Wisps of Cloud (27 page)

"They were victims of a serious crime and have given us permission to tell you what happened to them. Chrissy, in particular was a serious victim but due to personal circumstances refused to file a complaint. She still won't but has agreed to let us tell you about her situation."

Joanne frowned. This was becoming heavy stuff.  "Why?" she muttered.

Anne leaned forward and looked directly into her eyes. "We believe there is an extremely high chance that you will become the next victim."

Joanne sat back and paled and as the detective told her about what happened to Chrissy including her terminated pregnancy,

"Oh Jeez," she gasped. "Murray Narwood was responsible?"

"Yes. As well as your two friends, we believe there has been historical offending going back twenty or more years."

"So why has it taken so long to follow everything up?" Joanne whispered.

"Nobody filed a complaint. This is common with shame, thinking they won't be believed, fear of publicity or partners or husbands finding out. Most victims, we believe were teachers who were highly regarded in their profession who, in their opinion had too much to lose by filing a complaint. In their eyes, it was easier to get on with their lives and pretend it never happened"

"So he got away with it?"

"Precisely!"

"Jeez, Poor Chrissy. Karla too, you said."

"She was doped but Narwood never succeeded in raping her."

"And he's likely to try it with me."

"Our investigations have reached this conclusion. We know you are having a staff function at the end of this term and also know he has purchased some illegal knockout pills from a source that we have allowed to continue with the aim of entrapping him. This source will later to be raided and the owners arrested. We can charge Narwood with buying illegal drugs but want to get him on the more serious charge," Anne said. "As I stated earlier, you are perfectly within your right to refuse to help us. However, if you do decline our invitation to help, it is an offence to repeat this confidential information to anyone. If that is your choice, we would advise you not to attend your staff function." Anne produced an envelope from the satchel she had brought in with her and handed it to Joanne. "This is an open letter that Chrissy Ancell made for us to hand onto you." 

Joanne stood and found her hands were shaking as she reached for the envelope, took out the two-page document and read Chrissy's account of what had happened to her.

'Whatever you decide, Joanne, don't let that predator repeat his foul methods on you. Call me any time or, if you wish or I am prepared to visit Wellington to discuss anything in person. Warmest regards, Chrissy,'
the letter concluded.

Joanne folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope before she looked up at the detective sergeant. "I'll help," she whispered.

*

Being completely sober and seeing the antics of your colleagues was different for Joanne. She was nervous but tried not to show it at the staff party. She had several instructions from the police with the emphasis on remaining alert and not to drink. Also she was advised not to try to fake being drunk or even merry but to just try to be herself. This though, proved to be hard when everyone else was becoming cheerful and in some cases, loud.

She wore special ear-rings that included a microphone in her right ear and a speaker in her left. The police pair were also in the room a few metres away but supposedly with a different group in the quite crowded restaurant and bar. It was now late in the evening, the meal was finished and everyone had moved across to comfortable couches in the bar section. Joanne had seen Murray and said a few words to him but otherwise he had stuck with Val, Gillian and the older Noeline while the younger staff members had gathered together to chat. The live band was a good one and not so loud that conversations couldn't be heard.

"There's news. If you hear me, just nod?" said Anne's voice in her ear. "I can see you across the room."

Joanne stared around but nothing appeared out of the ordinary and Murray was not in sight. She nodded.

"Good. I think he is about to make his move. Remember to just act normally. Narwood has had a few drinks. However, he is not drunk but may play the part of being so. Remember, what we discussed if he offers you a drink."

Joanne nodded again and felt relieved to see that Leanne had moved onto a bar stool a few metres away. She appeared to be chatting with friends and completely ignored her. The wine bottle on Joanne's table was near empty but though genuine-looking, contained nothing more than coloured water and soda. When poured into a glass it looked like a red wine. It tasted bland but Joanne tipped the last from the bottle into her glass and sipped it as she would with a wine. The other teachers and their partners had dispersed but she had no idea whether they were in on the plan or it had just happened.

"Oh hi, Joanne," said a male voice. "You've been quiet this evening and not your bright self."

She jumped in fright and swing around. A bleary looking Murray stood there. He certainly looked to be quite drunk but Anne's warning came to her mind.

"Oh hello Murray," she said. Already she was on the defensive. Did he realise she was cold sober. "No I'm fine. Just a little tired I guess. "

"Going away over the Easter break?" He moved around and sat in a vacant chair across the table from her.

"A few days," she replied. "I've got a friend up in Auckland who invited me
there. She's just come back from England and I'm interested in hearing how she got on there."

"Still thinking of going there later in the year?"

She laughed. "Yes. If the Board of Trustees will give me leave. I want to come back here but plan to go for a couple of years,"

Murray stared at her and she noticed his eyes were intense. "I can swing it for you, you know. Normally the Board only holds a job for staff for a year but I'm sure I can get them to extend it to two." He glanced almost casually at her glass and the wine bottle that was almost empty. "Can I fill your glass for you?"

Jeez, it was happening! Now what would she normally say in this situation. "Just a glass will be fine, thanks. I don't need another bottle."

"You've been having red wine, I see. Another red or something else?"

"No red will be fine. I don't like to change drinks."

"Wise precaution."

Murray stood and walked across to the bar a few metres away. However, Joanne noticed that instead of going to the closest gap he walked around the oval shaped counter and disappeared from sight. He was back within a few minutes and placed a red wine in front of her. He sat down and sipped from what looked like a white wine.

"Do it just as we practised," said Anne's a voice in her ear.

