by Fiona Tarr
‘Got it.’
‘You and Jack went over the school teacher list. Anything strike you as strange?’
‘Nothing.’ Max wove through the traffic easily. Most were heading into the city not out at this time of day, but Brighton Road and the school zones would be packed. They needed to get to the school by eight for the meeting.
‘So none had any kind of record?’
‘None. Teachers are Police checked anyway. Any prior offences and they don’t get their jobs.’
‘Of course. That makes sense. We’ll have to play it by ear at the meeting then.’
‘You dropped the computer off to your nerd friend yet?’
‘His name is Scott and you had better not call him nerd to his face. He called around to pick it up after I got back home last night. He’s brilliant. If there is anything on that computer, he’ll find it.’
‘Okay, so what’s the plan?’
‘We have the staff meeting first, then I’ll catch up with Gemma’s friends. The Principal has arranged a morning tea with them. I think it best if I go that one alone.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you can be a little intimidating to a group of sixteen and seventeen-year-old girls and I want to ask girl type questions. You know, love interests, that kind of thing.’
‘You think I’ve never done this before or something? I was a detective for twelve years and a cop for thirty.’
‘Yes, but surely there were times when you had a female officer or detective look after this stuff?’
‘Sweetheart, when I started in the force there were hardly any female officers and no female detectives. We managed just fine.’
‘Don’t call me sweetheart. It’s patronising.’
Max frowned, but to Liz’s amazement, he didn’t say a word. He pulled the shiny new car into the parking area of the administration building and turned off the engine. Liz wore pants, with nice deep pockets, realising it wasn’t practical to carry her briefcase everywhere she went. She slipped her phone in her back pocket as she got out of the car.
She planned a day of shopping to get some new, more suitable clothes and wondered if her daughter might be interested. She made a mental note to ask her tonight at dinner. It was time she got to know her better and maybe, just maybe, one day she’d share everything with Jackie, well almost everything about her past.
Was she ashamed? Not telling her own daughter might mean that she was but really it was more about how to tell her. How would she take it? Too early and it could ruin any chance they had of forming a normal relationship. Too late, and she risked being hated for keeping a secret. Soon, she told herself. Soon.
Liz led the way to the main entrance. Linda sat behind the counter, her eyes showing her disapproval as she recognised Liz but her composure changed when she saw Max trailing behind. Liz smiled. In need of a father figure it seemed. This girl liked them older.
‘Linda. We have a meeting, not sure where it is?’
‘Yes, of course.’ Her tone was unexpectedly friendly, even bright. ‘Just follow me Ms Jeffreys and Mr?’
‘Max, call me Max.’ Her ex had a habit of being attracted to younger women, or so Jack had said. She hadn’t seen him for over twenty years until recently and was only now getting to know him again.
She was hardly in a position to complain about his choice of partners. She didn’t have one and she was paid to be one. A smile crept across her face but she composed herself before following Linda into the staff room at the other end of the hallway from the Principal’s office.
Mr Jacobs approached, openly taking Liz’s hand to shake it but clasping it with the other. ‘Ms Jeffreys. Glad you could make it.’
‘Thank you for organising this meeting on such short notice Mr Jacobs. This is my Investigator and business partner Max Fitzpatrick.’
Max shook the Principal’s hand, they exchanged pleasantries. Max stepped back and leant against a cupboard, crossing his arms over his chest, suddenly looking like the detective he once was.
‘Ms Jeffreys, they are all yours. I’ve explained why you’re here.’
Liz scanned the faces. Four female and two male teachers sat around a large table, coffee cups in hand, biscuits on a plate in front of them.
‘We’ve done some preliminary investigation into Gemma’s disappearance but we are trying to understand why she might have run away or if she has actually been abducted and we are hoping you can help.’
One female teacher in her early twenties wriggled in her chair as though she were trying to get comfortable. Liz made eye contact with her but she averted her eyes and peered at her coffee as though she’d suddenly found a fly in it.
‘Has Gemma had any issues at school that might have caused her to run away?’
