Before She Was Found(49)

I wasn’t expecting that.

When I finally got to bed, I couldn’t stop worrying about Joseph and Rachel Farmer. I wanted to ask him why he loved her. Why he chose her. I almost got up again to send him a message but then I heard someone in the hallway.

Instead I lay in bed and Joseph started whispering to me through the vents. But this time he wasn’t saying my name over and over. It was Rachel’s.



Interview of John Dover
Pitch Police Department
Officer Bree Wilson


Tuesday, April 17, 2018


OFFICER WILSON: Thank you for coming in, John. I’ll try not to take up too much of your time.

JOHN DOVER: Happy to help.

OFFICER WILSON: Please state your full name, age and address for the record.

JOHN DOVER: John Philip Dover. Forty-one and I live at 206 Apple Street.

OFFICER WILSON: And how long have you resided there?

JOHN DOVER: I’ve lived there for about four years or so.

OFFICER WILSON: Does anyone else live there with you?

JOHN DOVER: No, by myself. I’m divorced.

OFFICER WILSON: So, I’m sure you’re aware of the attack on two of your students.

JOHN DOVER: Yes. Cora and Violet. How are they doing?

OFFICER WILSON: I don’t have the latest update on their conditions. What can you tell me about Violet Crow?

JOHN DOVER: She moved here last fall. Quiet. Shy.

OFFICER WILSON: What was her relationship with her classmates?

JOHN DOVER: Fine, I think. Like I said, she was...is quiet. Doesn’t have a whole lot to say in class.

OFFICER WILSON: Who would you say her friends are?

JOHN DOVER: The only kids I ever really see her with are Cora Landry and Jordyn Petit.

OFFICER WILSON: Did the girls ever have any arguments that you were aware of?

JOHN DOVER: Not that I know of, but Jordyn always seems to have some kind of conflict with her classmates.

OFFICER WILSON: Conflict? Anything ever get physical?

JOHN DOVER: God, no. Nothing like that. Just kid stuff. Jordyn likes to be in charge and not everyone likes to be told what to do.

OFFICER WILSON: But nothing physical? What about verbal arguments?

JOHN DOVER: Have you ever been in a middle school hallway? Kids argue. That’s not unusual.

OFFICER WILSON: What about Cora Landry? What kind of student is she?

JOHN DOVER: Nice girl. She’s bright but typically very quiet. I’ve been trying to get her to speak up more, be more confident about sharing her ideas. Cora cares very much about what others think about her so she’s afraid to make any waves. Unfortunately, middle school students can spot this a mile away.

OFFICER WILSON: She was bullied?

JOHN DOVER: I don’t know if I would say that. Cora is a bit naive for her age. Like I said, her classmates pick up on this and can give her a hard time, but I wouldn’t call that bullying.

OFFICER WILSON: Did you ever see Jordyn or Violet being dismissive or rude to Cora? Anything that would suggest bad blood between them?

JOHN DOVER: For a while they were inseparable. I remember thinking that it was nice that Cora finally found some friends, but had been pretty solitary up until then. They had a bit of a dustup right before Christmas.

OFFICER WILSON: Oh? Over what?

JOHN DOVER: I can’t remember. Hurt feelings are par for the course in middle school. They’ve been pretty cool to each other since then. Although I did see them eating lunch together lately.

OFFICER WILSON: I understand that the girls worked on a project together in your class—the urban legend project.

JOHN DOVER: That was months ago. What does that have to do with anything?

OFFICER WILSON: Just trying to get a sense of the relationship between the three girls. What topic did they choose?

JOHN DOVER: God, I don’t remember. I teach six sections of social studies throughout the day. Wait... Joseph Wither, I think.

OFFICER WILSON: How did the girls come up with the idea for the project?

JOHN DOVER: I have no idea.

OFFICER WILSON: You didn’t suggest the topic?

JOHN DOVER: No, I don’t think so. I brainstorm ideas with the kids but they choose their own topics. Why?

OFFICER WILSON: What about websites? Did the girls ever go into chat rooms or have contact with anyone online?

JOHN DOVER: No! Never. At least, not that I know of and definitely not at school. What’s going on? What does this have to do with my class?

OFFICER WILSON: I’m hoping to see the girls’ notes and list of references. Do you have that?

JOHN DOVER: I think so. They’d be somewhere in my classroom. I can go get them for you when we’re done here.

OFFICER WILSON: That would be great. You live a few blocks from the Landry home, correct?

JOHN DOVER: I’m not sure. I don’t know their address. I’m sure I live a few blocks from a lot of my students.

OFFICER WILSON: But you live just a few blocks away from the train yard? Is that right?

JOHN DOVER: Yes, but why—

OFFICER WILSON: Where were you the night of Sunday, April 15?

JOHN DOVER: Wait a second... I don’t understand...

OFFICER WILSON: We are asking the same question of every individual who came into contact with the girls recently.

JOHN DOVER: You’re talking to all the teachers?

OFFICER WILSON: We’re talking to anyone who has direct contact with the girls.