1 - Joe Noakes

Doctor Veritas’ professional approach is somewhat reassuring; her personal feelings are obviously at variance with the position she’s obliged to hold. That suggests that her own intentions are good, but it also constitutes confirmation that Joe is heading somewhere in the right direction. However, hold she obviously will, even when she’s so rattled that his final question, which should certainly have gained a near-reflexive response (either "of course" for a simple lie or "why would you think the school would not be safe?" if the answer was not so screamingly obvious) got overlooked completely. Tellingly, she also didn’t see fit to quash the rumours, even when as good as challenged to do so, suggesting that the planned cover story (the ‘power cut’) has not been developed to cover the maybe-disappearance, probably because what actually happened isn’t known. Very interesting; if the staff don’t know what actually happened, then they’re definitely still investigating, and this interview is part of that process. At the very least, if this was a prank, enough hints about the fate of the transgressors would be mentioned simply to deter anyone else from trying something similar in future.
No, the details are being hastily hidden but the cover up is pretty plain to see; if even the obvious facts can’t be explained, blatantly attack or deny them. Joe’s observations were carefully factual; his deductions were open to question, but she left them quite alone.

"So the rumours are exactly that? Are they always like this as soon as anything at all unusual happens? Well, then I’m sorry to have taken up your time. I had been stewing about this, but I suppose I need to develop a thicker skin. I’ll tell Emily not to worry if the subject comes up again."

Joe was smart enough to figure out what was being said, and by inference what was being omitted by Veritas. It confirmed his suspicions of a cover up, and concluded that he had to go find out for himself what was actually going on.

"Once Emily has settled in I'll have a chance to hear how she's doing, I'll be arranging to see all the first years."Veritas mentioning his sister chilled him a little, but that only strengthened his resolve to get to the bottom of everything, for both their sakes.

Joe texts his sister:
I’ve been roped in for helping clear up the stalls left in place yesterday along with the other seniors. I think I’m invited to hang out with some of them after school. Are you ok to go home without me? Joe.

Joe could tell when his sister finally got out of class, since she was now checking messages to reply to her brother. <sure I can get home myself. how late will u be?>

Joe replies to Emily;
Damned if I know. Leave me some leftovers to microwave in case they don’t all go for pizza or something after this! You & dad know how to reach me. Joe