Chapter 10
Markland Garraway’s home
October 2nd
2.10 p.m.
Markland woke with a shudder. He’d fallen asleep in the lounge, slept through lunch and was annoyed with himself for doing so. He glanced at his watch and sighed. His clothes were crumpled and he was a mess. He stood up and looked at his reflection in the mirror above the mantelpiece. He hadn’t shaved and didn’t look his best.
He’d intended to have shower and shave after he’d finished working in the garden, but instead, had crashed out in the lounge and wasted most of the day. Luckily he’d made no plans. Not that he made many plans these days. He was pulling himself out of a depression that had the habit of rearing its head every once in a while. He knew why his mood was low. It was because he’d expected more from the evening he’d had with Joan yesterday. He’d hoped for something more positive to come out of their reunion. He needed to remind himself it was early days and he had to be patient. He had to take one step at a time.
He walked away from the mirror and headed up to the bathroom. In the hallway he saw another envelope had been pushed through his letter box. Just like the one he’d received yesterday, the new envelope had his name written in felt pen.
Nervously, he opened it. Inside was another piece of lined note paper which, like the other one, had been folded in half. He unfolded the note and read the short message.
I waited for you at the hill, but you didn’t turn up. I really need to speak with you. We need your help. I’ll be there again tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Markland screwed the note into a ball and threw it on the floor. He closed his eyes and thoughts of the woods filled his mind. Just the idea of the place made him nauseous. It was the last place he ever wanted to set foot in. Going there would evoke strong memories and there was a very good chance that his depression would return. He had a new job to look forward to and he wasn’t going to let anything stop him along the continuing path to recovery. He wasn’t going to screw this up. His counsellor had suggested that Markland should return to Badock’s Wood and face his fears, as it may help him overcome his anxieties. He disagreed. The further he was away from that place, the better.
Although he had no plans to go to the woods, he was intrigued by who it could be who had posted the notes through his door. Whoever it was seemed very insistent. And whoever it was knew where Markland lived. He wondered why the person hadn’t just knocked on his door and spoken with him.
Probably just an attention seeker, thought Markland, dismissing the whole thing.
After he’d showered and shaved he felt a lot better. He’d not eaten since breakfast and was starving. He made himself a late lunch and sat in front of the television with an omelette. He was about to take his first mouthful but was interrupted by his phone. He glanced at the screen. It was a local number which he didn’t recognise.
“Hello”
“Hi, is this Mr Garraway?”
“Speaking.”
“This is Anton Bueller, from Compton Wells School. I received your email this morning and I thought I’d give you a quick call to see if you were free this afternoon.”
“Hi Anton, and thank you for offering me the job. I really appreciate it. And yes, I am free.”
“Great, we wondered if you could pop by the school, so we can say hello before you start with us on Monday.”
“I’d be delighted, what time shall I be there?”
“Could you be here for five o’ clock?
“No problem, I’ll see you at five.”
Markland put the phone next to the plate and continued to eat his late lunch. He thought it a little odd that the school had asked him to come in for a chat. After all, Anton had been on the interview panel, and the panel had asked lots of questions which had led to their decision to offer him the job.
Markland presumed that Anton would introduce him to other staff members who he’d not met during the interview and with whom he would be working.
He spent most of the afternoon pottering around his house before getting changed into some smart, but casual clothes to meet Anton.
At just before five Markland pulled up in the staff carpark of the school, checked his hair in the rear view mirror and then made his way to the staff offices.
On his arrival Anton gripped Markland’s hand, gave it a firm shake and welcomed him into his office where he was introduced to Dudley Thomas, the school’s Behaviour Support Team leader, and Educational Psychologist Sue Blackwell.
“I thought you guys might like to meet before Mr Garraway joins us.”
Anton continued to tell Markland about the issues the school had been having with truancy, and how for the first time, they were considering fining families of children who had taken their children out of school without authorisation.
“So, I’ll be chasing down the kids who spend a week in Butlins, when they should be here,” remarked Markland with a smirk.
“Are you aware of what happened to your predecessor?” asked Anton.
“Not really, but I’d heard rumours he’d lost his job due to inappropriate behaviour?”
“That’s correct. There had been an investigation but nothing was proved. Cooke, the headmaster at the time, resigned over the whole thing. We had a temporary Attendance Improvement Officer for the rest of the last academic year, but he was only under contract until July……. I just thought you should be aware.”
