The Mathematics of Murder

By Harry R. Albers

Harry R. Albers has degrees in physics from the University of Pittsburgh and Cornell University. He has previously published three books: Murder at Lake Tomahawk, The Discovery, and The 4th Icon. His career has included the Smithsonian Institution, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Barnard College and San Diego State University Research Foundation. He and his wife, Jean, have three children, five grandchildren, and live in San Diego and the Big Island of Hawai’i.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781532082269

Harry R. Albers

Harry R. Albers has degrees in physics from the University of Pittsburgh and Cornell University. He has previously published three books: Murder at Lake Tomahawk, The Discovery, and The 4th Icon. His career has included the Smithsonian Institution, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Barnard College and San Diego State University Research Foundation. He and his wife, Jean, have three children, five grandchildren, and live in San Diego and the Big Island of Hawai’i.

Book preview

1

"I diot! … Give the reforms a chance before you try stopping them," an outraged man yelled from the audience at the school board meeting.

The target of the remark was Marcie Drammel, a board member seated on the dais.

I never voted in favor of the reforms to begin with, so why should I give them a chance? Drammel answered.

Because they’re needed, or are you proud of the student scores? the tormentor yelled back.

Lucy Shannon, another member of the board, spoke up. While I haven’t always agreed with the opinions of my colleague, she has a right to express them without being threatened or maligned, so let’s be civil in our dialogue.

Her remark went ignored, as others in the audience leaped to their feet clamoring to be heard. Diane Haskins, chairwoman of the board, rapped the gavel for order. She was in the eye of the hurricane, and after three years was getting used to it. When she ran for the board she never imagined her initial foray into public life meant keeping school board meetings from turning into riots.

Settle down everyone, Haskins ordered. We’re going to conduct this meeting with civility, or I’ll adjourn it. Better yet, I’ll make a motion to put the decision-making of the board in the hands of our student officers. Do our kindergartners have elected officers? she asked.

No, but they know a circus when they see it, an anonymous voice yelled out.

And I’m the ringmaster, so sit down and be quiet and I’ll give each act a chance to perform, Haskins said, maintaining her aplomb. But we’re going to do it by listening to one another no matter how much we disagree. If we can’t do that, I’m declaring the meeting adjourned and the media in attendance can announce the school district is out of control, the board incompetent, the teachers obstructive, the parents impossible to work with, and none of us capable of providing our students with a good education. I’m counting to ten and the gavel comes down. One …

That’s not in the bylaws, a board member shouted.

Two …

Ms. Chairwoman … Ms. Chairwoman, a woman in front gestured to be recognized.

Three …

The President of the Teachers Union rose. Come to your senses, Diane. Everyone has a right to say what they want.

Four … Haskins shouted above the hubbub.

Be quiet you idiots, a soprano voice with sufficient operatic power to pierce the din called, causing a momentary lull.

Five …

As Haskins’ count neared completion, people began sitting and talking in more normal tones.

Thank you, everyone. On behalf of our students, I thank you. This is how we’re going to proceed. I promise if things get out of hand again I’ll take up the count where I left off, so you can figure out for yourselves what that means. I know there are strongly held opinions on the matters before us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do business in a civilized manner. I ask each of you to give every speaker the same opportunity to express his or her opinion you expect for yourselves, and please leave it to me to decide if someone is out of order. I promise I’ll exert every effort to be impartial, and I’d like an indication this is an acceptable way to proceed. Please raise your hand if you agree … I’ve already lost enough of my hearing for one night.

In the audience, one person’s eyes focused on board member Lucy Shannon with such concentration it induced light-headedness. Fearful of drawing attention, the observer looked at others nearby and mimicked their actions, blending chameleon-like into the crowd as a faceless onlooker.

Another rap of the gavel focused everyone’s attention.

Since this is the first school board meeting many of you have attended, I’ve asked Superintendent Pettigrew to go into more detail than usual in his presentation. Hopefully, this will provide sufficient information for an informed dialogue. Superintendent Pettigrew … if you please.

