After the Eclipse by Fran Dorricott

Author:Fran Dorricott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Titan

26

“I DON’T LIKE IT.” I was in my car, avoiding putting the key in the ignition. I’d picked up a new mobile after my meeting with Jake Howden, partly so I could check up on Gran easier, and partly so I could bug Marion for an update. It was nice to hear her voice, although I wouldn’t have admitted that to anyone.

“I bet those were the first words out of your bloody mouth as a child,” Marion said. “I don’t like it.”

“Actually, I think they were I want that.” I waited for Marion’s laughter to subside, glad of the distraction from the twisting in my stomach. “I don’t like that teacher though, Marion. He’s really smarmy. And he seemed to know a lot about Bella even though he only teaches her a few times a week. And he mentioned the youth group.”

“He’s one of those charitable types,” Marion said, the smile leaving her voice. “It’s not that uncommon. And just about everybody in town and their dad has volunteered with the youth group or the Scouts or run a raffle or a charity competition. You know what Bishop’s Green is like. Anyway, he came to talk to us, not the other way around. He seems a bit invested but he’s probably just one of those teachers who thinks he’s God’s gift.”

“He might be trying to throw us off the scent by mentioning the mood ring,” I said. “If he knew you’d find out about it anyway, perhaps he was just pre-empting you?”

Marion made a sound in her throat that sounded like a dismissal.

“Maybe,” she said.

I knew Marion was probably right, but something about the man didn’t sit well with me. He was too interested. Too involved. And then there was the matter of all of his posts on Facebook and Twitter… I’d learned the hard way about ignoring my gut instinct.

“Did you alibi him?”

I virtually heard Marion roll her eyes on the other end of the phone. “Cassie, come on.”

“Well, did you?”

Marion let out a sigh. “Yes, Cassie. We did. He was with his wife when Bella was taken, getting ready for work. And he was there, at school, teaching his first class of the day at eleven. He doesn’t have a form this year – part-time, writing a book or something the rest of the time – but he claims to have been on site from nine thirty. We’re trying to confirm this now but with the eclipse everything’s a mess.”

I didn’t say anything, but it didn’t make me feel any better. Wives and lovers lie, I thought. Carol lied for my father during their affair. Helen had lied for me the first time I was accused of being rude to a deserving interviewee. I’d lied to protect Marion from the text messages. And Bella could have been taken any time from when she left her house until the register was held at the end of the eclipse – it was a two-hour window and a lot could happen in that time.

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