Her thoughts drifted to Richard. Finally, they’d managed to speak the night before but it was a stilted conversation, one where he failed to ask her when she’d be coming home. He was still upset. Arguably more so than she initially realised. He seemed cold towards her on the phone. It would pass.
Pulling into the school grounds, they passed a number of pupils lining the approach road. There must be a break in classes. Janssen found one of the few remaining spaces and parked the car. The sun was threatening to break the canopy overhead now, the warmth on her skin was pleasant as she got out. Mounting the steps to the reception, she caught a glimpse of a familiar face. It was Maddie, Holly’s sister. She was standing off to their left with a couple of friends. She thought to acknowledge the girl, maybe enquire as to her wellbeing, but she appeared in conversation and possibly wouldn’t want to draw attention to herself with the police in front of her peers, so she decided to leave it.
Tamara found Mark McCall’s tutor to be an interesting man. Somewhat easily distracted and fidgety, he appeared relieved once they were satisfied the handwriting couldn’t be Mark’s. Even to the untrained eye it was clear whoever had penned the threats was someone other than him. His letters were far too neat and ordered. She wasn’t perturbed by the knowledge. It had been expected. “How is Mark? What’s he been like since he found Holly?” The tutor appeared as if he was looking directly through her. For a moment she wondered if he’d heard the question.
“We’ve hardly seen him. I think he attended for the first time yesterday. Very quiet, preoccupied. Unsurprising, seeing as he was so sweet on the girl.”
“You could see that?”
“You’d have to be blind not to.”
“And today?” Janssen asked.
“He turned up for morning registration but never made it to his first class. I’ve no idea where he is.”
They signed out in the visitors’ book located in reception. The scene outside was in stark contrast to when they arrived only a short time ago. The fog had dissipated, possibly receding back towards the coast with them being further inland. The sky was brightening but the air still felt damp as they crossed to the car. Janssen stopped to answer his ringing phone, mouthing to her that it was Eric, probably calling from his visit to the surgery. In the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a figure peering around the corner of the admin block they’d just left. It was Maddie Bettany. The playground and surrounding paths were deserted. Classes must have restarted.
Leaving Janssen behind, she casually strode over towards the girl who was nervously glancing at the main entrance. “Skipping class?” Speaking barely above a whisper, keeping her tone non-judgemental. The last thing she wanted was to scare the girl away with the threat of discovery. Maddie retreated around the corner into a group of mature trees, shielding them from any of the windows of the nearby classrooms.
“I know I shouldn’t but…”
“What is it, Maddie?” She felt the need to reach out and place a reassuring hand on the girl’s arm. The girl seemed rattled, on edge. Hardly a shock under the circumstances. To find her in school so soon was surprising. “I’m sure no one will give you a hard time if you felt you needed a break from class—”
“No! You don’t understand, it’s not like that. I insisted on coming back to school. Anything to get away from the house.”
“It must be difficult for all of you.” The urge to give the schoolgirl a tight hug was fought back by the need for professional distance. There was a bench nearby, set beneath a willow tree and she led them there encouraging Maddie to sit down. The girl looked lost, sitting with her legs crossed at the ankles and her hands cupped in one another across her lap.
“It’s been totally mental since… well, since Holly…” The words tailed off. She couldn’t bear to utter them. “Mum and Dad argue all the time. I think they blame each other… or me.”
“How can they blame you?” The thought was preposterous.
“Maybe not blame exactly… but Dad would rather it was me than her.” The words were bitter, tears welled in her eyes as she spoke. Tamara ignored her training as instinct took over. She put an arm around Maddie and the girl sank into her.
“Don’t ever think that, Maddie. Whatever your parents say, they are hurting too and… will lash out. It’s irrational but very human.” Warm tears fell onto the back of her free hand as she stroked the child’s cheek.
“Dad’s lost it now,” Maddie continued, sitting up and wiping her eyes, sniffing loudly through a weak smile. Taking out a tissue, Tamara passed it to her. Maddie took it gratefully. “He always used to be bad, what with wanting to know where we were, who we were seeing and stuff but now… he’s on a whole new level of OCD.”
“He’s lost a daughter,” Tamara said. It was obvious but maybe it was difficult to see the effect grief was having on her father. “Who knows how that can make a parent feel?”
“Do you have kids?” She shook her head. How would she feel if and when she did have a family? How much effort would she put into protecting them from the horrors she came across on a daily basis? These were scenarios playing over in her
