‘She heard about the book and confronted the girls. They hadn’t even written anything about her and offered to show her, but she didn’t believe them. She started yelling at them and then she punched the girl whose notebook it was.’

‘She punched her? Was the girl hurt?’

‘Yes, she had a black eye. Poppy got away with it though.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘The teachers came running, obviously, but Poppy said it was an accident and that she’d raised her arm to get the girl’s attention and it grazed her eye, so the head let her off with a warning to play nicely. But it was no accident, believe me.’

‘You presumably weren’t there, so how can you be so sure?’

‘Because I believe Lucie and she said Poppy definitely punched the girl.’

‘When was this?’

‘Just before Christmas.’

Before Benji joined the school, Maggie noted.

‘Is there anything else you can tell me that might be useful to our investigation?’

Tess pondered for a moment. ‘Not that I can think of right now.’

‘Do you know Poppy’s parents at all?’

‘I know Ewan because he does most of the school runs. But Julia we don’t see that often.’ Tess paused. ‘You know about her, don’t you?’

‘That depends what you mean,’ said Maggie evenly.

‘About her not being well.’

‘She’s ill?’

‘Not now. But she was when Poppy was little. Ewan said he had to do everything. She was in bed the whole time.’

‘What was wrong with her?’

‘Oh, I don’t think it’s my place to say.’

But that’s not going to stop you, thought Maggie shrewdly, and she was right.

‘It was depression,’ Tess ploughed on. ‘Quite severe by the sounds of it; enough for social services to keep an eye on her, anyway.’

‘Ewan told you this?’

‘Oh, yes, he’s been quite open about it. It was obviously very tough for him, having to carry the can for both of them. He’s a great dad, though, terrific with both the kids.’

Maggie’s mind flashed back to Tuesday evening and the comment posted on Facebook.

‘Someone has indicated to us that Poppy’s home life could be volatile. Do you know anything about that?’

Tess sounded shocked. ‘No, I don’t. I would be amazed, though. Ewan’s not the sort.’

‘Sort?’

‘He doesn’t come across like someone who loses his temper or is a bit handy with his fists.’

Maggie winced at the crude description.

‘I’ve never heard him so much as raise his voice to the kids,’ Tess added.

‘I’ve heard he’s very strict with them,’ said Maggie, remembering what Imogen had said.

‘He’ll tell them off but he’s not rough with them. If I had to say either of them was the nasty type, I’d say it was Julia, no question. You can tell by looking at her she’s moody.’