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Dawn sat rigid behind the wheel of her campervan, staring out the windscreen at the police station, struggling to breathe. She thumped the steering wheel as her vision narrowed, her pulse raced, and every pore of her body leaked sweat.
It was a lie. It had to be a lie. How could Lisa possibly sleep with David Fairweather? After all the history. After everything he’d done. How?
A hand touched her arm.
‘Just breathe slowly.’
She knew how to overcome a panic attack. She’d dealt with them most of her adult life, but they were rare these days. Becoming a cop, then a detective, had empowered her. Given her a sense of control—which was slipping away into the abyss with every hour she spent back in her home town.
Michael wasn’t allowed to watch the interview. He had no idea why she’d stormed out the front door, down the steps and jumped into her rental van. But he’d followed, a few steps behind, ready to catch her if she passed out.
‘I’m okay.’
He waited another few seconds before speaking. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’
She shook her head. ‘No. I want to find my sister. I want to follow up on your missing ranger.’
‘The mobile phone reception is still out and so is the power in a few areas. I think texts are still getting through.’
‘I’ve already asked Ryan to run your girl for a vehicle registration. It might give us a lead. In the meantime, we should visit the school. What year is she in?’
‘Year 11.’
‘Let’s talk to her teachers, or the principal. Maybe they know something.’
‘Are we allowed to do that? We don’t know if your victim is her or not yet?’
‘We won’t say she is. You’re a concerned friend. Trying to track her down.’
He nodded. ‘I’m good with that, but how about we take my car? It’s humid as hell and I reckon my air-conditioning is way better.’
Dawn glanced around the sparse interior of the older model HiAce and had to agree.
‘Deal.’
A few minutes later, she was angling the vents at her chest, lifting her shirt and trying desperately to dry the sweat soaking her bra.
Michael chuckled from the driver’s seat.
‘What’s so funny?’
‘Nothing.’ His voice was an octave too high.
‘I’m sorry, but if I don’t cool off soon, I think I might pass out.’
‘Don’t be sorry. It’s not every day I get someone in my vehicle flashing her bra at the air vents.’
‘No, really! I thought with those puppy dog brown eyes you’d have the local girls swooning.’
He glanced at her sideways. She turned to gaze out the window.
‘Who’s the principal these days?’
‘Same one as when I was here.’
Dawn turned back. Her perplexed expression was met by another chuckle.
‘I dropped out of school in Year 10. When I decided I wanted to be a ranger, and lead the local youth, I thought I better set an example.’
‘You went back to school?’
He nodded.
‘A mature-age student. The senior girls in my year would have been all over you. I bet you got plenty of attention.’
‘I did.’
He parked his vehicle in the angle parking outside the school oval and applied the handbrake. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he tried to keep a straight face.
‘I hope you disappointed them.’
Visions of Fairweather flooded Dawn’s mind. She shook them away. Not every guy was a pervert.
‘Of course. And before you ask, we have very strict fraternisation policies in the work I do. Open door policy, absolutely no one on one time with those in our care without supervision. I’ve even had to refuse to give students a lift home. Luckily, we’ve got some good funding, and the local taxi service picks up from pretty much anywhere.’
He opened the driver’s side door without another word. Dawn sat a moment before opening her door, ready to join him.
Fairweather hadn’t raped her, but their encounter was enough to scare her. In some ways, she was quite paranoid, but then her dating choices in men was abysmal. She had divorce papers to prove it.
Her phone pinged in her pocket as she slammed the door closed. Retrieving it, she opened the screen as she joined Michael on the pavement.
‘It’s Ryan. Says your girl’s full name is Jessica Mills, no middle name and no registered vehicles in her name or her mum’s.’
‘No surprise there. Cars aren’t exactly owned by locals. I’ve seen her drive out to Archer in a few different vehicles. I’m guessing they are shared around the community.’
‘Maybe make a list of the make and models you recall.’
‘But I won’t have registration details.’
‘The models might be enough.’
Dawn placed her phone back into her shorts pocket and wondered if she should have dressed in more professional attire, then dismissed the thought. She wasn’t working. She was helping Michael find a missing girl.
They had no confirmation it was Jessica’s body undergoing an autopsy today and she had no jurisdiction to work without Ryan’s supervision on this case.
Dawn was personally familiar with the principal’s office and could likely find it blindfolded. But today she was a visitor. A stranger in her own home town.
Michael led the way up the concrete path to the main office building. Three flagpoles held limp, wet flags. The Australian flag, the Indigenous flag, with the red, black and yellow sun emblem and another Dawn couldn’t quite recognise without seeing it flying.
The grass squelched underfoot as they cut the corner of the pathway to avoid a fallen branch.
A group of adults with high-vis shirts scurried about picking up debris and trimming back battered bushes.
‘I’m surprised the school is open today.’
Dawn surveyed the damage as they passed.
‘They’ll have town kids in, skeleton staff I’m guessing. Most of the outlying areas will be flooded in for a few days.’
