#Wattys2015 The Ghost of James Fitzpatrick

Chapter 39

The door to the backyard shed creaked open as Sarah entered the shed. She pulled a chain that dangled from the center of the ceiling and clicked on the light. It lit up the inside of the shed and among the rakes and shovels hung by posts along the wall, she found several lengths of coiled rope. She chose a blue nylon one from a hook on the wall. Her family used it to go tubing on Myer's Lake, so she was comfortable with its length and strength. It was heavy and she grunted as she lifted it up on to her shoulder like a purse.

She had spent her life as the obedient daughter, and it was never a challenge. She had never felt the typical urge to rebel, or slam a door on her parents, or lie to them - she just always did as she was told, and her mother had clearly told her to wait. "We will deal with this when your dad gets home Friday night" she had specifically said. Even James had told her more than once that Mr. Zwicki was capable of going to lengths she could not imagine, but something in her, a louder voice, her own voice, kept pressing...he knows that you know something Sarah...do it now before he gets away with it...

Sarah pulled the chain and the shed was once again silent and dark as she made her way out the shed door.

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Zwicki stopped at one of the classroom doors along the hall, and observed the students through the window without going in. He searched their faces and their desks. He pulled the little, orange course card from his coat breast pocket and referred to it once again, then stepped back to double check the number on the classroom door.

Zwicki's mind began working, as they say, the gears began to grind, and he gently clicked open the classroom door. He was met by every student's upwardly turned face, and the teacher's as well.

"Hi Mr. Zwicki," said Mrs. Harrison.

"Sorry to interrupt Mrs. Harrison, I just needed to see Sarah Netherby again for a moment," said Zwicki, "her brother is doing some work in our office," he said looking around the classroom.

"She checked out", said Mrs. Harrison, "she said she had a doctor's appointment."

"Oops, sorry. I forgot," said Zwicki smiling. He backed quickly out of the door and pulled it gently closed.

"Fuck!" he hissed quietly to himself.