Our next three days consisted of orientation in each class, phys. ed included. I chuckled to myself at the image of an instructor explaining what a ball is and its purpose and then going into athletic supporters and so on. It was much more informative than that. We would all be carefully assessed and baseline data would be determined from performance. Our progress would be checked over the course of the entire term. This wasn't just a brain farm, the school engaged the entire student, body and mind as one.
After that Chase went one way and I went to advanced French, I was almost the youngest boy in the class. Dr. Janvier was not one of the Calvinist teachers my cousins complained about in France, he didn't need to be. This level of French was completely elective and it was for accomplished speakers and that included me. He welcomed us to switch between French and English or other languages, noting that it would improve our mental acuity and the ability to nimbly shift from one language to another would hone our skills.
Dr. Janvier went through the syllabus and explained some of the details. How we would delve into the bare bones and origins of modern French and the contributions of the Gauls and Franks. He would go into etymology in quite a bit of detail and explore dialects both French domestique and colonial. He mentioned Verlan which is slang and equivalent to Cockney slang used in London. I found it all fascinating.
Each department had a library attached to it and the third segment of each day's orientation was to see how those libraries were accessed and what services were offered. We only need to card in at the door and then at the desk when we pulled something off the shelf. Put your card in the reader and slide the item's barcode across the scanner and that was all. Terminals only required a swipe of your card to operate. The French library was bilingual, information was in both English and French to accommodate all levels of the student body. You needn't be a French language student to use the library.
The next class was English literature. Dr. Hopkins outlined the course and its goals, distributed reading lists and made suggestions on additional books to read for amusement. The reading list was very interesting, many well-known and obscure authors from several genres. One was well known to me and I was surprised to see it. I had read the entire series at least fifteen times during my life so far. I was quite pleased at the prospects for conversation in class. From there we descended on the English library. It was as well stocked as any decent college library. There were even a few ancient folios although they required special permission to access.
In a case in the center of the library was an illuminated manuscript dating from the time when only the clergy and aristocratic class were allowed to learn to read. A time when you could be executed if it were found that you were literate unless you had left the monastic life.
With the midday meal and breaks, the day went by quickly and Wednesday would be the same.
I had yet to even enter the mathematics building since the tour during open school day.
My first class Wednesday would be Algebra 2 / Trigonometry although I had already passed it in my previous school. Perhaps the methods here were more effective but after a couple hundred years of the same subjects, I knew it pretty well. But I would consign myself to at least learning their method of teaching and keep my observations to myself. I might ask if a clerical error had caused the repeat of this particular class. But that could wait, it was time for dinner. In the dining hall the seating had returned to smaller tables but more of them. A tasty baked chicken was on offer or one could choose beef stroganoff. I personally liked to know how my stroganoff was prepared because I had been fooled into eating subpar stroganoff in the past. Jake and a boy named Erin joined us and four boys from various rooms filled in the other four seats. Erin was bubbly and entertaining, he shared stories about the horrible catholic school he had been in previously.
"Those people shouldn't be around kids, most of them anyways. The Jesuit brothers do these really painful grips on your arms or they put an elbow down on your hand. They even do it to the little guys. They have all these rules about where your hands should be when you're standing, it's like you're in the army or something. I hated it there and I wrote a letter to the state and named names when my mom told me I'd be coming here. The Jesuit mafia are probably out to get me," he chuckled.
"They had a guy here that did that, he learned it from the Jesuits and I was the last one he did it to here. Etienne's dad put him in jail and now he can't work around kids anymore.
"Yeah I heard about that, I also heard about that big murder case he was working on. Was it creepy when he has to do that?"
"Not really, he doesn't bring the gory details home with him. He never has. I don't talk a lot about what he does for a couple of reasons, so don't take offense if I won't discuss some things okay?" I clarified.
"No that's cool, my dad is a shrink and he never talks about his patients to Mom and me. He only discusses it with other doctors, I bet your dad only talks to other cops about his work. I'm not sure I want all the details about what my dad does. I know it upsets him when he can't help someone," Erin agreed.
I looked at the other four boys, two seventh year boys were discussing the next world cup but the other two sixth year boys were silent.
"How are you guys doing, do you like the school?" I asked.
The dark haired boy looked panicky for a moment until he realized that it was a friendly inquiry.
