Staring at the dates on the phone tip until a headache came on and my blood screamed for coffee.

May 3
October 8
November 5

I finished a tall mug and half of another, brought the slip back to Robin's studio, explained what was going on.

She put down her chisel, studied. "Sorry, hon."

Blanche sighed.

I returned to my desk wondering if the tip really would boil down to a prank and I was wrestling with random numbers.

For argument's sake, assume a pattern.

Ignoring the dates, I studied the text.

That teacher. Something related to Elise Freeman's job.

Finals at Prep--someone's psychotic anger over a poor grade?

No, as a sub she wouldn't be administering any exams at all.

But her side job was preparing for a different type of test.

Two dates in the fall, one in late spring. I logged onto the Educational Testing Service website. October 8 was one of several scheduled dates for this year's SAT but May 3 and November 5 weren't.

Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.

I pounded the keyboard like a chimp with a toy.

Both dates showed up on the previous year's calendar.

A second-grade teacher's voice sounded in my head.

You're such a thorough boy, Alex.

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER
29

Milo loosened his tie, finished his fifth cup of coffee. Kept staring at the printout I'd brought him.

Finally: "What, Elise failed to boost one preppie's scores three separate times? Or a trio of preppies formed the We Hate Ms. Freeman Club and banded together to ice her?"

"Or she didn't fail," I said. "She succeeded but did it in an unorthodox manner."

"Such as?"

"Saving her client the hassle of actually taking the test."

"Sending in a ringer? What led you there?"

"Because that would be worth covering up. I searched for scandals involving stand-ins and found plenty. And those are the ones who got caught. The testing services are supposed to check handwriting samples, and I.D.'s are inspected at the door. But with a big crowd of test-takers and a ringer with a decent physical resemblance, you could pull it off. Also, sometimes the SAT's administered at Prep, but not on any of those dates."

"At Prep, no way a ringer could pass. Well, well, well."

"A test scam also fits with Elise's flexible moral boundaries and it could clarify the motive. Assuming the rape DVD was a hoax never put into action, she--probably in concert with Fidella--was no stranger to the concept of extortion. If the tip's righteous, it might also narrow your suspect profile: a rich kid pressured to get into a selective college, who'd failed to improve significantly with tutoring. That could be why her computer--and Fidella's--was taken. Her student records were in there."