A male teacher with close set eyes and a fine nose looked at the ceiling as though Liz was boring him to tears. ‘Mr Gosling, isn’t it?’ The man looked at her, his expression schooled to appear nonchalant, but his body language said otherwise.
‘Yes.’
‘Am I keeping you from something more important?’
‘No, no. Of course not. I just haven’t got anything to offer you I’m sorry. I teach English and, well, I honestly can’t say I know much about Gemma. She’s an average student, nothing sticks out as extraordinary or strange with her.’
‘OK, so Gemma was an average student. Is this everyone’s take on her personality?’
Liz surveyed the faces before her. ‘She was charming. A bright girl, doing well in her classes.’ The other male teacher offered, his smile almost painted on his face.
‘And you are?’
‘Terry Jones. Her music teacher.’ Liz watched the nervous female teacher look from her to Jones and back again and then down at her coffee once more. Her strawberry blonde hair hung over her face on one side, obscuring the eye facing Liz from view.
‘And you didn’t see any sudden changes in her behaviour or her grades?’
‘Oh she was having issues with a few female peers as many girls do at her age, but nothing that was affecting her grades.’
‘That’s strange. Her mother said her grades were slipping.
‘Oh, that’s likely just a mother’s expectations not being met.’ Jones looked around at the English teacher for confirmation. Gosling shrugged as though it didn’t really matter to him, or maybe he didn’t know because Gemma didn’t stand out as far as he was concerned.
Liz forced down her agitation, but Max’s question redirected the conversation, saving her from saying what she was thinking. ‘You said issues? Such as?’
Jones lost all his charm instantly as Max moved forward. ‘She didn’t say and I didn’t pry.’
‘Hmm.’ Max moved around the staffroom towards Jones, who visibly shrank as the former detective, with his impressive size began to loom over him. Liz wondered if she should intercede. It wasn’t a Police interrogation after all.
‘Did Gemma take any after-hours classes?’ Max directed his question to the whole assembly but only after holding Jones’s gaze for a few seconds.
The teachers looked to one another for confirmation. An older female teacher, probably Mrs Gallon Liz decided, shook her head. ‘Not with me.’
All the teachers agreed Gemma had no after school classes, but Liz noticed Max return his gaze to Jones, who held it firmly this time, a look that said bring it on all over his face.
‘Well thank you all for helping. I’ll leave a few cards with your reception staff, if you think of anything, anything at all.’ Liz fixed the strawberry blonde with a firm gaze. ‘Please just give me a call. Gemma’s safety could depend on it.’
‘Thank you Ms Jeffreys, Mr Fitzpatrick. I’m sure the staff will pass on anything that might be of help.’ Mr Jacobs dismissed his staff and followed Liz out into the reception area.
‘I really hope you find Gemma. I’ve organised for our Chaplain to be present while you interview the girls at the morning tea. Just in case they get upset.’
‘Of course. Do you have any ide
a who Gemma might have been having issues with? As Mr Jones indicated?’
‘No, sorry. The Chaplain may have some idea.’
‘Do you have a student counsellor, or just the Chaplain?’
‘Of course. She works Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you need to speak with her, I can ask Linda to make an appointment.’
‘I’ll let Linda know if I do. Thanks again Mr Jacobs.’ Liz touched the Principal’s forearm and he smiled.
‘Call me Ned.’
‘Thank you Ned.’
‘Any time Ms Jeffreys. I’m only a phone call away.’
Liz smiled. ‘Call me Liz and thank you, I might take you up on the offer for more help.’
Liz followed Max who was on his way out the front door. He lit up a smoke as soon as he reached the veranda.
‘Not here Max. No smoking on school grounds.’
‘Call me Liz, really!’
‘Not here.’ Liz pulled Max by the elbow off the veranda, towards the car park. ‘Let’s take a walk. You need to finish that somewhere else.’ Liz nodded to the smoke hanging from Max’s mouth.
‘Ned eh?. You slept with him yet?’
‘What is it to you if I have?’
