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An average of fifteen days each school term. With her parents’ knowledge?” “I . . . assumed so. We tend to deal with Mrs. Persey.” “You tend to deal with Mrs. Persey.” Natasha let that one hang. Along the bench, she could see Mr. Persey whispering urgently to his brief. “And what reasons did Mrs. Persey give for her daughter’s absences on those days?” “It wasn’t anything very specific. She would say Lucy wasn’t feeling up to it. Sometimes a headache. A couple of times she didn’t give any reason.
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