Fool Me Twice

18

Jesse pulled into the driveway of the Wilburforce School, where Courtney Cassidy was a student.

After waiting in his outer office for several minutes, Jesse was ushered into the office of the principal, Dr. Rodger Pike.

Pike was a portly, fiftyish man, a pipe smoker who was still fretting over the school policy that prevented him from lighting up indoors. To compensate, he picked up his pipe and placed it in the corner of his mouth.

“What can I do for you, Chief Stone,” he said, sucking on the pipe.

“I’m sorry to disturb you on such short notice, Dr. Pike, but I have a couple of questions regarding one of your students.”

“Of course,” Pike said. “Which student?”

“Courtney Cassidy.”

“Just so you understand, Chief Stone, our student information is confidential.”

“I’ve recently had a couple of run-ins with Ms. Cassidy, and I’m curious about her.”

“‘Run-ins’?”

“Yesterday she was the cause of a rather serious traffic accident. She was driving and texting. Today I cited her for driving while talking on a cell phone. I’m concerned that she might be a danger to herself, as well as to the community.”

“What is it you want from me,” Dr. Pike said.

“Answers to some questions.”

“I’ll try.”

“What kind of student is she?”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning are her grades good? Is she well behaved? Does she obey the rules? Is she in any way difficult?”

Dr. Pike removed the pipe from his mouth and returned it to his desk. He carefully wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. He stood up, walked to his office door, and softly closed it. He then returned to the desk.

“Your reputation precedes you, Chief Stone. My understanding is that you have a noble track record when it comes to dealing with delinquent juveniles. For that reason, and not for attribution, I will tell you that the Wilburforce School has had its share of difficulties with Courtney Cassidy. She is resistant to authority. She has issues with her peers. She is frequently sullen and uncooperative.”

“Why do you keep her?”

“Her father is the school’s largest contributor.”

“Aaah,” Jesse said.

“Aaah, indeed,” Dr. Pike said.

“Thank you for your frankness.”

“It’s really a shame.”

“What is?”

“Off the record, she’s generally a pain in the ass. But I somehow believe she’s not a bad girl at heart. Were I a psychiatrist, I might even suggest that she’s acting out a desperate need for attention.”

“Is she a good student?”

“Heavens, no.”

“Does she socialize?”

“Meaning?”

“Does she have many friends? Any boyfriends?”

“Again, I’m not really at liberty to say. Off the record, however, she does get along with a number of the other girls, but not the truly popular ones. No boyfriends that I know of.”

“Thank you again for your candor,” Jesse said, standing.

“I do hope you can help this child,” Dr. Pike said.

“I do hope this child can be helped,” Jesse said.