Change Of Season (61 page)

He checked his phone, frowning at the lack of messages.  Veronica and Gretchen had both told him she was in terrible shape, but it still seemed odd to not hear from Autumn. 
Tonight, after I talk to this Ben guy
, he promised himself.  She slept so little at night these days; he’d give her the safety of daylight hours to recuperate. 

He flipped through the media folder, opening up a picture from Christmas Eve.  Autumn was laughing with her father, fighting over the bag of Scrabble tiles from their game.  This was the life she deserved: bright with love and laughter. 

I’ll find the way out for you
, he vowed. 
I’ll bring you back into the light
.

***

If Andrew could say nothing else for this mystery Ben person, he was prompt.  He and Veronica had convened at five-forty, discussing their questions and approach before heading upstairs to the Criminology stacks, where Ben was already waiting for them.  His hair was tipped in blue, as Autumn had described it to Veronica, although the colour was washed out.  What struck Andrew quickly in meeting him was the concern in the man’s eyes. 

He’s worried about her
, Andrew realized.  Whether or not he was delusional or simply paranoid about the asylum history of the school, he was sincere in his concerns for current students he deemed at risk.  It was a common ground he could build upon while interrogating him.

"We have a room," he said quietly, leading them towards the independent study areas in the far corner of the floor.  "Thirty minutes."

"And if we need more time?" Veronica asked.

"You won’t."

Ben held open the door to room eight, which was labeled with a maximum capacity of four individuals.  Andrew suddenly regretted telling Veronica not to break her confidence and involve Evan.  Three versus one would have ensured better odds for uncovering the truth.  Settling into the chair opposing them, Ben dropped his backpack onto the empty seat, patiently waiting for Andrew and Veronica to speak.

"Thank you for meeting us today," Veronica began warmly.  "We’re really worried about Autumn’s safety and well-being, and we had some questions for you."

"Where is Autumn?"

"At home sick," Andrew replied.

"That’s a very good thing.  The less she’s on campus, the better.  If I ruled the world, she’d drop out immediately, before anything happened to her," Ben said anxiously.  "Ask away."

Veronica exchanged a look with Andrew, who nodded, encouraging her to begin.  They were taking the traditional good cop-bad cop approach with Ben – Veronica playing to the stereotypical emotional woman, with Andrew as the rational no-bullshit type.  With any luck, it wouldn’t come to threats or intimidation.

"Autumn showed us the notes you gave her before, about all of the missing students from campus.  She also was saying you believed that the campus was cursed.  Could you explain exactly what curse that is?"

Ben nodded eagerly.  "Absolutely, although I have to say that my own theories might be shifting now."

"How so?" Andrew interjected.

"Let me start with my hypotheses, and get to that.  It’ll make more sense," Ben insisted.  "Back before the Centre For Addiction and Mental Health – CAMH for short – was the big mental health facility on the block, there were several asylums in Ontario.  Humber College has recently expanded onto the grounds of one.  Casteel Preparatory Academy has become very wealthy off of the relatively cheap purchase of the land and existing buildings that once comprised the Bronte-Appleby Regional Mental Hospital.  The dining hall was once a gymnasium for exercise.  Pearson and MacDonald residences housed those being treated here.  There was another residence, but they tore it down to build the Administrative building.  Now, asylums were and often still are terrible places in many cases.  If you’ve ever watched
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
– or better, read it – you know what I mean by that."

Taking a large mouthful of water from the bottle in his bag, he continued.  "So, Casteel buys this place in the ‘60s and converts it to a snooty school for rich people’s kids.  It eventually grew, added more dorms, fueled by the alumni cash and tuition.  The arts specialty expanded over time to encompass more areas of study.  Now, people who’ve died in unpleasant ways often tend to linger around the place they died, and Casteel is haunted.  There’s video and dozens of witnesses that we know of."

"Where does this tie to the girls?" Andrew asked, growing impatient.  "And what about this new theory?"

