Kenhardt - Secrets 2

There would be only five people working the case. From Riverton, there was Detective Joe O’Reily, Frank Connolly, Officer Kennedy Cross, and Officer Jesse Tanner. From Kenhardt’s police Dept, there was Hal Davis. Four people was more than enough resources that could be sacrificed from Riverton PD’s busy schedule. Joe stood on the other side of the red and white tape, observing the scene in front of him. Everything seemed to be moving quickly and efficiently. The forensics team, photographers, and medical personnel were busy at work, analyzing the scene, taking photographs. Looking for anything that might arouse suspicion. Everyone was working cautiously, eyes peeled for something that could prove useful. A weapon, gunshot residue, a suicide note, perhaps? There was nothing but the bodies, as far as anyone could tell. And the bodies stuck out like a sore thumb. Joe had tried to drown them out, compartmentalize them in his brain so that it wouldn’t be so painful to look at. Yet every single time he glanced in that general direction, the overwhelming sense of dread filled his body. There were two forensic photographers on scene, as well as a sketch artist and an evidence recorder. The flashes went off simultaneously, capturing the images of the dead girls. Their heads, their hands, their legs, splayed out in different directions, blood seeping from underneath them, trailing down the concrete. Two of the girls were face - down, their eyes concealed from the world to see. It seemed a little less agonizing to only see the back of their heads. The third girl, however, was facing upwards; eyes closed, head crooked off to the side, allowing everyone to get a good look at the damage that had been done, the life that had been lost. There were two officers posted on the roof of the school. The area was sealed off and a secondary scene analysis was being conducted up there. The roof was the very last location that the girls were alive, after all. They were scouting the area for anything, including the much - anticipated suicide note that everyone was certain existed, footprints, fingerprints, weapons, DNA. Anything they found was bagged and put into evidence. Once everything was photographed and recorded, the girls were finally granted some peace by swiftly being zipped into body bags and taken to the local coroner’s office for the post - Mortem. There were eight hundred students at St. Paul’s Catholic School. It was up to Joe and Kennedy to conduct the preliminary statements. Determine if the students saw anything, heard anything, noticed anything suspicious happening at the time of the incident. Joe and Kennedy stepped away from the crime scene and towards the crowd of teenagers that loomed nearby. The principal had organized them into small sections to allow the preliminaries to go down smoother. Joe watched Kennedy as she walked, her dark brown hair swinging in a high ponytail behind her. She had an interesting walk, Kennedy Cross - very straight - forward and determined. She didn’t like to waste time. And right now, Joe knew that all she wanted was to solve this thing and wrap it up. There were only two possible outcomes here, Statistically speaking, a triple suicide was extremely rare. One Kid jumps, understandable. Two kids jump, Okay, maybe they talked each other into it. But THREE? It was almost unheard of. But still, that was the conclusion that people were already coming up with. That the girls jumped. Like some sorority sister pact that they each swore on. ‘I was walking through the atrium and I swore I saw something drop in front of the windows at the front,’ one student said. ‘Did you hear a scream?’ Joe asked. ‘A cry for help?’ The student shook his head, ‘Nothing. I didn’t even know what it was. Didn’t think much of it. SO I went back to class. It wasn’t until after that I realized…’ ‘I heard someone screaming,’ One girl explained. ‘From outside. People were going to the courtyard for lunch and must have seen the bodies. Then all I heard was screaming.’ ‘I wouldn’t expect anyone to have seen anything,’ one of the teachers said. ‘They were all in class. They all should have been in class.’ ‘Perhaps you heard a scream?’ Kennedy asked. ‘Multiple screams? A shout for help?’ The girl shook her head. ‘My Geography class is on the first floor, not too far from the courtyard. But I didn’t hear anything. None of us heard anything.’ ‘Did the girls have any enemies?’ ‘NO.” ‘Do I think they jumped?’ A female student echoed. ‘I don’t know. Maybe. They were a bit fucked up.’ ‘What do you mean by fucked up?’ Joe asked. The girl shrugged. ‘I didn’t mean them. I meant Haddie. Haddie Taylor.’ ‘You think she would have jumped?’ ‘God only knows.’ ‘Were you close with any of the girls?’ Kennedy asked another student. ‘Not really. We all grew up together, so we all know each other. But I wasn’t good enough for that crowd.’ ‘Did the girls have any enemies?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Were you friends with the girls?’ Joe asked. ‘A bit, Yeah. I have Biology with Kiera and Haddie. They were so …nice,’ the girl mumbled, dabbing her eyes with a damp tissue. ‘I can’t believe this happened. Why would they do this?’ ‘Were the girls well liked?’ ‘Oh, yes,’ a male student said. ‘Everyone knew them.’ ‘No, my question was, were they liked?’ ‘Did the girls have any enemies?’ ‘I wouldn’t say enemies. More like …an arch nemesis.’ ‘Do you think the girls would have jumped? Were they depressed? Suicidal?’ ‘Not at all,’ a male student said. ‘They were always smiling, laughing. Everyone knew those girls. Everyone loved them.’ ‘So then who would do this to them?’ He only shrugged. After the preliminary statements were taken - what everyone saw and could account for - Joe and Kennedy made their way into the school to have more in - depth discussions with some of the students. Because if anyone was to know what happened today, it was them. Joe and Kennedy were seated in one of the vacant classrooms, waiting. The principal - Mrs Langley - had called in a number of students who would speak with them, hoping that something would prove beneficial. Finally, the first student sauntered in, a petite Brunette who pulled out the chair timidly and sat in front of them. ‘Hello,’ Kennedy smiled at the girl. ‘What’s your name, Love?’ ‘Evelynne.’ ‘What a beautiful name,’ Kennedy said. ‘Thank you.’ ‘So’, Joe cut in. ‘How well did you know the girls?’ ‘I knew them a bit,’ Evelynne said, ‘Well, everyone knows each other around here.’ ‘Close with any of them?’ ‘Not really. They’re group was kind of … exclusive.’ ‘How so?’ ‘I don’t mean that in a bad way,’ Evelynne said. ‘But it’s not as if they were recruiting new members.’ ‘Like a club?’ Joe asked. Evelynne made a face. ‘No. More like an elite class. How do I put it? Popular, I guess. I hate that word.’ ‘So they were popular girls,’ Kennedy said. ‘Everyone liked them.’ Evelynne nodded. ‘What do you think happened to the girls?’ Joe asked. ‘Me?’ ‘Yes,’ She swallowed. ‘I’m not sure. I’m afraid to say.’ ‘Don’t be afraid,’ Kennedy gave her a reassuring smile. ‘Everyone’s talking, we know. They’re saying one thing or another.’ It was quiet for a moment. ‘Maybe they jumped?’ Evelynne said, as though she wasn’t even sure herself. ‘What makes you say that?’ She shrugged. ‘Everyone else is saying it.’ ‘You Don’t think they could have been pushed?’ She looked scared, almost. ‘ I don’t know. I mean. I guess. Anything’s possible.’ ‘If you didn’t know the girl’s exceptionally well,’ Joe said. ‘What would make you think that they would jump off the school roof and kill themselves? They were popular, you say. Well - liked. Is there something we’re missing?’ She was hesitant. ‘Listen, I didn’t know them well…’ ‘Why would they jump?’ Joe repeated. Evelynne was quiet again. ‘I don’t know. They could have had problems. Things they didn’t tell anybody.’ ‘Were they depressed?’ Joe asked. ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Thank you,’ Kennedy interjected, shooting Joe a look. ‘We’ll be in touch.’ They sat back and watched Evelynne exit the room. Moments later, Mrs Langley brought in the next student. ‘Hi there,’ Kennedy smiled at her. ‘What’s your name?’ The girl sat down at the desk. ‘Tessa.’ ‘Hi Tessa. I’m Officer Cross and this is Detective O’Reilly. We need a bit of help from you.’ The girl nodded. ‘What can I do?’ ‘Did you know the girls well?’ ‘Sort of. I used to be friends with Anya in middle school. One of my best friend’s is her neighbour, so we used to hangout when we were younger.’ ‘But not Haddie or Kiera?’ ‘No. Not really.’ ‘What can you tell me about the girls?’ Joe asked. ‘Um,’ Tessa thought. ‘They were nice. Polite. They were invited to all of the parties. Always had stories to tell.’ ‘Did they have many friends? Were they well - liked?’ ‘Oh yes. Everyone liked them. But they didn’t have many close friends in their little circle apart from the THREE of them. There were a few others that they were friends with - Gabby, Miera, Rachel, Layla. There’s like, eight or nine of them that hang out and go to parties and stuff. But either than that, it’s mostly just the three of them, no one else.’ ‘So they were well - liked,’ Joe said, ‘No enemies?’ ‘Well,’ Tessa said. ‘I don’t believe they were a fan of Beth.’ ‘Who’s Beth?’ ‘Beth Porter. She and Haddie are kind of …how do I put it…’ ‘Competitors?’ Kennedy suggested. ‘Sure. Yeah, Let’s go with that.’ ‘Why did Beth and Haddie not get along?’ ‘I don’t know much,’ Tessa said, ‘But it’s common knowledge that Beth and Haddie used to be best friends in middle school. Then something happened and all of a sudden they hated each other, and then Haddie’s friends with Kiera Barnes. Then came Anya.’ ‘How would you describe Beth Porter?’ ‘She’s really nice,’ Tessa leaned back in her chair. ‘I had Geography with her last term and she was super friendly. We’re not close or anything, but from what I know of her, she’s a nice girl.’ ‘Did anything happen between them recently?’ Joe asked, ‘A fight or an argument?’ ‘Not that I know of,’ Tessa said. ‘Why, you think Beth had something to do with this?’ ‘We’re not thinking anything,’ Joe said. ‘Just trying to get the big picture here.’ ‘You think someone pushed them?’ Tessa asked, wide - eyed. Joe and Kennedy stared at her, unsure of how to respond. Tessa spoke again, ‘But I thought they jumped?’ Next up was a male student: Tall, Lanky, shaggy black hair. He was wearing a dark green top and beige khakis. He walked into the classroom as though it was the most commonplace thing in the world, not walking in to talk about three dead girls with the police. ‘Hi there,’ Kennedy began. ‘Your name?’ ‘Justin.’ ‘Hi, Justin. What can you tell us about today?’ He took in a slow breath. ‘Well, Three girls ended up dead.’ Joe tried to hold in his laughter. Was this guy serious? ‘Yes, that is why we’re here,’ Kennedy said firmly. ‘Did you know them?’ ‘Sort of. I had classes with them? Were they nice, well - liked?’ ‘I guess. I mean, I don’t think there’s a single person in this school who didn’t know them. Mostly Haddie, though. Everyone knew

Haddie in one way or another.’ ‘What about the other two?’ “They were like her followers or something.’ ‘Followers,’ Joe echoed. ‘Interesting choice of word. What makes you say that?’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Just the way it seemed to be with the three of them. It was Haddie Taylor, and the other two.’ ‘What were they like?’ Kennedy asked. ‘How did they act at school?’ He thought about this for a moment. ‘They were always really loud. Like, all the time. In class, in the halls, at lunch. As though they wanted everyone to know how much fun they were having.’ ‘And how would you describe their personalities?’ Joe asked. ‘Nice, I guess. I don’t know, they were just girls. I don’t know how to describe them. Everyone knew those three. I’m sure you could ask anyone else in the whole school and they’d be able to tell you more than I could.’ Joe O’Reilly, Frank Connolly, Kennedy Cross, and Jesse Tanner got into Frank’s car and drove to the coroner’s office, which was only a short five minutes drive from the High School. Everything in Kenhardt was in close proximity. The school, the plaza, the grocery stors, the houses. Frank had warned them upon arrival: this town was small. Which could prove either beneficial or detrimental, depending on how you looked at it. The four entered the coroner’s office and were introduced to the medical examiner - Dr Kelvin. He was a Deer of a man; Tall and lean, his hair neatly kept. He was elderly, and his eyes tucked away behind his large spectacles. Today was a first for Dr Kelvin. The first time that Three sixteen - year - olds showed up on his table. Dr Kelvin had each body on an examination table. He had not yet completed the full post - mortem since that would occupy him for the next twenty - four hours. This was just a quick briefing to inform the officers of cause of death. It was presumed to be the fall that killed them, but if they were looking at homicide, the girls could have died before they even left that roof. Joe took a step forward and examined the girls for himself. Such small bodies, just about five stories, covered in a white sheet up to their necks. Their skin was a pale shade of blue, their eyes closed. Joe wanted to turn away but forced himself not to. He could feel something inside him churning. The feeling to run - to get away from this place as fast as he could and never look back. He Didn’t want to look at their faces and see the life that was taken from them far too early. ‘From what I can gather thus far,’ Kelvin began, ’The fall was approximately 40 meters onto the cement. From the position that the girls landed, I’d say that two of them - Anya and Haddie - were facing forwards when they fell, causing them land face - down.’ At this point, there was nothing that Joe knew about the victims, other than how to identify them after they landed. Anya was the one with short, dirty blonde hair that sat just below her shoulders. Kiera had long, wavy hair that was a shade of milk-chocolate. And Haddie had long black locks that seemed to fall effortlessly beside her body. Dr Kelvin motioned to Kiera Barnes; the front of her skull concaved. ‘Kiera was facing upwards when she fell,’ she said. ‘Let’s begin with Anya. I’d say her cause of is from a broken neck, yet still, she has many abrasions and lacerations to the head. All three of the girls have fractured skulls, evenly distributed between the vertex and vertex base, as well as broken ribs,’ Kelvin explained. ‘Kiera died from a subarachnoid haemorrhage, which happens when the blood leaks into the space between two of the membranes that surround the brain. Her spine is also broken, which would have paralyzed her. Haddie died on impact, but there were a number of things that happened here. She suffered from extensive bilateral fractures to the ribs and cervical vertebrae. The fall fractured her skull, causing extensive damage to her brain. Her temporal bone was broken, causing internal bleeding from the middle meningeal artery. This subsequently led for her to die from an extra-dural haemorrhage. Her neck was also broken which would have paralyzed her breathing. But as I said, she was dead on impact.’ They all stood there in silence as they processed this information. Joe couldn’t help but think that a fall such as this was a pretty violent way to die. At least it was quick. ‘Does the position in which they landed say anything about how they fell?’ Joe asked. ‘Not necessarily,’ Dr Kelvin replied. ‘Sometimes when a person falls from such a height, their body can turn or flip in any direction. However, given this specific height from the top of the school, I’d say that it’s likely the girls did indeed fall in the positions that they landed.’ ‘Which means Kiera was the only one with her back to the edge?’ ‘Correct.’ ‘Any sign of a struggle?’ Jesse Tanner asked. ‘’Ligature marks? Bruises? Fingerprints or hand marks on the arms, perhaps?’ ‘No defensive wounds or skin under the fingernails.’ Dr Kelvin said. ‘No fingerprints on the skin, either, except for each other’s but that’s normal. Nothing here suggests foul play. Then again,’ Dr Kelvin made eye contact with the officers. ‘Foul play can sometimes be verbal. These girls didn’t have to be physically pushed to have gone over the edge.’ ‘Someone might have talked them over,’ Frank finished his sentiment. ‘Forced them to jump,’ added Kennedy, nodding. ‘But why - that’s the pressing question,’ Joe said. ‘That’s what we need to figure out.’ ‘There’s still the possibility that this was suicide,’ Jesse said. ‘Could be,’ Frank said. ‘But we’re not calling it a suicide until other possibilities are ruled out.’ ‘What could possibly possess three teenage girls to jump off a building?’ Joe said. ‘Drugs?’ Kennedy suggested. ‘Perhaps,’ Frank said. ‘I’ve seen kids on some crazy things before.’ ‘Acid, Speed, Ecstasy, Tik, Dagga…’ Jessa listed. ‘Maybe they thought they could fly.’ ‘Or they were depressed,’ Kennedy suggested. ‘Maybe they all went through a similar trauma. Maybe they all had things they were battling.’ ‘I’ll need to do a tox - screen,’ Dr Kelvin spoke up. ‘That will tell us if any drugs were in their system, and will also reveal whether they were on any medications.’ ‘We’re all excluding one possibility,’ Jesse said suddenly. They all looked at him. ‘What’s that?’ ‘It could have been an accident.’ Joe snorted. ‘THREE GIRLS DON”T JUST ACCIDENTALLY FALL OFF THE ROOF OF THEIR SCHOOL. COME ON, TANNER - I thought you were good at your job.’ ‘NO, he has a point,’ Kennedy spoke up. ‘At this point, we don’t know. We have to look at every single scenario. They could have went up there intentionally, just the three of them, having a little meeting or something, doing whatever girls do, you know.’ ‘No, I really don’t,’ Joe said. ‘You’re the girl here. You tell us what they do.’ ‘Well,’ Kennedy said, thinking to herself. ‘My friends and I used to escape from it all. Seclude ourselves from the busyness of High School. We’d ditch the cafeteria and take our lunches to the park, or through the fields to abandoned houses.’ ‘Sounds safe,’ Joe remarked. ‘They could have been doing God only knows up there,’ She ignored his comment. ‘They could have went up there for some privacy. To eat lunch. Paint their nails. Ditch class.’ ‘Or they could have been lured up there,’ Frank said. ‘Someone could have been blackmailing them, giving them no other option. They had to go up to that roof today. Or else they’d face some kind of consequence.’ Dr Kelvin remained quiet, watching the officer’s converse amongst themselves. Kennedy continued with her theory that they went up there voluntarily and this was some sort of accident. ‘They get distracted, they’re a little bit too close to the edge - ---’ ‘OR,’ Joe cuts her off. ‘Someone has them cornered up there. He has a knife, forces them to keep walking until their toes are nearly off the edge…’ ‘They’re daring each other to get closer, being stupid,’ Kennedy continued. ‘Or maybe they saw something. All three of them go to the edge to see what it is,’ she stopped suddenly and looked up at the others. ‘That’s what we really need to find out. What exactly was going on at the school during the exact moment those girls hit the pavement. And the why will come after.’ ‘So you really think they just accidentally fell?’ Joe was getting irritated. ‘I don’t think anything. O’Reily,’ Kennedy snapped. ‘I’m speculating, widening our horizons here. There are only three options: They jumped, they Fell, they were pushed. That’s it. That’s all we got. And right now, we have absolutely no answers. ZERO. So until we can get a better understanding of what happened here today. I’m just putting ideas out there.’ ‘It could be anything.’ Dr Kelvin finally spoke. ‘But as for cause of death, they most certainly died after leaving that roof. And their deaths were instant. They didn’t suffer or feel any pain.’