'Do the students you counsel find it easy to open up to you?'
'I like to think so,' Parkhurst said.
Byrne nodded. 'What else can you tell me?'
Parkhurst continued. 'Part of what we do is attempt to isolate potential learning difficulties in students, as well as design programs for those who may be at risk of failure. Things like that.'
'Are there a lot of students who fall into that category at Nazarene?' Byrne asked.
'Which category?'
'Students who are at a risk for failure.'
'No more than any other parochial high school, I would imagine,' Parkhurst said. 'Probably fewer.'
'Why is that?'
'There is a legacy of high academic achievement at Nazarene,' he said.
Byrne scribbled a few notes. Jessica saw Parkhurst's eyes roam the notepad.
Parkhurst added: 'We also try to provide parents and teachers with the skills to cope with disruptive behavior, encourage tolerance, understanding, appreciation of diversity.'
This was strictly brochure copy, Jessica thought. Byrne knew it. Parkhurst knew it. Byrne shifted gears, making no attempt to mask it. 'Are you a Catholic, Dr. Parkhurst?'
'Of course.'
'If you don't mind me asking, why do you work for the archdiocese?'
Excuse me?
'I would imagine you could make a lot more money in private practice.'
Jessica knew that to be true. She had made a call to an old schoolmate who worked in personnel at the archdiocese. She knew exactly what Brian Parkhurst made. He earned $71,400 per year.
'The church is a very important part of my life, Detective. I owe it a great deal.'
'By the way, what's your favorite William Blake painting?'
Parkhurst leaned back, as if trying to focus on Byrne more clearly. 'My favorite William Blake painting?' 'Yeah,' Byrne said. 'Me, I like Dante and Virgil at the Gates of Hell.' 'I, well, I can't say I know very much about Blake.' 'Tell me about Tessa Wells.'
It was a gut shot. Jessica watched Parkhurst closely. He was smooth. Not a tic.
'What would you like to know?'
'Did she ever mention someone who might have been bothering her? Someone she might have been afraid of?'
Parkhurst seemed to think about this for a moment. Jessica wasn't buying. Neither was Byrne. 'Not that I can recall,' Parkhurst said. 'Did she seem particularly troubled of late?'
'No,' Parkhurst said. 'There was a period last year when I saw her a little more often than some of the other students.' 'Did you ever see her outside of school?' Like right around Thanksgiving? Jessica wondered. 'No.'
'Were you a little closer to Tessa than some of the other students?' Byrne asked. 'Not really.' 'But there was some sort of bond.' 'Yes.'
'Is that how it all started with Karen Hillkirk?'
Parkhurst's face reddened, then cooled instantly. He was clearly expecting this. Karen Hillkirk was the student with whom Parkhurst had had the affair in Ohio. 'It wasn't what you think, Detective.' 'Enlighten us,' Byrne said.
On the word us, Parkhurst threw a glance at the mirror. Jessica thought she saw the slightest smile. She wanted to slap it off his face.
Parkhurst then lowered his head for a moment, penitent now, as if this was a story he had told many times, if only to himself.
'It was a mistake,' he began. 'I… I was young myself. Karen was mature for her age. It just… happened.' 'Were you her counselor?' 'Yes,' Parkhurst said.
'So then you can see how there are those who would say that you abused a position of power, can't you?'
'Of course,' Parkhurst said. 'I understand that.'
'Did you have the same sort of relationship with Tessa Wells?'
'Absolutely not,' Parkhurst said.
'Are you acquainted with a Regina student named Nicole Taylor?'
Parkhurst hesitated for a second. The rhythm of the interview was starting to pick up in tempo. It appeared that Parkhurst was trying to slow it down. 'Yes, I know Nicole.'
Know, Jessica thought. Present tense.
'You've counseled her?' Byrne asked.
'Yes,' Parkhurst said. 'I work with the students at five diocesan schools.'
'How well do you know Nicole?' Byrne asked.
'I've seen her a few times.'
'What can you tell me about her?'
'Nicole has some self-image issues. Some… troubles at home,' Parkhurst said.
'What sort of self-image issues?'
'Nicole is a loner. She's really into the whole Goth scene and that has somewhat isolated her at Regina.'
'Goth?'
'The Goth scene is loosely made up of kids who, for one reason or another, are spurned by the 'normal' kids. They tend to dress differently, listen to their own kinds of music.'
'Dress differently how?'
'Well, there are all kinds of Goth styles. The typical, or stereotypical Goth dresses in all black. Black fingernails, black lipstick, numerous piercings. But some kids dress in a Victorian manner, or an industrial style, if you will. They listen to everyone from Bauhaus to the old-school bands like the Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees.'
Byrne just stared at Parkhurst for a few moments, fixing him in his chair. Parkhurst responded by rearranging his weight on the seat, straightening his clothes. He waited Byrne out. 'You seem to know a lot about these things,' Byrne finally said.
'It's my job, Detective,' Parkhurst said. 'I can't help my girls if I don't know where they're coming from.'
My girls again, Jessica noted.
'In fact,' Parkhurst continued, 'I confess to owning a few Cure CDs myself.'
I'll bet you do, Jessica mused.
'You mentioned Nicole had some troubles at home,' Byrne said. 'What kind of troubles?'
'Well, for one, there is a history of alcohol abuse in her household,' Parkhurst said.
'Any violence?' Byrne asked.
Parkhurst paused. 'Not that I recall. But even if I did, we're getting into confidential matters here.'
'Is that the sort of thing students would necessarily share with you?'
'Yes,' Parkhurst said. 'Those who are predisposed to do so.'
'Are many of the girls predisposed to discussing intimate details of their home lives with you?'
Byrne put a false emphasis on the word. Parkhurst caught it. 'Yes. I like to think that I am good at putting young people at ease.'
Defensive now, Jessica thought.
'I don't understand all these questions about Nicole. Has something happened to her?'
'She was found murdered this morning,' Byrne said.
'Oh my God.' Parkhurst's face drained of color. 'I saw the news… I had no…'
The news had not released the name of the victim.
'When was the last time you saw Nicole?'
Parkhurst thought for a few crucial moments. 'It's been a few weeks.'
'Where were you on Thursday and Friday mornings, Dr. Parkhurst?'
Jessica was certain that Parkhurst knew that the questioning had just crossed a barrier, the one that separated witness from suspect. He remained silent.
'It's simply a routine question,' Byrne said. 'We have to cover all bases.'