Ben sighed.  "Getting to that now.  I told Autumn that my investigation began in 2007, when Alyssa Patterson disappeared.  It just wasn’t right, and she’d complained of being stalked or watched for months prior.  I began snooping in the school files and discovered that although some other students ran off here and there, a very distinct pattern emerged in winter:  every odd numbered year, a girl with red hair disappeared, or in the case of Nikki, ended her life.  I traced it backwards to 1999.  As far as I was concerned, it was too much of a coincidence.  Given the school’s history and the fact that several of them stayed in Pearson Hall, I added the ghosts up.  2011 was the first year off pattern, which made me hopeful it was all in my head.  That is, until Autumn emailed me.  I took one look at her and saw the resemblance immediately."

"This is really important:  has anyone else contacted you in the last six months about all of this?" Andrew asked. 

Ben shook his head.  "Just the two of you and Autumn.  Bringing her up, I have to tell you two something that I kept from her:  two days before Nikki... she came to see me."

Veronica’s breath hitched and Andrew touched her arm, comforting her.  "Nikki talked to you before she died?"

Ben nodded.  "She was really anxious and paranoid, certain she was next on a hit list.  Said ghosts were following her around campus, asked about how to get rid of them.  I directed her to a Pagan guy I knew via email, but she was in a really rough way.  She hadn’t slept in days, from what I could tell."

"Sounds like Autumn," Veronica murmured.

"In which case, she’s in serious danger.  The problem is, I don’t know if the danger is human," Ben admitted.  "Autumn emailed me the other day and asked for information that disturbs the hell out of me, truth be told."

Andrew frowned. "What information?  Veronica, did she mention this to you?"

Veronica shook her head.  "Not a word."

"She was asking about teachers who’d been students at Casteel," Ben explained.  "She mentioned Grant and when I saw the dates in his history, my blood ran cold.  It would be incredibly easy to take advantage of the campus and its history to prey on young women.  I’m waiting on a reply from a source who works in the office this year.  I also asked him to cross-reference last year, since the pattern broke.  See if anything jumped out."

"Could you let me know too, once you get an answer?" Veronica asked.

"No problem.  Look, I really want this pattern to end at 2009.  Autumn fits the profile down to every detail:  Behavioural Reform program; her appearance matches; she strikes me as a loner.  You need to be alert.  The disappearances seem to happen between January 1st and February 18th, so that’s your window."  Ben rose slowly to his feet, zipping up his bag.  "If there’s anything else I can do to help, please email me.  I really don’t want another name on my list, especially if Autumn’s onto something with this teacher business."

"So... a teacher really could have..."  Veronica visibly blanched.  "I mean, I suggested it, but I guess I didn’t really
believe
it."

Ben sighed deeply.  "It never occurred to me, and I wish it had.  Maybe Nikki would still be here.  But the past can’t be undone.  It was good to meet both of you, even if under horrible circumstances.  I’ll email you when I know more, Veronica."

"Thanks," Andrew said quietly.  "I appreciate the help."

With a little nod, Ben slipped out of the room, leaving the two of them seated at the empty table, stunned.  Andrew considered himself a good judge of character, and Ben was a decent person.  He hadn’t tipped off anyone, Chris included.  He was the only person, aside from them, who cared about these girls and wanted answers.  His devotion was admirable.

"What do we do?" Veronica asked quietly.

"First, we give thanks that Autumn got sick and was sent home.  That gives us the weekend to learn as much as we can to protect her," Andrew said.  "We’re going to have to piss her off, though."

"How so?"

"We need muscle, more eyes.  We’re going to have to tell Evan."

Veronica nodded slowly.  "Yeah, it’s time.  She’s like a little sister to him.  Plus, keeping all of this inside is too hard for me.  He keeps asking why I’m down and I just keep pointing at Chris stalking Autumn.  I don’t think he’s buying it anymore."

"Where is he now?"

"It’s twenty after six, so he’s probably just finishing up in the pool," Veronica replied. 

Andrew nodded, rising quickly.  "Then we’d better hustle to Athletics."

