Cindy Psi: Spy In Training
Chapter 29: Closing the Net

A little over an hour later the two girls were sat outside the Principals office at Brunel Central High. The nameplate on his door revealed him to be Mr Werner. Selma had gone through the planned approach as they travelled from their apartment a short walk away and she was running over the instructions with Cindy one last time while they waited.

So, like I said, I’ll do most of the talking but every now and then I may nudge you to say something so it looks normal.

Got it, sent Cindy, and I’m to monitor him while you talk to make sure he’s not getting suspicious that anything’s not as it seems.

Yep. Keep it low-key, although I’m pretty sure there’s no-one nearby with the talent so we’re pretty safe. The main thing is we get you into Ms Tarkington’s class and see if we can arrange a meeting with her ASAP.

Yes, ok, Cindy sent, then added “Where shall we go for lunch today?” out loud.

Selma smiled. Nice touch, she sent as she noticed the receptionist who’d been glancing at the two girls sitting quietly. “Lunch!” Selma exclaimed, “We only just had breakfast! Honestly, I don’t know where you put it all.” The receptionist smiled knowingly at Selma then, with the silent camaraderie of grown-ups who know all about young people and their constant quest for food.

A buzzer sounded and the receptionist glanced at her desk. “Ah,” she said, “Mr Werner will see you now.” As the two girls stood to enter his office she added to Cindy “Hopefully he won’t keep you too long and you’ll be able to find yourself something to eat,” finishing with a knowing wink to Selma. Selma gave a little laugh and they went into the office.

Mr Werner was sat behind an old style desk of imitation wood. He was a trim, middle-aged man with short-cropped black hair and an easy smile. He stood as they entered and came around the desk to great them, shaking hands with each in turn. “Good morning,” he said. “Ms Gutman is it? Did I pronounce that correctly? And you must be Cindy.”

“Yes, that’s spot on, well done. A lot of people mispronounce the ‘u’.”

“I imagine they do. Germanic origin, yes? I think it derives from “Good man”.

“You’re exactly right Mr Werner.” Selma sounded genuinely impressed.

“Do take a seat,” he said, smiling briefly and motioning them to two chairs in front of his desk as he went back around to his own chair. The girls sat.

“So, I understand you are looking for a school for Cindy for the next few months, is that right?”

“Possibly. My work has me moving around and Cindy is usually homeschooled – we have a very good Omniweb provider – but I thought as we have a little longer here it might be nice for her to have the more social aspects a school can provide.”

“Well, I think you’re absolutely right,” enthused Mr Werner, “And I’m very proud to say that here at BCH we pride ourselves on the breadth of our program. We focus on developing the whole child, not just the academic elements. As a result there are any number of social activities and so forth that you could join in with, Cindy,” he said, turning briefly to Cindy as he spoke, then back to Selma, “So I think that could very much fit the bill if this is the way to go. And, if I may, don’t think me presumptuous but I would commend to you that this very much is the way to go. You can’t beat the socialisation elements of the classroom and indeed school environment in my view.”

“Yes I’m sure you’re right,” said Selma. “So can you tell me who her teacher would be if she did come here for a term? Year 8.”

“Year 8? That would be Ms Tarkington.”

There’s something there. He got a bit twitchy then. Cindy sent.

“Ok. I wonder, could we perhaps meet with her?” Selma asked?

Even more so now, Cindy sent.

“Well, not at the moment. She’s unavailable right now.”

There’s something he’s holding back.

“I understand,” said Selma, “she must be in class. Do you think she might have a moment at recess or lunchtime?”

“No, you see I’m afraid she’s off today. She’s … unwell.”

That hesitation – there’s more to this. Push him.

I’m on it, Selma sent back.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Nothing serious I hope?”

“No, no, nothing like that.”

“So perhaps we could make a time to meet her tomorrow?”

“Well, perhaps,” Mr Werner was clearly flustered now. “Could you contact us tomorrow to arrange it?”

“Well, I need to fit this in with my work so it would be helpful if I could get something organised now, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“Well, it’s a bit difficult, so if you wouldn’t mind contacting us tomorrow when we know where she … I mean how she is, I’m sure we’ll be able to arrange something.”

He’s on the ropes. Push one more time.

“I’m sorry Mr Werner, but I really would like to get something organised. Is there a reason you can’t arrange something for me now?”

He’s starting to get a bit suspicious as well as anxious. I don’t think he knows where she is, and he’s not liking being pushed on it.

“… It’s just that I’m quite keen to meet her,” Selma continued without missing a beat. “And I’m also keen to know why she’s off, if you don’t mind my saying. Cindy has had a lot of upheaval in her life, and if she is to come to this school then stability would be a prime factor. Is Ms – Tarkington is it? – likely to be back tomorrow? Is she likely to be off again next week? I’m somewhat concerned by how vague things are …”

You’ve got him. He’s going to come clean. Cindy sent.

“Yes. Yes, of course I understand Ms Gutman.” The tiniest slump of his shoulders. “I’ll be honest with you. I hope this doesn’t taint your view of our school, but I’m afraid I’m not entirely sure where Ms Tarkington is. She didn’t come to work today, and we haven’t been able to contact her.”

“Oh. I see.”

“I can assure you, this is the first time something like this has ever happened. We’re actually a little concerned. I’ve contacted the authorities, but they tell me it needs to be a 24 hour absence before they can do anything.”

He’s genuinely worried.

