The Betrayal of Bindy Mackenzie

by Jaclyn Moriarty

  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.

  8

  MONDAY

  A Memo from Briony Atkins

  To: Bindy Mackenzie

  From: Briony Atkins

  Subject: Sample

  Time: Monday morning

  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

  To: Bindy Mackenzie

  From: Emily Thompson

  Subject: Witnessing

  Time: Monday Recess

  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

  To: Bindy Mackenzie

  From: Elizabeth Clarry

  Subject: The box

  Time: Monday lunchtime

  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

  To: Bindy Mackenzie

  From: Toby Mazzerati

  Subject: Update on Surveillance

  Time: Monday afternoon

  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 hav
e 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?

  The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie

  5.43 pm

  No. Better leave him be.

  The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie

  5.45 pm

  He did say he wanted to hear what happened with my family now that my brother’s secret is out. I should call him and tell him! Not that much has happened—my parents are not speaking to each other, and my brother is still living with Sam’s family and going to his Performing Arts school. I haven’t heard from Dad, but then, nor have I replied to his e-mail.

  Besides, if he is ill, he should be resting. Finnegan needs his sleep. He is so often awake through the night. Hopefully, his eyes are closed now . . .

  The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie

  5.56 pm

  His eyes are his best feature. Such a beautiful shape. They seem to swoop. Such swooping eyes . . .

  The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie

  6.05 pm

  Then, too, there is his voice. He speaks as if he has his foot on the soft pedal of his voice—all the notes crisply pronounced, but something so gentle in the tone.

  The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie

  6.25 pm

  This afternoon, on the way home from school, I bought a ‘teen magazine’. I have never done that before. I don’t believe in glossy magazines. It was an experiment, really: would it catch my attention now that I know I am a ‘teenager’? Well, I just took a short break from my study to find out—and of course, it did not. A lot of bad grammar and advice about make-up and hair treatments.

  Still, I can’t seem to stop turning the pages. MUST STOP READING AND GET SOME WORK DONE.

  The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie

  7.00 pm

  My magazine has advice for those who have never kissed a boy. That is sensible—to acknowledge the innocent readers. I’m surprised that it does. It suggests that I learn to kiss by whispering the word ‘who’ into the palm of my hand.

  9

  TUESDAY

  A Memo from Bindy Mackenzie

  To: Briony, Emily, Elizabeth, Toby and Sergio

  From: Bindy Mackenzie

  Subject: Your Memos

  Time: Tuesday, 9.00 am

  Dear All,

  First, I would like to thank you for your memos. It gladdens my heart to see you using your stationery.

  Next, I must tell you that I have been to the doctor. Auntie Veronica took me straight after school yesterday afternoon. I mentioned your poison theory to him and I am sorry to say we both laughed. It cheered us up.

  But really, what is going on with you all? Do you not remember what Try said?! Why would somebody be poisoning an innocent teenager?! It makes no sense. You all seemed so quiet after Try gave her speech. I thought you were convinced by her reasonableness! But no, your ‘detective work’ continues! It is intriguing.

  At any rate, the doctor arranged for some tests—I’ll get the results in a few days. He’s testing to see if I have food allergies; also, if I’m anaemic, as I look pale. If so, I’ll need more iron. He doesn’t think I have glandular fever. He decided to throw in tests for heavy metal poisons, such as lead, mercury and yes, Briony, arsenic, because these things do happen, especially in old houses—and the symptoms might actually match my symptoms. (And because he enjoyed the story of my over-excited friends.)

  Nevertheless, in his opinion, the only thing wrong is that I’m overworked and overstressed. I need to relax and get more sleep.

  I am very sorry to disappoint you, and I’m sorry you’ve been wasting time with your ‘detective work’.

  Lots of love,

  Bindy Mackenzie

  PS Briony, I’m not keen on bringing a urine sample to school. Thanks all the same. I suppose you don’t want it now that I’ve been to the doctor.

  PPS Emily, I don’t really want to show you my life story again. I hope you understand. The fight I witnessed was not between teachers as I’d thought. I’ve talked to a lawyer, and it turns out it was computer programmers, arguing about copyright in a computer program. So, you see, nothing important.

