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Gwen Young loved Thursdays for this was when she had a cooked breakfast in the school cafeteria. It was a reward from her grandfather because she had done so well in last term's school report. In fact she came top overall in class 10TG and not only got on the honours list for Tern Syndicate but was on the one for the whole of Joseph Ward Junior High.
On her parent's insistence, she was taking three NCIS level one papers in English, Mandarin and Math that were not normally taken until Year 11 at the senior high school. She grinned to herself as she waited at the bus stop for the early bus to school. Instead of being proud of her grasp of Mandarin that she had only begun to learn at Ward to appease her parents. Yeh-Yeh, a common Chinese name for Grandad, had only muttered that it wasn't his ancestor's language, which was Cantonese. He had cheered up, though when he found out how well she could write Chinese characters that he could read.
He was a stern old man who until recently had been a remote figure at their family gatherings. This made the gift of one meal a week in the school canteen until she left at the end of the year even more appreciated. The cafeteria was always so crowded at lunchtime that she had decided to switch to breakfast on Thursdays.
The North Star blue and yellow bus pulled into the kerb and she stepped aboard. The early bus was mainly filled with adults but she smiled when she noticed Jasmine Trustcot, her friend sitting near the rear. She usually met her on the later bus but never before on Thursday.
"Hi Jasmine." Gwen said and squeezed in beside her on the seat built for one. "What are you doing on the early bus?"
Her usually bubbly friend looked serious. "Nick wants me to join him. Even offered to buy an air ticket from Wellington up here."
"What?" Gwen gasped. "Are you mad? You've never met him in real life, only on Petal Life."
This was an online social site that was popular with students in the senior school, that is fourteen and fifteen-year-olds even though it advertised as being aimed at eighteen to twenty-three year olds. Though no way near as popular as Facebook, many students in Year 10 had a page on Petal Life. Gwen never had her own one but often helped Jasmine with her page. There were White Petals, general pages like other blogs and onto Cream Petals for friends, Yellow Petals for family pages and pink or crimson exclusive pages that could be accessed by small groups or even for just one to one contact.
The last were listed as being completely secure with a sophisticated password system that even the site owners couldn't access. After meeting this Nick on a white page, Jasmine quite quickly moved on his invitation to a yellow then pink page. Their page was entitled Pink Mushrooms and, in Gwen's opinion had become far too personal for her liking. She had warned Jasmine not to exchange photographs but had been ignored. Mind you, the photograph of Nick who said he was eighteen and a Year 13 student at an exclusive boys' school across the harbour bridge in Auckland, showed a clean-shaven smiling guy dressed in casual upmarket clothes. In return, Jasmine had sent back a photo of herself at a relation’s wedding where she looked older than her fourteen years.
"He thinks you're at least sixteen and are in Year 11 or 12."
"So," Jasmine retorted. "Anyway, it's just for the weekend."
"The weekend!" Gwen almost screamed. "But it's only Thursday. My God, you're meeting this guy and spending two or three nights with him."
Jasmine grinned. "Got myself covered. He thinks I live in Wellington and I'm flying into Auckland. I'm going out to the airport domestic terminal and will walk out from the arrivals deck. If anything goes wrong, I can just walk away and take a bus across town and home."
"So what have you told your parents?"
"They're going away tomorrow to one of those horrible high school reunions down in Dunedin where they both went to the same school. I told them I didn't want to go and arranged to stay with a friend." She chuckled. "Never told them it would be a boy."
Gwen sighed. "And who was this friend?"
"You, Gwen. Now who could be more trustworthy than your family and yourself?"
"I don't like it," Gwen whispered. "It's basically dishonest and could actually be dangerous."
Jasmine pouted. "You're my best friend but you can be a stuck up little bitch sometimes."
Gwen felt hurt but knew how Jasmine had fallen for the guy. She must admit that his comments were all innocent enough with mainly boy's talk about being in the school sports teams and in the debating club. "Okay, do what you like but promise to call me on your mobile if anything even seems slightly wrong."