“But,” he added, seeming to catch himself, “We do have an excellent supply teacher facility here, and the children are being well catered for in her absence. Did you want to meet the supply teacher who has the 8th grade today?”

“No, I don’t think so Mr Werner, thank you all the same. Perhaps you could contact me when you’ve found your missing teacher.” Cindy was impressed with the perfectly-toned dissatisfaction Selma was conveying.

Nice one, she sent.

Thanks. I am an experienced spy, you know

“Of course, of course Ms Gutman. I completely understand. We’ll be sure to let you know as soon as we know anything ourselves, and, if this little issue hasn’t soured you on us completely,” and he broke off for a half-hearted laugh, “ha-ha, then of course we can arrange a meeting for you.”

“Thank you Mr Werner. A pleasure to meet you,” Selma finished as she stood to leave, nodding to Cindy to do the same.

“And you Ms Gutman. And you Cindy. And whatever you end up doing, I wish you well in your continued studies,” he said, shaking their hands in turn across the desk.

Aw, he’s actually quite nice, Cindy sent.

I know. But stay focussed.

The two girls left his office, Selma maintaining her air of frustrated haughtiness all the while.

“So now what?”

They were back at the apartment. Cindy was sat on a kitchen chair, swinging her legs as Selma stood at the bench having a glass of orange juice.

“It’s a bit odd that she’s just not shown up for work. It seems too much of a coincidence us being here and her being gone like that. But there’s no way she could have got wind of us being here, could she?”

“I don’t know, if she’s who we think she is she’s pretty much capable of anything.”

“Yes. Good point. Well, then I guess we only have one option.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ve found her once already, right?”

Oh. That. Ok, you think it’s worth the risk – you know, transmission or whatever?

Yes, I think so. It’s about weighing up the odds.

Ok. Well, let’s have a go.

I’ll get the map.

Selma set her PCD on the kitchen table and activated the map function. A street view of Brunel sprung into existence around them. Cindy allowed herself to drop into mindspace.

Ok, zoom to the classroom where she should be … That’s it …

Cindy felt the tug of locating the person she was actually looking for very quickly this time.

Pull back! Ok, follow down that road … towards the Skypark. That’s it. Now closer … just past that Starbucks … closer … that’s her! Right, I want to try something. Can you hold focus on that point right there?

Where, here? Selma asked, centring on one location.

Slightly – um – north I think.

Here?

Yes! There! Hold it there.

It was a very odd sensation. The map was a static set of 3D pictures, Cindy knew, but her psi-location ability gave her a sense of the woman they were seeking being there in real time. It was like Ms Tarkington was superimposed over the top of the map in an odd sort of way.

Still, no time to think too much on that. Cindy could see her now, and she had an idea. She focussed intently on the woman, taking in every detail, trying to get a very clear picture of her. When she felt like she had a very clear image of Ms Tarkington she sent out a tiny, very well shielded spyline. At the end of it, she just brushed very gently against the woman’s back, focussing as she did on placing a mark of silver across her. Then she pulled back the spyline.

Cindy raised herself from mindspace.

Can you pull back a bit?

Ok … I’m not sure what you’re doing here, Cindy ... Selma’s tone was becoming slightly stern.

It’s fine, just pull back to city view.

Selma did, and Cindy dropped back into mindspace. Now, if this has worked, she’s …

And there it was, shining like a tiny little beacon.

There! Right. Got her. She came out of mindspace again. “You can close the map now,” she said aloud.

Selma did. “Right, what was that all about?”

“I put a marker on her. We’ll be able to track her now.”

Selma was impressed and annoyed in equal measure. “You need to tell me before you do something like that! She might have detected it! And how did you do it anyway?”

“I kind of, daubed her with a bit of my – um – psi signature if you like. I can see it, but no-one else can. I don’t think it will last very long, but long enough for us to find her.”

“How did you know you could do that? I’ve never even heard of that being done!”

“I don’t know. It just, sort of, felt right.”

“Yes, somehow I knew you were going to say that. It doesn’t change the risk factor though. This woman is immensely powerful and dangerous and you could have …”

“It’s not her.” Cindy interrupted.

Selma was stopped in her tracks. “What?”

“It’s not her.”

“How do you know?”

“I could tell. This woman doesn’t have the talent. I would have been able to see it.”

“She could have been shielding.”

“After the two confrontations I’ve had I would have recognised her … her mind.”

Selma looked thoughtfully at her. “Yes. Yes, I suppose you would. So it’s a false trail then.”

Now it was Cindy’s turn to look thoughtful. “Well, I don’t know. I can’t shake the feeling there’s some connection. And like you said, it’s a bit of a coincidence her not showing up to work like that. She’s clearly not unwell.”

“Hmm, so maybe we should have a talk with her.”

“I think maybe we should.”

“Ok. You can find her anytime now?”

“Yep.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Don’t we need a plan? How are we going to start a conversation with her?”

“Good point.” Selma looked thoughtful for a moment. “Ok, we find her, but stay out of sight until an opportunity presents itself for me to strike up a conversation with her. I’ll work it around to ask whether she’s on vacation, or working shifts or similar – stuff designed to make her think about the fact that she should be at school teaching. You monitor like you did with Werner back at the school – good job there, by the way – and I’ll wing it to see if I can get more out of her. There’ll be an element of ad-libbing. There always is with field work. Are you up to it?”

“Sure.”

“Good. Well, then, let’s go.”

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