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“Do I look like a hall monitor?” she demanded.
“We’re required to show our passes to adults. Staff and parents,” one told her.
“Do I look like a parent?”
“I dunno.”
“You go wandering around here a lot?”
“We have passes.”
“Yeah, yeah. Answer the question.”
“We’re going to the library for research material for our science project.”
“Uh-huh. Were you out of class any time yesterday before noon?”
They slid sideways glances toward each other before the first boy spoke. “Maybe we were going to the library for research material yesterday, too.”
“We showed Ms. Hallywell our passes.”
“When?”
The second one gave a careless shrug. “Sometime. Are we in trouble?”
“You’re going to be if you don’t answer the question. In case you’re wondering, I don’t give a rat’s ass if you were sneaking off to drink beer and gamble.” She ignored the delighted snort from the first boy. “I want to know what time you saw Ms. Hallywell, and where you saw her.”
“It was second period, the last half. Um. Ten-thirty or like that. She was coming down Staircase B. Over there. How come you want to know?”
“Because I’m nosy. Where was she going?”
“I dunno. Teachers don’t have to tell you. Teachers don’t have to tell you, but you have to tell them.”
“Yeah, it’s always been like that.”
“If you’re not a teacher or staff, and you’re not a parent, you’re supposed to have a pass.” The first boy gave her a narrow stare.
“Report me. Now get lost.”
They took off at a darting run, shooting glances back over their shoulders. “Probably building a homemade boomer for their science project,” she muttered, and took out her notes. From ten to eleven, Foster taught his advanced class, utilizing the third-floor media room. “Interesting.”
She used her master on the lounge door. With classes in session it was unoccupied. In her mind, Eve saw Craig zipping in, grabbing his reward soft drink, post workout, preclass. Chatting vids.
Most, if not all of the staff would have been in the building by then, and certainly the majority of the students. And Foster’s thermos sat easily accessed by anyone in his second-floor classroom.
Just as it had while he’d worked out, while he’d taught his advanced class.
What would it have taken? she wondered. A minute? Two? Step in, open the drawer, pour in the poison. Or just switch go-cups. Close it up, walk out again.
A smart killer would have had a backup plan in case anyone had come in. Just leaving a note for Craig. Just needed to check a paper. Easily done if you kept your head.
She turned as Peabody came in with Williams. “Can’t this wait?” he demanded. “It’s a difficult enough day without me having to leave my class with a supervisor droid.”
“Then let’s not waste time. Did you leave your classroom at any time between ten and eleven yesterday?”
“Second period, Monday. That’s a group study session. Yes, I stepped out for a few minutes.”
“To do what?”
