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Ryan parked in the official police and ambulance parking zone. Dawn didn’t protest as raindrops the size of five cent coins started to fall from the sky.
Ryan pointed to the looming grey clouds rolling over the hills, closing in, surrounding the school and flung his door open. ‘Let’s make a dash for it before that opens up on us.’
‘I forgot how bloody wet it gets up here.’
Dawn hopped out, slammed the door and ran for the veranda covering the school office entrance, reaching it as thunder rolled overhead and sheets of rain cascaded over the guttering.
‘And how damn quick it comes in from a clear sky.’
Shaking off, she opened the front doors and shivered as cool air hit wet skin.
A short brunette receptionist with huge eyes and eyelashes to match, glanced up.
‘Can I help you?’
Ryan pulled out his badge. Dawn didn’t bother. Her SAPOL credentials would only confuse matters.
‘I’m Detective Ryan, this is Detective Grave. Can we see Principal Fletcher, please?’
‘He’s at lunch right now. Can I help you at all?’
She fluttered her eyelashes.
‘I’m sure you can.’
Ryan flashed a wide grin. Dawn forced herself not to roll her eyes.
‘We’ve had unfortunate news about one of your pupils.’
He leant forward, over the high countertop and whispered.
‘We can confirm the body found recently was one of your missing students and we need access to her school file, along with an old file you might need to dig up for us.’
‘I don’t know if I’m allowed to do that Detective. Student records are highly confidential.’
‘Of course they are, but you’d like the killer caught before another student is harmed, wouldn’t you?’
Dawn admired the detective’s tact. When she first met Ryan, she expected him to be arrogant, pompous even, but he was capable of handling a delicate situation and putting on the charm when needed.
‘Well, the current student I can help you with, but the old one would be archived, and I don’t have access.’
‘Who does?’
‘No one. We are only required to keep student records for a short time after they graduate or move to another school.’
‘That’s unfortunate.’
‘Why? What old records were you chasing?’
‘Ones from before you were born,’ Dawn interjected.
‘Oh.’ Her eyelashes fluttered again.
‘Is there anyone around the school who would recall students from over twenty years ago?’
Ryan continued with his charming smile.
‘The principal might. Then there are the P & C members. A few of them have been on the committee for that long.’
‘A few, like who?’
‘Mrs Baxter.’
The woman tapped her finger to her lip.
‘And of course, Larry. I think Larry’s been on the P & C forever.’
‘Larry Summerset?’
Ryan clarified what Dawn already knew.
‘Yes, that’s him.’
‘Any teachers?’
‘Mr Fairweather, Ms Prentice. That’s probably it. We get a lot of teachers straight out of university, doing their regional service so they can move on to pick a school closer to home.’
‘Thanks for your help.’
Ryan glanced at the girl’s chest and Dawn was about to kick him in the shin, when she realised he was scanning the name tag.
‘Rhianna. Thanks. You’ve been so helpful.’
He glanced at his watch.
‘Do you think you might be able to disturb the principal now and grab the file for us.’
‘Of course.’ She rose from her chair. ‘He’ll be in the staffroom. I’ll give them a bell.’
She picked up the phone and dialled.
‘Which student file did you need?’
‘Jessica Mills.’
The blood drained from Rhianna’s face as she slipped back down to her chair. A voice on the other end of the phone echoed out. The receptionist gazed off into space a moment but composed herself.
‘Ah. Can you ask the principal to come to reception. There are two detectives here to see him.’
She hung up.
‘You knew Jessica?’
Dawn considered coming around the counter to make sure the receptionist didn’t faint and hit the lino floor.
‘Everyone knew Jessica. Does her mum know?’
‘The Hopevale police are delivering the news.’
Ryan spotted the principal striding down the hall from the opposite end to his office and nudged Dawn.
‘Can you tell us a little more about Jessica?’ Dawn coaxed as the principal drew up alongside the counter.
‘Detectives, what can I do for you?’
His smarmy smile was back.
‘We’ve formally identified our victim.’
‘Tom, it’s Jessica.’ Rhianna choked out.
Fletcher cleared his throat. Was it at the mention of Jessica’s name or being called Tom by his receptionist?
Either way, his expression was impossible to read as he flattened his features and straightened.
‘Come into my office.’
He lifted his hand to point the way.
‘We’ll need all the files you have on Jessica’s Mills now.’
Ryan’s tone said it wasn’t up for debate.
‘Of course. Rhianna. Get yourself a cup of tea and bring the file into my office as soon as you can.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Formality was restored. Yet, something about the way the receptionist looked at the principal set Dawn’s gut into gymnastics mode.