Night School: Legacy

Stricken, she stared at him. How could he not believe me?

Reading her expression he held out his hands. ‘I looked, Allie. There was nobody there. Isn’t this just like the other night in the woods when you thought you saw someone?’ She opened her mouth to argue but before she could speak he continued, his tone gentle. ‘Nobody can blame you for seeing things. You’ve been through a lot.’

‘It. Was. Him.’ She emphasised each word, anger making her voice ring.

‘Enough.’ Isabelle sounded angry. ‘Come with me, Allie. Everybody else get on with your evening unless we call for you.’

Her shoes tapped a furious staccato beat on the polished wood floor as they hurried down the hall to her office. Flipping the light switch, she pointed at a chair. ‘Sit. I’ll come back for you in a few minutes. Do not leave this room.’ Then she closed the door behind her.

For what seemed like a long time, Allie was left alone with her thoughts. Over and over again she tried to recall exactly what she’d seen. What if she’d been wrong. But it had been so clear. She was sure it was Gabe.

Dropping her head to her knees she thought about the way Carter had looked at her – the doubt on his face. How he’d talked to her like she was losing it.

Thinking about it made her feel sick, and she jumped to her feet and paced the small windowless room, trying to think about something else. Maybe by now they’d found Gabe. Maybe that’s what was taking so long. Then they’d all apologise and everything would be OK again.

Her pacing journey took her to the door, and she leaned against it to listen. She could hear footsteps and voices – nobody sounded agitated or concerned, so whatever was happening, it wasn’t too dangerous. Then she paced again.

From the wall with the tapestry of a maiden and a white horse to the back wall was seven steps at a diagonal. She’d traversed it one hundred and twelve times when she heard Isabelle speaking to somebody outside the door. Allie pressed her ear to the door to listen.

‘I know you’re busy …’

Sylvain’s voice.

‘I am. What is it?’ Isabelle’s tone was short. She sounded stressed.

‘I heard what Paul said earlier – that he found no footprints in the dirt outside the window.’ Sylvain’s French accent was thicker than usual. It got that way when he was upset. ‘That doesn’t mean Gabe wasn’t there. Remember how well trained he is. He would know where to stand in order not to leave footprints. There is a narrow ledge of stone at the base of the wall, he could have—’

‘Thank you, Sylvain.’ Isabelle’s clipped voice cut him off; Allie ground her teeth in frustration as she pressed her forehead against the door.

What he was saying made sense. Why …?

At that moment, the door opened with a jerk, and she jumped back.

Her expression unreadable, Isabelle gestured for her to follow. ‘Please come with me.’

In tense silence they retraced their steps down the now-bustling hallway; Allie watched the headmistress’ inexpressive back with growing concern.

Isabelle held the dining hall door open for Allie then closed it behind her. Now empty, the room was still redolent of dinner; smells of roast pork lingered unpleasantly. But the tables had been cleared and Allie could hear faint voices from the kitchen as Isabelle led her back to the table where she’d sat earlier that night.

‘Now.’ To Allie’s relief, the headmistress didn’t sound angry any more. ‘Let’s go over this again without everybody telling you what to think. Where were you sitting?’

For a moment, Allie’s mind went blank. The emptiness of the room was disorienting. With a steadying breath, she forced herself to calm down and visualise the room full.

She pointed to one of the seats facing the row of tall windows.

‘There.’

‘Sit please,’ Isabelle said, ‘as you did during dinner.’

Allie perched on the edge of the chair, watching as Isabelle walked across the room to the windows.

‘Tell me again. In which window did you see the face?’ Isabelle asked.

‘That one.’ Allie pointed. ‘Third from the left.’

‘This one?’ Isabelle stood in front of the window and Allie nodded.

‘And where in the window?’

‘Lower left hand corner,’ Allie said.

Isabelle studied the glass, lightly touching it in one spot with her fingertips before turning back.

‘Now. What was Gabe doing when you saw him?’

Allie’s heart leapt. ‘You believe me?’

‘There’s a clear mark on the other side of glass. He got too close – he pressed his nose against the pane.’ Isabelle sat down in a chair near her. ‘What was he doing?’