Wisps of Cloud by Ross Richdale Page B

Through Val hadn't really became friendlier she now usually treated her as an equal rather than one of her subordinates, the spring weather was warm and daylight saving had arrived. However, it was almost inevitable that when everyone began to think of summer the weather would turn bad for three weeks with an icy southerly blasting Wellington in its full fury. So it was on the third Wednesday of the term.
    It was almost five before she left her room and headed out to the Mazda. She noticed that only Ryan's pickup was still there and even the cleaners' cars had gone. No doubt Ryan would be doing the final rounds to see that everything was secure before heading home, too. She grinned when she thought about him. He had hinted that they should shift in permanently together; she had resisted but was fast weakening. Over the previous two weekends he had stayed at her place on both the Friday and Saturday nights and this partial arrangement helped her to separate her professional and personal life. She owned a small modern home whereas Ryan's place was an older villa at the top of a long zigzag set of stairs with no driveway access. His pickup had to be parked in his small garage cut into the bank beside a narrow windy road that much of Wellington was known for. Also there was no parking for visitors to park. He loved the villa but she preferred the access and facilities of her own place though admitted it did seem somewhat pokey when they were both there.
    Damn the wind and rain! She just about had the door handle wrenched from her hand when she opened the rear car door to deposit her box of gear inside. Just as she was about to climb into the driver's seat, the screech of a high powered car braking made her glance up.
    She recognised the BMW that pulled in beside her and the frantic looking woman who leaped out. It was Pauline McKay and her mannerism suggested that something was wrong.
    "Stephanie's missing!" Pauline had to almost shout above the roar of the wind. "Did she come back to school?"
    "Not that I know of," Karla took out her mobile phone and pressed Ryan's code. "Are there any children around the school?" she asked.
    "I don't think so," he replied. "Is there a problem?"
    "Stephanie McKay didn't get home."
    "Right. I'll skirt around the back bush area and get back." On a steep slope behind the school there was a patch of thick trees that was within the school property. It was out of bounds for pupils but on occasions children would sneak into the trees to play.
    "I was running late and phoned the school to tell her to walk home." Pauline was almost in tears. "We have a baby-sitter who is at home to look after Stephanie's pre-school brother and sister. She thought Stephanie was with me so didn't worry when she did not arrive home."
    "Right," Karla said. "Come into the staff room and I'll see if I can find out when Stephanie was last seen. Have you checked all the places she could have gone to, such as a friend's house?"
    "Yes. The three who sometimes have her at their place haven't seen her. We only live four blocks away, she's a responsible child and even though the weather's bad there are no busy roads to cross and she has walked home by herself before."
    By now they had reached the staffroom and Karla guided Pauline into a chair. She phoned Chrissy but was told that Stephanie had left her classroom as usual and was wearing her blue raincoat and little red backpack when she walked out of the coat-bay.
    "I'll phone the duty teachers," Karla said and glanced at the duty roster on the wall. There were two teachers on duty after school with one at each school entrance. As well as the main gate where cars had access to the parking area and pickup bay there was a back entrance beyond the top field with a walking track that led up to a higher road. Off this was a walking track that went up through bush-clad hills that surrounded this part of the city.
    The teacher on the main gate stated that hardly any children left the school