Shadows at the Spring Show (22 page)

Maggie frowned. Why was this man calling her? If Abdullah had wanted her to know about his life, he would have told her himself. “Mr. Hunter, I feel awkward that you’ve told me all this. How should I react to him?”

“Just as you’ve always treated him. Like any other student. I didn’t mean to confuse any issues. But I did think that if anyone mentioned 9/11, or terrorism, or Muslims, that Abdullah might react in a way you wouldn’t understand if you didn’t know his background. Maybe I was wrong to call; I know you’re just his teacher. But he speaks of so few people. He’s a lonely young man, Professor Summer. Although I think he may have made a few friends recently, which is a good sign.”

“He’s lucky to have you to care about him. Thank you for telling me.”

Maggie put down the telephone.

Will had gone into the bathroom while she’d been on the telephone. The house seemed quieter than usual with him gone.

That had been a strange call. She knew a lot about some of
her students because they’d chosen to share their problems or goals or family challenges with her. Most students came to class, handed in papers and tests, and smiled at her in the corridors. She knew little more about them than their names, and sometimes she wasn’t as good as she should be at remembering those.

Abdullah was a special young man. She’d seen that from the start.

But to lose a brother and a mother within such a short time. No wonder Mr. Hunter thought he was lonely and isolated. And it couldn’t be easy for someone who had ties to the Arab world to live in the United States post-9/11.

Maybe now that she knew about his background, she could get Abdullah to open up, to talk a little and make some more friends.

She was so lucky not to have been directly affected by 9/11. The least she could do was reach out to someone who had been. These were terrible times in the world, and they touched some people closer than others.

Life was not fair. But maybe she could help to even the ground a little for someone for whom life had been rocky.

Will was back. He reached down and kissed the top of her head. “Anything important?”

“Nothing critical,” said Maggie. “Just sad. Someone called to tell me one of my students lost his brother in the Trade Center, and then his mother committed suicide, and he’s been very lonely.”

“And no doubt depressed! What a hell of a past couple of years that kid’s had.”

“Agreed. And to top it off, he’s Muslim, and I suspect may have had to cope with some discrimination issues. In any case, you’ll get to meet him. His name is Abdullah, and he’s one of the students who volunteered to help with the show.”

Will nodded. “Okay. And we need to get over there. I assume you’ve set up a way Gussie and Ben can get in if we’re not here?”

“A neighbor knows about them and will give Ben a key.”

“Then why don’t you show me this wonderful gymnasium where we’ll be spending the next few days?”

Chapter 29

All Aboard!
1894 lithograph by Elizabeth S. Tucker. English. Boy and girl (girl holding doll; boy cracking whip) seated on stool and chair in line, imagining they are in a carriage, and the empty chair in front of them is the trusty steed pulling them. 8 x 10.5 inches. Price: $50.

They took Maggie’s van to the college. On the way, Maggie filled Will in on the challenges of the past couple of days, from the threatening letters and telephone call to Jackson’s death to the Our World Our Children board meeting the night before.

With each new revelation Will looked distinctly less happy. “So today we’ll be setting up the first antiques show I’ve ever done that requires police backup and twenty-four/seven security coverage not because there will be valuable antiques there, but because some crazy who doesn’t like adoption, or something else he hasn’t chosen to share with anyone else, is threatening to make major trouble. And, by the way, two people connected with this adoption agency just happened to have been shot in the past few days, one of them killed.”

“Basically, yes,” said Maggie. “But I think it’s all under control. You’ll see.”

“If I’d been here yesterday and had a voice at the meeting last night, my vote would have been to get out of town fast. These adoption agency people are crazy for walking into a possibly dangerous situation.”

“Remember, Will, I’m one of those crazy people. It’s like after 9/11. We couldn’t stop living or organizing our lives around fears of ‘what might happen’ then. We didn’t stop visiting New York, or flying anywhere we needed to go, right?”

The more he thought, the more Will’s face reddened above his gray beard. He was just managing to control his anger. “But those terrorists had the whole world to choose from. Or at least the entire United States. So the odds were basically in our favor that nothing disastrous would happen in the spot we happened to be on any one particular day. But this idiot who’s been making threats has already told you the place and time not to be. And you’re making sure that not only will you be there, but hundreds of other people will be, too!”

“Let’s just hope you’re right, and hundreds of people do come to the show,” said Maggie optimistically as she pulled into the parking lot next to the gym. A police car was already parked there.

“Good morning, Maggie,” said Al, as they walked into the gym.

“Morning, Al. This is Will Brewer. He’s an antiques dealer from Buffalo who’ll be helping me out during the next few days.”

Al gave them both an appraising glance as he shook Will’s hand. “And a close friend I’d wager, too.”

“I certainly hope so.” Will smiled, trying to follow Maggie’s example and be positive. “And you’re the college security expert who’s moving into these wonderful accommodations for the duration?”

“That’s me,” agreed Al, appearing remarkably relaxed, while Will looked around as though envisioning a sniper in every corner. “Maggie, I just finished a walk-through. I can guarantee
there’s nothing, and no one, anywhere in this building that we don’t know about. Two local patrolmen were with me for most of the tour, and they’re also convinced everything looks fine. Right now they’re checking the outside of the building. If all looks okay they’ll just be back for the parking-lot drive-throughs today.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Maggie.

