Jess looked me up and down, then turned to leave before pausing. A sour smile twisted her lips. I should have known what you were like. I know your sister, after all, she signed, then turned and stalked off.

Moments later, Singh was back, beckoning me in the direction of the deputy head teacher’s office.

‘Paige. Quickly, please. We need to speak to Liz Marcek again.’

Still seething from the comment about Anna I hurried into the room after him. Before she had a chance to ask what the problem was, Singh marched up to her desk.

‘You can install a program on some phones to back up your messages, and then they can be downloaded to a computer. Our techs found some of these messages between Leon and Joe, downloaded and saved in a secret folder.’

Leon’s messages were backed up to a school computer? Liz asked, confused.

‘No, it wasn’t Leon that saved them. It was Joe.’

Liz started to sign something, but Singh held up a hand to stop her.

Chapter 20

The staffroom was packed, and the mutters that were going round put me on edge. Singh had briefed Liz Marcek, and she was preparing to tell the rest of the staff about what had been found on Steve Wilkinson’s account. Singh had insisted that I interpret – it wasn’t appropriate to use another member of staff when they didn’t know what had happened.

Liz waved her hands to attract attention, and as all the faces turned to her she began.

I’m sorry to interrupt your day like this, but we’ve had some very serious news. Leon still hasn’t been found, she hastily added, as some of the staff put shocked hands to their mouths, obviously assuming the worst. However, the police have discovered a possible link between Steve’s death and Leon’s disappearance.

A few people started to mutter or sign to each other, but Liz stamped her foot to get their attention again. Don’t interrupt, please. I don’t want to extend the lunch break.

The offenders looked suitably chastised, so Liz continued.

On examination of Steve’s computer, it seems he was sending messages to Leon, posing as a sixteen-year-old boy called Joe. The nature of these messages was romantic, and at points sexual.

Gasps went round the room.