“Yes, you can. They’ll revisit the dress code, insist on psychological background checks to detect predatory tendencies, maybe even contemplate a no-touch, no-tell policy. You know the drill.”
“No touch, no tell! Now you’re being funny,” Joanna said with a soft chuckle.
Angel laughed with her. “You have to have a sense of humor if you plan to make tenure.”
“I already have tenure.”
“Retirement, then. Either way, if you don’t laugh at foolishness like this, you’ll go crazy.”
Their banter was suddenly interrupted by someone calling Joanna’s name loudly from the other end of the hallway.
“Ms. Barnes! Ms. Barnes!”
The two women exchanged a quick look before turning in the direction of the high-pitched squeals piercing through the thick chatter of students crowding the hallway. Marion Talley tossed up a slight hand as she stomped her size-eleven heels in their direction. Before reaching their side, she admonished one student for cursing, a second for groping his girlfriend inappropriately and sent a third to the office for the length of her skirt. She herself wore a black knit dress that hugged one curve too many, remaining baby weight from her two middle-school-aged daughters still clinging to her midsection and hips.
Joanna forced a smile to her face, her mouth bending upward as she feigned interest in the woman who chaired the school’s English department. Marion Talley spent every opportunity she could find to make Joanna’s life miserable. The two of them had history that took them both back to their own high school days, resentment harbored over teenage antics that should have been long forgotten.
“Mrs. Talley, what can I do for you?” Joanna asked, mindful of all the ears shuffling past them.
“I was hoping to catch you before you left your classroom. You must have rushed out before the students. You do know leaving early without permission is grounds for disciplinary action. If someone were to tell, of course.”
Joanna bristled slightly, the little hairs against the back of her neck rising.
“Cut the crap, Marion,” Angel snarled under her breath. “You know she left her classroom the same time you left yours. You’re always trying to start something.”
Marion narrowed her gaze on the other woman, her face skewing with irritation. She bit back a comment, turning her attention onto Joanna instead.
“Mrs. Donato would like to see you in her office. I’m headed down to cover your study hall.”
“Did she say what it’s about?” Joanna asked.
Marion smirked. “No. But then there’s so much going on around here today. I’m sure it’s nothing, though.”
Joanna gave her another smile. “I’m sure, too.”
“Humph!” Marion grunted as she turned on her high heels and stomped back in the direction she’d come from.
When Marion was out of earshot, Joanna muttered under her breath, “I really wish she’d fall into a large hole and disappear.”
Angel laughed. “I know two sophomores who would gladly make that happen for you. Just give me the word.”
* * *
Minutes later Joanna sat in a wooden chair across from Valentina Donato, the school principal, and a police detective from the Chicago police department. A uniformed officer stood at the door. Joanna was shaking and on the verge of tears.
“Your union rep will meet you down at the police station, but you might want to consider hiring your own attorney,” Valentina was saying.
Joanna shook her head. “I didn’t do anything.”
“I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding,” Valentina said, “but we have a legal obligation to have the charges levied against you investigated. The allegations are very serious, Joanna! David Locklear claims you had a sexual relationship with him and that you held that relationship over his head and threatened his grades. We can’t just ignore that.”
Joanna turned to the man standing at the edge of the desk. “Am I under arrest? Because I certainly didn’t do what you’re saying I did!”
The detective cleared his throat. The man was short and slightly obese. He wore a gray suit that was ill-fitting. He was sweating profusely, his eyes darting around the room. He was clearly uncomfortable and he refused to look directly at her. His gaze finally rested somewhere on the wall behind her head. “For the moment, we just need to ask you some questions, Ms. Barnes, and under the circumstances we need to do that down at the station.”
Joanna could feel herself nod but everything seemed like an out-of-body experience. Her arms and legs were heavy and she was shaking. Her nerves felt completely fried. The wave of shock that had washed over her was consuming and, for a moment, Joanna wasn’t sure she could keep her emotions in check. She took a deep breath and then a second, filling her lungs with air as she struggled not to cry, or worse, rage aloud.
The detective rose from his seat and gestured for Joanna to do the same.
“I have my car...” Joanna started. “I can meet you—”
The detective shook his head. “I need you to ride to the station with me, Ms. Barnes.”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t... I can’t... I need to...” she stammered, suddenly unable to complete a coherent sentence.
“It’s not an option,” the detective added. “Right now, this is just a formal questioning and I’m willing to spare you the embarrassment of handcuffs as long as you cooperate.”
Joanna stood. She took another deep breath. “I need to make a call,” she said, her voice a loud whisper. She reached into her handbag for her cell phone. “Please? I need to call my attorney to meet us there.”
The detective nodded. “That is your right.”
* * *
Mingus Black rolled his eyes skyward, not at all amused by his sister Simone. The sixth child and the youngest girl in his family, Simone Black was being a proverbial pain in the ass as she pranced around his office, giving orders to his staff like she paid the bills. Despite him being older, his attorney sister was notorious for bossing him around, wielding control when it was least wanted. She got that from their sister Vaughan. He was grateful when her cell phone rang, announcing an incoming call, because he was just seconds from throwing her out the door on the heels of her Manolo Blahniks.
“I need to take this,” she said with a light laugh. “But when I’m finished, we need to talk about you incorporating this business. You can’t keep running it all willy-nilly like you’re doing.” Mingus rolled his eyes a second time as she depressed the talk button on her phone. He went back to signing the checks his secretary had dropped on his desk earlier that morning.
Simone’s lighthearted expression suddenly deflated like air being sucked from a balloon. Her brow furrowed, shock and concern flooding her face. She was listening intently and from where he sat he could sense the anxiety of the person on the other end of the phone line.
Mingus met his sister’s stare as he shifted forward, lifting himself upright. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice a loud whisper.
Simone held up her index finger, still listening attentively to the party on the other end. Rising, Mingus rounded the desk and moved to stand beside her. He brushed a large hand against her back and shoulder when