Max took a long drag on his smoke as they reached a line of trees beyond the school car park. ‘Nothing I guess.’
‘If I sleep with him, it will be my choice, for either pleasure or business but it won’t be any of your concern Max. We aren’t married anymore, remember!’
7
The student lounge was a large open plan room. A television was mounted on the wall, a microwave oven, kettle and toaster sat on a small kitchen bench and the floor was covered with bean bags and cushions.
Liz wriggled trying to find a flattering way to sit, thankful she was wearing trousers today and not the pencil skirt from yesterday. She would never have got back up off the floor in it.
‘Was Gemma seeing anyone?’
The girls all shrugged in unison. Lily was tall, a carrot redhead and the obvious leader of this little pack. Jill was small and giggled whenever she said anything, regardless of whether it was funny or not. Patty flicked through her mobile phone, on social media no doubt, barely listening to the conversation.
‘Would you say you were her closest friends?’
‘Gemma wasn’t exactly close with anyone. She was quiet. It was hard to get to know her really.’ Patty spoke, not taking her eyes from her phone. Liz had obviously forgotten how easily the younger generation could multitask. Oh, how she missed those days.
‘Some of the teachers thought she was being bullied. Any idea who by?’ Patty finally looked up from her mobile phone but went back to flicking through pages on her screen. Liz thought she’d lost interest again, until she spun her mobile phone around and wriggled it in Liz’s face without a word.
Liz looked at the screen. It was Gemma’s social media profile and the post on it was less than flattering.
Slut! That was it, just the word. Written by a girl called Belinda.
‘Who is Belinda?’
All three girls shrugged, in unison again.
‘She doesn’t go to this school?’ Liz pushed.
‘Nope.’ Patty answered.
‘Can I take a photo of that?’ Liz pulled her phone out of her pocket and Patty nodded, holding up the screen again for her to see.
She could only hope that Scott would find more social media information, including who Belinda was to Gemma.
‘Did she get along with all her teachers?’ Liz put her phone back in her pocket.
‘Yes, as much as anyone really gets on with their teachers.’ Lily watched the Chaplain carefully as she spoke. The man sat a few metres away from the group. He hadn’t bothered to introduce himself when Liz arrived, which she found strange, for a man who makes his living offering spiritual counselling and preaching.
‘Did any of you share music classes with her?’
All three girls looked at one another. ‘None of us are doing year twelve music.’ Lily spoke and the other two girls nodded in agreement.
‘I wish I was though.’ Jill giggled and Lily gave her a foul look.
‘Why is that?’ Liz asked.
‘You have met him, right?’ The Chaplain cleared his throat and Jill blushed.
‘Yes, I have.’ Liz thought about the teacher. He was charming. Maybe too charming. Max had taken an instant dislike to the man. The stare-off she’d witness between him and Jones clearly said as much.
‘Gemma has possibly gotten herself into some trouble girls. I’m not sure if it’s boy trouble, or something else. If you know anything that might help me find her, please let me know.’
There was a moment of silence and Liz wondered how on earth you got through to teenage girls when the Chaplain spoke, his words soft, barely above a whisper. ‘I’ll chat with the girls Ms Jeffreys. If anything crops up, I’ll let you know.’ The three girls shuffled backward as the Chaplain joined the group.
Liz recognised a dismissal when she heard one but she wasn’t finished. ‘Just a few more questions.’
‘I’ll let you know if anything of importance comes up Ms Jeffreys. They are due back in class.’ The Chaplain looked at the girls and they sprang to their feet, grabbing their straw hats, with blue ribbons that reminded Liz of the little girl in the movie Matilda.
‘She had an older boyfriend.’ Patty offered as she scooted out of the door.
‘Wait!’ Liz struggled to get up quickly, the cushion rolling out from under her.
‘I’ll follow up Ms Jeffreys. You know what teenage girls can be like. All gossip.’ The Chaplain offered Liz his hand and she reluctantly took it, getting to her feet unsteadily. His hand was fine, with manicured nails and cool to the touch, even on this mild autumn day. She considered his eyes and shivered. They were dark, almost black and it was difficult to determine the pupil from the iris.
