When Imogen refused to respond, snatching her hand away from her brother’s and crossing her arms angrily in front of her, Grace spoke instead.

‘Poppy’s mum tried to get Imogen expelled when they were at Rushbrooke.’

Maggie’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Oh.’

‘Yes, oh, indeed,’ said Grace. ‘There was a bit of nastiness in the playground, nothing serious, but it got completely blown out of proportion and Imogen was falsely accused of being the ringleader. I had to go down to the school to sort it out, but fortunately the teachers saw fit to believe that she hadn’t hurt anyone.’ Grace leaned forward. ‘Don’t you think it’s odd my grandson was pushed to his death by the daughter of the classmate who tried to get Imogen expelled?’

Maggie took a moment before responding, carefully forming the words in her brain before she engaged her mouth.

‘Firstly, we don’t know Poppy did push him; we’re still gathering evidence,’ she said firmly. ‘Secondly, Imogen wasn’t aware Julia was Poppy’s mum until yesterday morning, so how can we be sure the children knew about the history between their mums? Thirdly, even if they were aware, why do you think it has any bearing on Benji’s death?’

‘I can answer that,’ said Ed quickly. ‘To address your first point, we know Benji wouldn’t have got on that wall without being bullied into it and once he was up there he was so careful he would’ve clung to it for dear life. He wouldn’t have fallen, he’d have had to be pushed to move him off it, and she was the only person with him at the time,’ he said. ‘Secondly, you’re right, Benji probably wasn’t aware of the history because, as you said, Imogen didn’t know Julia was Poppy’s mum. But that’s not to say Poppy didn’t know.’

‘Julia accused my daughter of some terrible things,’ said Grace. ‘Didn’t she, darling?’

‘To be honest, it’s a bit hazy,’ said Imogen, her cheeks colouring. ‘I mean, I remember she was in my class, but I’d forgotten all about getting into trouble until Mum brought it up. I doubt Julia remembers it either, it was so long ago.’

‘Unless she’s held a grudge all this time,’ Grace crowed. ‘She could have been biding her time, waiting for revenge because you showed her up to be a liar all those years ago. Then Benji started in her daughter’s class and the opportunity was suddenly in front of her.’

‘You think Julia manipulated Poppy into harming Benji to get back at Imogen for something that did or didn’t happen years ago?’ Maggie asked, eyebrows disappearing into her hairline.

‘It’s not implausible,’ said Grace huffily. ‘People do terrible things in the name of revenge; history is full of examples. Take Queen Boudicca—’

Ed mercifully interrupted.

‘Mum loves history programmes,’ he said wryly.