"If you wish," Jasmine whispered. "Just make sure you don't tell any of the others. Can you promise me that?"
Gwen nodded. "I guess so but only if you agree to call me this evening and tell me how everything is going."
Jasmine laughed. "Always so ultra cautious aren't you Gwen? Okay, I'll send you a text about six."
*
Gwen felt guilty after trying unsuccessfully to persuade Jasmine to get off the bus when they arrived at school. She now sat in a corner table thinking about the situation. There was a conflict between her promised loyalty to her closest friend and the consequences of what could happen if things went wrong. She went onto her iPhone and went into Jasmine's page on Petal Life. Somehow the site seemed to lack its fun factor began to look sinister. But perhaps it was just because of her conservative upbringing. She frowned at Jasmine's page when she noticed a small purple arrow in the bottom corner. She clicked on it but found it password protected. Jasmine had the habit of using the letters of her first and surnames as a password but entering the letters in a random way. Now perhaps... Gwen tried five times and was successful on the sixth attempt when a crimson petal page appeared.
Gwen stared at the pictures and videos there. They were crude and gritty with Jasmine and this Nick exchanging photos of each other in more and more revealing shots. She flushed at a video of the man stepping nude from a shower with his male anatomy exposed in a way she had never seen before. Underneath were the words. I dare you to make a similar video.
This was the last video dated just a day earlier so luckily Jasmine had not sent one back of herself. Below though were discussions about the so-called lost weekend about where they would meet at the airport and seemly innocent comments mainly about Nick's Toyota Hiace van that he had bought with even a photo of it, one of those ones with blackened rear windows. Gwen frowned and jotted down the number plate. She was now feeling even more worried about everything.
She decided she couldn't just try to pretend everything would be just a weekend of innocent fun that Jasmine portrayed. She glanced across the half-filled room and noticed Mrs Spicer sitting by herself having breakfast and reading something on an iPad. Damn being loyal to Jasmine, this was far too serious than just some schoolgirl promise not to tell anybody.
She hastily finished her breakfast and carrying her hot chocolate drink, walked across to her principal. "Mrs Spicer," she asked in a nervous voice. "Can I speak to you, please?"
Mrs Spicer glanced up and smiled. "Hello Gwen, of course you can." She nodded at a chair across her table. "Take a seat and finish your drink."
"You remembered my name?"
"Yes but how can I help you?"
Gwen sat down and relaxed a little before she bubbled out with all her concerns about her friend. Once started, she told Mrs Spicer everything and even showed her the videos on Jasmine 's crimson page. The principal's face turned grim as she watched the tiny screen.
"I want to know how to access these web pages and all her passwords. Do you have them?"
"Yes. I'm scared for her, Mrs Spicer. Jasmine is my best friend but is a little naïve when it comes to boys. You know, she fantasises a little in a world of her own."
"So right now she is travelling across Auckland and is going to meet this Nick at eleven o'clock at the airport domestic terminal?"
Gwen nodded. Mrs Spicer smiled slightly. "You were right in coming to me, Gwen. Leave it to me; I'll get onto it straight away. Is there anything else that may help us find her?"
"One sensible thing she did was that she told this Nick she lived in Wellington and was flying up. She has a large backpack with her so might change out of her uniform. I think that's everything. Wait a moment, there's one more thing. I think Jasmine is having a tough time at home."
"How?"
"By the way she talks I think her mum and dad are about to split up. This could be why she's latched onto this Nick guy; she doesn't really have a boyfriend."
"You're very perceptive, Gwen," Mrs Spicer said. "Thank you. You're in 10TG, Miss Gardner's home room, is that right?"
Gwen nodded.
"Good, I'll keep you up to date on all the news we find out about her. Try not to worry about her; Jasmine is lucky to have such a caring friend as herself."
As Gwen left, she noticed that Mrs Spicer was already on her mobile phone talking to someone. At least she had done all she could to help Jasmine but it was impossible to stop worrying. She hitched her bag on her back and headed off towards Tern Block and the science lab for her first period of the day.
