"Hold still will you?" Judy said impatiently as she once again tried to finish Hanson's eye make up.
"I would if you would stop poking me in the eye." he snapped as he squirmed in his seat. This was the third day he'd had to endure this and it wasn't getting any easier to bear.
"If you'd sit still I wouldn't."
"Isn't there an easier way of doing this?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know, heavy sedation?!"
"For you or me?" Judy said smiling slightly
"Very funny!"
"Kinda grumpy this morning aren't you?" she chided before humming softly.
"What was that?" Tom asked sharply as he noticed the tune Hoffs was humming to herself as she worked.
"What was what?"
"That tune you were humming?"
"I wasn't humming any tune" she said innocently as she tried to hide a sly smile.
"You were humming Lola!"
"I wasn't I swear."
"Yes you were I heard you!" he said shooting to his feet, his brown eyes firing daggers at the pretty young black woman.
"Hanson, just shut up and let me get on with this so we can both get to work." she said. Hanson relented and reseated himself.
"So how did it go yesterday? My art work hold up?"
"I think so. I'm not sure though. I got some strange looks."
"Don't worry. That's just what girls do. They're checking you out to make sure you're not prettier than they are."
"And?" Tom said mockingly, one eyebrow raised.
"Of course you're prettier" Hoffs said patting his arm.
"So where did you get to last night?"
"There was another "gathering" in the woods"
"I got invited to a prayer meeting last night. Wanna swap?" he asked smiling.
"If nothing happens with this gang soon I may just take you up on that. They keep telling me that this leader of theirs is gonna be there sometime soon, but each time it's just a bunch of kids trying to cast childish curses."
"Like what?"
"Bad itches, bad breath, chronic diaohrea" she said raising an eyebrow at her friend who had failed in trying to suppress a chuckle.
"Really?"
"Yep. They think they're masters of the black arts. I know it sounds like nothing, but these kids are strange."
"How so?"
"The way they believe this stuff. Mostly at school they seem like normal kids but when they get together for these things they're like, I dunno, animals I suppose."
"You gonna be ok?"
"I'll be fine. Hey maybe they should stick a skirt on Harry and send him in with me." Tom laughed and went back to studying the false nails Judy had had to reapply that morning as he had pulled them off in frustration the night before as his prediction about them making certain tasks difficult had proven accurate.
"I met her in a club down in old So Ho..." Judy began to sing.
"Right. That's it. I can do this by myself thank you." he said as he snatched the eyeliner she was using and headed towards to guys bathroom.
"Hanson. Come on I'm sorry."
"Too late" he said as he closed the door behind him.
"Come on. You know you won't be able to do that by yourself." When she received no reply a wicked grin appeared on her face and she said softly through the door "Anyway, you're in the wrong bathroom. The ladies is on the other side". She did her best to control her laughter as the door was roughly pulled open. Hanson had failed badly at trying to apply the eyeliner and had somehow managed to get it everywhere but around his eyes.
"You do it!" he said holding it out to Hoffs and sulkily making his way back to his seat. At that moment the early morning peace of the chapel was shattered as Doug came bounding up the stairs, grinning from ear to ear and looking very pleased with himself.
"I don't know how you did it Tommy, but you're a genius!" he said as he grabbed Hanson and nearly crushed him an overly enthusiastic hug. "If there's anything I can ever do for you man let me know and it's done."
"I could do with being able to breathe."
"Sorry" Doug said as he quickly let him go.
"Last night went well huh?" Tom asked smiling.
"Even I was impressed with me." he said and was answered with matching shudders from both Hoffs and Hanson.
"I don't need to know this" Judy said grabbing Hanson by the arm and forcing him back into the chair. "And I'm not done with you yet!"
"So what did you give her to calm her down?" Doug asked his friend. "Happy pills, sleeping tablets or bear tranquilisers?"
"I just told her she had nothing to worry about cos I'm not interested in you." Tom replied with the familiar deadpan expression on his half made up face.
"I'm too good for you anyway!"
"You ever think Dorothy may just need reassuring once in a while?" Judy suggested.
"About what?"
"That you're not still with her just because you promised."
"She knows I'm not" Doug said rather offended
"So tell her more." Tom said bluntly then he let out a sudden yelp as Judy's brush made it's way once again into the centre of his eye. "Can you hurry up before you blind me?"
"You moved!" Hoffs said innocently as Hanson glowered at her.
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"So what are we going to do if these kids don't talk?" Doug asked as he and Tom arrived outside St Mary's later that morning.
"No idea. Just keep trying, maybe something will pan out. I was thinking maybe I could try and get a look at Nikki's school records."
"How would that help?"
"Could give us a better idea of whether she had a drug problem. If she was showing signs in class the teachers may have picked up on it."
"Could help. I'm going to stick close to Sam, let my natural charm do its work."
"Good luck with that." Hanson said flatly. "Yikes!" he said suddenly as he spotted Helen Cresswell making her way over.
"What?"
