The Betrayal of Bindy Mackenzie (43 page)

I was so nervous and surprised I could only tremble and smile, not saying a word. But they didn't seem to notice, they were just excited about the party, and wanting to show me how they had pulled together the side-tables, and they were now covered with meringues, gingerbread men, Anzac biscuits, chocolate bars and chips.

‘How did you know it was my birthday?' I said, although I suspected that Try had found out, through teacherly methods, and had talked them into this.

But they all explained that
Finnegan
had whispered it to them while I was asleep on the train yesterday! And he had brought along the streamers and balloons! And that's why he hadn't been at breakfast this morning—he'd gone out to buy food for the party!

Someone turned music on, and everyone ate and talked, and nobody mentioned the poison theory again. Toby went into the kitchen and emerged with glasses of chocolate milk.
‘I was going to make banana smoothies,' he said, ‘but the bananas were black, so these are Kit Kat smoothies.' He was quietly proud of blending up the Kit Kats.

Astrid started talking about my hair, and how she'd never seen it in anything but curled-up plaits (nobody had), and she and Emily kept wanting to pull on the ringlets to see them bounce back. (They did it gently.) Then Briony came up and complimented my hair, too. Also, Elizabeth said she loved my new jeans.

It seemed that all the talking last night, and the messages they'd written for me, had dissolved their hostility towards me. Meanwhile, Try's speech at breakfast had released the teenage girl within me.

In such a way I could be one with my FAD group.

My happiness was practically perfect.

And now, home again, I have a new set of resolutions: I will stop judging other people. I will recognise that I am not inherently superior. I will ask for help when I need it.

Tomorrow, a new school week. I will begin to catch up! I'll phone that lawyer first thing and read out the transcript to him! I can't wait to hear his reaction.

I may be a teenager but I feel on the cusp of grown-up life. When I saw that lawyer, I
thought
I was an adult, but no . . . Tomorrow when he hears my voice he will sense a change.

I still haven't heard from my family about the Anthony situation, but I'll deal with that in a calm, mature way, too. Like the lawyer, my dad will hear a change in my voice.

For now, I'll take an energy drop and get to work on some assignments! (You see! No ill effects.)

For the first time ever, I feel as if I know myself.

Further Night Time Musings of Bindy Mackenzie
Sunday, 11.30 pm
Just woke up with stomach cramps.

MONDAY

A Memo from Briony Atkins

 

Dear Bindy,
Could you please bring in a urine sample tomorrow?

I'd like to test it for heavy metals, such as arsenic. Just put it in a clean, plastic container with a good, tight (ha ha) lid.

It's best if you give me your first sample of the day. Also, have you been eating shellfish lately? If so, wait a few days before providing the sample—there is (harmless) arsenic in shellfish which would affect the results.

Best wishes,
Briony

PS Have you made a doctor's appointment yet? Of course, you must tell the doctor that you think you're being
poisoned. BUT!!! You might have trouble convincing him or her to do the correct tests right away!!! (He/she will be wanting to eliminate more common illnesses first.) That's why I want to do some testing myself.

A Memo from Emily Thompson

 

Dear Bindy,
I am writing to ask if you will let me look at your life story again. The one we looked at without your permission? Only this time, with your permission.

Because I have remembered something about how you witnessed something—two teachers arguing? As you can see, I am not clear on this because I did not really concentrate on that part.

However! I realised in the middle of Maths this morning that I SHOULD HAVE PAID ATTENTION. Because you might have seen something significant, and
that's
why you're getting murdered. It might be nothing to do with what you saw in Mrs Lilydale's office. That could be a red herring.

I still think it's Mrs Lilydale poisoning you with the energy drops, but, it's just that the bad guys have hired her to do it, as she has contact with you, and has your trust and so on.

Now, think carefully. What did you see? Did one of these teachers execute the other? Why? That would explain things very clearly. However, I suppose I would have heard if there
had been a teacher executed on the lawns of Ashbury last year.

Can I look at your life again? Great. Thanks.

Love,
Emily

PS I've invited the FAD group to the debating semi-final on Friday, seeing as it's at Ashbury. I hope that's okay. I don't know what's normal for debating.

A Memo from Elizabeth Clarry

 

Dear Bindy,
Em told me my job is to work
outside the box,
so I'm thinking up other suspects, in case we've got it wrong about Mrs Lilydale.

My first suggestion is this: someone who's coming second in one of your classes. Because they want to come first. So, they have to eliminate you.

Or maybe they've been poisoning you just to affect your work and give them a step up?

(But the others want it to be about murder, not just diminished capacity.)

However, THINK CAREFULLY. Have any students given you anything to eat or drink this year?

Best wishes,
Elizabeth

A Memo from Toby Mazzerati

 

Hey Bind,
Uptodating you: Serge and I have now got a mobile phone concealed in Lilydale's office. It's switched to vibrate and auto-answer, so we'll call in sometimes and listen to what she's saying for the rest of the day. Plus, we're keeping an eye on her every move.

It's surveillance.

So far, we haven't seen any moves as she's never in her office.

Emily has told us we have to send you memos like this because we can't risk talking out loud to each other in case someone surveills and overhears. Also, we can't use technology e.g. e-mail, IM, texting, as hackers might hear. Finnegan's not at school today so we haven't got him in the loop yet but we will when he gets back.

Watch your back,
Toby
(
and Sergio
)

The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie
In my bedroom, Monday, around 5.00 pm
Strange! I did not call the lawyer today, to tell him about my transcript discovery. I was so looking forward to it! Yet, I did not call! Mysterious . . .

Perhaps it was because I was busy reading memos from my FAD group! (Now, there is another mystery. Did they not hear a word of Try's wisdom? I had thought we were all feeling subdued after her speech. And here they are caught up in a fervour about murder! It is funny, I suppose. I guess they're all just playing. But sometimes they seem almost serious about it!)

And then, of course, I was busy at the doctor's this afternoon—what he said will disappoint my FAD group!

The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie
5.15 pm
Yet, I think the real reason that I did not phone the lawyer is this: the transcript is rather confusing. I keep imagining him saying, impatiently, ‘Well, what does that all
mean
?' Or: ‘Why didn't you type out
complete
sentences?'

So, I have spent some time trying to analyse the transcript—figure it out. And here's something! The first thing the redhead says is this: ‘Edna Lbagennif, I mean, for a start, what kind of a pass—but, come on, what are you thinking?'

The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie
5.19 pm
I realise now that I thought the redhead was saying something about how Edna Lbagennif did not deserve to ‘pass' an exam. But perhaps she actually said, ‘Edna Lbagennif, I mean, for a start, what kind of a password
is that?' It makes sense. ‘Edna Lbaggenif' might be the password. Funny! I might know the password! I could get access to that software and all the ‘model' answers to essays and assignments! Humorous!

The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie
5.29 pm
Of course, I will not. That would be cheating. (I wonder if it's the software Mr Botherit was talking about, that time I was in his office—‘new-fangled software,' he said.) I'll call the lawyer tomorrow. For now, I will get to work! I shall begin with that overdue History assignment! No more
reverie
! No more philosophical musings! SIX SOLID HOURS OF WORK BEGINNING NOW!!

The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie
5.33 pm
I hope Finnegan is okay. Strange that he was not at school today. I wonder if I should phone and check on his health?