeming to sense that Ronan didn’t want to talk about fathers who hit mothers.
Nodding, Ronan pulled out his phone and snapped pictures of all three drawings. While Tommy’s depicted an unhappy family, Katie’s and Paul’s were filled with sunshine and smiles. “I think these pictures are great clues. Even if the original detectives didn’t bother to look at them. I’m going to go through the rest of her desk and see if there’s anything else that was missed.” He knew the police work on this case had been shoddy at best, but he couldn’t believe they hadn’t searched the drawers and hadn’t gone through what sat on top of the desk.
“Miss Marie? Are you here?” Everly called out again. “We’re here to help you. Paul, Katie, and Tommy asked for my help. Please let me know if you’re here.” Everly turned to Tennyson, who shook his head.
“I don’t sense Miss Fairbanks’s presence,” Ten said.
“Neither do I,” Cope added.
“Where’s Bertha?” Ten asked, spinning around as if he expected to see her standing behind him.
“I haven’t seen her since last night,” Everly said. “Mimi told me she was going to come here and talk to Miss Fairbanks.”
“She told me the same thing. I hope everything is okay.” Ten looked as if he had more to say but held his peace.
Ronan sat at Miss Fairbanks’s desk. He shifted through the rest of the papers sitting on the blotter before lifting it up. There was no dust underneath, but there was a folded note. Grabbing it, Ronan flipped it open and started to read. “Bingo!” he called out.
“What did you find?” Jude asked, coming to stand behind him.
Ronan handed him the note. “My dearest Marie,” Jude began. “I cannot breathe without you. Please reconsider. My life is worth nothing if you are not in it. I miss the way you say my name, the way your lips taste, the way your body cries out for mine. Meet me here at six tomorrow morning. I’ve done what you asked. All my love, Whit.”
“The rumors were true,” Ronan said. “Marie Fairbanks was having an affair with Principal Whittaker.”
“Is there a date on the note?” Cope asked.
“April 7, 1968,” Jude said.
“Jesus,” Ronan muttered. “That was the day before the murder.”
“Can I see it?” Everly asked, reaching for the paper.
Ronan handed the note to her, wondering if she would be able to read anything from it.
“Miss Marie was here early that morning to meet with him,” Everly said, “but he never showed up.” Her blue eyes widened. “I know what Mr. Fairbanks was hiding from me yesterday.”
Ronan crouched down in front of his daughter. “What is it?”
“The reason Whit didn’t meet Miss Marie is because her husband was waiting for him in the school parking lot.”
“Are you sure?” Ronan asked, already knowing the answer to the question.
“When we visited Greg yesterday, I kept seeing a parking lot, and I heard sliding noises, but I don’t understand what they were.” Everly wore an uncertain look.
“Did it sound like this?” Jude grabbed the front of Ronan’s shirt and pushed him backward.
Ronan understood exactly what Jude was doing. He grabbed his partner and forced him back in a weird sort of dance where they each tried to get the better of the other.
“That’s pretty close,” Everly said. “Do you think Mr. Fairbanks was in a shoving match?”
“Yeah,” Ronan said, panting for breath, “and Mr. Whittaker was the second person involved.” Shit, this changed things. “Can you tell me what happened next? Did either of them hurt Miss Fairbanks?” What Ronan really wanted to ask was if they both hurt her but didn’t want to phrase it that way in front of Everly, who he could see was starting to reach the end of her energy.
“I don’t know, Dad. The vision stops all of a sudden, like when you shut off the television.” Everly sniffled. “I didn’t help at all.”
Wolf and Aurora raced to her side, each throwing an arm around Everly.
“Okay, everyone, let’s head back into the other classroom.” Ten and Cope ushered the kids back through the half door.
Max stayed behind with Jude and Ronan. “That was something.”
