Read Online Blood of the Innocents by Chris Collett - Free Book Online

graphic design or illustration.’
    ‘How did Yasmin seem at your class yesterday afternoon? ’
    ‘Fine. The girls seem to like the club. It’s a chance to relax and shake off the shackles of prescribed coursework.’ A twinkle gleamed in his eye. Despite appearances, maybe there was a rebellious streak in there after all.
    ‘She hadn’t fallen out with anyone?’
    Goodway shook his head. ‘You know what youngsters are like. Even if she had I doubt that I would know. It may be a more relaxed class, but I don’t fool myself that any of the girls would share much with an old fogey like me.’
    Mariner wasn’t so sure. ‘Why do you think Yasmin’s parents weren’t keen on her staying for the graffiti club?’
    ‘They’re naturally protective of her. The club runs throughout the year and in the winter months it can mean the girls getting home well after dark. Yasmin had a longer journey than most.’
    ‘What changed their minds?’
    Goodway shrugged as if it was no big deal. ‘I had a chat with them and they’re reasonable people.’
    Not what Suzanne seemed to be saying, but then the adult perspective would be a different one. ‘Thanks, Mr Goodway.’
    They were nearly out of the door when Goodway called after them, uncertainly. ‘Yasmin’s a good kid. I hope she turns up soon.’
    Mariner turned back. ‘So do we, Mr Goodway. So do we.’
     
    ‘He seems like a very committed teacher,’ Mariner remarked, as Mrs Darrow walked them back through the school.
    ‘He’s inspirational, a real Mr Chips. We don’t get many of those any more. I think having had his own teenage children helps him to stay in tune with the girls.’ She was full of admiration. ‘We’ll be sorry when he goes.’
    ‘Goes? He seems a little young for retirement.’
    ‘Mr Goodway wants to spend more time with his family,’ was all Mrs Darrow would say.
    From the art department Mrs Darrow took them to Yasmin’s locker, opening it with a master key. It revealed little. The inside of the door was lined with the ubiquitous teen posters of pop stars and TV presenters, none of whom Mariner recognised. A wad of drawings or a sketchpad fell out and scattered on the floor. The drawings were good. Some of the same ‘body art’ that they had seen in the classroom. On the face of it they’d learned little to progress their search, except perhaps to learn that Mr and Mrs Akram hadn’t been entirely candid with them.
    They were standing directly underneath the bell when it rang deafeningly, signalling the end of the day. Through the open door of the classroom opposite, they watched girls filing out, dipping into a bright red plastic crate on the way.
    ‘Retrieving their mobile phones,’ Mrs Darrow explained. ‘The things are a nightmare. We tried banning them completely at first, but it was hopeless as practically all the girls have them. Parents complained too that they needed to know that their daughters were safe. Ironic, given this current situation. So, instead, most teachers collect them in at the beginning of each lesson, to remove any temptation to use them.’
    ‘Couldn’t the girls just switch them off?’
    ‘Not with text messaging. The girls can be holding lengthy conversations without staff even knowing. It’s a distraction we can do without.’
    ‘Do any ever get left behind?’
    Mrs Darrow knew what he was getting at. She shook her head. ‘Very rarely. It’s amazing. These girls might lose everything else: clothing, books, jewellery, you name it, but their phones seem to be surgically attached. The few that are get put in lost property. You’re welcome to have a look.’ They did, but of the couple of outdated units that were there, neither could be identified as Yasmin’s.
    ‘Well, thank you for your time.’
    ‘Not at all, Inspector. Whatever we can do to help.’
     
    ‘I don’t get it,’ said Millie as they drove from the school.
    ‘How can someone just disappear?’
    ‘If she wants to, it’s easy.’