  PPPS Toby and Sergio, I think you should get your phone back out of Mrs Lilydale’s office. I think that might be unethical. And imagine your phone bills.

  The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie

  Tuesday, 8.00 pm

  I can’t seem to concentrate on study tonight! You see, by the process of deduction, I have realised something. Finnegan wrote this on my Name Game: ‘I have never spoken to Bindy, but I am sure that behind her extremely annoying personality she is a beautiful human being.’ He thought I had an extremely annoying personality. Can’t get that out of my head.

  The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie

  9.00 pm

  I was just reading my teen magazine again, and it said that a boyfriend should like you exactly as you are. BUT: (1) He thought I was extremely annoying. (2) He told me to take a kickboxing class. (Why? Did he think I needed exercise? I’m not fat, you know. Well, I’m not a skeleton either, but if skeleto-girls are his thing, he’s a ‘shallowguy’ (as my magazine would say).) (3) He took my hair out of its plaits in the club. (Why? Didn’t he like it the way it was? He should have!)

  The Philosophical Musings of Bindy Mackenzie

  10.00 pm

  Not that he’s my boyfriend, I guess.

  He wasn’t at school again today. I’m not going to call him to see how he is.

  ANNOYING, am I?

  I might start wearing my hair in coiled plaits again.

  10

  WEDNESDAY

  A Memo from Briony Atkins

  To: Bindy Mackenzie

  From: Briony Atkins

  Subject: Food Recommendations

  Time: Wednesday morning

  Dear Bindy,

  Well, I COMPLETELY understand that you feel uncomfortable bringing in a urine sample and I guess we’ll just have to wait for your doctor’s test results. Often, they test hair and fingernails for arsenic because it stays in those things for years—so, don’t worry, they’ll be able to test even after you’re dead (ha ha, just kidding, you won’t die) (hopefully).

  I ordered my testing kit off the internet when I was doing my Biology assignment and wanted to check arsenic levels in local streams. (And now I get so much junkmail from online pharmacies.)

  Anyway, can I please suggest that you eat a lot of eggs, onions, beans and garlic? These foods have sulphur in them which will help to get rid of some of the arsenic in your body.

  Love,

  Briony

  PS None of us were convinced by Try when she made her speech about you not being po
isoned. That’s just what you do when a teacher gets reasonable like that. You act quiet and serious and wait until the teacher is gone and then you get on with what you were doing. Didn’t you know?

  A Memo from Emily Thompson

  To: Bindy Mackenzie

  From: Emily Thompson

  Subject: Now, it might not seem significant to you . . .

  Time: Wednesday, recess

  Dear Bindy,

  Now, it might not seem significant to you but copyright issues can involve a lot of money, such as millions of dollars, and therefore maybe you did hear something so important that you must die? You just don’t know. (And your doctor admitted that your symptoms could be poisoning!! What more proof do you need?!?!?!)

  So, now, if it’s about software, we need to think about people involved in computers at our school? I don’t like to admit this, but maybe it’s not Mrs Lilydale at all. I’m thinking through all the computer teachers, and also, I’m remembering that I always see Miss Flynn at the computer in the library! And she wears pastel! Could be a disguise. Could it be her?

  Please can you tell me which law firm you went to about this copyright issue? Also, what kind of software it was, and who the parties were? And then I can ask my mum if she knows anything about the case, as she is a copyright lawyer herself. I’m going to ask you in person right now, actually, because I can see you.

  Great.

  Thanks.

  Emily

  A Memo from Sergio Saba

  To: Bindy Mackenzie

  From: Sergio Saba

  Subject: Update on Surveillance

  Time: Wednesday afternoon

  Bindo,

  Toby and I hereby reportificate on Mrs Lilydale as follows.

  We have dialled in to her office and we have heard her give exactly the same speech to five different students in a row. The speech is about apples. I don’t get it and neither does Toby and that’s after five goes of hearing it. It’s something about Granny Smith as compared to Golden Delicious and I’m sorry. But it makes no sense. Can an apple-obsessed woman be a murderer? I don’t have the answer to that question, but I hear that apple seeds have cyanide in them, if you chew them hard enough. So, that’s relevant.