Jessica started to speak, but bit back her words. She struggled for control, then said venomously, “I hope she rots in hell. I hated her. And I despised her. I’m not surprised that someone killed her. I only wish it could have happened before she ever came near us. Then Dominic would still be alive now. I wished her dead, and I’m glad now that she is. I wish I’d had the nerve to think of doing it myself. I’d have enjoyed watching her suffer with the realization that she was paying for what she did to my brother.” She ran out of steam, seeming surprised and a little dismayed at her vehemence.

“What did she do to your brother, Jessica?” Lindsay pushed.

“They were going out with each other, and she promised him that she’d give him a job. She ran a string quartet and there was a vacancy for a violinist. He was really good, you know, more than good enough for her quartet. Anyway, they had a row and she ended up giving the job to someone else who wasn’t anything like as good. So Dominic applied for a job with the Garden Chamber Orchestra as a second violin. And she was such a bitch that she gave him a reference that was so unenthusiastic it cost him that job too. After that, he found it really hard to get decent work. All he ever cared about was making the best possible music. But Lorna put a stop to that. And he killed himself.” Her voice faded out, shaking and tearful.

“Was this the first time you’d seen her since your brother’s death?” asked Lindsay.

“I didn’t really see her, only across the room at dinner. I couldn’t face going to the concert. I couldn’t bear to hear her playing music I love. It would have hurt too much; Miss Callaghan saw that. That’s why she left me in charge of Longnor, so I wouldn’t have to be at the concert. And she sorted it all out with Miss Macdonald. I was supposed to be in the choir, you see, with a small solo. They got Karina Holgate to do it instead.”

“But you did come across to the hall, didn’t you? I thought I saw you talking to Caroline Barrington,” said Lindsay.

Jessica nodded and took a gulp of coffee. “I thought the police would have asked me about that, but no one seems to have told them I was there. I told you I was left in charge of Longnor. Well, one of the fourth-formers was ill. She kept being sick, and I suspected she might have been drinking. I didn’t want to be responsible for what might happen, so I thought it was best to come across to find Miss Callaghan.”

“Did you see anyone hanging around outside, or anything else suspicious?”