Page 79 of Dying Truth

‘You think a student could have done this?’

‘Don’t you?’ she asked.

He shook his head. ‘I’m sorry but I’m not going to even consider such a hypothesis,’ he said, walking away.

Kim chewed on her own frustration. First Ted and now the school counsellor. Was there no one prepared to have this conversation with her?

She headed back into the school, forcing her way through groups chattering and whispering, dissecting the latest events.

Crime scene tape had been stretched across the doorway to the janitor’s room and two techies dispatched from the shower block were assessing the scene from within.

Bryant headed towards her carrying two coffees. As he got closer he shook his head.

‘No go,’ he said.

‘What the hell is it going to take to close this bloody place down?’ she growled. How many kids had to die? She wondered, relieving Bryant of one cup.

‘Oh no, brace yourself,’ he said, looking behind her.

She turned to see Thorpe attempting to bypass the crime scene tape and enter the janitor’s room.

She stepped towards the doorway and held up her hand. ‘Sorry, Principal Thorpe, but I can’t allow you to enter.’

His face reddened to full ripeness.

‘You can’t keep me out of—’

‘Oh yes I can,’ she said, stepping away and sipping coffee. ‘Tell him, Bryant.’

Her colleague’s lips twitched as he approached the doorway.

‘Sir, we cannot allow any further contamination of the crime scene,’ Bryant said, as she leaned against the wall and took a sip of her coffee. ‘We are following all necessary protocols for a double murder and an attempted murder, and I’m sure you’re equally keen that we uncover the perpetrator at the earliest opportunity.’

‘Of course, officer. I have parents calling and turning up to remove their children. I’d like you to speak to them and offer them your reassurance that their children are safe here.’

Kim almost spat her coffee right in his face. ‘That’s not gonna happen, I’m afraid. Unfortunately, the word is out now, making everyone’s job a whole lot harder, but we will not offer reassurance that we cannot guarantee. Now, I’m thinking that closing down the site and sending the kids home might be a reasonable guarantee of their safety.’

‘The board and I discussed the possibility while exploring alternative options.’

‘And decided to employ a private security company,’ she said, looking behind him. ‘And they are, err… where exactly?’

‘We can’t hold them responsible for this,’ he argued.

‘But their presence didn’t exactly prevent it either, did it, Principal Thorpe?’

‘It’s a reassuring presence,’ he said. ‘It will make everyone feel better.’

‘Do you really believe that?’ she asked, incredulously. ‘Or is it so that you can use it to convince quivering parents to keep their children here while trying to keep the reputation of the school intact, because if you take a look at the press community camped at the school gates that ship has pretty much sailed.’

He bit his lower lip before answering. ‘Inspector, the reputation of this and other independent schools is what our clients pay for. Our students must learn to face adversity to prepare them for life after Heathcrest.’

Kim looked to Bryant to see if he was smelling the same level of bullshit.

His expression told her he was.

She stepped closer, despising his priority of reputation. ‘I am so pleased that current events have served the school in the name of character building for the remaining students, but might I remind you that there is a killer on these premises, Principal Thorpe, and two of your charges are already dead. I suggest that becomes your pressing priority, and the fact that parents are arriving to remove their children restores my faith in the power of their judgement. Now, please leave us alone to do our job.’

His eyes widened and his teeth ground together as his gaze bore into hers.