“And I think we finished just in time,” Al added as he pointed outside. A large truck marked
RENTALS FOR EVERY NEED
had pulled up to the loading dock. “Your flooring guys are here.”

Within the next half hour they were joined by Claudia (“So
this
is Will! Will and I are going to be great friends”) and by Mike Colletto, the tennis coach. (“Well, so far that flooring doesn’t seem to have ruined anything.”) Eric Sloane was there, too, although he kept pretty much to himself after assuring Maggie he’d help with anything necessary. She introduced him to the crew from the rental company, and he found coffee and doughnuts for them.

“I read something new last night,” Claudia added, as Maggie popped the top on her third Diet Pepsi of the morning. “Esophageal cancer. People get it more often if they drink carbonated beverages.”

“Not just diet sodas?” asked Maggie, taking another gulp.

“Any soda. Women who drink colas are more apt to have osteoporosis, too, you know. I’m sticking to water and fruit juices from now on.”

“That’s very virtuous, and I appreciate the information, Claudia, but right now I need all the caffeine I can get. And if I weren’t so addicted to the flavor of the diet version, I’d be downing the stuff with sugar, just to keep me going.” Maggie smiled.

“You don’t have to worry about lunch,” Claudia continued. “Yesterday I called Peking Duck and ordered Chinese food for all of us. They’re delivering at noon. Here. With green tea. Green tea is excellent. Antioxidants and lots of other good stuff.”

“Claudia, you’re brilliant.”

“I thought you’d like it.” Claudia nodded. “And you like green tea.”

“Better than black tea, anyway. I will be happy to drink green tea for lunch. Just for you.”

“Not for me, for your own sake, Maggie. You have to internalize the need to take care of your own body.” Claudia looked grave.

“Whose body is she taking care of?” said Will, coming up to where the women were standing. He’d been helping Eric and Mike move some equipment off the floor and into a closet, and had taken off his shirt. His gray beard was dripping a bit, but he looked good. Damn good.

“Her own body, Will,” Claudia enunciated.

Will grinned and his eyes twinkled as they looked up and down at Maggie approvingly. “I approve of that. Maggie, maybe you should go back and see if Gussie and Ben are at your place. It’s after ten thirty.”

“You’re right. Everything here seems under control.” Maggie headed for the door. “And, Claudia, I’ll be back in plenty of time for the Chinese food!”

Ben was bringing suitcases in when Maggie got home. She hugged Gussie. “I’m so glad you’re here. But you look weary,” Maggie pronounced.

“I cannot tell a lie. I am tired,” said Gussie. “And also glad to be here. I see Will is here, too. You can’t miss his enormous RV in the street.”

“He got in about five this morning. He’s over at the gym now.”

“Do you need us there?” asked Gussie.

“Not really. Right now the vendor is just putting down the lining and indoor/outdoor carpeting to protect the gym floor. After they finish, Will and I are going to start measuring out the booths.”

“Not something I could help with. I did notice you hadn’t had a chance to pack your things for the show.” She pointed at the
pile of portfolios and racks next to the ramp door in Maggie’s study.

“You’re right. I got involved in other things. It’s complicated, but I’ll tell you later. And then yesterday afternoon and evening it poured, and I didn’t want to get anything wet.”

“We have some space left in my van. Why don’t I have Ben pack your stuff in with mine this afternoon? Then we can just unload from one vehicle tomorrow.”

“That would be a big help,” agreed Maggie. “I hadn’t even thought of putting everything in one van. But since we’re sharing a booth, it all has to be unloaded to one place anyway.”

“That’s what I thought. I also guessed you’d want to set up your things before the other dealers get there tomorrow.”

“I’d like to do that. Depending on how fast we can get the booths marked out and the electricians can put down the wires. They won’t even start until later today. We’re hoping the first gym will be ready for measuring and marking this afternoon. The tables will arrive tomorrow morning.”

“And chaos will reign from that point on,” agreed Gussie. “Why don’t Ben and I just stay here for the afternoon. If you decide you need him, or me, just call here. I’ll pick up your phone and I can drive over. But don’t worry about us.”

“Actually, if you don’t mind cooking your own lunch or dinner, I defrosted some filets yesterday thinking everyone would be here. Then I ended up going out for dinner. The meat is in the refrigerator and should be eaten. And there’s French bread in the freezer.”

“Then we’ll be more than fine! You go on back to the show, and we’ll rest here this afternoon, and Ben will pack your prints and racks. Then tomorrow we’ll both be prepared to be at the show all day. Or however long you need us.”

Maggie gave Gussie a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here! Just make yourself at home. I won’t worry at all. Will and I will be back sometime this evening, probably around nine or so, depending on how fast the measuring goes.”

“You and Will are a good team. I’m sure it will go well.”

All the players scheduled to be present were in Somerset County. Neither Al nor the police had found anything out of place. The sun was shining. Maybe the show would go on as Maggie hoped. Without any problems.

She crossed her fingers and headed back to the gym.

Chapter 30

The Lady in Black.
1860 Winslow Homer (1836–1910) wood engraving of a young woman in heavy mourning, walking with her small daughter. The daughter is carrying a market basket, having left her books on a stoop. Perhaps she is leaving school to help her mother. Illustration for a
Harper’s Weekly
story. 3.5 x 4.5 inches. Price: $90.