‘Because they only intended to kill Steve, and had no interest in killing an innocent child?’ Singh suggested, trying hard to keep his frustration from his voice.

Forest shook her head. ‘No, if you’re willing to kill one person, you’ve stooped to a level where you’d kill anyone. Kidnapping Leon, if he’s a witness, leads them to more problems. How can they ever let him go, if he’s seen them?’

Singh’s shoulders sagged. ‘I don’t know. But it’s still possible.’

‘And where did they put him? If one of the staff, or students, followed Steve Wilkinson out of that cabin and killed him, what did they do with Leon after he was injured?’ Forest sat down firmly, crossing her legs and leaning back.

‘Maybe they took him to the pavilion?’ I offered, but she shook her head.

‘There would have been signs of a struggle, and more of Leon’s blood if he was injured,’ she replied, brushing off my suggestion.

‘I think we should still consider it,’ Singh began, but Forest cut him off.

‘No, I’m sorry Rav. I know you want to think this boy is innocent, but we have to work on the likelihood that he killed his teacher.’

Neither of them spoke again until Sasha returned with Bradley trailing behind her. I was glad of something to break the heavy tension in the room.

‘Hi Bradley,’ Singh said, giving the boy a tight smile. ‘We’d like to ask you a few more questions about Leon, if that’s okay?’

Bradley shrugged and slouched into a seat. Have you found him yet?

‘No, we haven’t, and the longer he’s missing the more worried we get. That’s why it’s really important that you answer our questions as fully as you can. Do you understand?’

Yes, I’m not stupid, he replied, rolling his eyes. I felt like his attitude had become more pronounced since Saturday, and I wondered what had caused the change in him. I gave Sasha a look and I realised she was wondering the same thing.

‘We’ve heard that you and Leon hadn’t been getting on well lately. Is that right?’

Bradley shrugged again. We weren’t best mates.

‘We heard it was a bit more serious than that.’

We had one fight, okay? Just one. That’s all.

I could see straight through the bravado, and I knew Forest and Singh could too. I had no idea if they’d manage to bring Bradley round, though.

‘What was the fight about?’ Singh asked.

Don’t know. Stupid shit. Doesn’t matter now.

‘Why doesn’t it matter?’