The two of them walked briskly across the snow-dusted quad, Veronica absently toying with the sleeves of her coat as they moved.  Andrew couldn’t find the energy to console her, his mind fixated on Ben’s words. 
Even he suspects that the teacher theory is viable, and he knows this story better than anyone
.  Could Professor Grant actually be a killer? 

A loner
, Andrew began listing. 
No family, keeps to himself among faculty.  Dislikes Autumn.  Has been here for every single girl’s death or vanishing act
.  Swallowing hard, he added,
Biologist, specializing in anatomy
. 
Skulks around the tunnels
.  It was undeniable:  he was the number one suspect, not Chris. 

"This way," Veronica said, opening a side door.  "He comes out this way every time.  We won’t miss him."

They walked briskly down the sloping corridor, taking a right at Veronica’s direction.  At the end of the hall a door swung open, revealing Evan and his teammate Brendan, chatting casually.  As Evan glanced forward he froze.

"Veronica?  What’s wrong?"

"We need to talk.  Privately," she added.

"Brendan, sorry man.  Rain check on the
Black Ops
," Evan said, waving them closer.  "This way."

The two of them moved past Brendan with the faintest acknowledgement of his presence that would pass as polite.  Evan’s arm immediately wrapped around Veronica’s shoulder as he led the way down a corridor to the left.

"What is it?" he asked anxiously.  "You look scared, both of you."

"We’ll explain.  Where are we going?"

"Random lounge," Evan announced, pushing open a door on his right and holding it for them.  "Door locks.  Get inside."

Andrew settled gingerly onto a stiff sofa, fidgeting with the edge of the cushion.  Veronica threw herself into her boyfriend’s arms the moment the lock engaged, to which he responded with a tight embrace and panicked look at Andrew.

"Shh, I’ve got you," he soothed her.  "I don’t understand.  Is Autumn okay?"

"For now," Andrew ceded nervously.

"Wait, what?"  Kissing Veronica’s forehead, he gently led her to the opposing couch.  "Tell me."

Andrew and Veronica began to detail the school’s sordid history, skimping on the names and ages of the girls and summing up the crux of the issue:  Autumn fit a pattern, and was likely in danger from a homicidal teacher on campus.  Evan’s expression shifted from concern to confusion, then rage at the thought of someone besides Autumn’s ex-boyfriend targeting her.  His body shook as he mulled over this information, eyes unseeing.  Andrew understood:  he was envisioning all of the terrible ends she could meet as well.

"She made me promise not to tell you," Veronica said between sobs.  "But we need to work together to protect her, and she can get over it."

"No, I’m glad you told me," Evan replied.  "Fuck, a teacher?  How the hell has this gone on so long without anyone else noticing?"

"Troubled girls on a prestigious private campus going missing?  Not good for business," Andrew suggested bitterly.  "Never mind that no one cares about troublemaking teens, especially women.  It was ‘good riddance, fill the dorm room’ and that was that."

"I’m just so glad she’s at home after what Ben said," Veronica exclaimed, running a hand through her tangled hair.  "I kinda hope she stays home."

"Oh, did she go home today?" Evan asked.

"No, yesterday," Andrew said. 

"Um, no, she was here yesterday," Evan corrected him.  "I know she was."

Andrew’s heart skipped a beat as he leaned forward.  "How do you know?"

"George told me so.  He went by her room last night to drop off our next novel study and some Vitamin Water."  Evan froze, glancing at Veronica’s ashen face.  "You didn’t know this?"

"Professor Kearney told me she went home yesterday morning," Veronica said quietly.  "He told me to hang onto her handouts until Monday."

Andrew bolted from his seat, throwing open the lounge door and running down the hallway.  Behind him, Veronica and Evan struggled to keep pace, but he wasn’t about to wait.  Two teachers, two different stories:  which was true?  Was Autumn still on campus – incapacitated and weak, no less? 
Oh, shit!  She could be on medications!  She might not even realize what was happening before it happened
.