Notice - 2. Act Two: The Wrong Question

Reggie pushed the door open.

"Silverman, are you writing about us?"

"Do you ever knock?"

"It's my room. Why would I?"

"What if I was changing?"

Reggie ignored that and leaned over his shoulder. "Case notes!"

"Yeah. I don't remember everything like Banjo does."

Reggie was quiet as he mused on Elijah's notes. "I don't think I'd be too upset if I were Kyriakou. It'll probably show up tomorrow like Marsh's thing."

Elijah frowned. "Who is Kyriakou?"

"Milo. That's his last name! Do you know us at all, Silverman? Are you sure you're the man for this job?"

"I use people's first names like a normal person. Why do you always call everyone by their surname?"

"When I got here everybody kept calling me Nguyễn! Or Na-goo-yen." Reggie pronounced it in an exaggerated Australian accent. Elijah snorted. "I thought that was just what Australians did!"

"It's not. It's really not."

"Well, someone should've told me three weeks ago you lot put your names backwards."

Elijah laughed, covering his mouth with his hands. "Don't ever stop, Reggie."

They returned to the common room still arguing about whose naming system made more sense. Christian Li was waiting. His arms were crossed while the Year Sevens sat around looking varying degrees of guilty. Lane stood beside his bedroom doorway, red-faced, with Bernard nearby.

"Who dobbed?" Reggie asked.

"Him." Owen pointed at Bernard.

"Oh, big deal," Bernard said. "I told Christian, not Kingston. This has gone far enough."

"That's still dobbing," Felix said.

Christian raised a hand. "Can everyone please stop saying dobbing?"

Reggie pointed at Bernard. "Dobber."

"Enough!" Christian commanded them. The room went quiet. "So I heard things are going missing."

"Four things now," Bernard said.

Elijah looked at him. "Four?"

Lane stared at the floor. "My tractor."

There was a pause. Four items. The thief was escalating.

"Your tractor?" Reggie asked, as if imagining Lane brought some farm equipment from home for someone to sneak it off campus.

"A little wooden tractor from home," Lane explained.

Felix frowned. "You have a toy tractor?"

"It's not a toy."

"A little wooden tractor is totally a toy," Felix sneered, like he didn't think toys belonged at school.

Bernard turned on him. "Does anyone actually think you're funny, Felix? I mean that factually, not personally. Has anyone ever enjoyed your company even once?"

Suppressed laughter travelled around the room. Christian cut it off.

"I said it's enough! Look, we're all busy. Stealing is against the rules. Going into other people's rooms is against the rules. We don't touch each other's stuff without asking."

Elijah raised a hand slightly. "The pencil and bracelet got returned."

Christian looked at Milo and Lane. "You're sure you didn't lose them?"

Owen scoffed. "That's a dumb question."

"Why?" Christian rounded on him.

"It just is," Owen explained after a pause.

"Because Owen's bracelet had to be untied from the bedpost, and Milo's resin thing had to be unclipped from his back," Elijah clarified.

"Silverman's been doing case notes," Reggie added, making Elijah squeeze his eyes shut in frustration. "Sorry," Reggie whispered quickly.

"Case notes?" Christian seemed taken aback. "You've been recording this?"

Elijah felt his ears burning and he looked at the floor as the room's attention fell on him. "I just wrote down some things in my book to see if I could work out a pattern. I couldn't."

Christian's reaction was difficult to assess. He just looked away and spoke again.

"You guys know how this place works. The staff give us more freedom than most boarding schools because we're supposed to be able to handle it. We don't have someone standing over us every second making sure we behave."

That was true. Oakfield talked constantly about independence. Students organised clubs. Senior boys supervised activities. Christian had responsibilities Elijah would have expected an adult to handle anywhere else. Teachers spoke to them as though being gifted meant they should somehow also be unusually mature. Sometimes Elijah liked that. Sometimes he suspected adults simply enjoyed having fewer things to do.

"I don’t have time for games or investigations. Whatever’s going on stops now. We’ve got a reputation, guys. We’re the best school in the country. Some of the best students in the world enrol here. So I’m gonna give whoever’s doing this until lights out to return everyone’s stuff and own up to me, and I’ll report to Mr Kingston that we’ve resolved it ourselves. Otherwise, he’s going to get involved in the morning, and it’s going to go from an in-house problem to a big deal."

