Back at the desk, she got to work again. Lunch and dinner were snatched meals eaten from a tray in the study. The desk had lost its formal tidiness. Now it was covered with scribbled sheets of paper as Lindsay drafted out the various versions of the story tailored to each paper. Used coffee cups and cigarette packs added to the general clutter. She had escaped from the smoke-filled room a couple of times to collect some quotes for her stories. But for the rest of the day she was confined to the study, with a phone jammed to her ear for most of the time. Paddy stuck her head round the door a couple of times to make sure she had everything she needed, but it was after nine before she could call a halt to her work on the “mystery killer grips school with fear” stories for the next morning’s papers.

She walked back alone through the woods to Paddy’s room without giving a thought to the lurid prose she had despatched about the hand of terror that made schoolgirls go everywhere in groups. She found Cordelia watching the television news and sipping brandy. “What’s happening, then, ace reporter?” she demanded.

“Police have gone home for the night, leaving the statutory constable to repel boarders, journos, and ghouls. No arrest has been made. No one has been held for questioning. They have been taking statements all day and as yet are not in a position to make any comment. Several parents are arriving tomorrow to remove offspring. James Cartwright is unavailable for comment. The body has been removed and the music room sealed. The funeral will be on Thursday in London, with a memorial service to be arranged. Cause of death thought to be asphyxiation. Or whatever it is when you are garroted. End message,” Lindsay rattled off.

“Looks as though you’ve had a busy day.”

“You’re not wrong. What about you?”

“I had a brief chat with the charming Inspector Dart who doesn’t seem terribly interested in me except in so far as I seem to provide an end point in his timetable. He seems to think she was dead by then. Since which time, I have been sitting around reading Trollope and avoiding human contact like the plague, apart from dear Paddy who looks more harrassed with every hour that passes. She’s at a staff meeting just now, they’re all wondering what the hell to do next. I just wish the bloody police would get a move on and arrest the bloody murderer,” said Cordelia, trying unsuccessfully to force some lightness into her voice.

“Are you leaving tomorrow?”