I thought Miss Callaghan would get off and I’d get away with it. But Lindsay Gordon and Cordelia Brown are coming to see me and I know they were messing about with scaffolding this morning. They must know I lied to Miss Callaghan, and it’s all bound to come out now because I’m the only person who could have climbed up the scaffolding like that. And I couldn’t face prison. I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused my father. I did it because I love you, Daddy. Sarah Cartwright.

The tragic waste outlined on the paper angered Lindsay. She turned to look coldly at the body of the young woman. She had not liked Sarah Cartwright, had been irritated by her condescension, but no one deserved to die like this. There was no dignity in this death, only fear and degradation. Lindsay could stomach no more of it. She walked out of the room, feeling appallingly guilty for having been so slow to the truth.

When she emerged into the corridor, she saw Pamela Overton coming up the stairs toward her. The headmistress looked shaken and walked tentatively like an elderly woman as she approached Lindsay, who took a deep breath, feeling suddenly exhausted. “I’m sorry,” she sighed. “I was too slow. Sarah has killed herself.”

“Cordelia told me,” Miss Overton said bleakly. “It’s to do with Lorna’s death?”

Lindsay nodded wearily. “I’m afraid so.”

“But surely not Sarah? Not one of my girls?” It was an extraordinary plea, thought Lindsay.

“She has left a confession,” Lindsay replied. “I can’t imagine a worse way to clear Paddy’s name.”

The headmistress said nothing. She looked coldly at Lindsay and walked a few steps down the corridor so she could stare out of a window. Lindsay leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. She could not have said how long it was before she heard heavy feet on the stairs and a murmur of voices as Inspector Dart arrived with a group of policemen, some in uniform and some in plain clothes.

“Miss Overton,” he said gently, “I’m very sorry about this. I wonder if you’d be good enough to wait downstairs while we do what’s necessary? And Miss Gordon—I’ll want to talk to you and Miss Brown when I’m through. Will you wait downstairs with her?”

“Shouldn’t someone inform Mr. Cartwright?” asked Miss Overton.

“That is being taken care of,” Dart replied. “Now, ladies, if you’ll just go downstairs.”

The two women made their way in silence to Paddy’s room. When they entered, Cordelia looked up from an armchair and said shakily, “You shouldn’t have phoned, Lindsay.” She burst into tears.