‘The pay’s not the point. People will assume there’s no smoke without fire.’ I was suddenly furious at the unfairness of it all, shaking with anger. ‘It’s my reputation we’re talking about here.’

‘No.’ He pointed a stubby index finger at me. ‘It’s the school’s reputation we’re talking about. And as we both know, no teacher here is bigger than the school. No one is more important than the school. You seem to have forgotten that.’

I shook my head.

‘I haven’t forgotten anything. I haven’t forgotten the nine years’ good service I’ve given this place.’

‘Every so often we have to take one for the team, my friend. Today just happens to be your turn.’

I thought for a moment how satisfying it would be to lean over his desk, grab the front of his shirt and pound my fist into his smug, self-satisfied face. See if he’d like to take one for the team. I looked away from him and put my clenched fists on my knees, trying to get my emotions back in check.

‘How long am I suspended for?’

‘Until this has run its course. Until your business with the police is resolved.’

‘I haven’t got any business with the police! They just wanted to talk to me!’

Draper sat back in his chair.

‘Shouting at me won’t help your cause.’

I took a couple of deep breaths, feeling my heart thumping against my ribcage.

‘How do you expect me to react? This is complete bullshit.’

‘Using inappropriate language won’t help you either.’

‘Right. Whatever. I’ve got to talk to my union rep.’

‘Of course. Have him call Jane and we’ll get an appointment in the diary.’

‘Are we finished?’

‘I think so.’ He gave me a thin smile. ‘For now, at least.’

I stood up and headed for the door.

‘Oh, and by the way, Joe?’

‘What?’

‘Would you do something for me?’

‘Do I have a choice?’

He had already returned his attention to the computer monitor on his desk.

‘Stay off school property while you’re suspended. There’s a good chap.’

I slammed his office door on the way out.

Chapter 38

38

It seemed as if everyone in school was staring at me as I walked, head down, back to my car. Registration was over and a thousand kids were heading to their first lesson of the day, in pairs and threes, in groups, in packs, and I found myself right in the middle of them. Every pupil I passed gave me a look of recognition. Before, I had just been a member of the teaching staff, known to some, semi-anonymous to the rest. Now I was that teacher who got arrested on Facebook, and it seemed everyone knew me. My progress through the crowd of navy blazers was accompanied by whispered conversations and pictures snapped as I passed by.