The Night Shift(11)

Soon, they’re joined by the superintendent of schools and the principal of Union High.

Arpeggio says, “I want to thank you for meeting with us so quickly. I know this is a devastating time, but it’s these hours immediately after that we have the best chance of uncovering evidence.”

“Of course,” the superintendent says. She has painfully erect posture and a sharp, bobbed cut.

Arpeggio explains that they need to interview Madison and Hannah Sawyer’s friends. Their mother is a mess, he explains, which is not surprising, having lost both daughters in one ghastly night. They also want to talk with friends of the survivor, Jesse Duvall.

“This may be a random robbery gone bad,” Arpeggio says, “but we need to cover all angles.”

The principal speaks now. “Detective Mintz asked that we make a list of the girls’ friends.” He slides a sheet of paper across the table. “It’s probably incomplete but a good place to start.”

Arpeggio nods.

The principal continues, “You can use the music room to meet with the students. It’s out of the way, more or less soundproof, and won’t draw attention.”

Arpeggio nods his thanks again. “This is a difficult question to ask, but is there anyone—including anyone on the staff—who might have reason to hurt the girls?”

The superintendent and principal tap eyes.

Noticing this, Arpeggio says, “Anything, no matter how small could help.”

The principal starts to speak but the superintendent touches his arm.

“There are confidentiality issues with employee matters,” the superintendent says.

Arpeggio gives a tight-lipped smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. His jaw clenches and he appears to be taking a moment to quell whatever is burning inside him. “I can appreciate that. But I think the community will forgive any confidentiality lapses if it helps save lives.”

The superintendent swallows. She looks to the principal, nods for him to continue.

Principal Steadman is a serious-looking white man in perhaps his early forties. “We had a new custodian, Randy Butler. His initial background check came back fine, and he started work. But the county runs a separate check, through older databases, and it came back with a prior conviction.”

“For?”

“Lewd conduct with a minor. We let him go immediately.”

“Did he give you any trouble or—”

“No, we had no incidents. And he was gracious when I let him go, said he understood,” the principal says, anticipating the question. “He has a son with disabilities, seemed like a decent person.”

“I need his file right away.”

The superintendent nods.

“The victims … can you think of any reason someone would want to hurt them?”

“No,” the principal says. “Maddie and Hannah were popular girls. Maddie was a senior, outgoing, kind of a queen bee, but overall a good kid. Her sister Hannah was a junior, she seemed younger than the other girls, innocent, more of an introvert. Jesse Duvall is new to our school but we’ve had no problems. I’m told she wasn’t in the same social circles as the other girls.”

Arpeggio spends another twenty minutes grilling them for background. He’s methodical, comprehensive, if not overly compassionate. When he’s through, he turns to Keller. “Special Agent Keller, any questions?”

“I need a list of everyone who’s worked in the school for the past year and everyone who worked here in 1999.”

The superintendent shifts in her chair. “You don’t think this is connected to Blockbuster, do you?”

“As Detective Arpeggio said, we have to check every angle.”

“I can get you a list,” the principal says. “It’ll take a little time. But if it helps, we have a collection of old yearbooks in the office.”

Keller nods. Yearbooks were on her checklist. “Nineteen ninety-eight through two thousand would be terrific. And last year’s.”

She has nothing else, for now. Arpeggio covered the bases, and she’s never been one to ask questions for the sake of asking questions.

“Okay,” Arpeggio says. “If someone can show us to the music room, we’ll get started.”

“Um,” the principal speaks up again, “do all four of you intend to interview the students at the same time? They’re already overwhelmed and upset…”

Arpeggio tilts his head slightly. “That’s a good point. Detective Mintz and I will conduct the interviews.”

Keller hides her annoyance at being shut out. “You want us to go talk to the custodian while you speak with the kids?” She knows the answer.

“I’d like my team involved in that,” Arpeggio says. “We’ll pull his jacket. But I suspect your shop can get the digital forensics faster, his cell records. See if he pinged near the ice cream store last night.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

The superintendent shows Arpeggio and Mintz to the interview room, and the principal walks Keller and Atticus down the hallway lined with gray lockers to the main office. There, he guides them to his connected office in the back.

“Thank you for your help, Principal Steadman,” Keller says.

“Call me Dale,” the principal replies. “On the yearbooks, you’re welcome to review them here, but it may be easier for you to take them with you.”