The Bitterest Pill

Forty-six

Jesse and Principal Wester understood each other’s position.

“The kid is officially missing, so I don’t need a warrant to get into his locker. Locker 113 is something else, but I could get a search warrant for it if you force my hand.”

“I know precedent says that the students should have no expectation of privacy on school grounds, but this will hurt my relationship with the students, and the school board won’t be pleased.”

“They’ll be even less pleased if there’s a delay and another kid ODs.”

As displeased as she was with the notion of giving the police access to the lockers, she was even less happy about Jesse’s insistence on doing it as the kids moved between classes. Jesse’s explanation of why that was the best time to do it made sense. Still, none of it was to her liking.

Inevitably, a crowd of students and teachers formed around Jesse, Suit, and Gabe. Peter Perkins, evidence bag in his gloved hands, had joined them as well. Principal Wester stood next to Jesse. Things got surprisingly quiet, and when they did, Jesse turned and faced the crowd.

“We’re cutting open the lock on number 113,” he said. “I know for a fact that this locker was used as a transfer point for pill orders and deliveries. Heroin, too. Let me make this clear to you, I am not looking to get anyone in school in trouble. If you’ve got a problem, all we want to do is get you help. If you don’t want to come to the police, I understand. Go to a teacher, your guidance counselor, the school psychologist, Principal Wester, or a friend. We don’t want any more of you hurt. But let me put anyone involved in selling the drugs on notice: You have one chance to come forward. I realize you might be addicted yourself and feel trapped. You’re not. We’ll get you help. Here’s the thing. I found out about this locker and I will find you. That’s what I am paid to do. If I find you before you come forward, that won’t be good for you.” Jesse turned to Gabe. “Cut it.”

Gabe Weathers placed the sharp jaws of the lock cutter on either side of the combination lock’s U-shaped metal and squeezed the long handles together. The jaws cut cleanly through the curved metal. Peter Perkins stepped forward and put the lock in an evidence bag. He opened the locker. As Jesse expected, it was empty. Peter Perkins put the bagged lock away and got busy taking photos. It was all part of the show.

Jesse nodded to Virginia Wester.

“Okay, everyone, back to class,” she said, looking at her watch. “The excitement is over and I don’t want to hear any excuses about being late for class. Let’s go. Let’s go.” She gestured with her arms, shooing them away.

Jesse had wished she would have repeated some of what he had said, but he understood why she hadn’t.

He leaned over to Suit. “You stay here with Peter. Keep an eye out for any kid who sticks around or seems like they want to approach you. When Peter’s done, go home and get to sleep before tonight’s shift.”

“Sure, Jesse. You think this did any good?”

“Too soon to tell, Suit.” Then he walked over to Peter. “When you’re done with this locker, open Chris Grimm’s locker. I want everything in it bagged and cataloged.”

“I will.”

“Gabe,” Jesse said. “You can go out on patrol.”

As the school’s front door closed behind Jesse, Maryglenn raced to catch up to him. When he turned to face her, the expression on her face wasn’t what he expected. Instead of smiling at him as she usually did, she was scowling and there was very real anger in her eyes.

“I didn’t expect that of you,” she said, brushing hair out of her eyes.

“I was doing my job.”

“Is it your job to scare the hell out of these kids? I heard that was some display you and the troops put on.”

“‘Troops’?”

“Well, it was a show of force, wasn’t it?”

He nodded.

“Word has already spread around the school.”

“Good,” he said. “That was the idea.”

“What was?”

“I wanted word to spread and I wanted to scare some people.”

“At what cost?”

“Trying to make sure Heather Mackey is the last casualty.”

“There wasn’t any other way to do it?”

“Look, Maryglenn, I can’t discuss an ongoing investigation. But I will tell you this: Chris Grimm is missing. No one from the school has come forward to give us any leads.” He turned and pointed toward the school. “There are kids in there hooked on Vicodin and Oxycontin, some probably pretty desperate to get hold of anything to make the hurt go away. If they can’t get pills, heroin is probably their next best option. I think that might be the point of the whole operation, moving kids from pills to heroin. That’s what killed Heather Mackey.”

Maryglenn’s expression softened, but not completely. “I know you have a job to do. I think maybe I’d like a raincheck for tonight. Maybe until this blows over.”

“Sure.”

He was tempted to ask her about Swingline Sue’s. He didn’t ask, not wanting to complicate things between them any more than they already were. Maryglenn said goodbye. There was no stolen kiss like the day before, but Jesse had been around long enough to know how fast weather changes and how romance could evaporate even more quickly.