Page 22 of Artifice (Pros and Cons Mysteries #4)

T heir food came, and it was just as delicious as Olive had imagined it might be.

Michael had not been exaggerating.

They had made lots of chitchat about Lighthouse Harbor. But she needed to get down to the nitty-gritty.

“I’m sure you heard about the incident that happened at school today,” she started.

His face turned grim. “I did. I’m so sorry about that. As you know, we’ve already talked to Abe.”

“I’m aware.” She shifted in her seat. “Tell me, Michael, have you ever been locked in the Quiet Room?”

His eyebrows rose. “I have not.”

“I would highly recommend trying it out for yourself before you put any more students in there.”

He shifted now, probably giving himself time to come up with an adequate response. “I totally understand your concern, and it’s valid. The Quiet Room isn’t my favorite place, and it’s only used as a last resort.”

“It shouldn’t be used at all. I can’t help but assume that room was intentionally left the same as when the place was a mental hospital.”

“I do believe it was left as is.” Michael cleared his throat and took a sip of his wine. “Sometimes giving students a quiet place to reflect on their behavior is the only thing that works. We don’t want these kids to go to jail.”

“Then why the darkness? The deprivation? The restraints?”

Something flickered in his gaze before disappearing. “It’s just one of the methods we use. Sometimes kids are placed in there with the lights on. And we restrain them only because we don’t want them to harm themselves or others. We don’t do it for punitive reasons, I assure you.”

Olive nodded slowly, not saying anything else. But she wasn’t buying it.

“Please, be forthright with whatever is on your mind. I want to set any of your fears at ease.”

That was exactly what she needed to hear.

“I was able to interview several students today. But all of them seemed to have the same rehearsed answers. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they were told what to say. It was quite remarkable.”

He let out a chuckle. “We do have to put our best foot forward. You can’t blame us for that.”

“I understand that, but it didn’t feel entirely real. I wasn’t able to get a sense of how this school has truly impacted students.”

“That’s fair. I can arrange for you to talk with more students, and I won’t give them a heads-up.”

“How about if I pick out the students myself?” Abe came to her mind. He was the one she really wanted to talk to.

“Done,” he said. “Anything else?”

The question played on the tip of her tongue. Should she even go there?

She knew she should.

“I’ve been talking to people around town, Michael. And I’ve heard rumors about students who’ve disappeared from the school within the past couple of years. Is that true?”

His expression remained steady, showing no signs of deception. “Unfortunately, it is.”

“That deeply concerns me.”

“Rightfully so. Though we try to keep the building very secure, these kids are smart. If they don’t want to stay, they can figure out a way to leave.

Of course, it’s not what we want. Their safety is our first priority.

We did search for these students after they left, but they must have arranged for rides. ”

“To arrange for rides, wouldn’t they need to have contact with the outside world?”

“Yes, and we do take away their phones. Unfortunately, a couple of students found their way around that rule. We discovered some of them are able to communicate through the gaming systems we allow them to use on occasion. We really have to stay on the ball as far as changing technology. If there’s a way they can bend the rules, then they’re going to bend them. ”

Olive hated to admit it, but his answer made sense.

There was a chance that Colin Andrews and those two other students truly did leave on their own. Maybe Colin felt too ashamed to go back to his family or to try to get in touch.

That possibility wasn’t out of the question.

But that didn’t put Olive any closer to finding out the truth.

Maybe tomorrow, when she arranged to talk with Abe, she would finally get some answers.

When dinner was finished, Michael walked her to her car.

“I appreciate your honesty with me about your concerns,” he started. “And if there’s anything else that comes to mind while you’re here, please let me know.”

“I’ll do that,” Olive said. “You’ll be around for the rest of the week?”

“I will be. At least until after the gala on Friday.”

She smiled. “Perfect. I should be seeing you around.”

“That you should.” He took a little bow. “Good night, Ms. Bettencourt.”

“Good night, Principal Denarau.”

He stood by her car, watching as she climbed inside.

She shut the door, all too aware of his presence. Then she started the engine.

But she waited a minute before pulling away.

She watched in her rearview mirror as the principal climbed into his own car.

He started his engine and pulled onto the road a moment later.

She waited the obligatory seventeen seconds, and then she pulled out also.

Principal Denarau appeared a little too good to be true.

He was a little too slick for her comfort.

Olive knew this could be a colossal waste of time. But right now, she wanted to follow him and figure out where exactly he was going.