Robert was horrified.
“That’s sick. She was a great teacher, and she was loved. I won’t let that shit go on here.”
Well, they hoped not.
Ethan kept talking, since he wanted to know everything that he could because the slightest thing might help in their case.
“Did everyone in here work with Ivey?” he asked. “That way, I can get more from this interview?”
That was all he had to ask.
The man with the balloons nodded.
“I did. I taught across the hall from her,” he said. “I’m Tristan Hevin. I teach English,” he added, making the introduction. “Ivey and I would have lunch together, and we were close,” he said, emotion in his eyes.
Gene was making notes.
That’s when Ethan focused on the man at the copier to see if he, too, would be helpful.
“And you, Sir?”
The man shook his hand.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t work with Ivey, but I’d have lunch with her and Tristan. I teach gym on the other side of the building. I’m Rodney Tolbent.”
Gene was writing down names so he could begin researching everyone.
“I was hoping you guys could help me out,” Ethan said.
He purposely didn’t mention the other two deaths. For now, he needed to get as much as he could on their first victim. Later, he’d see if they all connected.
Robert was to the point.
“We absolutely will help. What do you need to know?” he asked.
Ethan went there.
“Start at the beginning. What happened?” he asked, wanting to double-check the detectives’ work. “Tell me how you knew she was in trouble.”
Tristan took that question.
“Ivey didn’t show for work. We text daily, and like I just mentioned, we’re close. I would have heard from her if she was sick, and not coming in. She arranged her own substitutes, and she didn’t that day.”
On that, Robert agreed.
He explained so the two Feds understood.
“Here, the teachers make sure they call in so we can get a substitute into place, or they arrange for one. Homeroom started, and there was no one in place.”
Tristan agreed.
“So, I alerted Robby,” he said, pointing at the principal.
The man photocopying chimed in.
“Then, Robby called me in the gym and asked me to sit in her class until he figured it out. We’ll cover for each other here.”
As soon as he was finished, the principal picked it up from there.
