Page 77 of Mountain Void

Something in his tone straightened her spine immediately. Sean was always one of the first to arrive at school, but he was very careful not to call teachers before the official workday had started.

“Yes?”

“I’ve just had a call from the police.”

Charlie froze. A million things went through her mind at the same time. This couldn’t be about the vandalism to her apartment. It probably had nothing to do with Lorenz—nobody knew about her and Lorenz. So then …

“There was an incident last night. Madame Pelletier went to the gendarmerie.” A brief pause. “She made a formal accusation. Violence domestique.”

Domestic violence.

Charlie’s stomach dropped. She’d been right. Right enough for the police to be involved. Right enough that whatever was happening in that house had crossed the line into something official.

“Is Théo okay?” she asked.

“He’s fine. He and his mother are staying somewhere else. So obviously the meeting with social services is going to happen sooner than planned.”

“Of course. Is there anything I can do? Will Théo be coming to school today? We have a field trip.”

“I expect so. His mother agrees that keeping to a routine is the best thing for him. His mother doesn’t think he saw anything yesterday, but you’ll keep an eye out, in case he needs to talk?”

“Of course,” Charlie assured him.

They ended the call, and Charlie lowered the phone slowly onto her desk.

For a moment she just stood there, staring at the rows of small tables in front of her. The classroom looked exactly as it always did—orderly, cheerful, full of color—and yet everything felt different.

She’d been right, but maybe too slow. Something had happened that had forced Théo’s mother to go to the police, and even if Théo hadn’t seen anything, he’d been involved.

Had she done enough? Could she have acted sooner?

A noise in the corridor made her straighten, just as the first few children burst through the door.

“Ms Brooks! I brought my bag!”

Charlie turned, smiling.

“Well done, Ellie,” she said as the girl held up a tiny drawstring sack in both her hands, as if presenting a royal offering.

Behind her came Lina, proudly carrying a large canvas sack that would do Santa Claus proud.

Charlie blinked. “Lina… are you planning to collect half the forest?”

Lina beamed. “Papa said it’s always better to be prepared.”

Charlie laughed.

More children arrived, stopping by her desk to show off their bags. Charlie had asked them to bring bags for their treasures, and the children had clearly interpreted that instruction with breathtaking creativity.

“Well, I think we’re ready to collect the best leaves and rocks!”

Charlie checked that the kids all had a water bottle and a snack, though she carried extra snacks of different varieties in her own bag. Gluten free. Nut free. Egg free.

“Any questions, before we leave?”

Several questions fired at once.

“Can we pick flowers too?”