‘My grandson hasn’t been dead a week and we’re on our third family-liaison person. This is outrageous,’ she said. ‘I’ve a good mind to make a complaint.’

‘This isn’t how we want to do things either,’ said Maggie.

‘Mum, Maggie said she’s still involved in the case,’ said Imogen. ‘She’s not leaving us to it.’

Grace made a harrumphing noise that made it clear she thought otherwise.

‘The books that Jamie took, have they been helpful?’ asked Imogen.

Maggie let Carmichael answer. She wanted to be sure she knew how to handle questions that required a considered answer. Patronizing, yes, given that Carmichael was far more experienced than her, but the guilt Maggie felt at being removed from her post made her crave the reassurance.

‘Benji had written a story in his notebook about a boy who saw someone disposing of a dead body. We have reason to suspect it was actually a true account of something he’d witnessed himself in the school grounds,’ said Carmichael steadily.

‘Benji saw a dead body? You don’t mean the woman you found on Saturday?’ Imogen gasped. ‘Oh, that’s horrible.’

‘Did he ever give you any indication he’d witnessed something like that? Like making funny comments or dropping hints?’

‘Only what I told you about him coming home crying that day. Maybe that was it? Mum, can you think of anything else?’

Grace was too shocked to speak, shaking her head vigorously instead.

‘Are you sure the story is really about that?’ Imogen pressed. ‘He could’ve just made it up. He had a great imagination.’

‘We did consider that, but the other notebook found in Benji’s bedroom belonged to the deceased woman.’

Imogen clamped her hand over her mouth in horror.

‘We believe Benji found the notebook either where the woman’s body was buried or close by,’ Maggie added. ‘Apparently she carried it on her at all times.’

Grace floundered for words.

‘But if Benji had seen something so . . . so . . . serious, he would’ve said something. Imogen raised him to be honest and open, he would tell her anything.’

‘Maybe he was too scared,’ said Carmichael. ‘Maggie is going to be interviewing Poppy again this morning to see if she knew. There was a reason the children went to the school last Tuesday morning and it might be that Benji wanted to tell her what he’d seen and where it happened. He might’ve wanted to confide in a friend first for advice.’

Imogen unclenched her hand from her mouth.

‘That doesn’t explain why he fell to his death though.’

‘No, it doesn’t,’ Maggie admitted, ‘and just because we’re pursuing this other angle doesn’t mean we’ve given up on finding out. We have a new senior officer in charge, DCI Umpire, and he’s determined you’ll get the answers you want.’

‘It’s not answers we’re after, it’s justice,’ said Grace.