Both Steve and Leon hid it very well, for different reasons, I replied, trying to reassure her, but she didn’t look convinced.

I know that’s how men like him are successful, because they can blend into society and often nobody would suspect them. But still. I feel like I should have realised something was going on with Leon, and then followed it through.

Singh came back over to us and Sasha gave him a nod in greeting.

‘I think there’s a student waiting to talk to us,’ he said, looking towards the doorway. I turned and saw Cassie, leaning on the doorframe. She beckoned to us.

‘Hi Cassie. Is there something you wanted to talk to us about?’ Singh asked as we approached her.

Cassie laughed, and shook her head. You think people will tell you things about this school?

‘We’re hoping that people will tell us anything that’s worrying them,’ Singh replied, choosing his words carefully. ‘I’m sure there are stories and gossip that have nothing to do with Leon and Mr Wilkinson. But if anyone knows something that might help us with our investigation, they really should talk to us about it.’

Cassie nodded slowly. What if someone knows something, but they’re not allowed to tell you?

‘They’ll always be allowed to tell us, Cassie,’ Singh said, looking her in the eyes. ‘If someone has told them that they’re not allowed, that other person hasn’t got their best interests in mind.’

For a moment, I thought Cassie was going to tell us something, but then Jess Farriday appeared behind her.

Cassie, you need to get back to class, she told her. Don’t waste the detective’s time.

The girl hesitated, then backed away, watching us as she left.

‘Miss Farriday, can we help you?’ Singh asked, his voice curt. I could tell he was angry at her dismissal of Cassie.

I wanted to make sure Cassie got back to her lessons, she replied. You’ve wasted enough of the students’ time already this morning.

She turned and stalked away. Somehow, I didn’t believe her. I wondered if she’d come back to see if any of the students were hoping to speak to the police. Sasha frowned at Jess’s retreating back, then excused herself and went off in the same direction.

What could be going through Jess’s mind right now? The man she’d been seeing had been exposed as a paedophile, grooming one of his own students. Surely she should be more shocked and horrified? Unless her relationship with Steve hadn’t been what it had seemed. Anna had told me that Jess used men to get what she wanted, so maybe the police should be looking at what she might have wanted from Steve.