Forest of Silence by Kate Gable

Author:Kate Gable [Gable, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

“Absolutely not. I can’t allow it.”

I’m going to need some serious dental intervention by the time this is over. I can hear my teeth grinding together as I stand in front of President Winter’s desk once again. “I’m only asking whether I can speak to Lila’s friends again. They were understandably distraught when I first visited, and at the time, I wasn’t sure of the direction my questions should take. It was a very vague, first impression sort of interview.”

“An interview which should never have taken place to begin with.” He wipes his glasses, scoffing. “And I made sure our Dean of Girls is well aware of my feelings.”

I hate to think of a nice lady getting into trouble, but I have bigger problems now. “Sir, I am an FBI agent conducting an investigation.”

“Into the disappearance of a girl with no ties to this school.” He sighs while sliding his glasses back into place, almost as if he genuinely feels sorry. “If you couldn’t get the answers you needed, I’m afraid that’s not my problem.“

There go my teeth again. It’s bad enough the man kept me waiting for more than an hour outside his office for the opportunity to speak with him again. An hour I spent frantically emailing my latest discoveries over to Captain Felch and explaining the hold up. An hour wasted while Camille is still out there somewhere.

“With all due respect.” I stiffen my spine and roll my shoulders back. It’s a move I learned a long time ago, a slight change in posture that always serves to give me a little extra confidence when I can feel it slipping away. “I would never walk into your office and tell you how to do your job, sir. And unless you’ve trained in law-enforcement and how to investigate a case …”

When he waves a hand, it’s not only my confidence that’s slipping away. It’s my self-control. I cannot afford to alienate this man, but he seems determined to make sure I do just that. The audacity! Imagining he knows the first thing about how to approach a situation like this.

“Yes, yes, I’m sure it’s very layered and what have you. It does not change the fact that the last thing these girls need at a time like this is constant pestering from the police. They’ve been through trauma. Why rehash it?”

“Is the possibility of finding Lila’s murderer not enough?”

“I hope you’re not insinuating the school does not care to uncover who is behind this.”

And if I did? He’s certainly not doing much to change my mind. “No, sir. That’s not what I’m driving at. But what I saw on that footage gives me a reason to believe Lila was planning to run away.”

He scoffs, shaking his head. “Lila was the textbook definition of a fine student, and a reliable” young woman.”

“Yes, from all reports, that’s exactly who she was. But the footage doesn’t lie, President Winters. I watched that girl climb a wall to get out of here with her backpack slung over her shoulder.

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