‘Walk me out Chaplain.’ It wasn’t a question and the man hesitated, but only for a second.
‘Of course.’ He held her gaze too long and Liz looked away.
‘Where are you from Chaplain? Oh and do you have a name?’ Liz laid on the charm, looping her arm under his, but he gently pulled away and smiled weakly.
‘Just follow this undercover veranda and you’ll find the administration building. I’m sure you’ll find your way from there. You need to sign out at the office on your way out.’
The Chaplain turned on his heel and left Liz standing in the shade of the red iron roofed pavilion, her mouth open. She couldn’t remember being jilted by any man, ever, clergy or not.
A few minutes later Liz was signing out at the reception desk. Linda politely ignored her but the Principal saw her on his way back from the staff room, a hot coffee in his hand. ‘Ms Jeffreys. How did your interview with Gemma’s friends go?’
Liz shrugged and thought of all three young women as she did it. ‘They didn’t know much, but they did share who Gemma’s bully might be. Apparently not a student here.’
‘Well that is a relief. Please, keep me informed, anytime.’ Mr Jacobs reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. Liz studied the private mobile number on it and smiled as Linda cleared her throat. Ned, who had been staring at Liz, dropped his gaze and looked at his receptionist. ‘Any messages Linda?’
‘No Mr Jacobs.’
He nodded. ‘Anytime Ms Jeffreys,’ he reiterated.
‘Thank you Mr Jacobs.’ Liz smiled and they both walked in opposite directions.
Liz pulled her mobile phone out of her pocket and flicked a text message to Max to pick her up.
She sat on a bench outside the administration building and opened her email. Scott wouldn’t be up yet, but he might have found something last night while he worked in the dark as he usually did. Either way, she needed to send him the photo of Gemma’s social media stalker and see what he could discover.
She couldn’t find a recent email to reply to, so she started a new one. Scott, let me know if you find anything on Gemma’s com
puter. In the meantime, can you check her social media accounts and find the girl in this picture? See if there is a message trail between them. She clicked the send arrow and put the phone back in her pocket as the silver Mazda pulled into the circular driveway that flowed past the admin building.
She hopped into the passenger seat and grabbed her Prada backpack from the back seat. ‘How did you go?’ Max was eating a sugar donut, the crumbs scattered down his front, the open pink paper bag shoved in the centre console alongside a half-finished coffee.
‘So so.’ Liz put her phone in her bag and put the bag on the floor next to her feet.
‘Any leads?’ Max coaxed through a mouthful of donut. He wore a polo shirt tucked into his jeans, his ample belly bulging over the brown leather belt. Liz considered giving him a gym membership, but knew he’d take it the wrong way. He was slowly killing himself with saturated fats and not enough exercise.
‘I got a photo of a girl who was bullying Gemma on social media. I’ve given it to Scott to track her down. The girls thought Mr Jones was pretty hot. Maybe he is a little too charismatic to be a year twelve teacher?’
‘I double checked the Police reports, Jones was amongst them. As much as I find the guy a wanker, he’s clean.’ Max pulled the car out of the drive, then out onto Brighton Road. ‘Where to now?’
‘I’ve got another lead I need Jack to run down. You’ve got another case to get started on.’
‘Another case?’
‘Just run of the mill stuff. Divorce investigation. A possible pre-nup breach that might save our client a bomb in settlement costs.’ Liz lifted her bag and pulled a file out, putting it in the console of the car between them.
‘You’re not doing the interview?’ Max glanced at Liz as he pulled onto Anzac Highway, heading for the city.
‘No. He’s one of my girls’ clients. He might recognise me.’
‘That’s a joke. Right! He wants to squeeze a way out of paying up and he’s the cheater.’ Max laughed and reached for his cigarettes, but stopped himself. So far, the car ash tray was clean and Liz was amazed to see he’d kept it that way.
‘He doesn’t have the infidelity clause, she does.’