“What? That’s really strange.”
Peggy gave a ‘tsk’ sound and shook her head. “Dunno where they get these people from. See? This is why I need you.”
“I’ll get right on that.” Alex nodded, confused as to what could have happened to Tracey. Why didn’t the district send another temp? Why hadn’t Tracey contacted Amy? I need to get to the bottom of this. “I won’t let you down.”
*
The late afternoon light flooded through the office windows and after what felt like the longest day in history, Alex slung her bag over her shoulder and prepared to leave. She thought about calling Tiff to let her know she was too exhausted for drinks tonight, and that maybe they could take a rain check, but then remembered the more important call she had to make. She dialled the numbers and let it ring. An answering machine picked up and encouraged her to leave a message.
“Hi, Mr and Mrs Batty, this is Alex Hensley from St Therese’s calling, Amy’s teacher. I’m just checking up on her as she’s been absent for several days. Hope everything’s all right. If you could please give me a call at your earliest convenience, that would be great.”
A WOLF AMONG US
THE BODY OF RAEGAN TARNY, 35, HAS BEEN FOUND AND CONFIRMED BY POLICE AS THE WORK OF THE SHADOW KILLER, TAKING THE TOLL TO 40 CONFIRMED VICTIMS. RAEGAN IS SURVIVED BY ONE CHILD AND TWO SISTERS.
SPECIAL ADDITION INSIDE
SYDNEY’S WORST SERIAL KILLER
POLICE URGE ANYONE WITH INFORMATION TO COME FORWARD
A CITY IN FEAR. WHAT CAN YOU DO?
LORD MAYOR HAS “NO COMMENT”
- Daily Telegram Headline and front page
Chapter 6
It’s My Party
“Hello?” Alex sounded more exasperated than she meant to. She had only just put her bag down when the door buzzer sounded.
“Sorry to bother you, ma’am. This is Senior Constable Crane with the Sydney Police Department. I’m looking for Alex Hensley.”
“Um, that’s me. Come in?”
She buzzed him through, thinking she couldn’t really refuse. She was confused, though. What the hell do the police want with me? Follow-up questions about Nick, maybe. She had thought that had all been put aside, though, with the officers involved moving on to other cases.
She answered the door with curiousness and trepidation.
“Miss Hensley? Solomon Crane.” The man held up his badge, gave Alex the time to compare the ID with the badge number, and then stowed it in what was obviously a frequently practiced move. “Again, I’m sorry to intrude on your doorstep, but I’m afraid there is a fairly urgent matter.”
Alex sighed. She had had her fill of cops since Nick had gone. The sight of another filled her stomach with lead. “This really isn’t the best time. I’m heading out again. To the city.” Luckily, Alex hadn’t made that phone call to Tiff. At least she had a good and truthful excuse to keep this short. Alex had a feeling that he had been watching the building for her to arrive home. If so, she had no doubt he would watch to make sure she left quickly to get out after he left.
“I understand. It won’t take a moment. I don’t need to go inside, here is fine.”
Alex leaned a little more into the door. “Go ahead.”
“Miss Hensley, I’m investigating the murders that you may have seen on the news. Victims of violent sexual assault?”
Alex frowned. “I’ve seen bits and pieces.”
“Right, well I was hoping I could pick your brain on a few things.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t see what I can—”
“I would like you to please go over a few things with me,” he interrupted. “Starting with the death of the boy that lived with you.”
Alex stiffened and made to close the door, “Goodbye, officer.”
“Miss Hensley, wait. I have read your statements. I believe you.”
“So?”
“Your name has popped up a number of times during cases I’ve been working this past year. In fact, I was originally put on the case of your ex-boyfriend’s disappearance, but then taken off it. I was on the Dream State case too. Now I don’t know what happened, but I saw those bodies. I saw that blue liquid. I cannot for the life of me believe a seventeen-year-old boy could concoct something like that. You said he didn’t do it in your statements, I really would like your help in straightening this out.”
“It can’t be straightened out. He’s dead. While I’m glad someone in the force isn’t completely stupid, nothing anyone does will bring him back. So I fail to see the point.”
“Because it’s happening again, Miss Hensley.”
“What do you mean?”
“More murders. Look,” he took a USB stick from his pocket, “I’ve been following this for almost a year. It started with you reporting your friend missing, Lauren Henson. She still has never been reported seen again. Lauren’s boyfriend, a Ryan Teeran, was found only days later, killed in a ghastly manner. This is the same man you had accused of harming her in some way. Only a few months later, your boyfriend is attacked and crippled—this detail is confirmed by the hospital he was admitted to—yet you have no idea who did it or why. Soon after, he, a crippled man, suddenly disappears from his hospital bed. He too, has never been seen again. Then, we have Nicholas Slade. I’ve spoken to the principal of the school he attended, as well as the counsellor there, at his recommendation. They indicated he had some trouble with a fellow student, Trent Miller. I discovered this student was assaulted and his parents were in the process of suing his assailant, Nicole Hunter, the councillor’s assistant. Do you know her?”
Alex swallowed. “I’ve seen Nicole a few times but not for a while.”
