“Completely different motivation from Diana Hartwell, but the same sense of mission.The same belief that they're carrying out important work under someone else's direction.”
“But is that someone else real or imaginary?”
Miles had been wondering the same thing.Was there actually a coordinating figure behind these elemental murders, or were they dealing with multiple killers who'd independently developed similar delusions about periodic table purification?Either way, he had no doubt that they were all linked.Butwhy?
The investigation was just beginning, but Miles already felt the familiar excitement of a case that might validate his periodic table theory.The fluorine manifesto confirmed connections to Diana Hartwell's murders.Now they needed to determine whether they were chasing one coordinated organization or multiple copycat killers inspired by the San Francisco media coverage.
Either way, Sarah Morrison's death proved that the elemental murders hadn't ended with Diana Hartwell's suicide.Someone was continuing the sequence, moving through the periodic table with deadly precision.
And based on the manifesto's references to future purifications, this attack was just the beginning.
CHAPTER FIVE
The east wing of Roosevelt Elementary felt different from the kindergarten section where Sarah Morrison had died.Here, the hallways were wider and the classrooms larger, designed for older students who needed more space for group projects and activities.Motivational posters lined the walls between classroom doors.A display case showcased student science fair projects from the previous semester.
Miles and Vic followed Detective Stoller down the main corridor toward a small auditorium that had been converted into an interview space.The room was typically used for school assemblies and parent meetings.Rows of blue plastic chairs faced a small stage where a podium normally stood.This morning, the chairs had been rearranged into a semicircle around several folding tables.
“This wing is on a different ventilation system,” Stoller said, unzipping the face guard on his protective gear.“Feel free to strip down out of the gear.Principal Davis and some of the others are in the auditorium to your right.”
Both Miles and Vic started working their way out of their gear.When they were out, Stoller collected them, draping them over his arm like discarded coats.“You don’t need me for the next part.I’ll be back out front if you need anything.”He gave a nod and headed out of a set of double doors at the end of the hallway.
To their right, the auditorium doors were partially opened.When they stepped inside, Miles saw that the windows overlooked the playground and athletic fields behind the school.Under normal circumstances, children would be running around the jungle gym and playing kickball.Today, the empty playground equipment cast lonely shadows across the grass.
Principal Margaret Davis sat in the front row, her hands folded tightly in her lap.Her face carried the hollow expression of someone processing trauma.Every few seconds she would glance toward the kindergarten wing, as if she couldn't quite believe what had happened in her school.
Three staff members waited in the chairs beside her.As Miles and Vic approached, they all ran through a quick and hasty round of introductions.The gym teacher, Mr.Peters, shifted uncomfortably in his plastic chair.He was a tall, athletic man in his forties who looked on the verge of openly crying.Mrs.Warren, the first-grade teacher, nodded in agreement.She was older than Peters, probably approaching retirement, with gray hair and the patient demeanor of someone who'd spent decades working with young children.Mrs.Chen, the school librarian, was a petite woman with kind eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses.
Vic pulled out her notebook and positioned herself where she could observe all four interviewees.Miles took the adjacent chair, setting his tape recorder on the folding table between them.The formal interview setup felt strange in the cheerful auditorium, but it provided the privacy they needed to discuss sensitive details.
“Thank you all for waiting,” Vic began, her voice carrying the professional warmth she'd used during their San Francisco interviews.“We know this has been a difficult morning.We're trying to understand what happened to Sarah Morrison and whether anyone noticed unusual activity around the school recently.”
“Sarah was one of the best teachers we had,” Peters said quietly.“The kids loved her.The parents loved her.She never missed a faculty meeting and always volunteered for extra duties.And God… she washappyto do it all.”
“Sarah stayed late almost every night, preparing activities and decorating her classroom,” Mrs.Chen said.“She truly cared about making learning fun for her students.”
Miles listened intently as they spoke, building a picture of Sarah Morrison as someone without obvious enemies or controversies.The kind of dedicated educator who wouldn't normally attract the attention of someone planning an elaborate murder.
“Did she have any conflicts with parents or administration?”Vic asked.“Any complaints about her teaching methods or classroom management?”
“Never,” Principal Davis said, speaking for the first time since they'd begun the interview.Her voice was hoarse from crying and shock.“Sarah's parent conferences were always positive.Her student evaluations were excellent.She was exactly the kind of teacher every principal hopes to hire.”
“There was one small issue this semester,” Mrs.Warren said.“But nothing that would explain what happened to her.This is… this is just unheard of.”
Miles felt his attention sharpen.Even minor controversies might provide insight into the killer's selection criteria.“What kind of issue?”
“It was about art supplies,” Mrs.Chen said, glancing nervously at Principal Davis.“Sarah had been using a particular brand of finger paints and modeling clay that came under scrutiny from the district safety committee.”
“What kind of scrutiny?”Vic asked.Miles was glad she asked, because he had no idea things like clay and fingerpaint could be harmful in any way, unless directly ingested.
Mrs.Chen looked uncomfortable discussing the details, but continued.“The manufacturer issued a recall notice because trace amounts of hazardous chemicals had been detected in some batches.Nothing immediately dangerous, but enough to raise concerns about long-term exposure in classroom settings.”
Miles felt something click in his mind.The manifesto's obsession with chemical contamination and molecular corruption.Sarah Morrison's alleged role in poisoning innocent children with synthetic materials.The killer might have targeted her specifically because of these recalled art supplies.It would be a strange reason, but it did seem to fit with an equally strange method of murder.
“How did the school handle the recall?”he asked.
Principal Davis answered, her voice barely above a whisper.“The school board reviewed the situation and determined that the remaining supplies posed minimal risk if used for the remainder of this academic year.Sarah was given permission to continue using them until we could order replacements for next semester.”
“So, she was still using potentially hazardous art supplies in her classroom?”Vic's tone remained neutral, but Miles could hear the significance she was placing on this information.
