Latent Danger (On the Line #2)(9)

Shauna nodded. “That gives us a starting point. If you can get us the contact information for the three she was closest with, we’ll reach out to the parents and begin with them.”

Carville nodded. “Good, good.” He seemed a little lost, before offering. “My secretary can get you Hillary’s parents’ information. I’ve arranged for you to speak with Kate and Liz here with one of our counselors present.”

Shauna schooled her features and noticed Zach and Ronan had done the same. It wasn’t at all standard for law enforcement to interview students at school unless the matter in question related to the school or had taken place on school property. And not having the parents present during interviews set her on edge. It was asking for trouble.

“Oh? Why is that?” she asked.

“Their parents won’t be able to be present. Kate’s mother is the United States Ambassador to Oman. Kate stays in our dormitories on campus during the months her father visits Oman to be with her mother.”

“I didn’t realize you have on-campus housing.” Now it was Shauna’s turn to frown. She’d thought the school was for day students only.

“We don’t have many students that reside on campus,” Carville said. “Of our three hundred and ninety-four students, eighty-two live in the dormitories. I’ve received permission from Kate and Liz’s parents for you to speak with them with our counselor present. They trust the school to be in loco parentis in their absence.”

Zach circled back to the absent parents. “You said Liz’s parents are also unavailable. Where are they?”

“Liz’s parents travel extensively. I believe they’re currently in Nepal. She resides in the family home with a staff to see to her needs and is driven to school and home each day by a driver.” He frowned again. “No, I guess now she has her license, come to think of it. She probably drives herself.” He said all this as if it were normal for a child to live like that and Shauna didn’t bother to hide her expression this time. Who lived like that?

“Does she have siblings?” She couldn’t help but ask. How would the girl feel being left with staff all the time? Especially at a time when one friend had gone missing and another was discovered murdered?

The head of the school looked confused for a moment before answering. “If she does, they don’t attend school here.”

Shauna had to admit to being a little stunned at the lack of concern the man seemed to have for a high school girl living the way he was describing. She opened her mouth to press him on it, but Zach cut her off.

“Did Adrienne have a boyfriend?”

Carville rubbed his forehead. “I’m not sure who she’s dating now. No one serious that I’m aware of, but the teachers are more in touch with that sort of thing than I am. It seems to me that group of girls has each dated several of the hockey players.” His frown was back and Shauna wondered if the man ever smiled. Then again, they were talking about one of his students being murdered. Maybe she’d been at this job too long if she expected any smiles in this conversation.

“Kate or one of the other girls can tell you who she was seeing. But, it’s not like it used to be. These days, relationships are a little more, uh, fluid. You don’t see kids going steady any longer like we did. They, uh, hook up, I think they call it. We have to be constantly vigilant to any, uh...” He flinched and Shauna wanted to flinch herself. The man seemed so utterly uncomfortable, it made her want to squirm just watching him. She fully expected the word shenanigans to come out of his mouth, but he just let the sentence trail off instead.

Zach didn’t seem phased. “Have you had any problems on campus? Anyone around who shouldn’t be here? Anyone you’ve had to escort out lately?”

Carville shook his head. “No. We don’t have issues like that. The campus might not be gated, but it’s quiet around here and our staff is watchful for that sort of thing. Nothing of note has happened.”

“Has Adrienne had a falling out with anyone that you know of? Any trouble with anyone? A student or teacher?” Zach pressed.

Another head shake. “No, nothing that I’m aware of.”

“We’ll need a list of employees, particularly anyone new here in the last six to eight months.”

Carville’s brows went up but he nodded. “Right, right.” He looked to the ceiling. “Carl Raines is new. He joined us about four months back. He’s on the maintenance staff. And Manuel Ortiz came on board two months ago. He’s an assistant coach with the hockey team and teaches in our mathematics department. Trigonometry and advanced calculus.”

Ronan pulled another of the small notepads he’d been jotting notes in from his coat pocket and slid it, along with a pen, across the table. “Can you write their names for me?”

“Sure, sure.” Carville penned the names in neat, block letters then added a third. “Nancy Smith is new as well. Actually, she’s temporary. She’s filling in for one of the English teachers out on sabbatical. She’s substituted for us over the years, but she’s filling in now for the rest of the year.”

Ronan nodded as Carville passed the notebook back, and Shauna spoke. “We’ll need the full list, as well, but if you think of anyone else who’s new, let us know.”