The boys mumbled their agreement, and Christian walked briskly out. Elijah didn't fancy Mr Kingston making a fuss. Christian's offer to resolve the problem internally without escalating it to grumpy old Mr Kingston was attractive, but what if the culprit didn't own up, like they'd all promised? Based on what was happening, he was reasonably sure it was a Year Seven student - he couldn't make sense of it being a Year Eight, or any senior students. To hedge his bets, he needed to find out who it was and make sure they did the right thing.

"This is ridiculous."

"Lights out?"

"Kingston's going to murder us."

"He's not going to murder us," Felix corrected. "He's going to murder whoever's stealing everybody's garbage."

Milo seemed to wince and Bernard rolled his eyes.

"It's not garbage!" Owen disagreed.

"Whatever. I'm going back to my room," Piers said, shoving the earbuds in his comically big ears and walking away.

Elijah ignored them all. He was still thinking about the tractor. "Hey, when did you notice it was gone?"

Lane's cheeks flushed.

Bernard shrugged. "May as well tell him."

"Yesterday. Around breakfast." Lane shoved his hands in his pockets.

Yesterday? That meant Elijah's timeline was already wrong. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Lane's ears reddened. "Because it really is a toy, and I didn't want everyone knowing I brought one to school. I thought I'd lost it. Then Milo's keychain disappeared."

"So I dobbed, because this whole thing is stupid and embarrassing," Bernard finished.

Elijah asked if either remembered who had been around when the tractor vanished. Neither did. Of course they didn't. Nobody knew they were supposed to pay attention until after something happened.

"Who do you reckon is doing it?" Elijah asked quietly.

Lane hesitated. "Maybe Banjo? He lives with Owen and he found the bracelet." Elijah already knew that.

Bernard pointed across the room. "Nah. I reckon Felix is sus. Sounds like something he'd do to cheese everybody off."

Elijah looked over. Felix was scrolling on his phone. That was as good a theory as any, even if he suspected Bernard was biased. He approached Milo instead.

"How's the search?"

Milo was on his knees beside a couch. "Nothing. I'm getting worried."

"Because your sister made it?" Elijah asked. Milo nodded.

"You miss her?"

The question seemed to surprise him. "Yeah. We've never been apart this long."

"Do you usually do everything together?"

"Not everything, but we're best friends. We went to the same school. Same friends. Same room, even."

Elijah noticed he glanced at Felix. "And now you're here sharing a room with Felix." He felt guilty. Until today, he hadn't known Milo had a twin sister. He hadn't even known Milo's surname. "That sucks. I miss home too," Elijah admitted.

"You said you don't like the farm."

"Oh, definitely not. I miss my parents and the animals and my room. The actual farm can stay five hundred kilometres away."

Milo laughed. For the first time, Elijah realised he had a nice laugh.

Elijah paused. "Why do you think someone would take your keychain?"

"I don't know."

"Do you have any idea who might have taken it?"

Milo shook his head.

"Nobody at all?"

"No."

"You haven't had any arguments or... anything?"

"No," Milo repeated.

Elijah frowned. "Anyone who knew that this mattered to you?"

"No." Milo shrugged. "Everyone probably sees it."

Elijah suppressed a sigh. How come none of these witnesses were useful? Nobody ever saw or recounted anything that could help him actually work out the culprit. Milo had nothing, Bernard had pointed at the person he disliked most, and Lane's contribution was a conclusion Elijah had already reached on his own. The detectives he read about seemed to find witnesses who could produce clues on command. Real people kept giving him useless, incomplete or biased information.

Then Felix shouted. "Oi, farmboy!"

Lane looked up. Felix was crouched beside the bookshelf near the television. When he stood, a small green object was in his hand.

Lane looked like his birthday, Easter and Christmas arrived at once. "My tractor!"

Felix handed it over without teasing him. "Found it behind the video games."

"Thank god it's okay."

Lane ran his thumb carefully and lovingly along the tractor's crooked wheel after Felix returned it. Elijah watched him. He understood now why Lane hadn't wanted to tell anyone. The thing looked cheap. One wheel was damaged, the paint uneven and worn along the edges. That obviously had nothing to do with whether it mattered. Elijah thought again about the shelf beside his bedroom window. Dad probably wouldn't even remember building it. Elijah wasn't sure why that bothered him.

"Where did you find it, exactly?" Elijah asked Felix.

"Back there."

Banjo looked over. "Next to the Switch games?"

"Yeah."

Banjo frowned. "I checked there."

Elijah turned to him. "When?"

"Before Christian came down. I moved all those games. There was nothing behind them."

