by G H Mockford
Then I started to have paranoid thoughts. Did he know because he’d done it? Was that why he couldn’t bear to say her name? Was that why he had stopped when he saw me? Looking at his reflection in the mirror, I stared him straight in the eye. He held my gaze for a moment and then stepped to the side and up to the urinal. I looked across at him. His eyes were hazel like mine.
What colour were the man’s in the Wolf mask? I tried to remember, but I couldn’t be sure.
This was ridiculous. It wasn’t James. It couldn’t be. I was jumping at shadows. Suddenly I began to feel angry, and at first I couldn’t put my finger on why, but I knew that the cause wasn’t James.
‘She’s bad. Very bad,’ I managed to say.
I turned, suddenly, and I saw the young teacher jump as I grabbed the door and pulled it back so hard that it slammed against the wall. I left the toilet and heard James calling out behind me as I headed towards the Drama Department. I grabbed the door handles of the drama studio and threw the doors wide open. I stepped in. My body was shaking, not with fear but from the adrenaline pumping through my system.
‘Rollins!’ I roared his name as loud as I could, but the soundproofing and the thick black curtains killed it stone dead. I stalked into the middle of the studio like a man possessed and on the hunt. I knew if I found him there was no telling what I would do.
I was angry. I was desperate. I was hurting.
I was feeling just like Paul had a week ago.
It was that one thought that brought me to my senses and sobered me up. I stopped and took a deep breath.
‘Alex?’ came a gentle voice from behind me. I turned. Mrs Beresford and James were stood there looking at me. ‘Alex, are you okay?’
‘Do I fu…,’ I stopped myself before the word came fully out. My legs give way, and I landed on the stage, more by luck than judgement. ‘No. No, I’m not.’
‘He’s not here,’ Mrs Beresford said as she came and sat beside me. James withdrew from the studio, leaving us alone.
‘Bloody good job,’ I said.
‘I think maybe you should go h…’
‘Will you all stop saying that,’ I snapped. I immediately apologised. I felt awful. ‘I know you’re just looking out for me.’
‘Why do you want Richard?’ she asked.
‘He did it. He did it to Sarah.’
‘Do you know that?’ she asked.
‘He threatened her. Did you know that? She found out about what he had done to Charlie Blackmore, so he threatened her.’
Mrs Beresford sighed. ‘Alex, they’ve both denied it. I investigated the allegations myself. Miss Arnold has told the kids they’re not to talk about it anymore. I think that includes us too, don’t you?’
‘All the more reason for him to attack Sarah. She might have ruined his career!’
The curtains stirred, and Mrs Forrest came into the studio, James close behind her. I was making a spectacle of myself. Thank goodness Rollins hadn’t been there, or I would have done something I would have regretted, and that would have almost certainly finished my career. Sarah wouldn’t want that. That was another thing I knew about her.
Mrs Forrest came and sat beside me. I was squashed between two middle-aged women, and I could tell they were both fighting the urge to mother me, put their arm around me, or maybe kiss the top of my head.
I looked up at James and our eyes locked. He looked uncomfortable and left.
‘Alex, for your own good, go home,’ Mrs Forrest said.
I was about to concede when my phone beeped. When I read the message, I had to stay. I stood up. ‘I’m sorry for my…outburst.’
‘It’s okay, Alex, but you can’t act like that in front of the students,’ Mrs Forrest said. I felt a tiny bit insulted and slightly patronised, but I suppose I deserved it.
‘Of course,’ I said pocketing my phone. ‘I need to go. That was Sally. There’s a parent waiting for me in reception.’
It was only a half lie. The message wasn’t from Sally, but there was a parent. Mrs Forrest looked at me strangely. ‘She’d tried ringing upstairs but no one was picking up,’ I offered as an explanation. It was unusual but not unheard of, for Sally to text staff if she couldn’t get hold of them. Not wanting to explain anymore, I quickly turned and left.
As I walked through the double doors, I shot a quick look over my shoulder. Mrs Forrest and Mrs Beresford were stood close to each other and whispering. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to tell by their furtive looks that they were talking about me. No doubt I’d get a visit from Arnold next.
