The Hayloft. A 1950s Mystery

advantage. Nobody can hear what we’re saying.”
    I looked around and verified the truth of that statement. The students at nearby tables were talking much too loudly to be able to hear us, and the jukebox played an up-tempo rendition of “Jambalaya,” by Jo Stafford, which added to the general noise level. Then I said, “Uh, how do you two feel about Dr. Graves?” I addressed the question to Ed and Barney.
    “Compared to what?” Ed asked. “Every school has a principal. I guess he’s as good as any.”
    “He doesn’t have the wisdom of Solomon or the diplomatic skills of Winston Churchill,” Barney said, “but since this is only a high school and not an international political forum, he doesn’t really need them.”
    “Has he talked to either of you about fraternizing with Sylvia?”
    They both shook their heads.
    I looked around again to make sure that nobody was paying any attention to us and leaned forward to be closer to them. “But what if he were somehow involved in Ralph’s death?”
    I had their attention. I repeated the catwalk story that I had already told Sylvia. I said my contact had indicated that Dr. Graves liked Ralph, and I mentioned that Dr. Graves had admitted to sometimes attending swimming classes. I speculated about him and Ralph having a fight.
    “He’s involved in anything to do with sports,” Ed said. “He helps out with all the athletic teams. That doesn’t prove he’s queer.”
    “Just because some beer-soaked kid told you a story about Dr. Graves, that doesn’t mean it’s true,” Barney said. “Maybe Graves gave him detention, and he’s trying to get back at him. Is he willing to go public with his story?”
    “No.”
    “Then it seems to me we’re still at square one. And even if we could find kids to testify that he took them up on the catwalk, that doesn’t prove he killed Ralph. Although we might be able to get him fired for conduct unbecoming a principal. And I understand that Sylvia has her own reasons for wanting him fired.”
    Barney looked at Sylvia, who made a face that was probably meant for Dr. Graves. I didn’t mention that I also had my reasons for wanting him fired.
    “Do you want justice for Ralph?” I asked.
    “Of course,” Ed said. “Besides, it would make a great news story. I could help write the story for the Express .”
    Ed was ambitious. Maybe I could harness that ambition. And after all, he was Ralph’s cousin, just as I was, even if not as close. “What we need to do is find out where Dr. Graves was during the half hour after the assembly on the day Ralph fell off the balcony.”
    “Or was pushed,” Sylvia said.
    “That was six months ago,” Barney pointed out. “How are we going to do that? Graves is a wanderer, anyway. He’s always roaming the halls.”
    “Which would have made it easy for him to go there without arousing suspicion if he had set up a meeting with Ralph,” Sylvia said.
    “Why wouldn’t he talk to Ralph in his office?” Barney asked.
    “Maybe it wasn’t just a meeting, but an assignation,” I said, trying to stimulate ideas, although I honestly couldn’t picture Ralph acting that way.
    “Ralph always had a girlfriend,” Barney said. “He wasn’t queer. I’ve read detective stories. We don’t have a motive.”
    I wasn’t willing to give up. “But might they have fought for other reasons? Is anybody interested in investigating that angle—asking around to see what you can find out?”
    “I’ll talk to Ruth,” Ed said. “She would know if Ralph were having a problem with Dr. Graves.”
    “Some of the kids still talk to me,” Sylvia said. “I’ll see what I can find out.”
    Barney said, “It does sound like fun. School isn’t much of a challenge. Maybe this will make it more interesting.”
    “I’ll talk to Ralph’s parents,” I said.
    As we walked out of the lunchroom, Ed fell into step beside me and said, “I can get my mom’s car this afternoon. What if I come over to the farm, and we could play in the hayloft?”
    “What, basketball?” I asked, thinking about Ed’s lack of skill in that sport. I had been shooting baskets in the barn almost every afternoon, preparing to go out for the team, but I wasn’t sure Ed’s presence would help me.
    “Yeah, and sliding down the haystack. I didn’t get to try that. Kate told me how much fun it is. In fact, she’d like to come, too. She’d like you to help her make a fort. She thinks that would be a blast.”
    And Kate