Felix rolled his eyes. "Then you didn't look very well."

Elijah stared at him. Felix had returned to the common room during the confusion around Christian's arrival. Nobody had been watching him. He could have planted the tractor. Plus, Felix liked reactions. He loved winding people up. Stealing sentimental things and returning them just to watch everybody scramble sounded exactly like him.

"What?" Felix asked when he noticed Elijah staring.

"Nothing."

"You want to ask me on a date?"

Elijah's stomach twisted. "What are you talking about?"

"You keep staring at me."

"I was zoned out. Don't flatter yourself."

Felix snorted and returned to his phone.

Elijah pulled Banjo aside. "You said you can remember a room if you're paying attention."

"The thick plottens!" Banjo gave that perfect, white grin that Elijah was so jealous of.

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

"I think Felix might be doing this."

Banjo glanced toward him. "Because of the tractor?"

"Partly. But that's not proof."

"True. A feeling in your waters won't convince a jury."

"Thanks, Mr Lawyer-Face." Elijah and Banjo shared a chuckle, then he pointed subtly around the room. "I need you to remember two things. Everywhere we know has been searched, and everywhere Felix goes."

Banjo understood immediately. "So if something turns up..."

"We'll know if he could've planted it."

Then the next hour produced almost nothing. Banjo periodically reported Felix's movements. At one point he leaned over Elijah's beanbag.

"He's moved three metres."

Felix had shifted from one end of the couch to the other. By dinner, nobody had found Milo's keychain.

"Maybe whoever took it will use Christian's lights-out thing," Bernard said.

"I hope so," Milo murmured.

As six thirty neared, the Year Sevens and Eights filed downstairs. Something about the afternoon had shifted the usual groups. Milo followed Lane and Bernard and sat opposite them. Piers surprised everyone by joining them too.

"Your room finally ask you for some space?" Bernard asked.

Piers seemed neither entertained nor offended. "I'm hungry."

"Fair enough." Lane shrugged.

Elijah sat with Reggie, Owen and Banjo. He hadn't meant for it to happen, but they'd become his group. Across the room, Milo was actually talking. Lane said something that made him laugh.

"What's got you all pensive, Silverman?" Reggie asked.

"Pensive? That's a big word for you," Banjo teased him.

Elijah looked down at the cottage pie he'd barely touched. "I won't get a moment's peace until I know who the thief is."

"Where's Felix?" Owen asked.

Banjo nodded toward the Year Nine table. Beside Sebastian. Exactly where he usually was.

"He's been there since we came downstairs," Banjo said.

"And before that?"

"Phone. Couch. Annoying us."

Elijah nodded. Felix hadn't had another opportunity. After dinner, Elijah, Owen and Reggie returned to the common room first while Banjo remained behind to keep an eye on Felix. Piers came up next but predictably ducked into his room and closed the door behind him. The farmboys, never apart, were the next to arrive. Banjo was five or ten minutes late, shrugging as he joined his friends.

Then a voice echoed down the hallway.

"I FOUND IT!"

Everybody in the common room ran. Milo stood in the bedroom he shared with Felix, holding the resin keychain.

"It was here!"

"Where?" Elijah asked.

Milo pointed at his side table. "Right there. It wasn't there before dinner."

He clipped it back onto his bag with shaking fingers. Elijah looked at Banjo. They both knew what that meant. Outside the room, Banjo lowered his voice.

"Sorry, Elijah. Felix couldn't have done that."

Felix hadn't even come upstairs yet. That was so annoying.

Elijah sighed. "So we're back at square one."

"Not really. We eliminated someone beyond reasonable doubt."

Elijah smiled despite himself. "Can't I sulk for a minute?"

Then something else struck him. If Felix wasn't doing this to upset everyone... what was the thief doing it for? As if summoned, Felix finally appeared, and he frowned.

"Why are we all outside my room?" Felix asked.

"Milo's keychain turned up," Banjo told him.

"Where?"

"His table."

Felix raised an eyebrow. "Then someone put it there for him to find."

"It wasn't you," Elijah said. "You couldn't have."

Felix looked at him, and realisation tugged at the corners of his mouth. "You thought it was me?" He laughed. "That's rich. Spending all this time watching me when the bad guy is right under your nose."

He pointed at Banjo. The room fell silent.

"What are you on about?" Banjo demanded.

"It's obviously you, Banjo!" Felix declared. "Raj found the pencil you insisted wasn't there. You found Owen's bracelet. You knew the tractor wasn't behind the games before I found it. You've spent all afternoon memorising where everyone searched."