John Pettigrew rose to scattered applause. Arranging himself behind the lectern, he thumbed through his papers before looking up and making eye contact with the audience. Tall and lanky, there was a little of the farm boy about him, and his friendly smile made him look trustworthy. His suit was rumpled from a day of visits to kindergarten classes, bending over lab experiments, even running through plays with one of the high school football teams.

His hiring had been a significant change of direction for the school district, but indicative of what was happening nationally. Public education in the United States was again in the throes of revolution. Citizens were angry students weren’t being educated sufficiently. The years of social promotions and low expectations were over and it was no longer acceptable for graduating high school seniors to need lots of remedial coursework when they entered college, or not have the basic skills to enter the high tech workforce.

He was the former founder and president of a company that had ridden the crest of the dot.com tidal wave and matured into a national franchise enterprise. His organization provided infrastructure to start-up and expanding businesses. Space, staff, furniture, computers, payroll and accounting, legal services, you name it and his company supplied it. He started the business with an initial investment of a borrowed couple of hundred thousand dollars and a year later secured seven million in venture capital. In five years he had expanded nationwide from his southern California base. An initial public offering of stock brought him a personal fortune of one point two billion. Eventually, he became bored when operations became routine, extricated himself from the company, sold his stock, and was ready for new adventures.

The next adventure took him in an unexpected direction. His newfound wealth and reputation landed him on a citizens committee appointed by the mayor to evaluate the performance of the school district. Given his leadership and business acumen, it wasn’t long before he was a proponent for school reform, and this put him in the running for the superintendent’s position when the school board fired the incumbent. He was appointed by a razor-thin majority of the board, mainly with the vociferous support of the city’s high-tech business community.

Pettigrew was one of a growing group of non-traditional superintendents being hired nationally. Fed up with poor performance, school boards, parents, teachers, governmental entities and the private sector were looking for solutions to the abysmal state of public education in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The chief feature of the new breed of superintendents were reputations for getting things done, whether in the private sector, the military, or elsewhere. Too much experience in education was even viewed as a negative in many school districts. The ‘education pendulum,’ having swung as far as possible in the direction of non-rigorous standards, permissiveness, and under-achievement, was swinging back in the opposite direction and gaining momentum. The challenge was to find a superintendent who could make this swing the right one.

Thank you for attending tonight, he began. If ever there was a question about community involvement in what we’re trying to accomplish, it should now be dispelled. Your enthusiasm is gratifying.

A man’s voice in the audience answered him. This isn’t enthusiasm, Pettigrew, we’re pissed off at the changes you’re making and we want you to know it.

The rap of the chairwoman’s gavel undercut a counter-wave of comment before it could break. This is the last warning, Chairwoman Haskins threatened. One more interruption and I’ll end this meeting. And let me remind you again that we’re here for our students. If we try hard, maybe we can even set an example for them about how to discuss and resolve important issues.

Unperturbed, John Pettigrew began his presentation by turning to a large screen behind him and beginning a power-point presentation of student performance on the just-released statewide achievement tests. Using a laser pointer, he went over results.

After two years of our literacy program we’re showing substantial gains. From the forty-second percentile, where we began our reforms, the consolidated reading score for all students is now above fifty percent. This means we’re slightly better than the average scores statewide, but it’s not nearly good enough.

He reviewed the performance of each school in the district. While some of our schools have had major increases in their scores, others are lagging, and we have to bring everyone along with us. I’ll be meeting with the principals and teachers of the lowest-performing schools to discuss this.

The head of the teachers union again rose, signaling he wanted to be heard.

I see you, Dr. Marlowe, Chairwoman Haskins said. Do you have a question, or are you going to make a speech? If it’s the latter, we’ll wait until the end of Superintendent Pettigrew’s presentation.

I have a question, Madam Chairwoman.

Very well, go ahead.

Superintendent Pettigrew … the teachers are aware of these results and we do not ascribe as much credit for the improvement to your reforms as you do. My question is, does this mean there’s going to be a purge of principals and teachers at the lowest-performing schools? Teachers have a basic disagreement with you on the premise our district should be run like a company in the private sector.

