The Punjab/Pumpkin Patch Deaths

By Saundra McKee

Professor Montana Dickerson is distraught and determined to seek justice when the body of one of her favorite students, an exchange student teacher from Great Britain, is discovered in a pumpkin patch near the western Pennsylvania Whitfield University campus. In her search for the killer, old ghosts and guilt are dredged up from Montana's own international experience in India thirty years earlier. In her search for clues, Montana is forced to suspect some of the people she knows and cares about the most. The shocking conclusion leaves Montana reeling and forces her to come to grips with her own past mistakes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saundra McKee
• Release date: Nov 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465775207

Saundra McKee

I am a retired educator. I taught in the public schools for 15 years and at the university level for 22 years. I love to travel the world. I enjoy politics, dogs, mysteries and water sports. I am a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church.

Book preview

The Punjab/Pumpkin Patch Deaths by Sandy McKee

Published by Saundra McKee at Smashwords. Copyright 2011. Saundra McKee

This is a work of fiction. All persons and places and events are the product of the author’s imagination.

Chapter 1

India 1974

It was supposed to be a carefree time of study, tourism and renewal. The group of twenty Fulbright scholars was bright young teachers from Ohio and Indiana. Through a competitive process they’d been awarded an all expense paid trip to one of the world’s most fascinating countries. Most of the participants returned to their homes and families more globally minded, knowledgeable and anxious to share their new insights into an exotic and mysterious culture. But four of the participants would be haunted forever by the events that took place in the Punjab region of India in the summer of 1974.

Chapter 2

Pennsylvania 2004

Monday

The fall foliage was at its peak in western Pennsylvania. Festivals to honor pumpkins, apples and the harvest were at full swing. Life on the many campuses across the state was immersed in football, homecoming celebrations, making new friends and midterm exams.

Dr. Montana Dickerson set her pumpkin spice latte and cranberry scone on the only cleared space on her desk that was otherwise stacked with student essays, books and articles to review, notes from committee meetings, and unopened mail.

Montana’s graduate assistant, Greg Oliver who was finishing his Master’s Degree in school administration, appeared at her door before she could grab a bite of the still warm scone.

I’ve got those articles you wanted me to locate for you on assessment, Dr. Dickerson. I read them too. Interesting stuff. When you have a minute, I need to talk with you about my thesis.

Montana nodded, "Thanks so much for getting these to me so quickly. I have some things I wanted to check on before my grad class. I’m due at a meeting with the British students at nine, then have a class at ten. Could we meet around noon?’

Greg smiled, That will be good. My son was selling hoagies, so I’ll bring you one too. Have a good morning.

Montana finished her scone and checked her reflection in the mirror. At fifty four, she was still mistaken for someone in her thirties. Montana knew it was the luck of the gene pool and not an especially healthy lifestyle. She ran her fingers through her dark curly hair and put a bit of eyeliner on her deep set blue eyes. She grabbed a folder and headed over to the International House where many of the visiting students from around the world resided. For a small university, Whitfield had established a great reputation in the state for drawing students from across the globe. Montana worked in teacher education and was proud of the many opportunities she’d established for exchanges between future teachers. This morning she was meeting with a group of British students who were doing internships in area elementary, middle and high schools. After four weeks, they’d adjusted to the differences in educational philosophies and were beginning to relax in their placements. Montana also found herself in charge of helping the three young men and three young women learn about the surrounding region. So far, she’d taken them on weekend jaunts into New York City, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. She sensed that they’d begun to form their own friendships with other students and she could fade away in her tour guide role. The past weekend was homecoming, and the students had opted to stay on campus for the festivities. Today she planned to have them report on their school experiences and make plans to teach a unit to their pupils on some aspect of their own country.

She smiled at the group who was assembled in the conference room. They were dressed very professionally and had cups of coffee and tea from the local café in front of them and their notebooks were opened. Where’s Sheila? Did she overdo it this weekend?

Sheila’s roommate Dawn sat down her cup. I imagine she’ll be showing up shortly. Dawn was a pale nervous young woman who always seemed anxious and uncertain.

Montana looked at her questioningly, Is she okay?

Dawn nodded, clearly being evasive.

Montana let it go and began a discussion of their school experiences. After a half hour, Montana said, Dawn, would you mind going to your room and checking up on Sheila. It’s not like her to not show up.

Dawn hesitated, May I speak with you privately, Dr. Dickerson?

The two women stepped out of the conference room and closed the door. Shelia didn’t come home last night. She’s been seeing a guy and has spent a few nights at his apartment, so I didn’t think much about it. But she’s never missed school or a meeting. I’m not sure what’s going on.

Montana felt a sense of panic. She had a twenty one year old daughter, Loren, who was spending the semester in Germany and worried about her only child constantly. Go back to your room and see if she’s come back. Does she have a cell phone or did she give you a number where you could reach her?

No mobile, no number, said Dawn. I don’t even know who the guy is. She was pretty secretive about it. I figured she’d share when she was ready.

Montana went back into the conference room and asked the others if they heard from Shelia to notify her right away. She waited for Dawn to return, hoping for good news.

Dawn returned shaking