"That's circumstantial at best!" Banjo retorted. "Why would I bother stealing things just to give them back?"

"I dunno. You apparently thought I did it because it sounded like something I'd do. Why wouldn't the same logic apply to you?" Felix pointed out. Banjo folded his arms, and Felix continued. "While you two were watching me, was anyone watching him?" Elijah hesitated. "And did he have a chance to put Milo's keychain back?"

Elijah's stomach sank. Banjo had come upstairs alone before Milo did. Felix saw the answer on his face.

"See?"

"That doesn't prove anything," Banjo snapped.

"Technically not, but come on, man," Bernard muttered.

Banjo stared at him. "You think it was me?"

Bernard hesitated. "Kinda. Yeah."

Lane and Milo avoided his gaze. Then Banjo looked at Owen.

"Do you?"

"No."

But Owen had paused - only for a moment, but it was enough.,

Finally Banjo looked at Elijah. "Elijah?"

Elijah wanted to say no. Instead his brain supplied every suspicious fact at once. Banjo had found the bracelet. Banjo remembered where the tractor hadn't been. Banjo had spent an hour memorising searched locations. Nobody had watched him because he had been doing the watching. Like Owen had, Elijah hesitated.

Banjo swallowed. "Right."

"Banjo, wait-"

He was already leaving. Owen stepped after him.

"Banjo!"

"Leave me alone!"

Silence settled over the room.

Felix passed Elijah and gloated under his breath. "Told you I'd solve the mystery first."

"You did," Elijah said, louder.

"Did what?" Reggie asked.

"Don't worry about it."

Elijah looked toward the doorway. The evidence against Banjo wasn't proof. He could follow him and interrogate him until every suspicious detail had an explanation. But that hadn't worked particularly well so far. Earlier, Milo hadn't given Elijah a single useful clue. Then Elijah had stopped investigating him long enough to actually talk to him. Maybe Banjo didn't need to be cornered. Maybe he needed someone to listen.

The library was on the ground floor. It was about the quietest place Elijah had found at Oakfield. Not silent, but Ruth the Librarian did her best to bring it as close as possible. Most of its lights were dimmed for the evening, leaving only lamps above the reading tables. Elijah found Banjo in the furthest corner, knees pulled to his chest, facing the dark windows. He'd expected anger. Instead, Banjo quickly wiped his eyes upon realising he had an audience.

"I'm sorry. I didn't expect anyone to see me like this. Don't tell Reggie and Owen."

"Oh, no way. I don't need the whole school to hear about it."

That made Banjo laugh, despite what happened.

Elijah sat nearby. "What's wrong? You always seem so cheerful."

"What makes you think I'm not?" That got another weak laugh. Then Banjo sighed. "I didn't want to come here. My parents wouldn't take no for an answer. I miss my dogs and my friends and my footy team." His voice cracked. "And now everyone thinks I'm a thief."

"Hey. It'll be okay." Elijah held out a hand. "I can't get you closer to your dogs or your friends, but I know what it's like to feel like you left everything behind."

Banjo gripped it. Elijah was surprised by how nice it felt. Banjo's hand was warm and his grip was firm, and their eyes met. He hadn't noticed how lovely and brown they were. After a moment, he helped Banjo to his feet.

"Thanks."

Elijah nodded. "I know a lot just happened, but... what do you think about whoever's doing this?"

"Worst klepto ever. They can't keep anything they nick." Then Banjo's expression changed. "You still think it's me?"

"No. I'm sorry I didn't say anything earlier."

"Why didn't you? Did you think I was lying? Like Owen apparently did?"

"Well, the fact is, someone we know is lying." Elijah shifted uncomfortably. "I'm really glad it's not you. That would've sucked."

Banjo gave a bitter chuckle. "Would it?"

"Yeah. You're my friend. I don't want any villain plot twists from you," Elijah reassured him, and Banjo smiled. "I didn't come here to accuse you. I wanted to hear you out if it was you. Because I don't think whoever did this is trying to upset anyone." Banjo frowned as he considered this, and Elijah continued. "Every time something goes missing, everyone stops what they're doing and searches together. The thief gets something out of that. I just don't know what."

"It's not me, Eli. I don't need to steal Owen's stuff to get him to hang around me." Banjo paused. "On the flip side, I don't know how to get rid of him."

It clicked. Elijah froze.

“I know who it is!”