His second most recent and continuing cause involved Pine View School for the Gifted, a public school for high-IQ and high-achievement students who could test their way in. Pine View was consistently ranked in the top ten high schools in the United States. That didn’t matter to Horvecki, who thought taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for elitist education. He wanted to turn Pine View into an open-admissions high school like the others in the county. For this position he had a lot of support.

All of this was in the article I had read. I remembered having the feeling that more was going on.

“Ronnie didn’t do it,” said Greg, looking around the room as if he had lost something or someone.

“He was found over the body covered in blood,” I said.

“Circumstantial,” said Greg.

“He was there to fight with Horvecki about his Pine View and Bright Futures positions,” I said.

“Ronnie’s got a temper I admit,” said Greg. “But he’s not a killer.”

I looked at Winn whose accent was more pronounced now as he said, “Ronnie’s not a killer.”

“Winn’s from Australia,” Greg said with something that sounded like pride at having an exotic trophy at his side.

“He was Australian thirteen-and-under golf champ before he moved here with his mom two years ago. Winn’s a state runner-up in golf. Winn’s also on the soccer and basketball teams at Sarasota High. Pine View doesn’t have sports teams. Tell him.”

I wasn’t sure how Winn Graeme’s athletic achievements qualified him to determine that Ronnie Gerall was not a killer.

“We have a rowing team,” Winn said. “And cross-country.”

Greg started to laugh again. He held up his fist and was stopped by the hoarse morning voice of Victor Woo saying, “Do not punch him again.”