"Oh yes, it's cool here. A lot better than my old school in Arkansas. It was a weird place," The boy stated.
"What are your names?" I asked politely.
"Oh, I'm Rowan and this is Ted I think."
The boy with reddish blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes suddenly looked up after hearing his name. "Did someone call me?"
"Are you Ted?" I asked.
"Um, yeah, sorry I was thinking about something and forgot where I was."
"We were just wondering what you think of the school, do you like it here so far?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, it's totally cool but it's really intense and that's just the orientation. It's a lot to absorb if you're new," Ted supplied.
"Yes, I found some of it overwhelming and tomorrow I have orientation for a class I already passed with an A. So I have to ask about that and then see if there's any room in Pre-calc. But today was really cool as far as I'm concerned," I blabbed.
"You're new here, too? Don't take this the wrong way but it's kind of a relief that older guys get flapped by some of this stuff," Ted intoned.
"I think that's universal Ted, nobody's bulletproof, starting a new school can be a real pain. I think the philosophy of this place helps offset the confusion I feel about some stuff. I haven't heard a harsh word since open school day," I shared.
"I've met some guys that are, I don't know the right word, um, assertive maybe but not bullies. There's always going to be guys that think they know best even if they don't," Rowan put in.
"You just described politics," Jake laughed.
"I get it though, the hyper types can seem a little oppressive, you just have to tell them to chill out a little. They might not even realize how they look to others. I've seen it here before. They're stressed out too and all this is a lot to absorb in five days," Chase added.
"Good point," Jake agreed while attacking the eclair he had chosen for dessert.
I took a bite of my napoleon and considered how odd it was to eat so well at a school. I wondered if the quality of the menu would suffer as the year went on.
"I'm going to pee and get some dessert," one of the footballers announced.
"Don't get the two confused," Jake chided.
His friend grabbed his tray and followed telling the first boy he needed to go too.
"Well, that was odd. I don't think they spoke to anyone after they asked if they could sit here," Rowan observed.
"Soccer crazed loons," Chase laughed. "There's always a few. When they find each other the rest of the world ceases to exist."
We all laughed about that and then Ted excused himself carrying his tray to the station. He returned with a bowl of mousse and appeared to be enjoying it.
"Is that chocolate mousse and do they have any more?" Rowan asked.
"Yes I think so, it's pretty good. Sorry I should have asked if anyone wanted something, I'm not really myself just yet," Ted apologized.
"No strain man, does anyone else want something from the dessert rack?" Rowan asked.
The rest of us were already eating our dessert so off he went.
"Ted, you'll be fine. Just relax a little and take it as it comes,"
*****
Wednesday morning and Mike, Frank and Herb were in a special partitioned room with the judge, his court reporter, the prosecuting attorney and a bewildered looking public defender. It was just his luck to draw Marina Hobart as his third client. He was at least wary enough to take the prosecutor's offer to his boss for review before submitting it to his client.
On the other side of the transparent partition, Marina wore a headset in her hospital bed which had been elevated so that she could see the judge. The only other person with the defendant was a nurse, a large pacific islander woman in a bio-suit. Marina barely had the strength to hold her head up let alone try anything physical. She had accepted the plea agreement and was ready to allocute.
Absent a bailiff the judge called the case himself, named the witnesses and asked the defendant if she was ready to plea.
"Yes I am your honor," Marina croaked into the mic.
"Please enter your plea at this time, Mrs. Hobart," The judge instructed.
"I plead guilty as charged, your honor," Marina answered.
"As part of your plea agreement you have agreed to list the actions for which you are responsible, this is called allocution, do you understand?" The judge inquired.
"I do, should I just start?" Marina asked.
"No ma'am, I will read the charge and you may respond after each one, indicating plainly whether you are responsible for their death or other crime. Is that clear?" The judge instructed once again.
The judge began with Louis William Hobart,
"did you willfully undertake to cause this person's death?"
Then the judge read Bethany Marquart's name and asked the same question and continued down the list of victims.
Finally he read the name Ms. Rowena Carstairs,
"Did you willfully and forcibly attempt to detain this individual with the intent of causing her death?"
"Yes your honor, Marina sighed.
The judge looked through the partition and addressed Marina one last time.
"Your plea and allocution have been accepted, I will now pronounce sentence.
