‘Well, you’ll remember when this came up a few weeks ago, Frontal persuaded you to sweep it under the carpet. A pretty silly place to talk about it, though, out on the street where anyone could see you.’

Jude studied her seriously. ‘Things have moved on since then.’

‘Moved on?’ Kelly squared up, her mood punchy. If Jude wanted to step into the ring with her, she was welcome. The woman thought that just because she was one of the modern breed of ‘caring’ school principals, she owned your child. Fuck her. Precisely that: fuck her and fuck this shit.

‘When I met with Daniel, he was very upset. He’d been with your brother all day yesterday, and they’d had a … discussion.’

‘We know what their “discussions” are about. Carl’s been scoring speed pills off Daniel. Big news.’

‘Kelly, when this first came up, you asked me one thing. To tell you if Ben became involved. Yesterday, Carl and Daniel went up to The Lodge and visited him. Did you know that?’

Kelly felt a hot flush spread on her chest. ‘I had a lot going on yesterday.’

‘Well, when Daniel and I sat down together, he wanted to give me something.’

Jude opened the black handbag at her hip and took out a white pill bottle with an apricot-coloured lid. She held it close to Kelly’s face.

‘Those are the ones,’ Kelly said defensively, fighting a nauseating swell of dread. ‘Daniel’s pills.’

‘Read the name on the prescription. These are the pills Carl has been buying.’

Kelly watched her hand reach out and take the bottle. She didn’t need to read the prescription. She clasped the bottle so hard, she could have annihilated it.

‘I suggest you, Ben and Gordon have a talk,’ Jude said.

‘What business is it of yours?’

‘None at all. In fact, Kelly, I really couldn’t give a damn about any of you anymore.’ Jude removed her sunglasses and put on a smile which, outrageously, stripped another five years off her. ‘I’ve handed in my resignation from St Pat’s, effective next week.’

‘You?’

‘Too much Bluebird.’

‘Where are you going?’

Jude seemed set to say one thing, then changed her mind. ‘Somewhere very different. So, you’re right, you and your family are none of my business anymore. I wish you luck.’

‘You’re leaving us with this?’ Kelly shook the pill bottle. ‘You’re fucking doing a runner? You coward, you’re so sanctimonious, but you were always too scared to put yourself out there, never took a risk in your life. You just stand on the sidelines and leave everyone else to deal with the mess.’