As soon as I was out of sight I cursed myself for the idiot I was. I was foolish to lose control like that. James had looked afraid when he had brought Mrs Forrest in, and he disappeared again. He’d never seen me like that. I was the teacher who had supported him in his NQT year and tried to defend him when there were the rumours about him going out with a sixth former.
I walked out of the English block and found the kids were already gathering for the start of the day. As I rounded the corner, I noticed James was watching me out of the door window. As soon as he saw I had clocked him, he went upstairs to the upper level despite the fact his classroom was downstairs. Was he acting suspiciously, or was I just seeing Wolf-Men everywhere? I didn’t bother going to reception. I needed the car park, and I didn’t want to draw any more attention to myself.
Sure enough, Paul was waiting by my car.
‘Charlie didn’t come home again,’ he said as soon as I was close enough to hear.
‘Okay, don’t worry. I’ll look for her.’ I wondered why he didn’t just text me to ask me to do that like he did yesterday. Maybe it was because I didn’t answer last time, and he wanted to talk to me personally.
He pulled out a piece of crumpled paper from his pocket, and I guessed it must be the reason why he needed to see me. He flattened it out on the roof of my car.
‘This is so confusing. I can’t make head or tail of it,’ he said. I could tell by the way he said it that it was a difficult admission for him to make.
‘It’s one of our bi-weekly timetables. I find them confusing too. Sometimes I forget what week we’re on,’ I said, trying to make him feel better, and it was only half untrue.
‘I took it from her bedroom wall, next to her mum’s dresser.’
‘I thought you weren’t to go in there?’ I asked trying to add a little levity. He ignored it.
‘I’m worried this time, Alex. I went to bed feeling reasonably okay. She was at Jackie’s after all and if I can’t trust her, and her family, then who can I trust? They’ve been like a second family to her.’
‘Did you phone her?’
‘Who? Charlie? No, I’m still worried she’ll think I’m hounding her, and she did say that's where she was going.’
‘What about Jackie or her mum?’ I suggested, beginning to feel like a policeman. Funny, for a while I did think about becoming an officer of the law, but decided teaching would be less hazardous and less paperwork. It didn’t turn out well.
‘I thought of that, but it was late, and I was worried it would still look like I was checking up on her. It could have ended up with the same result as if I rang Charlie herself, if not worse.’
‘I take your point,’ I said, nodding. I looked at the timetable. Charlie had drawn it the other way round to the way the school prints them. She had the days across the top rather than down the side. It must have worked better for her that way. I ran my finger down it. ‘Charlie’s meant to have English this morning with…’
‘What’s up?’ Paul asked.
‘Charlie’s teacher, Sarah Alec, was attacked last night.’
‘Is she okay?’
I shook my head. ‘She’s…she’s in intensive care.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry, Alex. It’s hard when someone you work with gets hurt like that. I know. Saw a few lads get blown up and shot.’ Paul hung his head, and we both stood in silence for a few moments as if we were having our own private memorial service. Sarah wa
sn’t dead though and I couldn’t even contemplate that eventuality.
‘I’ll text you as soon as I know she’s here. If she’s not, I suggest you ring Jackie straight away and then the police if she’s not there either.’
‘Why?’
‘I don’t know. I guess I’m just feeling jumpy after what’s happened to Miss Alec,’ I said, not really sure why I just didn’t tell him the truth about my suspicions.
‘What aren’t you telling me, Alex?’
‘Mr Rollins hasn’t been in school for the last two days. He threatened Sarah. I think it’s possible he attacked her.’
‘And?’
‘What if Charlie’s lying and he did get her pregnant?’
‘Jesus, Alex. Do you think he’s attacked her too?’
‘I hope not.’
‘I’ve got to find her.’
Paul ran off.
Fifty-Six
I stayed long enough to make sure Paul left the grounds and then I nipped around the back and through the alleyway where Bethany Andrews had attacked Charlie. By the time I got to my classroom, it was eight-thirty, and I didn’t have long to get myself ready.
