Aleeza:She doesn’t hang with your friends anymore?
Jay:No, I don’t hang out with that group very much anymore. Happens a lot in first year. Your friends in September will probably not be your friends forever.
I have no idea if Jay is talking about me when he says that. A couple of weeks ago, I would have denied it. Mia and I were going to be friends forever. But look how much my life has changed in a week.
Aleeza:Gracie says Bailey and Aster’s group is rich and snobby.
Jay:Yep. You can see why I don’t really fit in with them. I met them last year through water polo. Serves me right to pick such a bougie sport. So, what’s our next step in the investigation?
Aleeza:Iwait to see if Bailey Cressman will tell us more about Birdwatcher. And I need to actually start the podcast. I’m thinking episode one will be a little bit about you and the details of the disappearance. Like the time you were last seen and possible ways you could have gotten out of the building. I can use what you learned about the cameras. Then episode two can be a deeper dive into “Who is Jay Hoque.” Can I ask you some questions for that now?
Jay: Um, I’m supposed to be missing? Who are you going to put down as your source for this information?
Good question.
Aleeza:We can keep it surface level. Just tell me things that would be easy for me to find out on my own. This will save me from having to actually do the research.
Jay:Okay. Hit me with your hard-hitting questions, Roomie.
Aleeza:What’s your major?
Jay:Engineering. I want to be a structural engineer.
Aleeza:Why did you pick this university?
Jay:I got a scholarship here. And I like being close to home.
Aleeza:You grew up in Toronto, right?
Jay:Yep. Specifically, Scarborough.
Aleeza:Any siblings?
Jay:No.
Aleeza:Are you close with your dad too?
Jay:I don’t have one. You don’t need to mention a father.
Aleeza:Everyone has a father.
Jay:Yeah, and mine’s not in the picture. It’s not relevant. I’ve never met him. Don’t mention him in the podcast.
This is weird. He doesn’t want me to even say that his father isn’t in his life? It’s totally significant to who he is, right? Did his father abandonhim? Is he dead? I can’t tell if Jay truly doesn’t think it’s significant and has no feelings about his birth father, or if he’s hiding something.
One thing I can safely assume is that Jay’s father isn’t from Bangladesh, like his mother. He said he’s biracial, and he implied earlier that his mother used to be in an all-white community. Is that where she met his father? I make a note to find out what I can about Jay’s father—without telling Jay, of course.
Aleeza:Maybe it would be better if I spoke to a family member. Do you think your mother would talk to me?
Jay:I’d rather you didn’t. This is probably hard enough on her.
I remember he said his mother had depression. I hope she’s doing okay. There must be a way I can check on her without upsetting her.
Aleeza:Can I speak to a cousin or something? You said you were close to your aunt and uncle. Do they have kids?
Jay:Yeah, Madhuri and Manal. I’m tight with both of them, but especially Manal. She’s a student at OCAD. She’s a year older than me.
Aleeza:Do you think she’d speak to me.