John Pettigrew stepped to the side of the lectern so he could look straight down at Simon Marlowe. You and I have had this conversation before, Dr. Marlowe, but it appears you now want to take it public. That’s all right with me. I don’t know how to manage an organization unless there’s accountability at all levels. I’m accountable to this board for results, and principals and teachers are accountable to me. When I’m satisfied principals and teachers are provided with the resources and training needed to be successful, then it’s necessary to see results. If the results are satisfactory, they’ll be rewarded. If they aren’t, changes will be made. That’s true for all parts of our organization, not just teachers and principals.

A woman jumped to her feet, beckoning to be recognized.

Yes, Mrs. Lind, I see you, Chairwoman Haskins said. Do you have a question, or are you going to make a speech?

I have a short comment in response to Dr. Marlowe.

Very well, go ahead. For those of you who don’t know her, Mrs. Lind is president of the parents association.

Thank you. I just want to say our association supports the reforms being instituted by Superintendent Pettigrew. While this support isn’t unanimous or unconditional, we believe he must be given a chance to bring about change and we’ll judge the results.

Thank you, Mrs. Lind. If we can restrain ourselves until Superintendent Pettigrew completes his report, we can then have an extended discussion. John, if you please.

I’ll try to make it fast, Madam Chairwoman. I want to point out that we haven’t yet instituted the mathematics and science initiatives, so our scores in these subjects are atrocious. We’re far behind where we should be, and the mathematics and science reforms are going to be even harder to implement than the reading initiative. We need everyone’s cooperation to make these efforts successful, and I pledge I’ll listen to all points of view as we make the difficult decisions to reallocate resources and schedule the classroom time to begin the mathematics and science programs.

Turning back to the overhead projector, he outlined the mathematics and science reform program he and his staff were formulating. When he was finished, Chairwoman Haskins opened the floor to comment and a heated discussion lasted until the mandatory curfew of eleven o’clock, when she rapped the gavel for the last time and thanked everyone for their overly enthusiastic participation.

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The audience streamed out into the cool night, many still in animated conversation. Board member Lucy Shannon was stopped in the parking lot by a small group insisting she clarify her views on Pettigrew’s reforms, while her secret observer watched from shadows, slinking to avoid the headlights of departing vehicles. When Shannon extricated herself from her inquisitors and started her car, he had already maneuvered behind her in the two-headed line of vehicles snaking left and right into the street. She drove on autopilot, lost in thought.

She was disgusted with how the board did business, how it was always fighting and rarely reaching consensus on even the simplest issues. The anti-Pettigrew faction turned every discussion and every decision into a referendum on John Pettigrew and his reforms. The pro-Pettigrew faction became so frustrated with the process they lost patience with the opponents and even, at times, with Pettigrew himself. She prided herself on being able to resolve problems others thought insoluble. That was why she had run for the board, to bring her problem-solving abilities to an organization charged with the community’s most important responsibility.

Educating students should be above politics and personal agendas, but it’s going to take a miracle to accomplish it, she mused as she drove. Even though she was part of the majority-voting block supporting Pettigrew, and was often the swing vote on issues, she wanted the fighting to end so the school district could devote itself to students, teachers, and issues of education. Arriving at her condo building, she reached for the remote control to access the underground parking.

Punching ‘2’ in the elevator, she distracted herself from the school board meeting by admonishing herself yet again about not taking the stairs for exercise. Not only would it be healthier, it was often faster. A recurring topic of conversation among residents was a trip to the second floor from the parking level took the same time as a twenty-story ascent in one of the downtown high rises, but this time the ride served a purpose. Without conscious effort, a final decision about how to bring an end to the divisiveness on the school board had jelled. It was the result of months of pondering and exploring ideas with confidantes. The solution was so simple it was beautiful, like insights geniuses had when a brilliant idea coalesced out of a confusion of facts.

Her spirits rose and she felt giddy, in part a reaction to the ennui of a hard day of work followed by the unpleasant and discordant board meeting. This was her typical reaction when she solved a stressful problem or achieved a business success.

A small celebration is in order, she thought, but I’d better do it right away, before the implications of what I’m going to do start my brain racing again. I wonder what life would be like if I didn’t have an obsessive personality? I might even be happy. This was such an outrageous concept she chuckled.

