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The office was to the left of the staircase, glass walls allowing those inside to see the working students. Kerri spotted Sue behind the reception desk, phone handset to her ear. Kerri recognized her easily since she’d attended their fifteen-year reunion three years ago. Sue was married but had no children. She explained to anyone who listened that the children at her school were all she needed.
When Kerri entered the door, Sue looked up. Surprise and then a smile claimed her expression.
“Thank you so much,” she said to the person on the other end of the line. “I will let you know. Bye-bye.” She put the phone down andpressed her hands to her throat. “My goodness, Kerri Devlin, what in the world are you doing here?”
Kerri glanced across the room at the other woman, seated at a desk. “I hoped you might have a few minutes to have coffee with me. Or just to chat.”
“Don’t tell me they’ve hit you up for the reunion committee. It’ll be the big twenty in no time!”
“True,” Kerri agreed without answering her question.
“Absolutely.” Sue glanced at her coworker. “Gwen, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“I’ll be here,” Gwen promised without looking up.
“Let’s grab coffee in the lounge.”
Kerri followed Sue back to the central corridor and to the teachers’ lounge. Thankfully it was deserted.
“Cream or sugar?” Sue asked as she filled two paper cups.
“Black is fine. You look great, Sue.” The last time Kerri had seen her, she had been incredibly thin and her hair super short. Now it was chin length and styled in one of those fashionable cuts that made her look years younger. Kerri had wondered if she’d been ill but hadn’t wanted to ask.
“I’m really good.” Sue passed Kerri a cup of coffee, and they moved to a table. “I didn’t want to talk about it at the reunion, but the last time you saw me, I’d just finished my final round of chemo.”
“Oh no. I’m sorry to hear that. I had no idea.” Kerri held on to her coffee but didn’t drink. She’d already had four cups today.
“Only my family and work friends knew. It made things easier that way.” She stirred creamer into her coffee. “I’m certain people mean well, but all the questions can be difficult. I found it easier if I just did what I had to do and didn’t dwell on the situation.”
“I can understand,” Kerri said. “Sometimes, it’s far less stressful not to be reminded over and over about things. When Nick and I divorced, it was so much simpler not to talk about it. The questions.” She shookher head. “It’s amazing how many people will blatantly ask what happened. I didn’t want to dwell on the reasons. I just wanted to move on with my life.”
“Exactly,” Sue agreed. “You can’t believe how many people asked me if I was optimistic about my survival chances.” She made a sound of disbelief. “I did understand they meant well, but really? Was it necessary for them to know if I didn’t bring it up? Bless their hearts. It was just so awkward.”
“The worst,” Kerri said, “were the ones who couldn’t stop saying how sorry they were, like I was pathetic and needed their sympathy.”
“Yes! I swear, I hope I never catch myself doing that.” Sue’s expression turned sad. “I am sorry, though, about your divorce.”
They laughed together; then Sue sipped her coffee.
“I’m not here about the reunion,” Kerri admitted.
“I know. It’s too early. I just said that so Gwen wouldn’t think the police were investigating me.”
“I didn’t think of that,” Kerri said. “I don’t want to cause any trouble for you.”
Sue waved a hand. “I adore the woman, but she does love to gossip.”
“I wanted to ask you about what happened with those two students who attempted suicide last fall.”
Sue’s eyes rounded. “Are they reopening the case?” She leaned forward. “I always thought there was more to the story, but no one wanted the ugly details to end up on the news.”
“I’m not aware of the case being reopened,” Kerri clarified. “It’s more about one of the students who was involved.”
Sue glanced around the room and then toward the door. “The two who did the suicide pact seem to be fine now. No one talks about it. There was some chatter at first, but Mr.Billings didn’t budge on the matter. If a student was caught discussing it, there were consequences. I’ve never seen an incident locked down and closed into a dark room so fast. Really, I think the kids understood.” She shrugged. “The schoolhas doubled the number of counselors on staff. Every effort is being made not to miss anything like that again. I believe Mr.Billings took it personally that it happened on his watch, you know? Like he’d failed the kids somehow.”
“I can see how he might feel that way. I always feel as if I failed somehow if I can’t close a case the way I believe it should go,” Kerri said. “I’m glad to hear the students involved are doing better. But what about the other student, the one who transferred to a different school?”
“Alice Cortez.” Sue nodded. “Now there’s a story.”
