Kenhardt - Secrets 10

Then there was scenario B: they were pushed or talked off the edge. And in that case, there was the even more pressing question; Who wanted them dead? Joe arrived at the Kenhardt station to meet with the team and go over formalities. Frank and Jesse Tanner were seated at the table already. Joe entered the room and pulled out a chair. Kennedy walked in after him, opening up her briefcase and tossing a scatter of paperwork on the table before anyone could say a word. They all looked at her. ‘We got some news from the medical examiner,’ Kennedy said. ‘Go on, then,’ Frank nodded towards the paperwork. Kennedy waited a moment before she spoke. Dramatic pause. But Joe already knew what was coming. ‘Haddie Taylor was pregnant,’ Kennedy said. ‘Get out,’ Jesse said, leaning forward and grabbing the sheets of paper. Frank leaned over to examine the documents as well. Joe remained silent. ‘You want to look O’Reily?’ Kennedy asked him. He Didn’t make a move. Then her face changed. ‘You already knew.’ He nodded. ‘Dr Kelvin told me yesterday,’ Frank and Jesse turned to him. ‘And you didn’t think to mention this?’ ‘I had a lot on my plate.’ Joe said. ‘Meaning?’ Kennedy asked. ‘Cross,’ Frank snapped. Frank knew. He had worked with Olivia for years. Been there when she dies. He knew why this would be bothering Joe. ‘Well, have you looked into it?’ Kennedy asked. ‘Who was the father?’ ‘I’m assuming it’s the boyfriend, Oliver Harris,’ Joe said. ‘Get on it, then, alright?’ Frank said to him. Joe nodded. ‘Will do.’ ‘What else do we have on the agenda today?’ Frank asked. Kennedy went on about what she and forensics were looking into. Jesse confirmed that he would be out with Hal Davis for the day. Finally Joe spoke. ‘I’ll be talking to people at the school. Friends, teachers. Then I’m going to look at the girls’ rooms. See if there’s anything that stands out.’ ‘Like a suicide note?’ Kennedy scoffed. Joe didn’t answer her. ‘We’ll meet back here at the end of day,’ Frank said. ‘Best of luck out there.’’ Joe waited in the office of the Principal, Mrs Rebecca Langley. She was a tall, lanky woman with dark red hair. She wore small, burgundy rimmed spectacles, kept on a chain around her neck. She entered the room moments later in a flurry, closing the door behind her and walking over to her desk to take a seat across from Joe. ‘How is the investigation going, Detective…’ she paused. ‘I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your name.’ ‘O’Reily. Detective O’Reily,’ he said. ‘Still in the early stages, unfortunately. I just wanted to go around the school, perhaps talk with some teachers and students. Is this okay to do now? Or would the lunch hour be a better time?’ ‘No no, now is fine. Do you need my assistance with anything?’ ‘I should be fine, thanks,’ Joe smiled and stood. ‘Actually, just the names of the girls,’ teachers would be a great start.’ Rebecca Langley got the information for Joe, then printed it on a sheet of paper for him. He grabbed the sheet and headed down the hallways of St Paul’s. His first stop was with the girls’ homeroom teacher, Mrs Hawthorn. Fortunately they were all in the same class. Hawthorn was in the empty classroom alone, grading papers. ‘You must be here about the girls,’ she said once Joe entered the room. ‘I am. Detective Joe O’Reily,’ he stuck out his hand. She stood from her desk and shook his hand. ‘Mrs Hawthorn. But please, call me Judith.’ ‘Judith,’ Joe said, leaning against one of the desks. ‘What can you tell me about Haddie, Anya and Keira?’ She took in a breath as she sat back down and adjusted in her chair.’ Well, they were Good girls. Didn’t get into trouble. You know, some of the kids around here often resort to drugs and alcohol when they can’t find anything better to do. It’s a small town, so they get bored very easily . The girls never succumbed to such stupidity. I can always tell which of my students are the bright ones.’ ‘And the three girls - they were bright ones?’ ‘Well, yes. All three maintained good grades. Always had their homework and assignments completed on time. As far as I can tell, there was nothing astray in their lives. Good home and family life. Good school life.’ ‘How did they interact with each other in class? And with other students?’ Judith thought about this for a moment. ‘Usually the students work independently for most things. But whenever there was group work, it was always the three of them together. They’d arrive to class at the same time and they’d leave together. They associated with the other students at times, but as far as I can tell, the three of them just kept to themselves.’ ‘So you never noticed any problems in the classroom with other students?’ She shook her head. ‘No, everyone got along great.’ ‘What about boys? Did any of them talk with boys in the class?’ ‘I know Haddie had a boyfriend. Oliver Harris. Other than that, I think they might have had a few male friends, but nothing that’s out of the ordinary.’ ‘What about other teachers?’ Joe asked. ‘Did the girls ever have problems with teachers or staff? Get in trouble? Detentions? Talk back in class?’ ‘Not that I’m aware of. You’d have to ask the others to get a better idea, I presume. But as far as I can tell, the girls lived seamless lives.’ ‘I’m sure they must have had some problems,’ Joe said. ‘They were teenage girls, after all.’ ‘If they did, I wasn’t aware of it. Either that, or they did a pretty damn good job at hiding it.’