Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Mick
I lengthen my steps as I march through the gate of the high school. Not surprisingly, Melissa was called in after Ashley skipped classes yesterday. She messaged me in a panic this morning and begged me to accompany her. Since today is Davo’s birthday, there’s no way I can let her face the principal alone.
The door to the office is ajar. I eavesdrop to gauge the mood.
“Mrs Stephenson, I have no choice but to suspend Ashley.”
Not on my watch.
I shove through the opening, ignoring the receptionist as she wobbles down the hallway in high-heels, arms waving. No doubt she’s trying to stop me. Too late.
A tall figure with salt and pepper hair peers over his silver-framed glasses at Melissa, his hands clasped at the back of his head, looking as ostentatious as the huge cedar desk he sits behind. Is this where our tax dollars go? Melissa’s slumped in her seat while Ashley stares sullenly at the floor.
The man rushes to stand. “What’s the meaning of this? ”
The receptionist hovers in the doorway, wringing her hands. “Sorry, sir, I couldn’t stop him.”
“Principal Evans, I presume. I’m Mick Williams.”
He ignores my outstretched hand and gestures to the door. “This is a family matter.”
I lower my arm. “Melissa’s not on trial. She has a right to support.”
Ashley snorts. I glare, willing him to keep his mouth shut. He lowers his head, but not before I note the blown pupils and blotches of red staining the whites of his eyes. Silly kid is high.
Principal Evans puffs his chest out and stares me down. I stare back at him with the expression I used on crims when I was a cop. If he wants a pissing contest, I’ll give him one. His gaze wanders over my suit and tie and returns to my face. Whatever he sees must convince him I’m no pushover. Typical bully. He waves the receptionist away and gestures for me to take a seat.
“We don’t tolerate drugs.” He glances at Ashley. “Or truancy.”
Ashley’s head whips up, his lips twisted into a snarl. “You searched my bag, and you found nothin’.”
Thank Christ for that.
The principal’s jaw tightens. “It’s obvious the boy’s on something.”
I agree, but he won’t get a confirmation from me. “That’s a serious accusation.”
A tic starts up in his cheek. He’ll have a stroke if he doesn’t release some pressure soon.
Ashley bolts out of his chair. “This is fucked.”
Melissa flinches as if she’s been struck. “Ashley!” She turns to me, her wide eyes begging for help, but the key part of any negotiation is to stay calm. So, I give her a reassuring smile and wait to see how the principal reacts, although I already have a good idea .
Evans bangs the table with his fist. “Get out. This is the third time you’ve missed school this year. You’re suspended for two weeks.”
Ashley’s cheeks turn bright red, and he picks his backpack off the floor.
“Hold on.” I raise my hand. “Unless there’s hard evidence of drugs, Mr Evans, I suggest you reconsider the penalty. That sounds excessive for three counts of truancy.” I keep my voice soft but firm. We’ll have lost any advantage if Ashley storms out the door.
An ugly, ruddy red creeps up the principal’s neck and across his cheeks as he focuses his attention on Melissa. She cowers in her chair, her eyes brimming with tears. Oh, no. He’s not taking this out on her.
I pat Melissa’s arm, then stand. Planting my palms on the edge of the monstrous desk, I pin the principal with a ‘don’t fuck with me’ glare. “I’m well versed in complaint processes, Mr Evans. If I find out you’ve gone harder on Ashley than you would on any other student, then you’d better be ready to explain it to your superiors.” My tone is even, but the threat is clear.
I catch Ashley’s grin from the corner of my eye. It’ll be short-lived. Because I’ve got a few words for him when we get out of here, and I won’t be holding back.
Evans clasps his hands on the desk, the white of his knuckles a sign he isn’t happy with being challenged. “Fine. He’s suspended for the rest of the week.” He glares at Ashley. “I expect you here on Monday with a different attitude.”
I suppress a snort. Ashley’s not the only one who needs an attitude adjustment.
The walk to the car park is silent. Drizzle blankets the playground in grey and more grey. When we reach Melissa’s car, I block Ashley from sliding into the passenger seat. “Why’d you do it?”
“Why not? ”
There’s always a reason. Sure, he doesn’t have a dad, but his mother’s done her best to give him a stable, loving home. The situation isn’t making sense, and I think it’s more than the two punks he’s hanging around. “Are any of the other kids giving you grief?”
“Nope.”
“Teachers?”
“Nope.”
His second no is too quick, his gaze dropping to the ground.
Melissa hovers at the driver’s door.
“Give us a minute, will you?”
She nods and climbs into the car, her expression haunted.
A smirk designed to annoy me fills Ashley’s face.
I ignore it. “Can you do me a favour?”
He eyes me cautiously. He doesn’t say yes, but more importantly, he doesn’t say no.
“The Police Youth Club runs martial arts classes. If I signed you up, would you give it a go?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because it’s a great way to let off steam. Much healthier than taking drugs.” I raise my finger. “And before you lie, I wasn’t born yesterday, so let’s cut the shit.” I lower my voice even though Melissa’s inside the car and unlikely to hear. “I know you wish your dad was here, but he’s not. You’re the man of the house. Start acting like it.”
It’s not the most politically correct thing to say, and Jules would squeeze my nuts if she heard how I was speaking to the kid, but I’m running out of ideas on how to get Ashley to wake up to himself.
He scowls and kicks the ground, sending a splash of mud onto my trousers. His gaze darts to mine, gauging my reaction. I keep my expression neutral. Dirt can be washed out, but emotional wounds are not so readily cleansed, and this kid is overflowing with them .
Ashley’s lips curl upwards. “I guess it would give me the skills to beat up people who piss me off.”
I bite back a retort. The kid’s baiting me. “It’ll teach you self-control. And provide you with the confidence to ignore bullies.”
His cheeks puff, and he scrapes the ground with his shoe, but with more care this time. I’m certain he’s being harassed, and that’s encouraged him to lash out and play truant with his so-called friends. Who, though, is a different matter, but my bet is on it being someone with authority. Melissa’s a pretty woman. And alone. I make a note to find out who all of Ashley’s male teachers are. Although, the sinking feeling in my gut tells me it’s the principal himself who’s the problem.
Ashley’s teeth dig into his bottom lip. “Can I think about it?”
“Sure.” His response is encouraging. I don’t expect him to roll over immediately.
He climbs into the car and I watch Melissa drive off, my chest aching from holding in all the baggage I keep locked up tighter than Fort Knox.
Soon, Davo. Soon I’ll get your son back on track. And soon, I’ll be in a position to say goodbye to the past for good.