Chapter Ten: Unusual Suspect (Jane and Mary-Kate)

Chelsea could not believe that their exciting shopping expedition had turned into this nightmare. They all stood, frozen on the spot, their eyes still fixed on the escalator.
“It can’t be her,” remarked Charlotte, “she is always so sweet and kind and she’s very shy.”
“Well, let’s clear up this mess and check your items ladies,” said the security guard, pushing the girls back into the shop through the metal detectors. This time nothing happened, no beeping alarm.
“All clear,” said the head security guard sheepishly. “Our sincerest apologies ladies, it is clear that we have indeed made a mistake. Now, do you have any information for us regarding the suspect we have just seen fleeing the scene of the crime?”
There was suddenly silence. The girls looked at each other and then back at the marble-tiled floor.
“Girls, we have a serious situation here, and we need your help,” said the smallest of the guards in an urgent tone.
Jade looked like she was about to faint or have one of her nervous breakdowns. Charlotte recognised the signs and rushed towards her and helped her to a chair nearby.
“We didn’t do anything, we’re innocent. You can’t lock us up,” blubbered Jade, hugging her knees.
Roxanne cleared her throat and looked up at the guard. Calmly, she said, “Her name is Suzy Anne Clapham. She attends Fernwood High School and her address for the weekend is 23 or 24 Juniper Close. She seems a very unlikely suspect though, maybe it wasn’t her at all.”
The guard thanked Roxanne for the information and told them all that they were free to go.
Mr Thompson was waiting in the parking lot and was surprised to see the girls walking very somberly towards the car. The trip back to the Thompson’s house was very quiet and just as they were nearing the cottage, they saw a police car parked outside 23 Juniper Close. A police officer was talking to Mrs Clapham who was visibly upset and was shouting hysterically. Nobody in the car said a word.
Later that afternoon, after a lazy day in the cottage, the girls started packing their things and getting ready to go back to school. The weather had been lousy so they had stayed inside to watch DVD’s and play board games. The boys had joined them since it was too miserable for surfing or jet-skiing. Calipso had even felt well enough to join in. They had lots of fun and there was plenty of laughter, but the girls could not shake the feeling of dread when they thought of poor Suzy. What would happen if she really did turn out to be the shoplifter?
The boys helped carry the girls’ bags to the car and they all squashed into the Land Rover together this time. Braxton House for Boys was only five minutes from Fernwood High, so they were all travelling back together. Kyle and Chelsea were the last to climb in and, somehow, the only two seats left were the two at the back. Jade and Roxanne giggled quietly in the front as they caught a glimpse of the two of them in the rearview mirror, sitting shoulder to shoulder.
***

That night, back in their own beds in the dorm under the stairs, the six girls had a fitful night’s rest. Once again their peaceful sleep was interrupted by mysterious dreams. Dreams that offered a clue of things yet to happen. Annie dreamt of Suzy, a frightened little girl. Jade also dreamt of Suzy who was sobbing desperately. Chelsea’s dream was of Suzy’s suspension, a punisHmment frowned upon at such a prestigious school. Charlotte dreamt once again of Mrs Sheraton, but this time she was addressing the school about criminal behaviour. In Roxanne’s dream, Suzy was sitting in the back of a car and was being driven out of the school gates. And Calipso? She dreamt about Suzy too. In her dream, Suzy was dressed in a beautiful red satin dress and she was walking arm in arm with Stuart. The couple walked through the doors of the Braxton House school hall just as Mr Drummond, the principal of Braxton, was welcoming the room full of people to the Valentine’s Ball.
The next morning, the girls struggled to wake up when they heard the rising bell. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion as they showered, dressed and then walked up to breakfast. As was becoming the norm, the girls discussed what they had dreamt about the night before once seated at the breakfast table. There was no need for them to try and figure out what it all meant, it was quite clear what was going to happen to Suzy. Just then, Mrs Sheraton marched into the room and without much of an introduction or a warm welcome back to school, she made an announcement. It was the announcement that the group of girls sitting in the corner of the dining hall had been expecting.
“Unfortunately I have some bad news to report after the long weekend. Suzy Clapham from Willow House was involved in a shoplifting incident over the weekend and she has been suspended from school for one month. It was a moment of silliness and thoughtlessness, and I truly hope you girls will realise the severity of this situation and that you will learn from her mistake.”
She continued to lecture the school about criminal behaviour and how it would not be tolerated at Fernwood High School. When Mrs Sheraton finally dismissed the school, the girls walked slowly back to the hostel. As they reached the end of the pathway, they looked up and saw Suzy climbing into the back of her parents’ car. They watched as the car drove away through the school gate with their sweet and timid classmate hunched over in the back seat, tears streaming down her face.