Free Melanie Travis 06 - Hush Puppy by Laurien Berenson Page A

decorated with some of the furniture that had originally graced Joshua Howard’s own library. There was a wide bay window with a cushioned window seat, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. The hardwood floor was covered by a slightly worn Persian rug. I’m sure the intent was to make Howard Academy’s wealthy parents feel right at home, and I imagine it succeeded admirably.
    Today, the headmaster looked far too distracted to notice, much less appreciate, the luxury of his surroundings. “I hope you don’t mind if we keep this short,” he said. “I’m afraid I have a dozen other things I should be doing.”
    “Not at all. Is there anything I can do to help?”
    Russell sat down in the plush leather chair behind his desk. I chose one opposite him and did the same. “There doesn’t seem to be much anyone can do right now, except wait and see what the police are able to find out.
    “Unfortunately, the fact that this school has been linked to a murder investigation seems to have sent the media into a frenzy. Already, I’ve fielded calls from as far away as Philadelphia, and there’s currently a New York news van shooting footage from the end of the driveway.”
    “The police won’t do anything to stop them?”
    “Detective Shertz’s men were kind enough to escort them off the property when they arrived. The news team is now set up on a public road, however, so there’s nothing else we can do.” The headmaster smiled wanly. “Under other circumstances, I might even be among the first to tell you that the public has a right to know.”
    “Easier to say when it’s not your business they’re interested in.”
    “Quite so,” Russell agreed. He leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair and steepled his fingers in front of his lower face. “What can I do for you, Ms. Travis?”
    “I was wondering if you’d spoken with Detective Shertz since he interviewed Mrs. Plimpton?”
    “Only briefly. Apparently she supplied him with the description of a student, and we’re having some difficulty tracking down just whom she meant . . .’ ’
    “That’s what I wanted to see you about. Mrs. Plimpton mentioned the girl to me, too. I’ve seen her several times myself and I believe her name is Jane. I’m fairly certain she isn’t a student.”
    “I don’t understand,” said Russell.
    “Actually, neither do I. Unfortunately, the person who seemed to have known the most about her was Eugene Krebbs.”
    “Krebbs?”
    “The two of them were together the first time I met her. We were in the prop room behind the stage, and after she ran away, Krebbs indicated that he’d seen her hanging around before. He said she didn’t belong here.”
    Russell was frowning now. “Maybe you’d better start at the beginning.”
    “I’m afraid that is the beginning. It happened just last week. I asked Krebbs at the time if he’d spoken to you about her, and he told me he was planning to take care of the problem himself.”
    “What problem? Who was she?”
    “I don’t know. At first, I assumed she was a student, too, but Krebbs said she wasn’t. And she certainly seems to come and go as she pleases . . .”
    “You mean you’ve seen her again?”
    “Just this morning. After we spoke, I went down to the basement.”
    “The archives.”
    I nodded. “There’s a room down there that looks as though it might once have been a wine cellar. Jane was in there.”
    Russell was looking more perplexed by the moment. “Doing what?”
    “I don’t know. She ran off again as soon as I saw her. Krebbs thought she’d been sleeping in the prop room, and he mentioned something about her stealing food.”
    “A runaway, perhaps?” Russell mused. “I wonder how long this has been going on. Is it possible she’s been living here and nobody knew?”
    “It’s a big campus. Still, I would think that if she were actually making a home here, we’d have seen more signs of her occupancy. I was wondering if maybe she lives in the neighborhood