*
"Would you recognise the young lady even if she changed out of your school uniform?" the police dispatcher asked Karla after she had reported her concerns about Jasmine Truscot.
"I have a photograph of her so probably would. Why?"
"We have a helicopter due to go off our aerial highway patrol. It is about forty kilometres from your school to the airport so would take at least an hour to travel there by bus. We will keep an eye on the bus terminals but will most likely find her at the airport itself. With her parents being out of town you could be a great help in providing any help she needs if we can get you there before her."
"That would be appreciated," Karla replied and within ten minutes was flying in the police helicopter across the city. What a contrast it was to her last helicopter ride in Central Otago. Below was a sparkling harbour and the city of one and a half million compared with the almost empty Central Otago over a thousand kilometres south. Accompanied by a detective, she found herself in the Auckland Airport Domestic Terminal with three quarters of an hour to spare before eleven o'clock when Jasmine had arranged to meet this Nick.
She had already contacted Ryan and asked him to check out Jasmine's Pink Mushroom web page to see if he could find anything of interest. She was in a coffee bar in the domestic terminal with Janet, a detective constable when Ryan called her back.
"Just about everything on the site is a fake," he said. "The site itself could have links with all manner of clandestine organisations. Remember that casino we had trouble with down in Central Otago?"
Karla frowned. "I do but what about Jasmine's site?"
"This Nick character is a fake. The photograph of him are compositions made up from at lease four cut-and-paste Photoshop ones and that video is a direct lift from a popular porn site that accepts videos banned on iTunes. You will notice that you never actually see the actor's face but just wet hair covering his face and back views." He chuckled. "A young girl wouldn't be looking at his face anyway. The only genuine photos on the site are the ones she sent to him. Even the van has a made-up numberplate. I think we have a paedophile here. If she isn't rescued, she could be in serious trouble."
"That's what I thought all along," Karla muttered. "Can you probe further for me?"
"Sure. Have you anything in mind?"
"Would it be possible to find out how many kids at school have a blog on Petal Life?"
"Possibly an area search on where the blogs originate might help but the pages by your students would be more difficult. A search of photographs of students in your school uniform might help."
"And what about this fictitious Nick guy?"
"I ran a check on his language patterns. They are definitely not the language teenagers use when conversing to each other or in text messages. Oh he copied some of the slang but it didn't flow properly. Modern teenagers almost make their writing like poetry but this guy was stilted."
"So how old would he be?"
"At least forty, perhaps even older. I doubt if he'd be younger than mid-thirties." Ryan gave a small grunt. "Arrogant bastard, though."
"Why do you say that, Ryan?"
"Those photos of himself. When enlarged, every photo had almost microscopic writing on it that said one word enoon."
"E noon, what's that?"
Ryan laughed. "No one spelt backwards. If the police can help, this could be his undoing. How many fake faces and names has he used? I can check out some of the Joseph Ward sites. Perhaps Jasmine's friend could give you some of the site names."
"Good idea. I'll get Vivian back at the school office to ask her."
Karla handed her news onto Janet who called in and repeated everything before thanking her. "Heard your hubby was a wizard on the internet." She glanced at her watch. "Twenty to eleven. We have our people everywhere but it's a large terminal with crowds everywhere. Shall we go and look for your young student?"
*
Jasmine felt that buzz of excitement as she walked along the corridor linking the terminal with the aircraft that had arrived. She found the one where the latest Wellington plane had just taxied in, turned around and mingled with the incoming passengers. She had arranged to meet Nick by the closest overhead monitor of the incoming flights and had already found where it was. She was sure she'd recognise Nick straight away and was slightly disappointed that she hadn't seen him. Mind you, he'd recognise her. In his latest text he'd asked her to stay in school uniform so that he could find her easily. Not many schools in Auckland had yellow tops so she would be easy to find.
She walked out but instead of keeping with the crowd that headed to the luggage conveyer belt she headed for the arrivals monitor and waited near it. Of mild interest were two police officers that were talking to an agitated middle-aged guy across the concourse. She turned and her stomach lurched. There, only metres away and dressed in her quite commonly used red business suit, was a woman that looked like Karla Spicer.
