“For?”
“Lewd conduct with a minor. We let him go immediately.”
“Did he give you any trouble or—”
“No, we had no incidents. And he was gracious when I let him go, said he understood,” the principal says, anticipating the question. “He has a son with disabilities, seemed like a decent person.”
“I need his file right away.”
The superintendent nods.
“The victims … can you think of any reason someone would want to hurt them?”
“No,” the principal says. “Maddie and Hannah were popular girls. Maddie was a senior, outgoing, kind of a queen bee, but overall a good kid. Her sister Hannah was a junior, she seemed younger than the other girls, innocent, more of an introvert. Jesse Duvall is new to our school but we’ve had no problems. I’m told she wasn’t in the same social circles as the other girls.”
Arpeggio spends another twenty minutes grilling them for background. He’s methodical, comprehensive, if not overly compassionate. When he’s through, he turns to Keller. “Special Agent Keller, any questions?”
“I need a list of everyone who’s worked in the school for the past year and everyone who worked here in 1999.”
The superintendent shifts in her chair. “You don’t think this is connected to Blockbuster, do you?”
“As Detective Arpeggio said, we have to check every angle.”
“I can get you a list,” the principal says. “It’ll take a little time. But if it helps, we have a collection of old yearbooks in the office.”
Keller nods. Yearbooks were on her checklist. “Nineteen ninety-eight through two thousand would be terrific. And last year’s.”
She has nothing else, for now. Arpeggio covered the bases, and she’s never been one to ask questions for the sake of asking questions.
“Okay,” Arpeggio says. “If someone can show us to the music room, we’ll get started.”
“Um,” the principal speaks up again, “do all four of you intend to interview the students at the same time? They’re already overwhelmed and upset…”
Arpeggio tilts his head slightly. “That’s a good point. Detective Mintz and I will conduct the interviews.”
Keller hides her annoyance at being shut out. “You want us to go talk to the custodian while you speak with the kids?” She knows the answer.
“I’d like my team involved in that,” Arpeggio says. “We’ll pull his jacket. But I suspect your shop can get the digital forensics faster, his cell records. See if he pinged near the ice cream store last night.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
The superintendent shows Arpeggio and Mintz to the interview room, and the principal walks Keller and Atticus down the hallway lined with gray lockers to the main office. There, he guides them to his connected office in the back.
“Thank you for your help, Principal Steadman,” Keller says.
“Call me Dale,” the principal replies. “On the yearbooks, you’re welcome to review them here, but it may be easier for you to take them with you.”
“That would be great, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“None at all.” He picks up the phone and asks someone to collect the yearbooks.
Keller looks around the office. A bulletin board is covered with senior pictures and notes from students.
I wouldn’t have made it without you.
I owe my admission to Princeton to you.
Team Steadman!
Off the phone now, the principal notices her eyeing the board. “The pay isn’t great but seeing these kids succeed—particularly with the obstacles many face—it’s the reason I stay.”
Keller offers a fleeting smile.
“Did you work here in 1999?” Keller asks.
“Yes,” he says without hesitation. “I was a teacher, not an administrator, back then. But yes, if you’re looking for possible connections with people who worked here in 1999, I’m one of them. And Mr. Greer, but he’s pushing eighty and I doubt he’d make much of a suspect.”
Keller smiles again.
“Anyway, I’ll check our files and make you a list of all current staff who worked here back then.”
“Did you know the girls from Blockbuster?” Keller asks.
“I’ve stayed in touch with Ella Monroe, the survivor. If you’re focusing on the case, you’ll definitely want to speak with her.”
“She’s on my list,” Keller says.