35

‘Did you speak to that headmistress you mentioned?’

Kesey pushed her paperwork aside and looked up at Lewis, who’d just entered her office for the first time that day. ‘And a good morning to you, Ray, it’s nice to chat.’

He shook his head and frowned. ‘Yeah, yeah, lovely to see you too. So, did you talk to her, or not?’

‘Sheena? Yeah, I did, as it happens, at home. The school’s still shut for the holidays.’

His eyes widened. ‘So, come on, what did she say?’

‘Nothing you were hoping to hear.’

Lewis switched on the kettle, located on the floor to the side of Kesey’s desk. ‘This is a bit like getting blood from a fucking stone. Are you going to tell me what she said, or what?’

The DI handed him two mugs, one a gift from Janet, emblazoned with a large, capital L, red on blue. ‘She had nothing but positives to say about Heath. He’s good with the kids, he’s a hard worker, he’s reliable, and there is nothing about his conduct or personality that causes her even the slightest concern. I asked her more than once, and she said the exact same thing. He’s covering maternity leave, but she’s hoping he’ll agree to stay on when a suitable vacancy arises.’

The sergeant’s brow furrowed. ‘Okay, that’s all very well on the face of it. But why isn’t he still nursing? Why’s he at the school at all? It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.’

‘Heath wants a career change. What’s wrong with that? He’s planning to go back to university at some point to qualify as a special needs teacher. The head said he’s one of the most intelligent staff members she’s ever had the pleasure to employ. And that’s a direct quote. She rates him highly.’

‘Maybe he’s a good actor. He wouldn’t be the first psycho to hide in plain sight. There’s any number of killers who’ve conned all those around them with consummate ease. Only their victims see the monster behind the mask.’

‘Not this time, Ray. You’re getting fixated again. There is nothing to suggest Heath’s a suspect. You asked me to talk to the head, and I’ve done it. She likes the man. She’s even agreed to be introduced to his mother at some future date.’

Lewis handed Kesey her coffee, the mug filled almost to the brim. ‘I hear what you’re saying, but I’m not so sure.’

She groaned theatrically. ‘Think about it. It was always a long shot. Heath’s a professionally qualified nurse who put himself in danger by helping the vulnerable in some of the world’s most dangerous places. And now he’s back in Wales, a popular, well respected teaching assistant at a church school, who spends his free time looking after his elderly mother. And he’s got no record, nothing. You’ve said that yourself. He’s not a known abuser and he’s not a suspected abuser. There’s a long list of nonces we need to consider but he’s not one of them. We’ve got nothing to suggest he’s anything other than a nice guy. You’re barking up the wrong tree on this one. He’s not our man. We’re looking for somebody else.’