“It is,” said Jack. “We didn’t find out from Crime Stoppers. We received a tip that the bad guys have narrowed it down to three teachers. We met with Morris Bloomquist and he —”

“Mr. Bloomquist knows that it’s me?” said Amanda fearfully.

“No, not at all,” hastened Jack. “We asked him for a list of teachers who are popular with the students. Your name was one of them.”

“How did you know it was me?”

“Logical deduction. We left your principal thinking it was a student, but if we figured it out, so might the bad guys.”

Amanda gave a large sigh of relief. “I think Mister Bloomquist would fire me if he knew. He is against having students arrested. He believes it gives the school a bad name.”

“I’m not impressed with the man,” said Jack.

“He’s not really a bad person … it’s … well, his ex-wife was a police officer. A messy divorce may have clouded his judgment.”

“Our concern is that the bad guys are narrowing down their list of suspects,” said Jack. “We have received information that they are willing to murder whoever is tipping off the police.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” said Amanda bitterly. “But something has to be done. QE has turned into a zoo. Kids stoned out of their minds … violence, gangs. Last weekend we had a top student commit suicide. If we had made QE a safer place where kids would open up … I don’t know … none of us saw it coming. I —” Amanda stopped to wipe a tear from her face.

“We know about Julie Goodwin,” said Jack, sadly. “I applaud you for your efforts to clean things up, but you need to back off. We have reason to be genuinely concerned for your safety.”

“Lots of students confide in me,” said Amanda. “I’m pretty careful because I don’t want a student to get into trouble. I know what these gangsters are about. When I’ve called Crime Stoppers with information, I have been really careful to ensure that there is nothing passed on that would endanger any individual student. The information I have provided has been common knowledge to lots of students.”

“If we figured it out, so might the bad guys,” repeated Jack. “In the future, I would appreciate you calling us and not Crime Stoppers.

“And you will do something about it?”

“That’s a promise,” replied Jack.

Jack and Laura were leaving Amanda’s home when Jack received a call on his cellphone.

“Hey, Jay! How ya doin’?” said Rodine. “Is Princess with you?”

“I’m doing great,” replied Jack. “Any luck with that apartment?”

“Ya, I’m with Sy now. Told him about ya. If you want, you can come over and check it out right away.”

An hour later, Rodine introduced Jack and Laura to Sy as they entered the apartment lobby. Sy stood with his arms folded over his chest and gave Jack a hard look.

“They’re okay,” whispered Rodine nervously to Sy. “I told ya, Jay is my cousin for fuck sakes. I’ve known him all my life.”

Inwardly, Jack cringed. Rodine had made a serious error by saying they were related. Later, if he and Laura were identified, there would be no way for Rodine to say that he had been duped.

Sy nodded, but his attitude was one of suspicion. They took the elevator to the fourth floor and Sy used a key to let them inside the apartment.

“There’s still someone’s stuff in here,” noted Jack.

“The owner’s dead,” said Sy. “His relatives have until the end of the month … two weeks from now … to get the shit out of here. I’m still not sure if I’ll be renting it to you. A friend of mine has expressed an interest.”

“Suit yourself,” said Jack. “I’ve been looking for a place with underground parking and Rodent says you’re a good guy, but if you have someone else that —”

“Rodent?” answered Sy.

“Yeah,” smiled Jack as he looked at Rodine. “That’s what I’ve always called him.”

“Yeah,” chuckled Sy. “His little face does look a bit like a rat’s.”

“Fuck you,” replied Rodine, while glaring at Jack.

“Anyway,” continued Jack. “I prefer to pay cash. No receipts and no name on the intercom. If your friend isn’t interested, I’m willing to pay you two Gs a month.”

Sy sucked in a little wind. Two thousand dollars a month was double what the apartment was worth. He rubbed his chin with his hand as if in deep thought and said, “Cash, eh? You know, I’ve always been a believer of first come, first serve. If you got a thousand-dollar damage deposit to put down, it’s yours to move into at the end of the month.”

It was nine-thirty the following morning and Tommy Sloan was late for school when he gunned the engine of his purple Trans Am and drove through a stop sign. His action did not cause an accident, but it did come to the attention of Constable Dale and Constable Button who were in a nearby patrol car.

“See that?” said Button. “I stopped that kid once before. The little asshole has a real foul mouth. Hit the lights, I’m going to write him up.”

Seconds later Tommy turned on his signal and pulled over to the curb.

“Yes, Officer, I know I didn’t stop,” he said. “I’m late for school,” he said, as an explanation.

“Too bad, but you’re getting a ticket,” said Button.

“Yes, sir. I guess I deserve it,” replied Tommy.

“Another thing,” said Button. “Shut the car off and hand me the keys.”

“I’m not going to try and outrun you,” smiled Tommy, as he did as instructed.

“Good. One more thing. Step out of the car and place your hands on the roof.”

“You fuckin’ pigs got no right to search me!” yelled Tommy.

Twenty minutes later, Constable Button placed Tommy into an interview room where he was allowed to call a lawyer.

“Tell your lawyer that the quarter-pound of meth we seized out of your shorts was individually grammed up,” said Button as he closed the door.

Twelve hours later, Chugger, a prospect from Satans Wrath, picked up Sy at his apartment. After an hour of counter-surveillance tactics, including switching cars, Chugger parked behind a car wash called Wet Willy’s. It was closed for the night.

“The rear door is unlocked,” said Chugger. “Go on inside. I’m supposed to wait here.”

Sy did as instructed. He recognized Cocktail who was seated in the customer waiting area with another man. He did not know who the man was, but the gold insignia ring on his hand said he was a full-fledged member of Satans Wrath.

“You think it is a teacher from QE who is talking to the police?” asked Cocktail, dismissing any small talk.

“According to my brother it is. He said the cops tried to make it look like nobody tipped them, but too many guys have been busted lately. Three or four teachers are the only common denominator.”

“Which ones?” asked Cocktail.

Sy gave Cocktail all the surnames.

The biker looked at Sy and said, “Sit here, while we make a call from the office.”

Sy waited as the biker and Cocktail entered an office and closed the door behind them.

Once inside the office the biker looked at Cocktail and asked, “Any ideas?”

“It’s Amanda Flowers. She could pass for Playboy material and struts around with a real attitude. She isn’t much older than the students. There isn’t a straight boy in that school who wouldn’t want to fuck her. They talk to her like she’s their friend and not a teacher. She needs to be taught a lesson.”

“Not a fatal lesson,” said the biker. “We don’t need the heat.”

“Not kill her,” said Cocktail. “She lives alone, house-sitting and looking after someone’s cat. The owners are away. I have an idea that will leave a lasting impression upon her. Something to make a lasting impression on any others who decide to stick their noses where they don’t belong.”