"My shadow" he said letting out a long suffering sigh.
"Hey, maybe she could help. How well did she know Nikki?"
"They went to this prayer group together. She doesn't seem to have any trouble talking either." he said glancing over his shoulder and hushing his friend as the young girl reached them.
"Hey, I thought you were coming to our meeting last night." Helen said.
"What?" Tom said genuinely puzzled as to what she meant as Doug looked both shocked and amused by the change in his partners voice.
"Prayer meeting." Doug said in Hanson's ear as he slipped his arms round his waist and rested his chin on his shoulder.
"Oh I forgot. Sorry. Maybe next time."
"Sure" Helen said brightly before turning and scanning the area in front of the school. Hanson used this opportunity to quickly whisper to his partner.
"That hand moves any lower and I'll break it off!"
"Sorry." Doug said flashing half a smile.
"So you must be the boyfriend." Helen said turning back and smiling at Doug, noticing that this boy actually made 'Tamara' look petite.
"Er..yeah." Tom said. "Doug this is Helen, Helen, Doug"
"You've been helping Tammy settle in I hear." Doug said trying to suppress his laughter as he felt Hanson tense beside him at hearing this.
"I like to do my bit. I remember how hard it is starting somewhere new when you don't really know anyone."
"Who you looking for?" Hanson asked innocently as he noticed Helen glancing round again.
"Er, no one really. We should be going or we're gonna be late for class."
"Ok, just give me a sec."
"Sure, say goodbye." Helen said smirking before walking away a little before stopping to wait.
"Tammy?" Tom said looking at Penhall with distaste.
"Tommy, Tammy. It saves confusion."
"Thanks." Hanson said dully before following after Helen.
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Through some kind of pure dumb luck as Tom entered the classroom for first period the only empty seat was right by Kelly Morris and, as he had been gleefully informed by Helen, Sister Roberts the history teacher was as deaf as a post so he decided to take the opportunity to talk to Kelly. He sat down and offered the young girl a sunny smile.
"Look about yesterday, I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I was about your friend."
"Don't be. Wasn't your fault." she answered flatly.
"Yeah, but I know how tough it is to lose someone like that."
"Really?" she said dismissively.
"Yeah. My dad was killed 7 years ago." Tom said, thinking maybe if he opened up she would follow.
"Sorry." she said, sincerity in her voice for the first time. "What about your Mom?"
"Six weeks ago." he replied, "I've been living with my step dad since. That's why I'm here. He thought I needed positive guidance." he continued sarcastically.
"Must be hard" she said softly.
"How long did you know your friend?"
"Ever since kindergarten." she said sadly. "Listen, I'm sorry I laid into you yesterday and you seem nice enough, but can you go prove how nice you are to someone else." she said as her temper began to flare up again. Before Hanson had time to reply the door opened and the school secretary put her head round the door.
"Excuse me Sister Roberts" she shouted so as to make sure she was heard, "Father MacKenzie has asked to see Miss Morris in his office."
"Off you go Kelly." Sister Roberts began. "I swear, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to beat Nikki for the record amount of time spent in the principles office."
"Sorry, Sister Roberts" Kelly said as she stood to follow Sister Clarence. Tom waited for a few minutes after they had left the room before attempting to follow.
"Sister Roberts?" he shouted as he raised his hand.
"Yes Miss Heyward?"
"I really have to go to the bathroom" he said, feeling slightly uncomfortable about the fact he'd just had to shout that across a room full of women.
"Classes have only just started Miss Heyward." Thinking as quickly as he could to try and get out of the room, he said the first thing that came into his head.
"I know but it's er...you know...women's troubles". Uncomfortable as he was he had a hard time not to laugh at the look on the deaf nuns face.
"Very well Tamara, but please hurry"
"Thank you." Tom said dumbstruck. "Wow that really works?" he thought to himself as he left the room as quickly as he could.
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Hanson slipped into the corridor and quietly made his way to the principles office, keeping close to the wall and ducking under the glass panels of the classrooms that lined each side of the corridor. He wasn't exactly sure of what he was hoping to find but so far he was getting nowhere and he was willing to take anything he could get. As ridiculous as his situation was a girl was dead and they needed to find out why. He thought about his dad and Amy and realised that loosing your child had to be ten times worse.
As luck would have it, when he arrived outside Father Mackenzie's office the door was slightly open and he could hear voices drifting into the hallway. The owners of the voices were engaged in a heated argument.
"What do you want me to do?" Kelly was shouting, her voice showing her obvious distress.
"I've told you, be your usual self. This loner act you've got going on is drawing too much attention." Father Mackenzie was saying.
"Act like nothings happened you mean. How am I supposed to that? My best friend is dead."
"It's unfortunate and I'm sorry for you, but what's done is done."
"How can you say that?"
"It's just the way things go."
"Gods plan" Kelly said disdainfully.
"If that's how you want to see it."
"Look, I've already got people asking questions. This girl who started this week seems too interested in Nikki."
