After Anna(99)

‘We attempted to, however, we want to keep this discreet, as I’m sure you understand. There’s no reason to alarm the students or the parents.’

Maggie blinked. ‘I think there is, for sure. They should know if someone is preying on the campus.’

‘But there’s no evidence of that.’

‘Anna may have been abducted.’

‘Or she went missing, and that was almost eight months ago, it’s being investigated, and there’s certainly no immediate danger.’

Maggie worried they were being dismissive. ‘Have you had a student go missing since Anna?’

‘No.’

‘What about a student running away?’

‘No, and this week, most of our students have already left for Thanksgiving break, which is until November 27. Thanksgiving is Thursday, the twenty-third, and classes ended today.’

‘But what about the ones who haven’t? I can’t believe that they all go away for Thanksgiving, especially not international students. Or maybe they couldn’t get out because of the storm? Maybe their flights were delayed or canceled?’ Maggie had questions and felt like she wasn’t getting answers. ‘And what happened to Jamie Covington? Have you been looking for Jamie as well? Or was she found? Did she go home? Was it foul play?’

Roger shook his head. ‘To the best of our knowledge, Jamie hasn’t returned. Her parents consider her a runaway. They do not suspect foul play.’

‘And what about PG and Connie, who bought the bus ticket for Jamie? Could we find them? Do you know who’s nicknamed PG?’

‘No.’

‘How about Connie?’

‘No.’ Roger glanced at Whitaker. ‘Do you know a PG or Connie, a Constance? Maybe a senior?’

‘I’d have to check into that, and I will.’

Kathy frowned, shifting forward in her seat. ‘We think a great place to start investigating would be with the staff of The Zephyr. Have you spoken with any of those girls? It was only last year, and not all of them would have graduated. Even so, you probably have their home addresses.’

Roger nodded. ‘We have already begun to ask those questions, but as Morris says, it is a holiday break and not everyone is around.’

Maggie was losing patience. ‘Gentlemen, I don’t think we’re on the same page. My daughter Anna disappeared from the school, going missing sometime during last April, Spring Break. She could’ve been abducted, even kidnapped. And it’s possible that whatever happened to her also happened to her friend Jamie, also a student. Aren’t you going to do anything about it? Why are you so calm? Why aren’t the police here?’

Roger raised a palm, coolly. ‘On the contrary, we’re very concerned. As we say, the state and local police were here, but they were called away due to the storm.’

‘What about the FBI?’

‘We saw no need to contact them. We reported it to the appropriate police, state and local.’

‘But this is a matter that may involve three missing girls, one from Pennsylvania and two from here. Why not call the FBI?’

‘You may, if you wish. Their closest satellite office is in Bangor.’ Roger’s tone turned official. ‘I would remind you, in this regard, that Morris received an email from your daughter at 9:02 A.M., on Monday, April 10, withdrawing from Congreve effective immediately.’

‘But you don’t know if that was from Anna or the imposter.’

‘It was completely reasonable for us to assume that the email came from Anna, and it’s still a reasonable assumption.’

‘So?’ Maggie didn’t like the change in his manner, which had turned distinctly lawyerly.

‘I have reviewed this matter, and in my opinion, our legal responsibility for Anna Desroches terminated as of that email. We did not believe, nor can we reasonably have believed, that the email came from anyone but Anna Desroches, and after that point, Anna Desroches was no longer a student at Congreve.’

‘Are you serious?’ Maggie asked, getting angry. ‘Are you saying you’re not responsible because she wasn’t a student here, technically, after the email?’

Kathy interjected, ‘Roger, don’t you care about the fact that Anna is missing? We can get lawyers, too. You want the lawyers to battle it out or do you want to find Anna? And Jamie, too. Or do you want to be another private school that doesn’t protect its female students?’

Roger bristled. ‘Ladies, as I have said, Congreve had no control or knowledge of Anna’s leaving.’ He turned to Maggie. ‘In fact, the responsibility for her departure lies completely with you, since you were the one who took her from campus, and though we –’

‘Now wait one minute –’

‘– understand your emotionality in the circumstances –’

‘You think I’m emotional?’ Maggie interrupted again, angry. ‘This is me, calm. You haven’t seen me emotional. Do you even have a heart? You’re going to blame me for the fact that someone took my daughter and impersonated her? You’re going to stand on some legal technicality so you don’t have to care about her?’

Kathy nodded. ‘Yeah, Roger, I’m a teacher and I know you stand in the position of a parent here, in loco parentis. You’re responsible for her and you should be ashamed of yourself.’