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HANCOCK ACADEMY IS an exclusive prep school located on a campus of stately old buildings just a few blocks from Boston College. I called Rachel and asked if she had any connections with the guidance counselors at Hancock. She did. I then asked if she could put in a good word for me and help arrange a meeting. She did that as well.
I pulled up to the main gate at Hancock and stopped at the guard house. Through the rod iron gates were lush green lawns and perfectly kept flower beds. Ancient and impressive trees were in keeping with the stately buildings and provided ample shade for much of the campus.
A middle-aged guy emerged from the guard house. He wore a security guard uniform with a light gray button-down shirt and dark gray slacks with a black fabric stripe running down the outside of each pant leg. The guard was average height and carried a spare tire for a stomach. He had a friendly round face topped with thinning salt and pepper hair.
“Can I help you?” the guard said. On the left side of his shirt was a metal badge stamped with the word 'Security.' Above his right breast pocket was a nameplate that stated his name was 'Bernard.' I wasn’t sure if Bernard was his first or last name.
“Name is Drew Patrick,” I said as I handed him my business card. “I'm a private investigator here to speak with Ms. Grace Moore.”
He looked at my business card. I figured he was impressed with the quality card stock and ink.
“You have a license?” he asked.
I presented him with my private investigator license issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He inspected it for a moment and seemed convinced of its authenticity. He handed it back to me.
“So, a real life private detective,” he said.
“In the flesh,” I said.
“Name is Rick. Rick Bernard.” He extended his hand and we shook. “Been on the job here for twenty years, don't think I've ever had a private eye come around.”
“A first time for everything,” I said.
“I guess so,” Rick said. “You have a big case you are working on?”
“They're all big to my clients,” I said.
“I guess they would be,” Rick said. “You get many interesting cases?”
“Interesting is relative. But I mostly enjoy what I do. Figuring things out. Helping people.”
“You get a lot of cheating spouse cases?” Rick said.
It seemed more a question of general interest rather than personal inquiry.
“Sometimes,” I said.
“I love detective books and shows,” Rick said.
“Real life detectives are a little different,” I said.
Rick looked at my very ordinary car. I'm sure he was thinking it was no Ferrari like Magnum, PI drives.
“So, is Mrs. Moore expecting you?” Rick said. Maybe the luster of my being a private detective was wearing off for him.
“Yes, sir,” I said.
Rick offered a slight nod of his head. “Okay, then,” he said. “Let me give her a buzz and tell her you're here.”
“Before you do,” I said, “I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions?”
Rick seemed interested in me again. Being questioned as part of an investigation, even if I didn't drive an expensive sports car, seemed to hold an appeal.
“What do you want to know?” he said.
“You've been here twenty years,” I said, “you must be a pretty good judge about students who attend Hancock.”
“Besides being mostly rich, stuck up, brats?” Rick said.
“Besides that,” I said.
“I guess,” he said.
“And you would be aware of any students causing trouble?”
“In most cases, yeah. But we don't really have troubled kids here. In case you haven't noticed, this ain't exactly some rundown inner city school.”
“I did notice,” I said. “It's like an old English estate in there.” I observed with a tilt of my head toward the campus.
“The Queen of England would be jealous,” Rick said.
“So you don't have a lot of hard luck cases or seriously troubled kids,” I said. “That would make any troublemakers stick out all the more, right?”
Rick nodded in agreement, but didn't offer anything more.
“Any student in particular come to mind?”
I didn't want to lead with Aaron Hurley. If he was bad news, Rick would remember him without being prompted. That's part of what I wanted to find out. Did Aaron Hurley have a troubled side that the outside world didn't seem to know about?
Rick scratched his balding head. My detective's intuition told me it was not about searching to remember a particular student, but, rather, what he should say about that student.
“There is one student who stands out,” Rick said after a few minutes. “But I'm not sure how much I can say.”
“I understand,” I said. “How about I ask a few more questions about the student and you can tell me if I'm on to something or not?”
“I suppose that could work,” Rick said. “As long as I don't have to give his name. And you didn't get any of this from me.”
Rick gave me a small clue without even thinking about it. We were talking about a male.
“I'll keep you out of it,” I said. “You have my word.”
Rick thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Okay, then,” I said. “Did this student get into any trouble over drinking or drugs? Even light recreational use of pot?”
“A few times,” Rick said. “The school kept it quiet. Kid's parents made sure of it by throwing their weight, and money, around.”
“Not to mention the kid we are speaking of was a noted athlete?” I said.
Rick considered my question. He smirked. It was answer enough.
“What was his reputation with the female population at the school?”
“They all wanted to date him,” Rick said.
“Rich, good looking, star football player?” I said.
Rick smiled and wagged his finger at me. “I see what you did there Mr. private detective. Very smooth.”
“Smooth is my middle name,” I said.
“All good enough reasons, I guess, for a teenage girl to want to date him,” Rick said. “But I don't think that was it.”
“How so?” I said.
“He was known as, what do you call it,” Rick paused a moment. Then he continued, “a bad boy. You know, not the type of guy you want to take home to mom and dad, or marry, but a little dangerous. I don't get it, but I guess that's a thing.”
“Are you aware if our bad boy liked to hang out at places you would rather not see a teenager at?”
“What? Like clubs or something?”
I nodded.
“I have no idea,” Rick said.
“Fair enough,” I said. “He date any girls outside of Hancock Academy?”
“Can't say for sure,” Rick said. “But a kid like that, wouldn't surprise me in the least.”
I took out my phone and opened the image of Aaron Hurley and Tina Ross.
“Ever see these two together?” I said as I showed Rick the picture.
I doubted Tina had ever been to Hancock Academy, but that wasn't what I was after. Rick knew that. And he played along to help me out.
“Nope,” Rick said plainly.
No surprise in his answer. Also, no surprise in the momentary look of recognition in Rick's eyes when he saw Aaron Hurley on the screen. Sure, he would recognize Aaron as a former student at Hancock Academy. But this was different. Rick's eyes told me Aaron Hurley is the kid we had been talking about.
“Thanks, Rick. I appreciate your time.”
“Sure thing,” Rick said. “Let me open the gate and then I'll call Mrs. Moore and tell her you are on your way to her office. It's in the main administrative building. Just follow the drive to the end. It will be the first building on your right.”
“Thanks,” I said. I got into my car. The gate swung open and I drove through.