Joanne noticed that Murray's eyes were on her face. She moved to tongue, found the tiny pouch behind her teeth, flicked it up and bit. Immediately a power of pepper-like substance broke into her mouth causing her to sneeze.

"Oops," she said after the second sneeze. "Excuse me a moment."

She stood up, took four steps to the bar where there was a box of tissues. She reached across to take a couple out and supposedly absentmindedly placed her drink on the bar. She blew her nose and her mind raced. She could almost feel Murray's eyes staring at her but in the same instant saw a hand replace her wine glass with an identical one. It was Leanne who again appeared to ignore her and was laughing with a guy further up the bar. She was certain that her own body hid Leanne's move from Murray behind her. Once again, this had been practised, even down to where she stood when reaching for the tissue box.

Joanne picked up her drink and returned to her seat. She sat down and used the second tissue to wipe her eyes. "Damn sneeze. Don't know what came over me."

"Probably the pollen from the floral arrangement," Murray said. "Better than the old days, though. Then, cigarette smoke filled bars such as these."

"Bit before my time," Joanne said. "Did I thank you for the wine?"

"So drink up. All the best for Easter and the holidays!" Murray held his glass up.

"All the best," Joanne said and swallowed two mouthfuls of coloured water. Now the acting!

Anne's voice was in her ear. "Reach out, grab the table and squint your eyes shut. He's watching so don't overplay."

Joanne did and as directed, placed her glass on the table and ran a tongue over her lips. Hell, she was nervous.

"It's fast acting. Complain about feeling queasy just like our practise. Wipe a hand across your brow if you understand."

"Oh hell," Joanne muttered wiped a hand across her brow and turned to Murray. "I feel a little dizzy. Must have had too much to drink."

She placed the wine down and leaned forward with her hands on the table.

"Could be," Murray sounded sympathetic but his eyes looked hard. "Is your car outside?"

Jeez, this was what Anne said he would say.

"No, I don't drink and drive so was going to take a taxi home."

"You're better than me, "Murray said. "My car's here, that's why I stayed off the hard stuff." He laughed, reached across and, horror of horrors, seized her wrists. "How are you feeling?"

"I hear every word," said Anne. "You feel a little better but the room is spinning a little."

Joanne repeated the words and noticed Murray smile.

"Look, why bother about a taxi, I'll give you that lift home."

"Protest!" Anne coached.

"But I live in Johnsonville. Its several kilometres from your place."

"No problem. If one can't help a fellow staff member…"

Acting on Anne's instructions, Joanne feigned felling ill again and accepted Murray's offer. As she walked out to his car his hand went around her shoulders and beneath her arm. Fingers touched her breast and squeezed.

She almost screamed but Anne's voice helped. "We are nearby. You're going well!"

A moment later she found the door of her principal's car open and seemingly staggered in and sat down. She laid her head back on the headrest and pretended to pass out.

Through a slit in her eyelids she saw him climb in the driver's seat and a moment later he reversed the car out of the park. "You awake, Joanne?"

"Say nothing," warned Anne. "I am in a car behind and we have another mufti car ahead. We think we know his destination is the motel we told you about but are prepared if he goes somewhere else."

"Well my young assistant, our night has just begun. The new drug works even better than the old ones. Cost me a small fortune but if they stimulate your body, you'll be crying for gratification by the time we get there."

Terror hit Joanne! What if the police didn't get to her on time or he realised she was not drugged. Oh hell, she literally felt ill!

"We'll be there in ten minutes," the man said as they drove through the night.

"We're still behind you," said Anne's voice. "However, he's heading across town and not to the motorway as we expected."

A few moments later Joanne sneaked a peep through her eyelids when the car slowed and turned into basement car park. She couldn't stop her body shaking for this was not the motel everyone expected him to use.

"My new uptown apartment," Murray whispered. "Not even the wife knows about it." He laughed and swung into a park, opened his door and walked around to her side.

No sound reached her ear. Damn, in here the radio was out of range. Joanne was terrified and ready to kick out and make a run for it when the man opened the door.  No, she got this far. The police were close. She had the advantage that he thought she was drugged. She grimaced and decided to continue her acting.

The door opened and she felt herself being lifted out.

They reached an elevator and she felt cold fear rise in her body. Once inside the elevator, nobody could help her. What if he attacked her there?

The lights above the door came towards the 'B' for basement but stopped on '1' before continuing down. The door slid open and Joanne almost cried. Leanne Soper walked out and brushed past, again like a stranger.

Murray carried her in and placed her on floor. Just as the door began to slide shut a hand appeared and it slid open. Anne Te Rangi walked in. She glanced down at her as if seeing a girl almost laying on an elevator floor was perfectly natural and faced the door away from them.

"Your floor Ma'am?" Murray asked

"Pardon!" Anne replied.

"What floor do you want the lift to stop at?"

"Of course. I'm going to the top, Thank you."

Joanne saw him push the '6' and the '12', the top floor and the elevator rose.

At the sixth floor it stopped and Murray reached down to hoist her up. "You can walk now," he said. "My friend had a little too much to drink," he said to Anne.

"It happens," a bored sounding Anne replied. Without warning, her whole mannerism changed. She slapped the stop button on the elevator and held her hand up slightly. From out of nowhere, two burly policemen appeared and grabbed an unsuspecting Murray by the arms.  "Murray Narwood, I am Detective Anne Te Rangi. You are under arrest for kidnapping, attempted sexual violation and the use of illegal drugs." She turned to one of the police officers who had already had Murray handcuffed in the corridor. "Read him his rights, Constable and get him out of my sight. A night in the police cells before I interview him in the morning won't do him any harm."