‘Dawn. How are you?’
The voice caught her off guard. Turning, she recognised Larry waving from the centre of the group.
‘Larry. Is there anywhere you don’t volunteer?’
‘I’m still on the P & C.’
It always amazed Dawn how much Larry did for the community. He was a family guy, with a lovely wife and two sons.
‘You have kids here?’
He shook his head.
‘No. Grandkids. But I like helping. You know how it is.’
A thought struck her. Stopping, she turned to the man who always had a charming smile for everyone.
‘How long have you been with the P & C?’
He frowned, like the question was unnecessary because everyone knew the answer, then grinned as he no doubt remembered she’d been away a long time.
‘Twenty-five very fun-filled, fulfilling years.’
‘Really. I might want to catch up with you someday and ask you about my mum.’
His frown returned, this time, it didn’t disappear.
‘Dark times for you Dawn. Maybe you should let the memory rest.’
‘Michael. Come in. I got your call.’
A short, balding man with broad shoulders and slim hips waved from the entrance. Dawn glanced over, then back at Larry who had returned to his gardening undeterred.
‘Dawn, this is Tom Fletcher. Tom, this is Dawn Grave.’
Michael seemed to be struggling for the right word to describe her presence.
‘A friend of mine, helping me find where Jessica has wandered off to.’
‘Come in. Lovely to meet you Ms Grave.’
‘Call me Dawn.’
She shimmied past as he held the door, then stepped aside and waited for him to draw up alongside Michael.
‘How long has Jessica been missing from school?’
Michael jumped straight to the question Dawn would have asked.
‘She missed roll call Friday last week and again yesterday, but lots of kids did with the cyclone looming.’
Dawn let Michael do the talking.
‘Is she still living out at Hopevale?’
The principal opened a door and ushered them through into a reception area. They passed the main desk, turned left down the hall and strolled to the end where two doors were labelled with name plates.
‘As far as I know. I haven’t tried to contact her family yet.’
He opened the door facing the front of the building and entered.
‘I tried earlier today. The mobiles and power are still out in Hopevale.’
Michael sat in the seat the principal offered. Dawn joined him in the one alongside. The principal rounded the desk and pulled a file from the top drawer, then rolled out his chair and sat.
They huddled around the wide timber desk as he turned the file around so they could see.
‘You asked about her grades. I don’t usually share this type of thing beyond direct family, but I know you’re doing a great job with these kids Michael. They are lucky to have you.’
‘I’ve been where they are, Tom. Everyone deserves a break.’
Dawn understood more than most how true that statement was.
‘Did anything pop out at you?’
‘Jessica is bright. When she first joined your program, her grades picked up, but she’s been struggling through Year 11 this year.’
‘Year 10 was good though?’
‘It was in the first half. Her grades were excellent, then they dropped to average in the second semester.’
‘Did her teachers say anything? Was she being disruptive?’
Dawn joined the conversation, unable to keep her thoughts to herself.
‘On the contrary. The only comments were how Jessica was withdrawn, less attentive, often distracted in class.’
‘Any counselling offered?’
The principal chuckled.
‘Our funding only goes so far Ms Grave. We have guidance counsellors, but they are snowed under. Jessica isn’t a priority, because she is still passing, not at a high level, but she’s sneaking over the line.’
‘I don’t suppose we can get a list of her friends, so we can see where she might be?’
Dawn could see Michael knew the answer to his question before he asked it.
‘I’m afraid not. Showing you her grades was a courtesy. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help, but our student’s personal information comes under the privacy act.’
Michael rose. Dawn joined him.
‘The police are searching for Jessica now. I’ve lodged a missing person’s report. If you think of anything else, call the station and let them know.’ Michael held his hand out to the principal.
‘I will.’
They shook hands. The principal held his hand out to Dawn. She shook it. He held on, eyes focussed on her face.
‘You don’t happen to be related to Lisa Grave?’
‘Yes. She’s my sister.’
Dawn pried her hand free. ‘Why?’
‘You both look so much like your mother. Lisa is a member of the P & C these days. Lovely soul. Always happy. Always got a kind word to say to everyone.’
‘Have you seen Lisa lately?’
Dawn’s heart rate kicked up a notch.
‘Not since last Monday’s meeting. I make it a habit to attend as many as I can.’
He studied Dawn’s expression. ‘Why? Is something wrong?’
‘My sister is missing.’
‘Heavens. There’s a spate of it going around then.’
He was smiling at his own joke, until he wasn’t.
Michael frowned as he clarified the situation. ‘No, Tom. She is genuinely missing.’
‘I’ll be sure to check with the rest of the committee then. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.’
‘Thanks.’
Michael turned to leave. Dawn studied the principal’s face. He was too smiley, too charming, too something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
‘Dawn. You good to go?’
She watched the principal’s eyes track from Michael to her, then back to Michael as he buried his hands in his pockets and waited for her to leave.
‘I’m good.’
She strode out the office door, leaving Michael jogging to catch up.