The Disappearance in Liverstone

CHAPTER 4

While Maeve wrote about Madison Klark's general life, something at the bottom of her screen caught her eye. There was a notification on the E-Mail app. She was confused as she hadn't messaged someone since e-mailing Kathrine a small Thank You message last night. Maeve finished writing her sentence before she clicked on the app. 1 new e-mail from Kathrine. It read at the top of her screen. 

Hello, Maeve

Sorry for bothering you. I know you are probably in school at the moment. You can say no, but I am free tonight for an interview. You said in your e-mail that the assignment is due in a month or so, so I thought you would like interviews done sooner rather than later. Don't worry, you can say no and you don't need to e-mail back straight away. It was just a little thought I had. 

Kathrine A Klark 

After reading the e-mail, the first thing Maeve did was go message her mum. But she then realised, she hasn't told her mum. Maeve quickly thought up a plan. She would need to phone her mum, tell her Kathrine said yes, than ask about the interview. Maeve closed her laptop, shoved it in her bag and stood up. She put her bag on her back and started walking towards the exit of the library. 

"Oh, are you heading off?" Mrs Ken said from her desk. Maeve turned round to face Mrs Ken. "Oh, no I just need to phone my mum." Maeve said. "Ah okay." Mrs Ken said. Maeve walked out into the hallway and sat on a bench along the wall. Maeve got out her phone and dialed her mums number. 1 ring. 2 rings. 3 rings. "Maeve, are you okay?" Maeve heard her mum say on the other side of the phone. "Yes, I am good. Just need to tell you something." Maeve said, trying to sound serious. "I'm listening." Maeve's mum had a slight worried tone in her voice. "First thing. Kathrine said yes!" Maeve heard her mum squeal at the other side of the phone. "Oh darling, that's amazing!" "I know! Second thing. Kathrine has just e-mailed me.  She is wondering if I could do her interview tonight. Could I?" Maeve asked.  There was a silence for a little while before Mae's mum spoke again "Oh, yes that's fine. Message me what time. You better get going. I'll see you later. Love you." Maeve's mum said. "Love you." Maeve hung up the phone and returned back into the library. 

The bell rang, signaling the start of 2nd period. Maeve put her laptop back in her bag. She had just sent an e-mail back to Kathrine. Maeve made her way out the library for the 2nd time today, and she headed for Criminology. 

"Good morning, Maeve." Mr Williams said as Maeve walked through the door into the Criminology classroom. Maeve sat herself down next Ella. "Hey Mae!" Ella said as Maeve sat herself down. "Hey. How was Chemistry?" Maeve asked. "Good. How was your free period?" Ella grabbed her rose-gold Macbook from her bag. "Good. Kathrine e-mailed me." Ella looked up from her laptop, looking slightly concerned. "I'm interviewing her tonight." Maeve opened her laptop lid. "Oh, wow. She must really want-" "Ella. Please shush. I am trying to speak." Mr Williams said from the front of the class. Ella rolled her eyes. "Right. You should all have your case studies ready to start by Wednesday. Today's lesson will be starting research." Mr Williams paused. Maeve had started research. She knew her plan for the lesson. More research and e-mail Kathrine if she e-mailed back. "Please do things that are related to your assignment, no messing around. This assignment is worth 45% of your final grade. You may all start." After Mr Williams stopped talking, the class erupted back to talking. Maeve clicked onto the E-Mail app. Still no reply. Maeve reopened her Word document that has notes on it and started working away. 

20 minutes went by. Maeve was researching about the court case when the red dot reappeared. But this time, on the Messages app. Maeve clicked on the app. It was a text, from Kathrine. 

Hi Maeve. I have decided it would probably be better to message on here instead of e-mailing back and forth. I was thinking you could just come round whenever you are ready. I forgot to e-mail this too you, but this is my address. 25 Melgrove Gardens, Liverstone, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. 

Maeve opened her phone and quickly noted down the address. "You alright? You seem like you are rushing stuff." Ella acknowledged, looking at Maeve quickly typing down the address. "All good. Just noting down Kathrine's address." Maeve answered.  "Nice. What time are you going to hers?" Ella asked, looking at Maeve's laptop screen. "Dunno." Maeve calculated the time it would take for her to go home, get ready then go to Kathrine's. 

Hi Kathrine. School finishes at 16:00. By the time I have gone home and got my bag and all, I should be at yours at around 16:35. Is that an okay time? 

Maeve had messaged Kathrine back. "Are you all okay, girls?" Mr Williams stood behind Maeve and Ella. Maeve got a fright when Mr Williams spoke. "Maeve, what are you doing on Messages?" Mr Williams snapped. "Messaging Kathrine, Mr Williams. She is the murder victims mum." Maeve looked up at Mr Williams, standing tall behind her. "Okay. I'll let you off this time, Maeve." Mr Williams walked off to go see other people. As Maeve watched him, Ella nudged her with her elbow. "What?" Maeve hissed by accident. "Sorry, didn't mean it like that." Maeve quickly said afterwards. "Mr Williams seems in a bad mood today." Ella whispered. 

****

Maeve sat in the car. There she was, sitting outside Kathrine Klark's home. "Come on, Mae. You can do this." Maeve said to herself. She took a deep breath then stepped out the car. She opened the back passenger door and retrieved her rucksack. Her rucksack held her laptop, headphones and 2 microphones for the interview. Maeve closed the car door and walked around the back of the car and onto the pavement. Maeve locked the car. She stopped at the bottom of the path in front of Kathrine's house. "You can do it, Mae-Mae." Maeve heard her mum say inside her head. Another deep breath. Mae walked up the path and now stood in front of the teal front door. Mae watched as her finger hovered over the doorbell. Just as she pressed it down, the door opened. 

"Hello Maeve!"