“We can’t discuss the case,” Brit replied.
Rebel and Brit questioned both women. Neither indicated that there was any mistreatment of their students. Like the principal, they both agreed that the school was one big, loving sisterhood.
“I’m having a hard time believing that everything here is sunshine and rainbows,” Brit said. “There are fifteen-hundred girls who attend Acorn, and everyone gets along? There’s no bullying, no mean girls?”
“None,” Penny confirmed. “This is a very safe space.”
“Everyone has a voice,” Susan echoed. “Everyone is heard and seen. Respect is very important.”
They asked a few more questions, but these women concurred with what Belva had told them. Acorn Boarding School was the epitome of utopia.
Rebel and Brit handed out their business cards.
“If you think of anything—an argument between two students, a complaint from a student, even a concerned parent—please call us,” Brit said.
“I’ll walk them out,” Susan said.
Outside Belva’s office, her assistant handed Rebel the list.
Susan escorted them to the front of the building. “Good luck with the case.”
She hurried inside as Brit and Rebel headed toward the parking lot.
“That was a complete waste of time,” Rebel bit out.
“I don’t believe them,” Brit said.
“Neither do I.”
As they were getting into the SUV, a woman hurried over. “Excuse me. Are you the FBI agents investigating the murders?”
“We are,” Brit replied.
“I’m Shawna, one of the teachers. Can I get your card?”
Brit fished one out of her bag, gave it to her. “Do you have a few minutes now to talk?”
“I have a class I have to teach.” Shawna glanced over her shoulder.
“What’s your number?” Brit asked.
“I’ll call you.” Shawna headed toward a building adjacent to the admin building.
As Rebel was driving away, Brit popped a lozenge. “I should have insisted she give me her number.”
“She’ll call you,” Rebel said.
“How can you be sure?”
“Trust me on this. She took a risk running out to us. She saw something. She knows something.”
On the ride back, Brit said, “Tell me about yourself. What was your childhood like?”
“I’m the youngest of three. I got babied by my sister and bossed around by my brother.” Rebel smiled. “I never listened to either one of ‘em.”
“Independent from the get-go,” she said. “Were you close to your parents?”
“Yeah, I’d say so. My dad coached a lot of the sports I played as a kid. When I was a freshman in high school, I got in with the wrong crowd, started drinking and doing drugs. When my parents found out, my dad told me he’d been lost in high school too, and he’d help me find my way.”