Turning the deadbolt on the door she entered the condo, dropped her purse and keys on a table and headed for the pitcher of martinis in the refrigerator. Considering her brainstorm significant, she chose the largest martini glass and decided it would be a three olive celebration. Kicking off her shoes, she sat in the recliner and levered it back to her favorite position.

I have to do this more often, she said to herself, stretching her legs, wiggling her toes, and taking the first sip, but without becoming an alcoholic. For a moment she held the cold liquid in her mouth savoring the taste, before swallowing slowly and feeling it trickle to her stomach. Amazing how something so cold can feel so warm. She drew up her knees and snuggled comfortably.

She was halfway through her second martini and beginning to feel the effects, along with thoughts of arousal, when there was a knock at the door.

2

D usty McCrae answered the familiar cadence of a different knock at a different door. Come in, Arthur.

Arthur Fielding entered and walked directly to the easy chair in front of the large window overlooking the Pacific Ocean. By custom, the chair was reserved for the founder and chairman of the board of the Pacific Science Institute.

Any whales running? Fielding asked, referring to the telescope.

Saw a pod this morning. I called you, but Janet said you couldn’t be disturbed.

Fielding grimaced. Wish she’d get her priorities straight … how many?

I made out five, about a half mile out. They were in a hurry to get to Baja … maybe one was already in labor, McCrae said.

Or in heat. Six months in Arctic waters would make me anxious to start my honeymoon.

McCrae laughed. I wouldn’t be surprised if you weren’t the foremost authority on their mating habits. Got any pointers for the rest of us?

Just don’t get close when they’re cavorting. Wish you’d been on that visit to Holcomb’s project when our boat got swamped. Now that’s real science, we were right in there with the whales, swimming for our lives.

Then maybe you can clear this up. I never understood if you were worried about drowning, or a whale mounting you, McCrae said with a straight face.

Go to hell. It was the experience of a lifetime. Makes what we do worthwhile, Fielding said.

Certainly for Professor Holcomb, who benefited with a nice increase in his funding, McCrae said.

He’s a good scientist, and I don’t play favorites, Fielding snapped an answer.

Right, Arthur, McCrae smiled to himself.

Arthur Fielding was an enthusiastic supporter of scientific research. From an inherited family fortune he had established the Pacific Science Institute to fund projects with the potential for major breakthroughs. And occasionally ones that caught his personal interest, no matter their potential. His current passion was whales, and since the annual southward migration of California gray whales was taking them past the Institute’s offices, the staff was on alert. Gray whales spent the summer and early autumn in feeding grounds in the Chukchi and Bering Seas, between Siberia and Alaska. In November they migrated south for the winter, traveling more than six thousand miles in three months to the lagoons of Baja California, where they mated and calved. In spring, they made the return journey to the Arctic. The Institute was funding several research projects on them.

Fielding was determined to use the resources and influence of the Institute to protect whales and other sea life from human stupidity. Because of hunting, the California gray whale population had plunged to less than two thousand a century ago. It was on the verge of extinction when conservation minded people and governments intervened. Since then the whales had been recovering, and now numbered in the mid-twenty-thousands.

This wasn’t the only line of research supported by the Institute. With an endowment hovering near four billion dollars, the nonprofit Pacific Science Institute had ample annual income to fund many fields of research. Now in his mid-seventies, Arthur Fielding over the years had parlayed the family legacy into an amazing fortune with his investments in the country’s high-tech future. He had been on the wild ride of some of the best stock investments ever made.

At the right time he’d sold off many of the high-flyers for a more conservative portfolio to weather economic storms and ensure the Institute’s programs. The board of directors of the Institute consisted of a few family members and distinguished scientists. Most of the Institute’s largesse supported research in astronomy, biology, and medicine, fields where major breakthroughs were occurring. There was a giant telescope on the dormant Mauna Kea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii named for Fielding. With this instrument scientists were exploring and finding answers to some of humanity’s fundamental questions. What were the mysterious dark matter and dark energy making up more than ninety percent of the universe? What were the conditions that led to the Big Bang? Was there life on planets outside our solar system? Were there other universes and could evidence of them be found? On the biomedical front, Institute funded programs were leading to revolutionary discoveries in human stem cell and cloning research that was revolutionizing medicine.

