Wisps of Cloud (26 page)

Ryan frowned. "Never heard of them. Should I have?"

"They're that Chinese company that Trish wanted to sell Top Plateau Station to."

"You mean that overseas syndicate she mentioned?" Karla asked.

Anne nodded. "I guess she didn't want to mention that they were Chinese. That's where all the money is in our modern world." She turned to her husband. "Tell them, Alan."

"Panda Pacific already owns several large farms and commercial property in New Zealand. They have offered an extremely generous takeover bid for DaY Development but there is a condition."

"Top Plateau Station?" Ryan asked.

"They want to purchase the whole station, not just the original property," Alan said. "Their plans include DaY's original one of developing lifestyle blocks here but they will convert the homestead into a upmarket retreat for overseas visitors. There are already a couple in this part of the country owned by American billionaires."

"So the purchase of DaY Development is just a backdoor way to get this property?" Karla asked.

"Partly," Alan admitted. "But they will continue to keep DaY as a going concern and registered company on the New Zealand stock exchange."

"Will you retain any shares?" Ryan asked.

"Twenty percent and a seat on the Board." Alan admitted. "Their offer has been made but the time frame is short."

"How short?" Karla asked.

"One month."

Karla squeezed Ryan's arm beneath the table and gave him a tiny nod.

Ryan nodded and turned to his stepfather. "I have moved our affairs to a new lawyer and a different firm. She is very professional and talented."

Alan raised his eyebrows. "She?"

"Why not?" Karla retorted.

"No reason," Alan whispered and turned back to Ryan. "You were saying?"

"Give me details of everything about your company and the takeover deal. Also we will need to know about the offer Panda Pacific made and your counter offer."

"What counter offer?"

Ryan glowered. "Come on, we both know that nobody ever accepts an initial offer in deals such as this."

Alan shrugged.

"Anyway, if we find that Panda Pacific is a reputable company and the offer is acceptable we will agree to sell Top Plateau Station," Ryan continued.

"All of it?" Anne gasped.

"Yes Mum. Like you, I see little value in clinging onto the station for the family name. Those days are long gone."

Anne reached over and grabbed Ryan's hand. "I told Alan you would never agree but he said we should at least ask you but why?"

"Lots of reasons," Ryan replied.

"You never really liked farming," Anne whispered. "Whenever, your father tried to force you into something you would grit your teeth, say nothing but end up doing what you originally wanted."

"Sounds like his mother," Alan said.

Karla looked at him and noticed the expression in his eyes. They sort of glittered as he looked across at Anne. Perhaps Ryan and herself had been wrong about him. Before her now, was not a ruthless businessman trying to squeeze what he could out of them but a man who showed genuine love towards his wife, Ryan's mother.

"We both had a difficult time," Ryan replied. "I'm glad Mum and you Alan are making a go of it."

"Yeah," Alan replied, his abrupt manner returning. "Also, you and Karla."

"Yes," Ryan replied. "Karla and me, too."

*

It had to happen! The ERO team, Education Review Office would be arriving on the Tuesday to follow up the poor report from Ted Wilton's time
, to evaluate the school's performance and to also check that the recommendations from the previous report had been implemented.

The other arrival would be the contractor to lay the hot-mix asphalt for the new playground to use for netball, basketball and tennis. This would be twice the size of the original asphalted area with the Board of Trustees and Hall Committee going together to provide a community as well as school facility. As most of the Board members were also on the Hall Committee this was really just paper work but the Hall Committee could apply for assistance from the District Council and charitable organisations. One of the Masterton banks was particularly generous with several thousand dollars donated in exchange for a small sign at the entrance advertising their services. The contractor had also given them a discounted price in exchange for advertising space along the front fence.

Inside the building, most of the upgrades and renovations had been completed with both classrooms looking colourful and alive with artwork and children's charts on the walls as well as teacher-made charts for reading and other subjects. Chrissy had put in a tremendous effort and was half way through making massive papier mâchė masks for the children's theme about 'Our Pacific Neighbours' as well as converting a play house into a Fijian village hut.

"How can you be so calm?" Chrissy gasped when Karla walked into the junior room at eight
fifteen before any children arrived. "I'm a bundle of nerves, my masks are only half finished and my six-year-old net tests are still to be written up."

Karla smiled. "They come to see the school in operation but do not judge individual teachers. If they find anything lacking in the junior department and I doubt if they will, I will be held responsible, not you."

"And that damned great green truck grinding away outside; how will the children concentrate when all they want to do is watch the hot-mix being laid?"

"So take them out to watch for a few moments. It fits in perfectly with our ongoing new school theme. I know your art this week is based on the big machines."

Chrissy grinned. "I knew the boys would be interested but am amazed that the girls are, too. It's different from when I went to school." She glanced around her desk that was unusually tidy with school records, planning and children's books in neat piles. "Okay, I know my desk is usually piled up with junk. I have to make a bit of an effort."

A roar outside interrupted them as a gigantic hot-mix machine, dump truck and smaller roller arrived through the side gate and men in orange jackets and yellow helmets fanned out. Luckily the weather was clear with no rain forecast.

"Well here we go," Karla said. "Remember, just do everything as usual. If they do come in here they'll be non-intrusive and will ask if they want to see anything in particular."

At nine-thirty above the roar outside, blue smoke and the smell of hot tar there was a knock on the door. Lorena, who Karla suspected had manipulated the duty roster so she was the pupil host, leaped out of her desk and somewhat formally, opened the door.