I made a quick coffee, added a bit more sugar than I would normally have, grabbed a handful of biscuits from the communal jar, and headed back upstairs. When the bell went, I stood in my doorway and greeted all the students. I was actually looking for Charlotte. She wasn’t there. I was certain.
I went into my room and made sure everyone was sitting down. ‘Good morning,’ I said. ‘With your partner, think of three similes to describe…’ I wanted to say a sunset or a frosty morning, but the only image that filled my mind was ‘…blood.’
I popped into the corridor and looked through Sarah’s window, only today Liz Young had been drafted in for the first period. She looked up at me when several of the kids pointed out that I was looking. I put my hand up, made a whoops, sorry face and backed away. Charlie was not in there.
I walked back into my room, and the kids were quietly getting on with the exercise; thank goodness. ‘Two more minutes,’ I said as I fished out my phone and texted Paul from under the desk like a naughty school boy. Once it was sent, I did my best to concentrate on my teaching. It got easier as the coffee began to kick in.
About half an hour later Miss Arnold appeared at my door. ‘Mr Freeman, you’re needed in reception. I’ll take your class. If you need to take the rest of the day off, we’ll organise something.’
‘Oh, right,’ I said, wondering if Paul had come back to school having received my message. I got up and headed to the door. ‘Perhaps you could all share your similes with Miss Arnold and explain your reasons for choice,’ I suggested to the class before I left.
When I entered the main entrance, Sally called out and waved the phone at me. My heart leapt into my throat as another alternative occurred to me. Maybe it was the hospital. I hoped it was good news, that Sarah had woken up, but it could just as easily have been bad. Maybe she was… I couldn’t bring myself to finish the thought.
‘Who is it?’ I asked Sally.
‘It’s the police.’
Fifty-Seven
Paul unlocked his front door. Passing around the back of the sofa he snatched the cordless phone up from the coffee table. He began to scroll through the menu, hunting for Jackie’s landline number.
The phone beeped at him. Paul looked down at the display. The battery icon was flashing. How long had it been left on the table? Long enough to flatten the battery, clearly.
Finding the number he needed, he hit the dial button, but the screen went blank as soon as soon as it started ringing. Paul threw the phone down onto the sofa. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew his mobile. He searched through the contacts. As he suspected, there were no numbers for Jackie. Picking the cordless phone up, Paul replaced it in the charger. Hopefully fifteen minutes or so would be enough to make it operable, or at the least give it enough juice so he could copy down the phone number and then use his mobile.
He sat on the sofa and put his head in his hands. Where had Charlie got to? It was entirely possible that she was playing truant. She had never missed a day of school. At primary school she was almost always presented with a one hundred percent attendance certificate. One year she was even given a WH Smiths voucher. She’d never had any reason to not want to go to school. Now things were different. He could only imagine what school had been like yesterday. Was it any wonder she wasn’t there today? However, it was also entirely possible that something more insidious and dangerous was going on.
What if Alex was right? If Richard Rollins had attacked Miss Alec, then he was capable of attacking Charlie. It was possible that Rollins hadn’t raped Charlie, and Paul still wasn’t convinced about that, but now his name had been dragged through the mud, the teacher might want a little revenge.
Paul looked down at the mobile in his hand. His thumb brushed over the number nine. He should call the police. There was more than enough reason to. She was a minor, and she had not returned home. She was having problems at school. It was very likely she had run away, wasn’t it? Would Charlie do that? Paul didn’t think so. Maybe a few days back when they fell out, but not now. She would talk to him, wouldn’t she?
Paul picked up the landline again, and the screen lit up a pale green. Rushing through the address book, he located Jackie’s number, typed it into his mobile and pressed the green dial button. He was immediately greeted with a voice explaining this number does not exist. Paul cancelled the call and threw the phone down in disgust. What was happening? Then he remembered. It was a wet morning, just under a week ago. Alex had managed to convince him he was making a mistake. The pair of them were sitting in the front room when Charlie and Jackie had come back early. Charlie shouldn’t have come home, as she was supposed to be staying at Jackie’s for the weekend. But there was a reason she couldn’t. Jackie’s brother had moved out and he paid for the broadband. Maybe he paid for the landline too and so the whole contract had been cancelled.