She gasped. It was her principal but how could she be here?
"Hello Jasmine," her principal said. "Everything is okay and there is nothing to be scared or ashamed of. You are a victim of a giant hoax and I've come to take you back to school."
Jasmine felt ill, staggered and would have fallen if a woman hadn't stepped across and seized her arm. "Mrs Spicer. But how?"
"It doesn't matter, Jasmine. The lady who stopped you falling is Janet, a police officer. We will explain everything." She glanced beyond her. "See those police officers talking to that man?"
"Yes," retorted the girl but really had no interest in the guy or the police who by now had their suspect handcuffed and were leading him away.
"He is a well known paedophile the police believe was pretending to be Nick. There is no Nick, Jasmine. It was a sham and if your friend Gwen hadn't come to me you could have been in serious trouble with this depraved criminal."
"No," screamed Jasmine. "No, it's not true! It can't be. He was ..."
"I'm afraid so, Jasmine," said the police detective. "I'm sorry but there was no Nick. Even the photos he sent you were faked. This man or somebody like him use internet sites like Petal Life to lure and abduct girls like yourself
Jasmine stood there shaking before she burst into tears and sobbed hysterically. She found herself hugged tightly and buried her head into her principal's shoulder. Deep down though, she realised that everything they had told her was true. What a fool she had been! What would everyone think of her now?
"My husband, Ryan will be arriving at the airport soon in my car," Mrs Spicer continued. "We'll take you back to school where you'll be safe. I know your parents are away for the weekend. I'm sure Gwen's parents will love to have you stay for the weekend until your parents return, otherwise you can stay with Ryan, Alexis and myself."
"But aren't you going to punish me for running away from school?" Jasmine asked.
"No. We are a large school, Jasmine but that doesn't mean we don't care for our students. Everyone makes mistakes; it is something we all go through. Perhaps we may even be able to help other girls and boys too who find themselves in similar situations. Punishing you would be futile, now wouldn't it?"
"I guess so Mrs Spicer. Thank you." She began sobbing again.
"Come on. Let's go and have a hamburger. I believe they have a McDonald's somewhere here in the terminal. My shout, okay?"
Jasmine nodded and smiled through her tears.
*
While at McDonalds, Karla received several calls but all except one were on unrelated items. The call from Vivian, though, had news to help Jasmine's situation.
"We'll meet her outside the domestic terminal in those drop off spaces in fifteen minutes." Karla glanced up at the still miserable looking Jasmine.
The girl looked up. "So we'll go back to school?" she asked.
"Not necessarily. I think we're getting things sorted. She'll be here in fifteen minutes."
"She? I thought you said your husband was coming."
"Yes, he'll be here soon too. Come on," Karla stood and led Jasmine outside beyond a line of taxies and to an area where cars were coming in, dropping people off and leaving. Wardens were on constant duty and waved on any car that waited too long. A modern grey car pulled in, a woman behind the wheel waved and a preschooler could also be seen also waving from the back seat.
"Oh my God, it's Emma!" Jasmine turned to Karla. "So you arranged for my aunt to come and get me?'
"Well, Mrs Derran in the office did. Your aunt said that you often stay at her place and she'd love to have you help look after her kids over the weekend. Now, you'd better get going or that officious warden will be shaking his finger at us."
Jasmine picked up her bag, tossed it in the back of her aunt's car and sat in the front. "Hi kids," she said as she glanced over to the back seat. She turned to look at Karla. "Thank you, Mrs Spicer, I'm okay now. See you at school."
"Tomorrow will do," Karla said and walked around to have a few words to Emma who, Vivian had informed her was Jasmine's mother's younger sister.
She waved as the car drove away and waited. Ten minutes later Ryan drove in and grinned as she jumped in the car. "So where's the runaway?" he asked.
"We contacted her aunt who picked her up." She sighed. "Let's get out of here, find a little coffee bar somewhere and I'll get you up to date on everything that has happened."
*