Markland nodded, and the room was filled with an empty silence.
“Anyone fancy a cuppa?” asked Sue.
She disappeared to the staff canteen, and while she was gone Markland noticed a change in the atmosphere. Dudley Thomas made small talk and Markland sensed an air of awkwardness. Sue returned with a three mugs of tea, and an opened packet of chocolate digestives. She handed out the drinks and then sat down. Markland noted that she sat in a different chair than before. She had positioned herself a little further from him, almost like she was distancing herself. Her body language told him that something was wrong.
Anton spoke first.
“As you know, we’re looking forward to you joining our team, but there’s something….. something that we would like to discuss with you.”
Markland was all ears.
Anton continued.
“Let me assure you, there’s nothing wrong, and we’re still excited about having you on board, but there is something we need to talk about.”
Anton found it difficult to express the right words, so Dudley took over.
“After you accepted the position this morning, we, well it was Sue actually, worked out who you are.”
“Really, and who am I?” asked Markland, in a cautious tone.
“You’re the detective who was all over the media a few years ago, the one with the hypnotised child.”
“That’s right, is this a problem?”
“We don’t think so, but we thought that you may have mentioned this during the interview.”
“I didn’t think it was relevant, besides my CV told you I’d been a detective, and I don’t feel it appropriate to discuss police cases with you.”
“Well, I think the point that we’re trying to make is that it’s not every day we come across someone who has proved unequivocally that there is life after death.”
Markland’s tone became more serious.
“Are you suggesting that had you known I was involved in that case, you wouldn’t have offered me the job?”
Anton and Dudley shuffled in their seats. He’d asked an awkward question, and one which had to be answered carefully.
“I think what we are saying Markland, is that when you start with us, we’re sure you will be considered by some of the children as something of a celebrity. After all, a book about you is number one and is on the shelves of WH Smiths, and I read yesterday that there is talk of a film about you,” said Anton.
“I’ve nothing to do with the film. It’s Tom Judd’s baby.”
“Have you given him and his film people your blessings?”
“I’m undecided.”
Silence filled the room for what seemed to be a very long time, but in fact, was only a few seconds. Then Markland spoke.
“I understand why you’re concerned. I appreciate that there are a lot of impressionable children in this school and some of them have problems at home, which is part of the reason my job exists. Also, I understand that some of the pupils may be vulnerable and I will be extremely careful how I conduct my work. I want to engage with the children who have issues and find it necessary to stay away from school. I wish to help them, and I promise that I won’t let what happened in the past affect my work here.”
Dudley and Anton nodded. Sue appeared to be captivated by him.
“Okay, okay. I think we’ve made it clear, and I feel you understand why we’re a little cautious. And to answer your question of whether we would have offered you the job, I’m sure we would have,” said Anton with a smile.
Dudley stood up, suggested that there was nothing more to discuss, and thanked Markland for coming in to see them.
Markland trudged back to the staff carpark. His was the only car there. Dudley cycled to work and both Sue and Anton walked. The caretaker was waiting to lock the gates, and Markland sensed his impatience. Markland steered towards the gates and nodded at the man who smiled in return. Markland didn’t notice the caretaker look twice at him as his car drove past.
“I don’t believe it,” muttered Howie Doyle, as he watched Markland’s car turn the corner. He locked the gates and sauntered back towards the school offices.
He passed Anton in the corridor.
“Mr Bueller, may I ask you something?”
Anton looked up.
“The man who just pulled out of the carpark, is his name Markland Garraway?”
“Yes, he’s our new Attendance Improvement Officer, starting next week.”
Howie blew air through his cheeks and whistled.
Well that’s certainly put a new angle on things thought Howie.
Markland pulled up outside a newsagent, and called in for a copy of the Bristol Post. He entered the shop and brushed shoulders with Sue Blackwell who was on her way out.
“We meet again,” she said, with an air of uneasiness in her voice.
“Indeed we do.”
“May I ask you something?” said Sue, stepping out of the shop.
Markland nodded.
“Did all that stuff really happen? I mean all of it.”
“Yes Mrs Blackwell, it really all happened. But let me assure you, I’m never going to let myself get involved in anything like that ever again.”