The Missing Read Free Page A

easily, but even so, I turned to the left path, running away from where people might be. The path I took looked more challenging. It led towards the middle of the woods, where the tracks were narrow and steep and tended to peter out unexpectedly in a welter of brambles and unkempt bushes. The paths nearer the road were the dog walkers’ favourites, well worn and wide. A wide, even path wouldn’t distract me from the dark beat of tension that had been thudding monotonously in my head all day with heavy, unforgiving force. I headed uphill, thinking about Jenny’s father.
    The quiet of the classroom was disturbed again, this time by scuffling outside the door, footsteps clattering up the corridor, and voices. Jenny’s classmates, 8A. There was a ripple of laughter and Michael Shepherd flinched.
    I let them in, telling them to hurry to their seats. Their eyes were round with curiosity at the sight of the head teacher and a parent; this was far better than discussing Jane Eyre . Michael Shepherd squared his shoulders as if preparing for a round in the boxing ring and faced his daughter’s contemporaries. The role of victim didn’t suit him. The desire to do something had driven him to the school. He wouldn’t wait around for the police; he would do what he thought was right and deal with the consequences later.
    Once they were all waiting in their places, silently attentive, Elaine began to speak.
    ‘Some of you will know Mr Shepherd, I’m sure, but for those of you who don’t, this is Jennifer’s father. I want you all to listen very carefully to what he has to say. If you can help him in any way, I am sure you will do so.’
    Rows of heads nodded obediently. Michael Shepherd moved to stand beside Elaine at her invitation. He looked around the room, seeming slightly confused.
    ‘You all look so different in your uniforms,’ he said eventually. ‘I know I’ve met some of you before, but I can’t quite …’
    A ripple of amusement went through the class, and I hid a smile. I’d had the same experience myself in reverse, seeing some of my students in town at the weekend. They looked so much older and more sophisticated out of uniform. It was unsettling.
    He had spotted a couple of girls he recognised. ‘Hi, Anna. Rachel.’
    They blushed and mumbled hello, simultaneously delighted and appalled to be singled out.
    ‘I know this is going to sound silly,’ he began, trying to smile, ‘but we’ve lost our daughter. We haven’t seen her for a couple of days now, and I was wondering if any of you had heard from her or if you had any idea where she is.’ He waited for a beat, but no one said anything. ‘I know it’s a lot to ask – I do understand that Jenny may have her own reasons for not coming home. But her mother is very worried, as am I, and we just want to know that she’s OK. If you haven’t seen her, I’d like to know whether anyone has spoken to her or had any contact with her since Saturday evening – a text or an email or whatever.’
    There was a muted chorus of ‘no’ from around the room.
    ‘OK, well, I’d like to ask you to check when you last heard from Jenny, and what she said. Does anyone know if she had any plans to go somewhere over the weekend? She won’t get in trouble – we just need to know that she’s safe.’
    The girls stared at him in silence. He had earned their sympathy, but no useful response. Elaine stepped in.
    ‘I want you all to think very carefully about what Mr Shepherd has asked you, and if you remember anything – anything at all – that you think we should know, I’d like you to tell us. You can talk to me in complete confidence, or Miss Finch, or you can ask your parents to call me if you feel more comfortable talking to them.’ Her face darkened. ‘I know you are all too sensible to keep quiet because of some misplaced sense of loyalty to Jennifer.’ She turned to me. ‘Miss Finch, we’ll leave you to get on with your class.’
    I could tell that