Murder at St. Polycarp

When Mrs. Hopwood discovers the dead body of Miss Pinkerton under the table in the faculty room, St. Polycarp Elementary School is thrown into a tizzy. An autopsy reveals that Miss Pinkerton died of heart failure. But that doesn't sit well with Julia Hopwood, the second grade teacher, who is known for her colorful clothes, nor Amelia Johnston, the eighth grade teacher, who is known for her love of trouble. Mrs. Hopwood becomes even more suspicious when she enlists the help of Bruce Brewer, a sturdy sixth grader. Mrs. Hopwood asks Bruce to reach behind the sofa in the faculty lounge and retrieve some papers she lost. The couch nearly decapitates Bruce but, in the process, he discovers a vial of pills, which Nurse Nellie identifies as Digitoxin. Mrs. Hopwood does some research and discovers that the pills are helpful in arresting heart disease-if you suffer from heart disease. Otherwise, upon ingesting the pills, a perfectly well person could drop dead with all the symptoms of a faulty heart. Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. Hopwood are convinced that's exactly what happened to poor Miss Pinkerton. All of this drama is most exciting to the staff at St. Polycarp, who gossip gleefully at lunchtime, much to the annoyance of Father Felix, the principal. But not even his priestly praying can stop events from spiraling out of control. On the annual Halloween fun day, Mr. Ironweed, the janitor, drops dead after ingesting some soda. Together Mrs. Hopwood and Mrs. Johnston decide to catch the killer before they become victims themselves.