Three years earlier a heart attack alerted Fielding he had to cut back on his responsibilities. During his recuperation he decided to remove himself from day-to-day operations of the Institute, hire a president and concentrate on managing Institute investments and serving as chairman of the board. He also concluded the organization needed a president who was an outstanding scientist if it was to reach its full potential. This was easier said than done. It was his experience outstanding scientists weren’t always noted for their common sense or management abilities.

Fielding offered the position to McCrae, known for his original work in cosmology. McCrae also happened to be a member of the Institute’s board. Fielding felt that among all the scientists of his acquaintance, McCrae possessed at least a modicum of good sense. McCrae wasn’t enamored by the offer. He had no interest in administration and argued with Fielding he didn’t have enough hours for his science, let alone take on a position with administrative responsibilities. Fielding pressed the issue and McCrae finally agreed, subject to the condition his science remained his first priority. The deal clincher was Fielding’s bribe of a generous amount of research time on the Fielding Telescope for as long as McCrae was president.

So what was keeping you from viewing the whales, Arthur? Meeting with the investment committee again? I know we’re having a hard time spending all our current income, and I’m having a tough time keeping track of all the projects we’re funding.

That’s exactly what I stopped by to talk to you about. I just had an interesting talk with Charlie Koenig.

Old ‘Five-C,’ Computer Chip and Communications Conglomerate Charlie?

The same. He wants our help.

That should be interesting. He’s the only one in town who might have more money than you. What are the two of you up to, other than declaring California a separate country so no one can tell either of you what to do?

That’s next year’s agenda. This year there’s another project he’s working on, Fielding said.

I’m listening.

He’s run into a brick wall trying to hire talented people. Everybody in the high-tech sector is having a hard time finding good people. He says our education system isn’t graduating enough engineers, scientists, and technicians to come close to filling the needs. It’s so bad the private sector keeps putting pressure on Congress to increase the quotas on skilled overseas help, but Congress has clamped down on this. He tells me if it wasn’t for skilled foreign labor our economy would fall flat on its face.

And this affects us how?

Charlie thinks companies have done all they can with pay incentives and working conditions. According to him, everybody is stealing everybody else’s best people, but for every good employee you steal, somebody steals one from you.

"So what are you supposed to do about it?"

He has an interesting idea … says there isn’t much to be done in the short term, but he wants us to work with him on a long-term solution.

Sorry, Arthur, I’m not interested in opening an employment agency. If you want to spend the Institute’s money on this, you do it. I’ve got my science.

How about listening before you make up your mind? You’re always lecturing me about gathering data before making decisions.

Is that an order?

Think of it as a strong suggestion from the founder of this institute and the chairman of the board. He’s met with some other CEOs in town, mostly from high-tech companies, and they want to explore funding a pilot project with the school district. The task is to research and formulate state-of- the-art programs to properly teach and interest kids in math and science, so our country’s educational system isn’t always lagging behind every other advanced country … and some undeveloped countries, believe it or not.

And they can get the people they need for their profits to increase, McCrae added.

True, but that’s what capitalism is all about, and this is a win for everyone. If it’s successful, we’ll have a model that can be replicated all over the country.

I still don’t see how we come in?

That’s the interesting part, Fielding said, warming to the subject.

McCrae recognized the signs Fielding was ‘hooked’ on what he was about to say and suspected he was in trouble."

Charlie says the first thought was for the companies to start a new nonprofit foundation to fund and manage the pilot project, but then someone suggested our Institute could do it.

I can’t even imagine who that someone could be, McCrae said.

Fielding frowned. He didn’t like being caught out, or interrupted. I’ll admit I’ve been involved in the discussions, but it makes a lot of sense.

So we provide the money? What do the companies do?

The companies will provide the funding. We can participate if we want, but they want us to research and implement the programs we recommend. They have no confidence the school district is capable of making anything work.

Would we be doing this with the district’s cooperation, or would we be shoving it down their throat? I’m sure the people you’re meeting with are influential, but you can’t impose a program on the district and expect it to be successful.