"Good morning," she said. She glanced at the man who accompanied two women. "You've been here before, haven't you?"

"I have, young lady. I am John Cosgrove from the ERO team."

"Yeah, well come in John. You ladies, too. I reckon you'll find that Karla is doing a damn good job." Gone was the formality.

Karla, who heard the whole conversation, suppressed a grin as she stepped forward, thanked Lorena and realised she knew the main ERO officer. "Oh hello Mr Cosgrove," she said. "It's good to meet you again. Sorry about Lorena. We aren't as formal out here. Also, my apologies for the smell and noise but we need to have the new playground laid before the weather closes in."

John Cosgrove smiled and introduced his colleagues before they all stepped into the classroom. There was a buzz as the children worked on preset tasks. Even Jason was writing frantically in his exercise book. "There have certainly been many changes since my last visit. The building must be twice the size of the original one. All spruced up, too."

"The Board decided to buy this larger older block from a closed Masterton School site rather than one new classroom for the same price."

"Sound thinking," John Cosgrove said. "Especially now that you have a second classroom in operation."

The day continued with everything covered. The three were very thorough but friendly, with the children responding to the visitors whenever the opportunity arrived. By three Karla was exhausted but happy as she had her final chat to the children, told them to stay off the new asphalt and away from the vehicles and machinery before releasing them for the day.

Chrissy supervised the children's departure while Karla took the trio through to the office to hear their comments about the visit.

There were the usual suggestions about items she had overlooked or had yet to implement but overall, the team were highly complimentary about how Top Plateau School was operating.

"Do you ever see Ted Wilton?" John asked after the formal procedures were over, Chrissy had joined them and they accepted an offer of afternoon coffee. "I would have never guessed that he would be working for the police, not after his somewhat devious activities at the school, here."

"I misjudged him, too," Karla replied. "Yes, we see him occasionally. Only last week he brought in a trailer load of wood for our fires in winter. I think he misses the children's company."

"That can happen," John replied and switched the conversation to questions about the new playground outside. This was nearly complete but Karla had not had time to really inspect it. The glistening black area seemed better than she expected, though. Next week, lines and other playground markings would be painted on the surface and netball goals erected. With that completed, the school was now fully operational and a place in which to be proud.

"How was your day?" she asked Chrissy, half an hour later after the ERO team had left.

Chrissy grinned. "Fine. Bev, that's the ERO woman who visited me, was once a junior school Associate Principal. She seemed to enjoy just sitting down with the children and said all positive things. I don't why I was so worried about them coming."

Karla smiled. "It's a good day to have behind us though, isn't it?"

Chrissy nodded. "Even the machines didn't really annoy us. The grounds look great… so big and it makes the school look as if it has always been here. Thanks Karla."

"What for?"

Chrissy shrugged. "This year, I guess. It's so good to have a friend like you, my job here, the friendly kids and parents… no Val or Murray." She looked serious for a moment. "Yes, thank you for everything!"

*

It was Easter and almost two years since Chrissy had left Tui Park School. The senior staff were still there but Murray Narwood told everyone he would retire at the end of the year. Gillian Elston was still deputy principal and Val Cook had a handful of years to go before her own retirement. Replacing Karla, as senior teacher was a middle-aged woman who had transferred there from another school that had a falling roll.

Joanne Stone was in her third year at the school and still taught a Year Two class in the Junior Syndicate. She was used to Val now and got on reasonably well with her by putting her head down and going along with the latest ideas foisted upon them, not that there were many. The National Standards were now fully implemented in the school and were not difficult to do. As for other ideas, Joanne considered that the entire senior staff were content to just drift along, so much so that the roll had dropped a little even with a new sub-division built within their zone.

It wasn't her concern, though. She did her job and enjoyed other things in the city including an active social life without any serious commitments. She was considering heading for United Kingdom later in the year and had already found an organisation that helped New Zealand teachers get positions in London.

It was late afternoon and she was at home in her apartment where she lived alone when there was a knock on the door.

Two women stood there, one a policewoman while the other was dressed in a business suit.

"Joanne Stone?" the woman in civilian clothes asked.

"Why yes."

The woman held out a badge. "I am Detective Sergeant Anne Te Rangi and this is Constable Leanne Soper. There is nothing to worry about but we think you may be able to help us in an ongoing investigation we are carrying out?"

Joanne stared at the pair. "Why, what have I done?"

The constable smiled. "Absolutely nothing. Can we come in?"

"Please do." A worried Joanne stood back and invited the pair into her open plan living and kitchen area, Expecting a refusal, she asked them if they'd like a coffee. They both accepted and for a few moments she rushed around, found mugs and plugged in the kettle.

"It's only instant, I'm afraid. There's milk and sugar if you'd like it."

"Whether you wish to help us or not is entirely up to you," Anne Te Rangi began. "We do, though, ask that everything we tell you is confidential and that you do not repeat the information you are about to hear."

"Sounds serious."

"Potentially it is but our aim is to stop a serious crime from happening."

"But why me? I know nothing about criminal activity in the city or anywhere else, if it comes to that."

"You are on the staff at Tui Park School and know both Chrissy Ancell and Karla Spicer who were once teachers at your school."

Joanne gasped. "Yes. I was a good friend with them both. What have they done?"