Ben looked at the detective.  “And he called me at one o’clock.  What time did the 9-1-1 call come in, Detective?  And has the medical examiner given a T.O.D. yet?”

“The 9-1-1 call came in at 12:52 p.m.  The M.E. gave preliminary time of death as between ten and noon.”

The principal looked at the detective.  “Why are you even questioning this student?  Between ten and noon, he was in class.”

Detective Duncan frowned, why hadn’t he made the principal wait outside? “Okay, you can go now, kid.  Your dad knows the drill, don’t leave town, we may have more questions.”

Jamie leaned toward Ben.  “But I have to leave town on Friday, you know, the game is in St. Louis.”

Before Ben could respond, the principal spoke up, “Detective Duncan, the championship game is in St. Louis.  The whole team will be leaving town early Friday afternoon.”

The detective ran his hand across his face and looked at Jamie.  “Fine, just check in with me before you leave.”

Duncan and his fellow officers turned and left the principal’s office.  Ben and Sal stood.

Ben reached to shake hands with the principal.  “Thanks for the use of the office, Brian.  I appreciate it.”

He looked at Jamie.  “You should probably come home with me. It’s 2:30 and school’s almost over for the day anyway.”

The principal nodded in agreement.  “It’s fine, Jamie, I think your Dad’s right.”

Ben escorted Jamie out of the school.  He handed his keys to Uncle Sal.  “I’ll ride home with Jamie.  I can pick up the SUV at the office later.”

They walked to the parking lot.  Ben paused to talk to Uncle Sal before following Jamie to his truck. Jamie continued walking toward his truck instead of staying to listen.  The truth was they’d be talking Italian anyway.

A few minutes later, Ben opened the passenger door and got into the truck.  “I’m going to call your Mother.  She’ll probably be leaving work soon anyway.  We can tell her about this latest incident when she gets home.”

Jamie nodded as he started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot.

“Do you think they’ll cancel the game?”  Jamie asked as he drove.

“No, I don’t think that will happen, the assistant Coach will probably step up.  I’m guessing school’s going to be cancelled tomorrow though.  Guess your holiday weekend starts now.  How was the History test?”

Jamie shook his head.  “I missed it.  It would have been right after lunch.  Guess I’ll be doing a make-up test after all.”

Chapter 6

Ben dialed Lane’s cell phone.

“Hey.  I was just thinking about you.  How do you do that?”  Lane said.  It had been an odd phenomenon since they’d met.  It seemed that nearly every time she thought about him, he called.  While it had been happening for years now, it still amazed her.

Ben laughed. “Are you on your way home yet?”

“Just packing up.  You’re still going to make it aren’t you?”

“Yes.  In fact, I’m on my way home.  Ti Amo.  I’ll see you soon.”

Jamie turned into the driveway and parked in the garage.

Ben looked at him.  “Go change your clothes, maybe take a shower.  Your Mom will be home soon and we’ll talk about it then.”

Ben followed Jamie into the house.  He patted Jamie on the shoulder.  “Bambino, I know today sucked, but everything really will be all right.”

Ben went into the master bedroom and closed the door.  He was in the closet, changing out of his suit when his cell phone rang.  “Bellini.”

Roy Tanner immediately began talking. “There really is something funky going on around the football team.  First, someone managed to give the quarterback a dose of peanuts and then someone killed the head coach all just before the championship game.  Clearly this is about the championship game.”

“Yeah, my thoughts exactly.  I need you to come watch my house.  Lane and I have an appointment this afternoon.  I don’t like what’s happening, I don’t like that Jaimie’s been first on the scene both times, and I don’t want him alone.”

“I can be there in 10,” Tanner said as he disconnected.

Ben had finished changing just as Lane came into the bedroom.  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.  He knew he had to tell her what was going on.  Jamie was her son, and she needed to know that he might be in danger.  Yet every cell in his body wanted to protect her.  He kissed her again.  “I need to tell you something.”

She could tell from his tone that something was wrong. She backed away from him and sat on the bed.  “Okay, talk.”

“There was a murder at the high school today.  Jamie is fine, but he found the body.  He did the right thing.  He called 9-1-1 and then he called me.”

Lane was sitting motionless on the bed. Ben sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders pulling her close to him, “He’s fine.  Rattled, but fine.”

She stood.  “I need to see him.” She walked into the hall and tapped on Jamie’s bedroom door.  “Jamie?  May I come in?” She said calmly.

Since they were babies, she was calm through any crisis that came up.  There was always plenty of time afterward to break down.  However, during the crisis, she was a rock.  This was no different.  She needed to see him, to hold him, to assure herself he was okay.

“Give me a minute, Mom.  I just got out of the shower.”

Ben stood in the hall with Lane.  “He really is all right.  He’s a good kid, level headed.  He gets that from you.” He said as he reached to hold her hand.

Jamie opened the door allowing Lane and Ben entrance into his room.

“Ben just told me you found a body at school today.  Do you want to talk about it?”  She asked as she sat on Jamie’s bed.

Jamie knew that although his mother had asked if he wanted to talk about it, what she meant was, tell her what happened, and, do it now.

“I went to talk to Coach Ferguson about Justin, and I found him in his office.  The back of his head had been bashed in.”

Jamie had said the words calmly enough, and that was what worried Lane.  She reached out and touched Jamie’s face. “We’ll change the doctor appointment.  I don’t want you alone.”

Jamie looked at his mother, then at Ben and back to his mother.  He sat next to her and took her hand in his.  “Ah, come on Mom, I’m not a baby.  You’ve found how many bodies?”

It was true that in the last few months Lane had turned into that woman you read about, the one who can’t even go to the bathroom without stumbling over a body.  Yet, it was something entirely different when one of her children was the one doing the stumbling.

Ben looked from Lane to Jamie and back again.  “I just spoke to Tanner.  There’s something going on and whatever it is, it’s all about the championship game.  The police are investigating, and so is Tanner. We will get to the bottom of this, and my family will be safe.”  Ben was standing near the door.  “Tanner’s on his way over here now.  Jamie, you’re right, you’re not a kid any more, but it appears that someone is targeting the football team.  We have to assume that someone attempted to kill Justin yesterday.  He was lucky that you found him when you did.  Then today someone got into the school and killed coach Ferguson. Again, you were the first one on the scene.  I don’t like what’s happened and I don’t like that you’ve been pulled into the middle of it.”

Lane smiled at her son.  “Jamie, I know you’re not a baby.  But, ask Ben, when I found the bodies he protected me.  When Jess had a stalker last month, someone was always with her.  We’re family, it’s what we do.”

Jamie looked from his mother to Ben and sighed heavily.  “Fine, Tanner can baby sit me while you two go to your doctor appointment.”  Then, he grinned.  “It’s either that or I’m going with you, but you aren’t cancelling it.”

Ben looked at Jamie and shrugged. “Think of it as having protection detail instead of being baby sat.”