Superintendent Pettigrew’s wild about the idea and has been involved in the discussions. He’s a reformer from the private sector and says this is exactly the kind of thing he needs to institute reform. What do you think?

With Fielding in his ‘command mode’ and expecting enthusiasm, McCrae knew better than to oppose him directly.

I’ll have to look into it, Arthur. I don’t know enough about the subject to say anything meaningful. This isn’t my cup of tea.

The older man smiled. Exactly what I told Charlie, that you’d look into it and get back to us, he said getting up and heading for the door.

So you had your mind made up before you came in, McCrae said. What if I refuse?

Then I would have asked you how you were going to explain to more than one hundred thousand kids in the district why you’re not going to help them. I might even have arranged a tour of the schools, so you could explain it to them face to face.

You’re a devious and evil man, Arthur. I knew I should have stayed with my science and not gotten involved with you. One of these pet projects of yours will do me in one day. This might be it.

Don’t blame me. Charlie threatened me with the same thing when I demurred, and made it sound like I was unpatriotic and hated kids if I refused. I can’t let my image in the community be tarnished like that.

But it’s all right if I’m Scrooge?

I know you’ll work something out, Fielding said as he left.

3

M cCrae sat mulling over the conversation with Fielding. Damn, he said to himself, the last thing I want right now is taking on a new project requiring my personal attention.

He had five nights of observing time scheduled on the Fielding Telescope in little over a month, which meant he had to spend almost all his time until then preparing. He wasn’t anywhere near ready for his observing run.

It was his scientific opinion that the Big Bang wasn’t the beginning of all things as everyone thought. He believed it was only one of many big bangs, and he was devising an observing program to find evidence we resided in one of many universes. This was esoteric stuff, and McCrae felt if he was going to make a major breakthrough it had better come soon. In his late thirties, he believed his brain was losing neurons at an alarming rate and he might already be past his creative peak. He had shared the thought with Fielding when he was being recruited for the presidency. Fielding had laughed and said in that case he’d better accept the position so he’d have an administrative job to fall back on.

Smiling at the recollection, he got up and stuck his head out the door and yelled. Dawn … come in when you’ve got a minute.

When he became president, he’d hired Dawn Cassidy as vice president to take care of the things he didn’t want to do, or didn’t know how to do. She was a Stanford MBA with financial expertise and experience working in Silicon Valley. As president, McCrae focused on selecting promising projects to fund, evaluating their results, and representing the Institute to the rest of the world. Fielding’s plan to hire McCrae had included hiring a top-notch administrator to run day-to-day operations. The three of them had become an effective management team with good chemistry.

You could have picked up the phone instead of bellowing down the hall, Cassidy said, sitting down.

It’s more effective this way, and gives the impression I’m in charge.

Was there ever a question? We all know you’re our brilliant leader.

McCrae smiled. You mean everyone hasn’t figured out that I’m working on my research most of the time?

Everyone knows that … we’re impressed by how forcefully you accept and act on the recommendations your loyal staff gives you.

Darn right, as long as I get the credit.

That goes without saying. What’s on your mind, haven’t you been getting enough credit lately?

Nothing as important as that. Arthur stopped by and told me about a conversation with Charlie Koenig.

Isn’t it exciting? It’s a fabulous idea and I’m setting up a meeting for you with Superintendent Pettigrew.

You’ve already made a decision about this? Who told you about it?

Arthur mentioned it to me yesterday and asked my opinion. I’m all for it.

What Arthur and I agreed was I’d think about it before we make a decision. I hope that doesn’t interfere with everyone’s plans. Have you put out a press release about our participation, or do I get to have some input?

We’re eagerly awaiting your insights, but I thought we might as well get started while you’re coming up with them.

It never occurred to you and Arthur I might say no?

How could you turn down something like this? It’s motherhood and apple pie, and there are some things you can’t refuse.

In that case, Vice President Cassidy, you run with it. That’s why I called you in. Keep me informed.

Will do, but it’s important you meet with Superintendent Pettigrew.

Far be it for me to interfere with your plans, but you come along to make sure I don’t screw up. Make it lunch at the Coronado Club … we might as well enjoy ourselves.

