Tuesday The Rabbi Saw Red

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Millicent Hanbury., outwardly cool and unruffled, pressed down the release bar on the front door of the administration building and let herself out. Outside, she hesitated and glanced up at the window of her office, then hurried across the deserted street to where her car was parked.

When she pulled into her driveway and glanced at her watch, she realized how fast she had been driving; she'd made it from school to her house in just thirty-five minutes, her best time yet.

Closing the door behind her, she leaned against it for a moment as if to reassure herself she was within the sanctuary of her own four walls. But only for a moment, she went to the phone.

"Barnard's Crossing Police Department. Sergeant Leffler," came the response from the other end.

"This is Millicent Hanbury, Sergeant, at 48 Oak Street."

"Yes. I know the address. Miss Hanbury."

"I’ve just returned home and I found a window in my living room open. I'm sure I closed it when I left."

"Was anything taken, Miss Hanbury? Does it look as though the place has been ransacked?"

"No," she said. "Everything seems to be in order, but I haven't gone through the rest of the house yet."

"Well, don't. I'll have somebody there right away. Just wait there. Or better, wait outside, the cruising car will be around any minute."

When the cruising car arrived, Officer Keenan accompanied her from room to room while his fellow officer remained at the wheel. "Everything look all right to you, Miss Hanbury? Nothing missing?"

He examined the open window from the inside and the outside. "There's nothing that looks like a jimmy mark on the sash," he said. "And of course there wouldn't be any footprints on this concrete path. Was the window locked. Miss Hanbury?"

"I'm quite sure it was."

"Well, it's no big job to open a window with one of these old-fashioned latches. You can do it easy enough with a piece of plastic or one of these thin metal rulers. You ought to get the new type of latch for these windows on the first floor, Miss Hanbury."

From the cruising car came a loud, insistent honking. Keenan ran outside and came hurrying back. "Say, Miss Hanbury, a call just came in to the station, there was an explosion in your school, a bomb, they think, they want you back in Boston right away, we can drive you if you like."

"Oh David! I was going to call, but I didn't know where. I was so worried. Thank God you're safe!" Bursting into tears, Miriam threw herself in his arms.

"What's the matter?" He held her away and looked at her. "Pull yourself together, Miriam. I know I'm late, but I only stopped for a cup of coffee."

"Then you don't know?" she cried. "You weren't there when it happened?"

"Don't know what?" He was getting exasperated. "When what happened?"

"The explosion! There's been an explosion in your school, in the administration building."

"What kind of explosion? When did it happen? Make sense, Miriam."

"A bomb! They're sure it was a bomb," she said, taking out a handkerchief to dry her eyes. "I was watching 'Way of Life' and then they interrupted the program with a news flash, only about fifteen minutes ago, they said no one appeared to be hurt, but with you not home yet..."He put his arms around her and soothed her.

"You always get home around three,” she said against his chest, "and here it was almost half-past. I tried to tell myself you sometimes get involved in something and lose all track of time."

"That's about what happened,” he admitted sheepishly. "I started to read a book over my coffee and just didn't notice."

"Yes, of course,” she said. "It doesn't matter. Nothing matters except that you're all right."

"I'm fine,” he said. "I'm only sorry I made you worry. But I still don't understand it, a bombing? You sure they didn't say anything more?"

"No, that's all. It was a news flash. But maybe you could call someone. Lanigan? Wouldn't he know what happened?"

"No, it's something for the Boston police." He was very disturbed of course, but did not want to show it for fear of upsetting her further. "We'll get more details on the evening broadcast, I'm sure. In the meantime, the Sabbath is approaching."

While she made ready, he showered and changed, and then played for a while with his children Jonathan and Hepzibah, he did not want to leave Miriam alone, so he decided not to go to the temple for the afternoon Mincha service. By the time he had finished it was time for the news.

They sat together on the sofa, his arm around her, watching the picture in front of them. "Tonight's lead story." the announcer said. "At 3:05 this afternoon a bomb was exploded in the administration building of Windemere Christian College in Boston's Fenway. Police from Station 15 responded within minutes and the fire apparatus from the Boylston Street station immediately after, the explosion occurred in the dean's office and damage was minor, according to Inspector Frank Laplace of the Fire Department."

The building was presumed empty since no classes are scheduled at that time on Fridays. However. Lieutenant Hawkins of Station 15 instituted an intensive search of the premises and found the body of a man in one of the locked offices, he was identified by Mr. Laferty, the custodian of the building, as Professor John Hendryx. For a statement from Lieutenant Hawkins, we switch you now..."