“Allegations of hazing,” said Lucy, eager to get to the point and earning an evil look from Ted for interrupting him.
“Absolutely absurd,” said Sabin. “Hazing is not tolerated in the Tinker’s Cove Public Schools. The student handbook is very clear on that point.”
Lucy wasn’t about to wait for Ted to get around to a follow-up question. “It’s happening, nevertheless.”
“Do you have something specific in mind?”
“Yesterday my daughter and two other cheerleaders were harassed by a group of varsity players.”
Sabin seemed relieved. “One incident, while unfortunate, is hardly worthy of a Pennysaver story. If you will make an appointment with the assistant principal, I’m sure he will take care of it.” He had shifted his weight in the direction of his office. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention and now, if you’ll excuse me, I must get back to my meeting.”
“It’s more than one incident,” said Lucy. “It appears to be a ritualized process that new players are subjected to as part of their preseason training.”
“That’s absurd,” insisted Sabin. “On what basis are you making these accusations?”
“We’ve had a series of letters,” said Ted.
“And one of your players attempted to kill himself,” said Lucy.
“If you’re referring to Tommy Stanton, I believe his situation is rather complicated…though, of course, I do not make a habit of discussing students’ personal lives, it is no secret that his mother was murdered and that was most likely the precipitating factor.”
“How can you be sure?” asked Lucy. “Tommy was obviously in serious distress long before his mother’s death.”
“Well, as I say, I can’t discuss students’ confidential records.”
“I know you want to deny that this is happening but it’s too late,” said Lucy. “The dam is broken and pretty soon you’re going to have a flood of controversy on your hands.”
“She’s right,” said Ted. “Believe me, I’ve seen it happen plenty of times.”
Sabin felt a definite tectonic shift and stepped quickly to regain his balance. “Over the years I’ve learned it’s best to tackle issues like these head on, before the rumor mill gets going. I think the best approach is to hold a parent meeting to announce an investigation of these allegations, an investigation I feel sure will show them to be completely unfounded.” He turned to the secretary. “Judy, check the calendar and set a date for a parent meeting.”
“How soon?”
“As soon as possible.”
“Next Thursday?”
“Fine.” He turned to Ted and Lucy. “I trust you’ll publicize this in the Pennysaver so we’ll have a good turnout?”
“You can depend on it,” said Ted, shaking his hand.
“What do you think about that?” asked Lucy as they crossed the lobby.
“Sabin’s no dope. He knows he has to nip this thing in the bud or it will eat him alive.”
They were standing in the shade on the school steps, looking out over the black asphalt parking area where the shiny metal cars were shimmering from heat waves.
“This isn’t like Tinker’s Cove,” continued Ted.
“I know, it’s unseasonably warm, isn’t it? And I can’t remember the last time it rained.”
“Maybe that’s it,” mused Ted, shrugging and starting down the steps. “Maybe it’s the heat driving everybody crazy, but it seems to me the whole town is changing for the worse. Here we’ve got an unsolved murder, the football team is running amok, we’ve got a teen suicide attempt and even a homeless guy.” He shook his head. “Somehow we’ve lost the community spirit that made this town such a special place. I mean, look at the trouble Pam had with the Hat and Mitten Fund bake sale.”
“In the end we raised more money than ever,” said Lucy, following him. “We just had to use different tactics.”
“That’s what bothers me,” said Ted, turning to face her. “Instead of depending on the people in the community, you had to go outside, to the tourists at the outlet mall. In the past, the fund got all the support it needed from local folks, but not anymore.”
“I sense an editorial coming on,” said Lucy, climbing into the passenger seat of his car.
“You betcha,” said Ted. “And I also want you to put your investigative reporting skills to work to get this homeless guy’s story.”
“Righto,” said Lucy, adding a little salute for emphasis.
Lucy wasn’t sure her so-called investigative reporting skills were up to the task she’d been assigned, but she was determined to do her best. It was almost time to pick up Sassie and Sara when she finally cleared her desk, but she wanted to get a start on the story. She decided to begin her search where she’d last seen the homeless man, in the woods behind Prudence Path, after a quick stop at Jake’s for a coffee to go and a bag of doughnuts. It worked for the Salvation Army, maybe it would work for her.
There was no sign of life when she parked her car at the end of the cul-de-sac and got out. There were no cars parked in the driveways, no kids riding around on Big Wheels or swinging on the expensive backyard play sets, no housewives gossiping as they hung the laundry out to dry. What was she thinking? she wondered. She was getting as bad as Ted. Nobody hung out laundry anymore, they all had dryers. And these days kids weren’t allowed to play outside without supervision, either.