And Then is Heard No More by Raye Anderson

Author:Raye Anderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781773240893
Publisher: Signature Editions
Published: 2021-06-16T20:58:34+00:00

15

Chloe Delaney shared space with a couple of other students in an apartment in a red brick walk-up, not unlike the one that Alison Beck lived in. It was in the same area of the city but was not near the river and was decidedly shabbier. Chloe was not at home, a roommate told Izzy McBain, eyeing her suspiciously around the door. “She’s in class. I think.”

Izzy drove to the university and found her way across campus from the parkade, past students bustling to class and others lounging in hallways. She knew her way around campus. She’d done a degree in criminology, straight out of high school. The place hadn’t changed all that much. She cut through a building, down a long corridor, past closed doors, voices droning inside, then followed a path that passed between grassy lawns and trees. Raindrops dripped down. The few students outside had their shoulders hunched. The rain had stopped but a wind had got up. Izzy pulled up the collar of her jacket and tucked her ponytail in so it wouldn’t blow into her face.

The Fine Arts building was newish, grey and glassy outside but inside it seemed grubby. So did its students, most of them dressed in shabby clothes, dark coloured, many spattered with paint. They carried large boards under their arms or lugged heavy backpacks. One of them showed her the way to the office. He pointed with ink-stained fingers.

A middle-aged woman frowned up at her from behind a computer. Izzy announced who she was and held up her ID. The woman hauled herself to her feet and reluctantly approached the front desk. Two other clerks, similarly engaged behind their computer screens, took notice but stayed where they were. Izzy realized that they had thought she was just another student. She should have braided her hair and fastened it up, like she did when she was in uniform. She explained that she needed to find Chloe Delaney. The woman sniffed.

“We don’t give out private information,” she informed her. Izzy tipped her head to one side.

“I need to speak to her,” she insisted. The woman did not budge. Another, older, called to her.

“Martha,” she said. “She’s police. You can make an exception.” Martha obliged, but took her time looking up the day’s class records. Eventually she placed a printout in front of Izzy. It showed that Chloe Delaney should be in a pottery class right now. There was a room number.

“Where do I find it?” asked Izzy. The woman indicated double doors to her right.

“Down there. To the end. Then turn left.” She watched Izzy go, watchful and wary as a guard dog.

In the hallways of this building, most doors had a window. Izzy glanced into some as she passed. In one, students stood at large easels, painting. In another, they sat astride small wooden benches, their drawings propped in front of them. In a third, cut-out photographs were being picked through and discussed. Izzy had never seen anywhere quite like it. The hallways were mostly empty.

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