Page 31 of Vanish From Sight (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #2)

“Based on what? From everything we’ve been able to dig up about Katherine, she had an exemplary track record of counseling without one report of conduct unbecoming.”

“Based on who the rumors came from,” Hawthorne shot back.

“Ah. I see. And who might that be?”

“That is confidential.”

“Mr. Hawthorne. We have two dead women on our hands who both worked for High Peaks Academy. One who felt so angered that she had been unjustly kicked out of a position that she requested a journalist to assist her in investigating your Academy. Don’t insult my intelligence. Who provided the rumor?”

He glanced at the other two and looked at him. “Laura Summers.”

His eyebrows shot up and he couldn’t hold back a stifled laugh. “Oh, now isn’t that ironic. Certainly, brings new meaning to kill two birds with one stone. And who told her?”

“Like I said, it’s confidential.”

“Give me a name. ”

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to. She made an agreement not to mention their names unless it was requested.”

“And of course, their names weren’t requested because Katherine stepped down.”

“Exactly.” Hawthorne took a deep breath. “Whatever was told or shown to Laura, was done in complete confidentiality. However, it was enough for her to believe them. She came to me. I then called Katherine into my office.”

“Did Katherine contest it?”

“She didn’t admit to it if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Did you tell Katherine that it was Laura who told you?”

“No. And there was no need to. She agreed to leave. You have to understand, Laura had been a nurse with us for over ten years. She wasn’t in the business of making up stories and especially not against Katherine, a fellow faculty member.”

McKenzie nodded. “Well. All right. That about clears that up. I would like to see Katherine’s office if that’s okay.”

Hawthorne nodded. “Erin, would you do the honors?”

“Certainly.”

The two of them rose and were about to head for the door when Callie chimed in. “Just a second. I have a question.”

“No, you don’t,” McKenzie said.

“Yes, I do,” Callie said.

“Deputy.”

Callie ignored him. “Mr. Hawthorne. A year ago, Katherine went through a split with her husband. A period of time when she went into a shelter. Nicholas said it was related to a loss in the family, stress at work and her relationship. Do you recall that?”

McKenzie sighed and took a seat.

“I do. I was the one who spoke with Nicholas.”

“There we are! He recalls speaking with him. Time to leave,” he said, rising again. Callie remained stoic, her gaze never breaking from Hawthorne.

“What was the stress at work she was dealing with?”

He shrugged. “I would have to look over her records of what she was handling back then. As you might appreciate, our environment here is very dynamic. Students graduate every year. New ones arrive.”

“Like Charlie Delaney?”

She noticed Hawthorne exchange a glance with Erin.

“He is one of our students. Yes.”

“And someone that Katherine was working with, correct?”

Hawthorne nodded, a smile forming. “That’s right.”

“You see, I did a little digging.” She reached into a black zipper folder and pulled out a report.

As she said that, she heard McKenzie sigh.

“It came to my attention that there was a police report filed by State Trooper Samantha Torres back in September last year of four teenagers that were charged with third-degree assault. It was classed as a misdemeanor, after a fight broke out here at the Academy.” She got up and placed it on his desk so he could see.

“Troopers arrived here in the late afternoon after a sixteen-year-old boy was transported to Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake. The victim had sustained multiple wounds, scrapes, and bruises around the back, face and head after being kicked and punched. Students Adam Tomlin, Joshua Whelan, Ricky Patel and Benjamin Kim were charged with misdemeanor assault and released with appearance tickets for Adirondack County Family Court. When asked for a statement, you said it was unfortunate that your students’ behavior had become so disruptive, however, there were no significant injuries, all students would receive counseling, and that the matter would be handled. ”

“And it was.”

“That victim of that assault was Charlie Delaney,” she replied. “Your residential counselor at the time was Katherine Evans. No motive was offered by the school.”

“What can I say? We deal with troubled youth. Emphasis on troubled.”

“Would any of that trouble involve hazing?”

