Chapter 38 #2
Daniel looks across at me and waves. That same shit-eating grin on his face. Jen takes the seat next to me, a look of sheer excitement on her face as she pulls me close.
“Isabelle, I’ve had a text from Sarah. She’s managed to track down two more people! I’m going to organise a meeting with them after school,” she says in an excited whisper. I smirk at Daniel, and he looks away, turning his body from me. He has no idea what’s coming for him.
As soon as school’s finished, we drive to a pub an hour away to meet with the other two women. It turns out they were at the school that Daniel moved to after Sarah. The first lady, Emma, blows me away with how strong she is. With a no-nonsense tone and almost no emotion, she
Yes, Miss
details a similar start, meeting up for drinks after work, following her to the car park, only this time Emma had been waiting for a taxi when Daniel attempted to rape her.
When she went to the police, Daniel denied all knowledge and said that they had a kiss in the car park, but that she'd been drunk and he decided not to take it any further with her, being the gentleman that he was.
Unfortunately, there was no evidence and no CCTV to back up Emma's claim.
Emma had left shortly after and is now a supply teacher moving around from school to school.
The second teacher, Georgia, had actually dated Daniel a couple of times before deciding he was not someone she wanted a relationship with.
She told us how he was too handsy, and he got aggressive when she was talking to another guy at the bar, despite the fact it was her neighbour.
When he had tried to hit her neighbour, she told him that nothing would ever happen with him again.
After this, he harassed her for another six months, groping her, making derogatory comments, making snide remarks in the staff room.
On a school trip, he pinned her against the wall and tried to kiss her again.
Unfortunately for him, Georgia had started dating a nightclub bouncer.
Daniel was off sick for four months recovering from his broken arm and never looked at her again.
After some tears, a lot of anger, and a couple more glasses of wine, both women agree to make statements
Alexandra Ravensbrook
about Daniel’s behaviour if needed, and Jen thanks them again, ensuring they have her contact details.
Emma sits next to Georgia quietly, looking down at her hands.
“Is everything okay?” Jen asks. “Do you need some fresh air?”
Emma looks at Georgia and says quietly, “Did you hear about the student?”
Georgia’s face pales, and her hand flies to her mouth.
“Oh God! Of course. That poor girl!” Georgia whispers.
“Student?” I gasp, horrified that not only had he done this to adults, but that he had targeted a student, someone who should feel safe with a teacher, a trusted adult.
Georgia goes on to explain that he had gotten one of the final-year students pregnant.
When she had said she didn’t know if she wanted to keep it, he made her agree to have a termination and threatened to fail her.
He refused to write a reference for her university application.
No one knows where this girl is now; she moved out of the area, and she didn’t even finish her exams. He ruined her life.
They had no proof of this, but it’s a well-known secret amongst the staff there.
Yes, Miss
The night had been emotional. So many stories of this man who had asserted power, of women who had been denied a chance to speak.
So many stories told but remained unheard by those who could effect change.
So many lost voices, crying out into an ignorant void about a man who abused his position of trust.
A couple of teachers had joined us by video call at the end of the gathering, all telling similar stories of a welcoming, friendly man who became increasingly overfamiliar, eventually leading to sexual harassment or sexual assault.
His behaviour was backed up by a head teacher who didn't want to deal with the fallout.
The story became so familiar by the third telling that his moves were predictable, and the feeling of nausea at being in this man's daily company was overwhelming.
As we drive home, I stare out of the car window. I think about all the women in Daniel’s past that they couldn’t find and how he had gone on to affect so many women.
Mine and James’ situation seems small in comparison, and we will get through it together. At that moment, my phone rings, and Rebecca’s number flashes across the screen. I answer the call, eager to give Rebecca an update on our evening.
“Hi, Rebecca. I’ll put you on speaker. I’m in the car with Jen.” As I place the phone in the holder, the sound of her talking fills the car.
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“Hi Isabelle.” She sounds tired, and I realise it’s getting late into the evening.
“I just wanted to let you know they’ve organised an interview tomorrow afternoon for you with somebody from the safeguarding team.
They want to talk to you about your history with James.
Would you like Jen to be there as support?
” Her voice is soft and kind, but it does nothing to quell the anxiety building inside me at the thought of this interview.
The offer of a friendly face there to support me whilst I bear my heart to a stranger is just what I need.
“Thanks, Rebecca, I appreciate the offer. Would you mind? Wouldn’t it be eating into her day?” I know Jen has a full day of teaching the next day.
“Iz, I’m here to support you and James. She can’t talk during the meeting, but she can be there for you as support. I’ll take Jen’s classes in the afternoon to free her up if you want her there.”
I look across at Jen, and Jen nods in agreement.
“That’s fine. I’m happy with that,” Jen replies.
“Thank you so much, Rebecca. You’ve been so
amazingly supportive. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Rebecca’s voice changes to a sombre tone. “Isabelle, I’ve only ever been through one of these before in a supportive context. They’re going to ask a lot of questions,
Yes, Miss
and it can get quite personal. James has his interview in the morning. He has declined to have another person there, and as the head teacher, I can’t be present. Maybe you can convince him to have someone there?”
My heart sinks at the thought of James going
through this alone. Why won’t he accept support?
I don’t know if he has any other friends, anybody from his rugby team.
I’ve never met any of them, so I shoot Vic a quick message, asking if she’s available the following morning.
It would be a couple of hours driving for her to come up, so I have everything crossed that she’s available.
Jen drops me at James’ house. I need to be with him tonight after hearing the women’s stories; I need to hold him and feel safe.
The way Daniel can turn on the charm— if James had not been there to warn me away from him, I could very well have ended up being on the list of women who suffered at his hands.
And that thought rocks me to my core.