Marina Gifford Hobart, you have been found guilty of seven counts of first degree murder. Further you have been found guilty of one count of kidnapping and one count of attempted murder.
Per your plea agreement you will be remanded to the Washington Bureau of Corrections where you will receive hospice care for the remainder of your natural life. Do you have any final statement?"
Marina remained mute.
Her public defender spoke for her, "I have a statement dictated by Marina Hobart, shall I read it aloud your honor.
"You may Mr. Franconi," The judge allowed.
"This is the statement of Marina Gifford Hobart, "Your honor, I am very sorry for my actions. I was misguided in my belief that my husband had infected me with AIDS, I know now that it wasn't the case. I apologize to the families of the victims for my actions. Thank you."
Dennis Franconi handed the document to the judge to review and it was added to the folder of papers on the table he was using.
The judge instructed the nurse to take Marina Hobart to her room until such time as she could be conveyed to a hospice for end of life care.
"This court is adjourned," The judge declared.
The judge addressed Mike, Frank, Herb, Lev Gaines and Dennis Franconi.
"Gentlemen, I wanted to commend you for working together in the public's best interests. A lengthy trial with special circumstances would have lasted longer than the defendant. Your decision not to seek that course of action has saved the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and a substantial investment in special security measures, not to mention my own time in hearing the case itself. I thank you for your foresight on behalf of the state, county and court system," Judge Albert Mason concluded.
An almost singular "thank you your honor issued from all assembled.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I hate hospitals, so if there is no further business let's get the hell out of here," The judge suggested.
"Poor messed up woman," Frank muttered as Mike drove them back to the office. "I don't have any particular sympathy for her but if she'd just followed up on the second round of testing all this could have been avoided. I mean hell, they have quite a bit they can do to fight the virus these days."
"I understand, Frank, all I can say is that I don't envy her the death she has coming,"
Herb's phone rang, and he listened carefully to the caller.
"Mike would you pull over please?"
Mike pulled to the curb and asked what was up.
"I have a report from uniforms in Columbia city, deceased male teen wearing what looks like a school jacket. Would you like Frank to drive so you can contact your son?" Herb asked.
"I doubt he'd be able to answer at this time of day but it might be better if Frank drove. I'm authorizing a code three response so let's swap seats and I'll text my son," Mike confirmed.
Frank took the wheel while Mike radioed their intention to run code three all the way to Columbia City. Frank drove with years of experience, making sure he was seen before entering an intersection since the siren and lights possessed no magical power to simply halt traffic in their path. It took nearly fifteen minutes in lunchtime traffic but they made it unscathed.
"The victim was closer to twenty and he wore a jacket from St. Alban's college in Pretoria South Africa. The body showed signs of prolonged drug use and no obvious cause of death was evident. He was lying in an alley adjacent to the L.E.M.S. bookstore. Mike looked at the victim's hands and noted calluses peculiar to Drummers.
No one in the area had seen an altercation and the staff of the store said he was a regular customer. Two of Mike's detectives arrived and Mike allowed Herb to fill them in and transfer the notes to them. Forensics arrived with the screens and the scene was taped off. Mike, Frank and Herb decided to hit the road. Mike had interviews scheduled for transfers from other departments or units and Herb was still getting up to speed on his new duties.
"Damn that was tough to do," Herb groused as they pulled away.
"What's that?" Mike asked.
"Turning a case over to someone else. It's just going to take some getting used to," Herb sighed.
"Well you'll have a new crop of detectives to chaperone in the field soon, you and Frank both will be assessing their abilities before they get turned loose on a case on their own. And I'll be doing the same just so you know it's not all on you guys,"
Mike's phone rang while Frank was still forming his reply.
"Dad, did you need me, your text said urgent. Is everything okay?"
"It is now son, it's a long story, I'll explain once you're done with school for the day," Mike soothed.
"Okay Dad, I love you, talk to you soon," I told him.
*****
I put my phone back on silent and joined my friends in the dining hall. I had no idea what Dad was worried about but he would tell me when classes had been completed for the day.
There had indeed been an error and they were working to get me transferred to Pre-Calculus. This it turned out would be accomplished by swapping the times for my P.E. class. Piano would follow P.E. and then French, English literature and finally Art & Architecture. It was a class that appealed to me.