Caroline’s head appeared round the door. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “But we just wanted to tell you how pleased we all are to have you back with us. We all knew you didn’t do it, and we missed not having you about the place. It just wasn’t the same having Sherlock Holmes and Watson keeping an eye on us. I say, Miss Callaghan, you should have seen them in action. Extremely tough cookies.”

“That will do, Caroline,” said Paddy, smiling. “Thank you for your kind words. I’ll do the rounds later on, so you’ll be able to check for yourselves that I’m still in one piece.”

“Okay, Miss Callaghan. We’ve all been a bit worried about you. It’s good to see prison hasn’t ground you down.”

“Caroline—on your way!”

The girl grinned and vanished. “I swear her grin hangs around after her, like the Cheshire Cat,” Cordelia muttered.

Caroline wasn’t the only visitor. As the afternoon wore on, most of the members of the staff popped in briefly to congratulate Paddy on her release. But the atmosphere remained muted, for no one could forget that a girl had died. After a couple of hours, Paddy suggested that they all go for a walk up the hill behind the school. As they set off, Lindsay spotted Jessica Bennett walking through the trees from the main building. On an impulse she said, “You two go ahead, I’ll catch you up. I just want to have a few words with Jessica. Nothing important, just a little point I want to clear up for my own satisfaction.”

Cordelia shook her head with an air of amused tolerance. “You’re never content, are you? All right, but don’t be long, or you’ll never catch us up.”

“Don’t be so sure of that,” said Paddy. “After a week’s incarceration, I feel totally flabby.” They walked off, leaving Lindsay to wait by the door for the girl.

When Jessica spotted Lindsay, she smiled broadly, “Hi,” she said. “I hear Miss Callaghan’s been released. It’s wonderful news, isn’t it? I’m so glad you were able to find out what really happened.”

Lindsay smiled wanly. “I’m glad she’s back. But I seem to have done as much harm as good. Listen, Jessica, can you spare me a couple of minutes? There’s something I want to ask you, just to settle something in my own mind.”

The girl frowned slightly. “But I thought it was all cleared up now?”

“Come in a minute,” said Lindsay, leading the way into Paddy’s sitting-room. “There are a couple of details I was wondering about. It’s being a journalist. I’m like a dog with a bone.”

Jessica sat down. “All right. Ask what you want and I’ll try to answer.”