AN: This is my first multi-chapter story, so please feel free to read and offer constructive criticism. As the story progresses, it important to look at some of the events and behaviors with the way-back machine set in 1972 or there abouts, not through the current climate of pervasive cel phone and internet immediacy and sensational press coverage. As always, the characters do not belong to me but are merely used for the enjoyment of the writer, and hopefully the reader.
Hall Duty – Prologue
The girls at Mission High School were all atwitter. Mission High, set on the edge of Dolores Park, was the oldest high school in the state of California, and had a building and a staff to match, but when the students came back from the Christmas Holidays, old Mrs. Holtzbaur was finally gone. Not only did she teach history, she was history, a relic – old, stooped and forgetful. She definitely knew her stuff, most days, but she really didn't connect with her students anymore. Her absence was all a bit mysterious, however. Rumors swirled about her departure, she was just fed up, had a nervous breakdown, had a stroke, some even said her mangled body was found in the school! The administration was quick to dispel all the rumors, but they offered no alternative explanation. She was gone without a trace. For a couple days now, a parade of substitute teachers had covered her current events (Yeah, that was a joke) classes, with no explanation.
Today, the new permanent teacher was starting and the young ladies couldn't be happier about the development. As he walked from the parking lot, to the office, to his classroom, a ripple of excited conversation swept the hall. The new teacher was hot! There was no other word to describe him. Young, probably not even thirty, slim and handsome, with longish wavy hair, snappy modern clothes and dreamy green eyes that melted the heart. He had a smile that lit up the hall and the teenage imagination. And better yet, no trace of a wedding ring! He was ever so different than the old and conservative staff that led most of their classes. And his car, a Porsche no less! It was a fantasy come true. Even the female staff members (young and old, single and not) were buzzing. Things were definitely looking up.
Conversely, the air of excitement did not carry over to the male population of Mission High. The arrival of a new teacher was met with, curiosity, indifference and in some cases open disdain. "Who the hell does he think he is?" sneered Marc Walen to no one in particular. His sentiment was picked up by the rest of the basketball team, who were congregating on the main staircase. "And who cares about a used Porsche?" Tall, blonde, handsome and rich, he was the self-anointed BMOC and captain of the basketball team. Marc had the best clothes, best car, prettiest girlfriend, and lots of admirers and friends. Used to being the center of the female attention storm, all the chatter about the handsome, stylish new teacher by the girls of Mission high, including his girlfriend Melony, was getting on his nerves. It was only third period, but he had already had quite enough of the newest staff member, Mr. Steven Keller!
About two weeks earlier…
It was the day after Christmas. Mike Stone had come into the office uncharacteristically late, around 10 am. He hung up his coat and hat and made a pot of coffee. The office was deserted, and he was glad. Although the holidays usually produced their share of mayhem, this year's holiday season had been, up to this point, mercifully murder free. Dan and Norm would be coming in later, but he enjoyed the quite time to collect his thoughts and clear his desk. Even the phones had seemed to have taken the day off. He was glad that the men could have some additional time with their families and he had managed to give Steve a few well deserved days off to go skiing in Tahoe.
As Mike busied himself with paperwork his mind drifted to the previous day. Jeannie was home from school and he shared a delightful day with her and Steve. Mike and Jeannie had gone to early mass and exchanged presents. They then went to a late Christmas brunch at Steve's apartment. "This looks and smells great, who knew you could cook, buddy boy!" he commented as they tucked into omelets, potatoes and fresh fruit.
"Mike, I've been on my own since I was 18, and I haven't starved yet," Steve responded in a huff. "I do know my way around the kitchen."
"Well, you wouldn't know it by looking at you, skin and bones!" chided Mike with a grin.
"Oh Mike, would you give it a rest?" Jeannie's chimed in as she winked at Steve, "I think he looks great just the way he is!" Steve blushed at her comment and jumped up to refresh everyone's coffee.
To change the subject, Steve asked Jeannie to share her plans for her winter break. He knew she was dying to talk about her work at Mission High School.
"Well," she began, "You know Mike and I both graduated from Mission and he is on the Alumni Committee. The building is old, in fact, it was already old when Mike graduated. So you can imagine the state it is in now." The old comment bought Jeannie a smile from Steve and a glare and playful swat from Mike.
Dodging Mike, Jeannie continued, "It is badly in need of renovations and a seismic retrofit. Sadly, the school will be closed for a number of years, and the students will attend Polytechnic High school in the interim. In the process, some of the original ornamentation has to be removed and one of the three murals painted as part of the NRA works projects during the depression will be lost. It's a beautiful old building, but the safety of the students comes first. Because I'm majoring in architecture, the committee asked me (at Mike's, suggestion) to help document and catalogue the original structure, before demolition begins in the summer. I will be working with the building engineers and one of the schools Art teachers, Diane Bader, who is an art historian and a photographer. It really is a great field experience opportunity."
Mike beamed with pride at his daughter's newfound expertise and her involvement in the project, which was close to his heart. Although the school was originally scheduled to be closed and the building slated for destruction, the alumni committee had worked hard to save it, and convinced the city to renovate the building instead.
Steve was fascinated with the details of the project, never having realized the historic significance of the building. He was also pleased to see Jeannie so excited about the project. "I wish I was going to be around, to get a backstage look at the old place," he said, "but the boss over there has finally given me a few days off, and Tahoe beckons!"
Jeannie smiled, but was a little disappointed that Steve was going to be scarce for the next week, because as excited as she was about working in the school, she would have loved his company. She had to admit, the old building was a little creepy when empty for the holidays. It had lots of dark corners and hidden secrets. The walls seemed to murmur with the echoed voices of thousands of previous students, almost as if the building was a living thing.
After helping clean up from breakfast, Mike and Jeannie wished Steve safe travels and spent a lazy Christmas evening parked in front of the TV.
Mikes was roused from his recollection, by the sound of a ringing telephone.
"Homicide, Stone," he barked into the telephone.
"Mike, we have a problem." An agitated male voice sputtered on the other end of the line.
Author's Note: Mission High School is real and did undergo a major retrofit, beginning in 1972. The school opened in 1896 and the current building was completed in 1927. It is still open and the building's tower is a landmark in San Francisco at 3750 18th Street adjacent to Dolores Park. All the rest of the events are the product of an over active imagination.