"Don't worry about Miss Heyward. She's just looking for good gossip."
Tom moved closer towards the door trying to see through the crack at the two figures in the office. Kelly was sitting on one of the chairs, even from the distance he was standing Tom could see the tears running down her face and the way her hands were trembling uncontrollably. The thought that the head of an all girl's catholic school, a priest for that matter, had anything to do with the death of an 18 year old girl was a little unnerving. Plus Kelly was obviously more than a little suspicious of him.
"Now why don't you come back to the meetings, be with your friends."
"If you think I'm going back there after what happened to Nikki you're sicker than I thought." Kelly managed through her tears.
"Who do you think people are going to believe if any of this comes out? I don't think they'll take much notice of a hysterical girl."
"Well, why don't you wait and see."
"I'm not discussing this any further. Now go to the bathroom, pull yourself together and get back to class."
Tom scooted back down the hall a little way moments before Kelly Morris came running out of the door. As she raced by he put his arms out to stop her.
"Hey what's wrong?" he said gently, only just managing to refrain from using his normal voice.
"Nothing, please just leave me alone." she said looking at him through watery eyes.
"Are you in trouble or something? Did he hurt you?" The look in Kelly's eyes as she noticed this 'girls' grip was a little too firm made Hanson feel very uneasy.
"Who the hell are you anyway?" she asked backing away before turning and heading quickly down the hall.
"Kelly!" Hanson shouted after her. He noticed she was heading for the payphones and was just about to follow her when he was stopped by a hand resting firmly on his shoulder.
"Miss Heyward?" Tom's stomach leapt into his throat at the sound of the priest's voice. He turned around and gave Father Mackenzie his sunniest smile.
"Sir, I was just..." he began before realising shortly afterwards that the guy really wasn't listening. He was just looking at Tom in a way that made him nervous and the guy was standing way too close.
"I'm sorry I haven't been to see how you're settling in. I hope you don't think we've been neglecting you dear." he said, his demeanour so different from that of just a few moments ago.
"No. Everything's fine. Everyone's been making me feel really welcome."
"Good. I must say it's good to see you again." he said taking hold of Tom's hand and kissing the back of it. Hanson's eyes widened in shock and he decided he had to get out of here quick.
"I really have to get back to class now Sir." he said trying to keep his voice calm.
"Don't worry, I'll clear it with your teacher." he said as he leaned in extremely close. "I'd like to see you at one of our meetings. It would be good for you to get to know the other students outside of school." he continued as he reached out and gently took hold of a few strands of the long dark wig.
"It's not really my thing" he replied, suddenly becoming rather claustraphobic.
"Give it a try. You may like it." the older man said as he stopped twirling Hanson's wig round his fingers and began nuzzling the area between Tom's neck and shoulders. If he hadn't been so horrified he would have found it funny. How long had it been since this guy had actually been anywhere near a woman? Must have been quite awhile if he couldn't tell that what he had his arms around felt very wrong.
"Yeah. That's what you should be thinking about now." Tom thought to himself. All coherent thought stopped however as Father Mackenzies hands got much too low for comfort.
"Sir, I don't think that's appropriate" he said, Tamara Heyward trying to remain dignified, while Tom Hanson wanted nothing more than to put this guy flat on his ass. "Right, mister, you let me go now or my stepfather will hear about this and I promise you he won't be happy about some dirty priest trying to grope his daughter." he snapped as he gripped the priests wrist and forced his hand away, not applying quite enough pressure to snap his wrist, even though he wanted to. The look in the man's eyes at the strength of the young girl in front of him almost made Hanson laugh.
"I'm terribly sorry. I don't know what came over me. I promise you Miss Heyward, nothing like this has ever happened before and never will again."
"I'd like to go now please." he said, the icy glare he gave the man was pure Tom Hanson.
"Of course" he said backing away. "I'd appreciate it if you kept this quiet" he said. However the glare Tom threw his way quickly silenced him and sent him heading back to his office, tail between his legs. Forgetting all about Kelly Morris for the time being, Hanson shuddered; wiping the moisture the older man had left behind on his neck and headed for the bathroom, positive he was going to be violently sick.
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"Sammy?" Kelly Morris said urgently down the phone.
"Kel? What is it? Have you any idea how pissed Father Michael is going to be when I get back to class?"
"I'm sorry but I really need to talk to you."
"What's wrong Kel?" he asked softly.
"Mackenzie's coming down hard on me and I want to end this."
"What did he do?" Sam asked, panic rising in his voice.
"Just threats that's all."
"If he touches you..."
"Look, I can't do this anymore. I'm going to the police."
"Hey, are you sure about this?"
"Yes. I've gotta tell someone. I saw Nikki's parents the other day. Sam they've been destroyed by this, they deserve to know."
"You're not gonna involve me are you?"
"Not if you don't want me to. Just come with me please."
"Ok. I hope you know what you're doing."
"Meet me there after school ok?"
"Ok. Be careful."
"Thanks Sammy. Bye"
"See you later."