He scoffed. “I was referring to the problems they bring.”

“Well, it’s just that a month after that event, the Adirondack Central Supervisory Union sent out a memo that gave an updated procedure on the prevention of harassment, hazing and bullying of students.

It outlined what constituted as such, and detailed how students might report what they believe to be a hazing, harassment or bullying by promptly reporting the conduct to a designated school employee.

In addition, it outlined clear guidelines for any school employee who witnesses conduct or reasonably believes conduct might constitute as a hazing, harassment or bullying and what measures they would have to take to stop and prevent a recurrence and who to report it to. ”

Hawthorne sighed, looking frustrated. “I’m familiar with it. The memo also from my recollection outlined how to deal with false complaints.”

“Is that what Charlie Delaney’s claim was?”

“I wouldn’t know. He met with Katherine and no report was filed.”

Callie stifled a laugh, nodding slowly. “Or maybe she didn’t get a chance to file it.”

“I’m sorry, what are you alluding to?”

“She’s not. I think our time here is over,” McKenzie said, rising for the third time to his feet, this time taking her arm. “Let’s go, deputy.”

Unmoved, Callie continued. “What I am trying to say is that I think Katherine was dealing with the aftermath of what was being deemed a hazing. So. Was it a hazing gone wrong or something more?”

“Deputy. Mr. Hawthorne has answered the questions we came to ask.”

“Not yet.”

McKenzie got really close and whispered, “What did we agree?”

Callie ignored him and continued. “Mr. Hawthorne?”

He took a deep breath. “I don’t recall you being this outspoken when you were here with Mr. Sutherland. Maybe you only take orders from those who you respect.” He glanced at McKenzie. “You’ve got your work cut out for you, detective.”

Callie pressed him further. “Mr. Hawthorne. Was it a hazing? And if that hazing was covered up, what else has been covered up here?”

Hawthorne ignored her, continuing on as if she wasn’t even speaking. “But that’s the thing about High Peaks Academy. We’ve yet to run into that kind of work. Since the 1950s, we’ve yet to have a woman as rector. In other places, sure. Here? Not yet.”

“Answer the question,” Callie said.

“Careful, deputy. While you are here, you are a guest, and as such, I would ask you to extend the same respect and courtesy that we have to you. Don’t force me to call a lawyer.

” He narrowed his gaze. “You want to know if hazing still occurs and how we deal with them? Fine. I strongly ensure that order is maintained here as does my staff. We follow whatever governing rule is over us and guidelines given. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have been around for sixty-two years.

We’ve yet to have one official complaint.

But let me be clear. Unlike other boarding schools, we are dealing with the most troubled youth that this nation has, and maybe that comes with a little friction…

what is the term?” he asked, turning to Helen but she never got to answer before he continued.

“Iron refines iron. That’s it.” He st abbed a finger at her.

“So, if a few of the youth happen to rub shoulders with one another to work out a few differences and neither I nor my staff witnesses it, then so be it. It comes with the territory and those we work with but it does not affect our success rate one iota. And that’s all that matters to those who pay to have their children here.

You want to come here and make statements like that idiot Nate Sawyer — that the Academy is covering up things to save face — go ahead.

But you won’t get far. There is nothing you can say or accuse us of that we or our lawyers haven’t heard before, but believe me, Deputy Thorne — you are going to need more than accusations, assumptions and a scrappy old police report to prove it. Good day.”

He handed back the paper.

McKenzie took it and gave Callie a stern look. That was enough.

As they walked toward the door, McKenzie looked back. “Mr. Hawthorne. One last thing. We are going to need a list of the names of students that Katherine counseled in the past two years and a copy of any and all reports that she did file. You do have those, yes?”

“I’m sure we can accommodate that. Erin will assist you.”

“Much appreciated.”

They turned to leave.

“Just one last thing,” Hawthorne said.

They glanced back. “Yes?”

“For the future, it’s Rector Hawthorne.” He smiled, doing exactly what McKenzie had done to him.