“She’s currently in England.” He held up his hand. “Look I have no desire to cause her any grief. There was an air about the two at the school which indicated she and Nicholas were more than friends, but that’s none of my business. What is my business, is that despite everything, these unexplained killings are still happening.”
“People die everyday, Senior Constable. Unexplained or not.”
“And yet, for the past year at least, almost every strange occurrence can be linked back to you.”
Alex couldn’t help but give a mini scoff, hoping to put him off exactly how close he was. “You think I’m the one killing people?”
“No. I do not think you are responsible any more than I think Nicholas was. I believe he has been made a scapegoat for someone else. And that is what I think you might know. Perhaps to save yourself? Or more likely someone you’re protecting.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Look, I’m going to level with you. I understand that you might be unsure of who to trust, least of all a stranger. But here’s the thing, I don’t know who I can trust either. I’ve seen investigation after investigation bungled and I’m starting to think there is a purpose behind it. That it’s deliberate. Every lawful avenue I take gets blocked by some new rule or random admin cock-up.”
“Sounds like the police need to get their shit together. And quick. It’s nasty out there.”
“Miss Hensley, do you think I’m trying to be funny? Do you think I would actually say any of this normally, even off the record, to a civilian? Desperate times call for desperate measures. I’m trying to save people’s lives. People die, yes you’re right. I can accept that. What I can’t accept is people disappearing and dying in mysterious circumstances when it might be preventable, while people in my position were sitting back and doing nothing.”
Alex looked into his eyes, heard what sounded like real conviction in his voice, but still did not trust. “What do you want from me?”
He responded by handing over the USB stick. “Just that you take a look at this.”
Alex peered at the flash drive. “Wait, is this… You’re giving me police evidence?”
“No, I’m giving you a copy of a file I have made, regarding every unnatural or unexplained death and occurrence over the past year. Basically, it’s what I put together and how I traced
it to you. I’ve got them in dated order, plus notes.”
“I don’t understand. What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Look over the files. From your perspective. If there is something there that I may have overlooked, let me know. I feel like I hit a dead end, and I’m hoping you might have some insight that can help me find who is doing these killings. No tricks, no pressure. I’ll be in touch.”
Senior Constable Crane gave her a brief nod and walked towards the stairs, leaving her to stew over his request.
This could be a problem, but how big, she wasn’t sure.
Chapter 7
You Don’t Know Me
“Sarah Hasler, please report to the principal’s office.”
The request came through the intercom loud and clear, yet that didn’t stop Sarah from looking around, half expecting to see another girl of the same name get up to leave. She found Anna’s eyes as her best friend mouthed the very question Sarah had been wondering: “What did you do?”
Sarah shrugged, rose, slung her bag over her shoulder and headed out the door. In the thirty seconds it took to get to the principal’s office, Sarah hoped to come up with an answer to Anna’s question, but nothing was making itself apparent to her. It was only her first week of school. She hadn’t even been assigned any homework yet!
The office assistant opened the door and Sarah ventured in. She had only seen Principal Parkins a few times at morning assemblies. He seemed nice enough. She wasn’t intimidated by the prospect of going to see him, as such. It was more the thought of being in trouble for some unknown reason. Just as she’d dismissed the notion as silly, she looked up and fear came rushing back. Principal Parkins sat at his desk, but he was not alone. Nor was he the one that addressed her.
“Hello, Ms. Hasler. Please come in. Sit down.”
The man who spoke looked like a bodyguard. Sunglasses, tight black shirt and as menacing as no likes on a selfie posted a week ago. Principal Parkins gave a sidelong angry look at the man, and Sarah had her first clue as to what she was doing here. The principal didn’t want to see her, this guy did.
“I’m sorry for taking you out of class, Miss Hasler. But as it was your last lesson, and Mathematics, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind?” The man forced a laugh.
Sarah gave a small shake of the head. Her fear had subsided somewhat into an intensity she could not place. Nothing about this was normal.
“Um, who are you? What’s going on?” Sarah turned to the principal who gave her a look of understanding before speaking. “It’s ok, Sarah. This is Bison Withers. He would like to ask you a few questions.”
But who is he? Sarah thought. “I don’t understand… Why do you need to talk to me?”
With a quick move, Bison moved to sit on the desk facing Sarah, and clasped his hands in his lap. “Because I represent someone that thinks you are in danger, Sarah.”
Sarah blinked a couple of times. Was she actually supposed to answer that? “Um…ok.” What is it with this Bison guy? And what kind of a name is that?
“He’s sorry he couldn’t be here himself, and that it had to come to this. Unfortunately, there are people around you that have failed you, Sarah. That try to ignore dangers that are right in front of them. Your parents are some of the people I’m talking about.”
“What?” What is this guy going on about? He sounds like a loon.
“And the staff of this school.”
Principal Parkins looked like he’d swallowed a bug. “Now wait a minute—” He was silenced by Bison’s raised hand.
“I haven’t finished,” Bison said with a slight sneer. “Yes, Sarah. Your parents. My employer has tried to contact them for a number of days since his suspicions were raised. Perhaps it was too much for them to face, being that this could very well lead to the answers regarding the death of your sister Sophie.”