Anything else? she asked.

That’s it.

As she walked toward the door he had another thought. Just a minute … Nicole is in a district school, isn’t she?

First grade, and Brandon starts next year. Why do you think I’m so interested in this project?

So much for motherhood and apple pie.

Finding a good school for your children is part of motherhood, and I’ve always said it’s better to fight for a cause that benefits you personally. It’s the American way. If you’d get married, you’d have a more positive attitude.

4

T he Coronado Club was on the forty-second floor. The building also housed businesses requiring a high profile that could afford the rent. Law, accounting, and public relations firms dominated the upper floors, while the region’s largest bank occupied the lower floors. The view from the upper stories was factored into the rent and provided a vista of yacht basins, a deep-water harbor, and the open ocean. While membership to the club was open to anyone, the monthly dues and menu prices pretty much limited the clientele to old-money families and business executives. Located in the downtown business district, it was a favored meeting place for the region’s power brokers. While the old money members dominated the club’s board of directors, business members’ use of the dining and meeting facilities was an economic driver for the enterprise.

The Pacific Science Institute was a charter member and Arthur Fielding a director, one of his many directorships. Cassidy loved dining here and unabashedly used Fielding’s name to get one of the favored tables next to the expanse of windows. The items on the menu amused her. Today she noted free-range ostrich was featured. For the most part, she found the food rich and the service slow, as if the Coronado Club sought to return to an age when lunch was more social than business, but she loved the ambience and the opportunity for people-watching. She had on a dark blue pinstriped business suit with a skirt shorter than usually was her habit. She had reminded McCrae about the dress code. There had been times when he had to don a jacket, tie, or both, from a supply kept for emergencies by the efficient and condescending maitre d’. With beige slacks, blue blazer, blue shirt, and a nautically inspired tie, he passed muster today. They chose to be seated to wait for Pettigrew.

As he perused the menu she scanned the room. Anyone interesting? he asked.

Be real, everyone here is interesting, she answered.

When are you going to stop being impressed by money and power?

When I’ve got it, she said.

Being a vice president isn’t enough for you? What’s the next step up in your climb to power?

You know I love my job, and it’s not my professional career I’m thinking about. My second marriage is going to be to someone who’s incredibly rich.

That’s the only criterion?

No, but it’s the first.

I guess that leaves me out.

As she contemplated a response, John Pettigrew came hurrying across the room with the maitre d’ hustling to keep up.

Dr. McCrae, Ms. Cassidy, I’m sorry I kept you waiting. There was an unexpected emergency.

No problem, McCrae said. Dawn and I had a chance to relax and rub shoulders with the elite.

You said an unexpected emergency. Do you also have expected emergencies? Cassidy asked.

Pettigrew sat and smiled. When you’re the Superintendent for more than a hundred thousand five to eighteen-year olds, every minute of every day is an emergency. If I had time to write down each day’s events, I’d never get anything else done.

In the horror or adventure category? she followed up.

Both! Pettigrew answered.

I hope your emergency is resolved. Can we buy you a drink? McCrae asked.

No thanks, the last thing I need is to be seen drinking during school hours. It would finish me.

See, Dusty, he really does need help, the poor man can’t even have a drink without someone reporting him.

I need lots of help, Ms. Cassidy. Right now I’ve got a crisis that’s about to become a major news event.

McCrae’s spirits fell. So much for a relaxing lunch, he thought.

Care to share it with us? she asked.

I’m not sure how to start, Pettigrew said, his expression showing distress. I’m not used to this sort of thing.

If you’d rather not–

Pettigrew cut her off. … Lucy Shannon was murdered last night!

McCrae and Cassidy exchanged glances for a sign either of them knew who Lucy Shannon was.

I’m sorry, Mr. Pettigrew, but I don’t think we know who she is, Cassidy said.

I apologize … Lucy is … was … a member of our school board and a dear friend, Pettigrew said.

"What happened? Cassidy asked making a failed attempt to show more sympathy than interest.

I don’t know anything else. The police called to tell me, and that’s all they’d say until I meet with them this afternoon.