Paul replaced the phone into the charging port, stepped outside his house and locked the front door. He would drive around to Jackie’s house in Arnold, it wasn’t far, and then, if Charlie wasn’t there, he’d call the police. That was a sensible plan.
‘Morning, Paul. Are you ready?’
Paul turned and looked at Bill, who was locking his front door, his collection of Tesco reusable bags hanging from his left elbow. Paul closed his eyes as he suddenly remembered he'd promised to take his elderly neighbour shopping.
‘I’m sorry, Bill, can I take you later? I’ve got a problem.’
‘Anything I can help you with?’
‘Thanks, Bill, but I don’t think so.’
‘Are you sure? You help me enough?’ he added with a warm smile.
‘I just need to pop round to Charlie’s friend’s. She’s gone missing.’
‘Who, her friend?’
‘No, Charlie.’
‘Paul, why didn’t you say so? Forget the shopping, I’m coming with you, and I won’t take no for an answer. Just let me put these bags away.’ Bill opened his front door and disappeared inside.
‘It’s okay, Bill. You really don’t need to,’ Paul shouted as he opened the car door, thinking he might just hop in and drive off.
‘I won’t be long,’ Bill shouted back.
Paul shook his head and smiled. It was nice to have such kind and helpful neighbours who looked after each other, a situation that seemed to be sadly lacking these days.
The smile disappeared from his face as soon as he heard a crunch crash from inside the old man’s house. Stepping up to the front door, Paul popped his head in. ‘Bill?
‘Paul? Help! Help me! I’m in the kitchen.’
Leaving the car door unlocked and open, Paul rushed through the house to find Bill sprawled on the kitchen floor. The door to one of the wall mounted cupboards was hanging off, and jars and tins littered the floor.
‘My God, Bill, are you all right?’ Paul asked as
he rushed across the room and knelt beside him.
‘It’s my hip. It bloody hurts, Paul. I think I’ve broken it.’
Fifty-Eight
I looked at Sally aghast. What did the police want with me? I’d told them everything I knew last night. ‘I’ll come round,’ I told her, knowing I’d need some privacy.
‘Miss Arnold said you could take it in her office if you wanted,’ Sally said.
‘Thanks,’ I answered. ‘I think I might.’ I felt a little stupid. All Arnold had said was that I was needed at reception and so I had come down to main reception where I had met Paul on Monday assuming he or someone else, needed me. I couldn’t believe how humiliating this was. Had Arnold done it on purpose? I swiped myself back through and quickly nipped to the offices and into Arnold’s "inner sanctum".
‘Hi, Mr Freeman,’ Louise, Miss Arnold’s personal secretary said as I entered the office. ‘Just lift the receiver.’
I sat in the head's chair. It was comfortable, but I was glad I didn’t have the stress that went with it. My guts lurched as I tentatively reached for the phone and after taking a deep breath, I snatched it up. ‘Alex Freeman,’ I said.
‘Hello, Alex. It’s DC Stokes.’ His voice was calm and smooth like he should have been a radio presenter or a used car salesman.
‘Hello, how can I help you?’
‘I’m afraid we need to speak to you again.’
The policeman’s politeness surprised me. ‘Oh?’
‘Yes, new evidence has come to light and we need to ask you further questions. To eliminate you from our enquiries, of course.’
‘Of course,’ I echoed.
‘I also need you to bring the clothes you were wearing last night.’
‘Okaaaaayyyy,’ I stretched the word out as my mind raced, wondering why they might want them.
‘You haven’t washed them have you? We need to collect forensic evidence from them. I’m afraid we should have asked you last night.’ He stopped. Using another teacher’s trick, I said nothing and waited for him to continue. There was silence. It was obviously a trick the police used too. ‘Once again,’ he eventually continued, ‘I assure you it’s just to eliminate you from our enquiries at this time.’