Sarah’s back hit her chair and the air went out of her lungs. Oh god…Sophie. How she missed her big sister, how she had idolised her. Sarah had never given up hope that one day she would be found, that Sophie had just gotten lost somewhere. For a while, everyone told her she was right to believe, to have faith. But then those same people started to quiet down, or changed their tune. The weeks went by, and turned into months. The police stopped looking because her parents asked them to. They wanted closure. They held a memorial service. And finally, Sarah realised the truth. Sophie was never going to come home again.
Because she had held out for so long before reality hit, it was that much harder to confront. Sarah had been inconsolable for weeks. Slowly, she came out of it and her parents encouraged her to get back into a routine, that it would be the best thing for her. To move on, they told her, but to never forget the love she had always had for Sophie. Now, at Bison’s mention of Sophie’s name again, Sarah realised she wasn’t over Sophie’s disappearance after all.
The memories, the anguish… Everything came flooding back. Oh why won’t this leave me alone? “Ask me whatever you want. I don’t know anything,” Sarah said.
“I know you don’t, Sarah. That’s not why you’re here,” Bison replied. “You’re here because I have a feeling your parents do know. And I need them to tell me.”
Sarah shook her head. “How can they possibly help? We didn’t even have a body to bury.”
“I do not think your sister’s death was an accident, nor was it random.”
“Wait. What are you saying? Do you think she was murdered?”
“I do believe so, yes. I need your help to make sure.”
Sarah could only shake her head in answer.
Bison leaned in conspiratorially close. “What if you could know more? What if there was a way of finding out what happened to your sister? What if I were to tell you that you’re next?”
Sarah, unable to process, continued to say nothing, but Principal Parkins spoke for her. “That’s enough…”
“I am not finished,” Bison repeated.
“Oh yes you are.” Principal Parkins turned to Sarah. “Miss Hasler, you can go back to class.”
“Stay where you are, Sarah.”
Principal Parkins rose. “Mister Withers, I gave you the courtesy of letting you in at your suggestion that one of my students was in danger. But don’t delude yourself into thinking you have authority here. This is my school, Sarah is my responsibility when she’s here, and I refuse to have her be subjected to any more of this.”
“Oh, really?”
“Your questioning makes no sense. She doesn’t know anything. You’ve even said that yourself. So all this is nothing more than bullying an innocent girl.”
“Well then, why don’t you call her parents to come and get her?”
Principal Parkins was about to respond when he paused, Sarah getting the same picture in her head as well. “It’s clear it’s this girl’s parents you want.”
Bison rolled his eyes. “That’s what I’ve been saying all along. Have you not been listening?”
“You’re using her to get to her parents? Why not just contact them directly?”
“They are refusing to co-operate with an investigation that puts their daughter in danger. This is very simple. They answer my questions and Sarah goes home.”
“The bell is in a few minutes. We can’t hold students after school hours. And that by the way, is government regulations.”
Sarah narrowed her eyes. She knew the principal was bluffing. After-school detention could go on for hours with parents’ permission.
“You can now,” Bison replied, crossing his arms, clearly not falling for the bluff. “See for yourself. My employer has a high reach.”
Principal Parkins shuffled out of his stance and picked up his desk phone just as the end-of-day bell chimed throughout the office and the school building. “We’ll see about that.”
Sarah listened. She only heard the principal’s side of the conversation but it was enough to know he was fighting a losing battle. He even flicked his eyes towards her several times with the silent messag
e: she wasn’t going anywhere.
Chapter 8
A Very Bad Man
Sarah sat in the same chair, hours later, staring at the TV that had been wheeled in to keep her company while they waited. Principal Parkins had told her that he himself had spoken to her father at work and both he and Sarah’s mum were on their way. What’s taking them so long? Parkins had called his wife too. He let her know he wouldn’t be home for dinner, and Sarah was sure she could hear grumblings of her own stomach even over the lunacy of the cartoons playing on the television.
Bison was just lurking menacingly at the windows. As far as Sarah was aware, the three of them were the only people left in the building and that was kinda creepy and depressing. In the middle of a wacky car chase, the TV switched off. Sarah turned around to see if either man had a remote in their hand but neither did. When Bison looked questioningly in her direction, the room was plunged into darkness.
“Ah, don’t worry, don’t worry,” Principal Parkins called, though Sarah couldn’t see him. “The lights go off at this time every night except Thursdays for the cleaners and the drama class. Aren’t you in that class, Sarah? I should’ve fixed it but I didn’t think we’d be here this long. I’ll get it.” He wandered off before anyone could make any reply.
Sarah remained still, trying to ignore the prickle of unease beginning to worm its way along the surface of her skin. Goosebumps.
She jumped at a flash of light from outside. Bison had opened the window blinds and Sarah could see him staring out over the playground.
“Where is that light coming from?”
“Full moon.”
“Do you see anything?” Sarah asked.
“No. That’s the problem.”
“What do you mean? Mr. Parkins should be crossing the grounds to override the—”
“I did override it. Hours ago,” Bison said, scanning the outside.
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