Safeguarding? That’s serious. I’m surprised they kept that out of the papers. I was also surprised the police didn’t seem to have any knowledge of it. So, what actually happened?

Anna pulled a face. I don’t know. I haven’t found anyone who knows the details. But I’ve been thinking.

I groaned. I got the feeling I wasn’t going to like what she told me next.

I managed to get hold of an email address for Jane Villiers, and told her I wanted to catch up.

What did she say? I asked.

She said she’s always happy to see ex-pupils, and invited me to meet her tomorrow.

I sighed. Are you really going to go and grill her about why she left? If it’s true and she really was shoved out a year early, she’s hardly going to want to talk about it, is she?

No, I’m not going to grill her, Anna replied with a triumphant smile. You are.

Twelve hours before the murder

Jess hovered in the entrance hall, wondering if she could get in and out without being seen. She hadn’t counted on anyone else being in school this late, so had been irritated to see Liz’s car outside in the staff car park. The minibus had gone hours ago; Steve would be safely in Scunthorpe, giving her ample time to do what she needed to do.

The door to Liz’s office was open, and Jess could see the deputy head moving about inside. What was she still doing here anyway? Approaching Steve’s office, she tried the door as gently as she could, not wanting to attract any attention from Liz in the neighbouring room. Locked. Time for plan B.

Jess opened the door to the admin office, knowing spare keys were kept in there. It took a few minutes of hunting, but she eventually discovered the key for the head teacher’s office, still marked with Jane Villiers’ name. Slipping it into her pocket, she went back into the entrance hall, noting that Liz’s door was now closed. Maybe she’d gone, but Jess knew she still had to be vigilant.

Stepping into Steve’s office, she closed the door carefully behind her. It had taken only a couple of attempts to see his password, by coming to see him in his office at lunchtime and after school and constantly hanging off his neck. He was trusting, which was an excellent quality that she valued in the men she dated.

Jess logged on to Steve’s computer and started looking through files until she found what she was looking for. A movement from the courtyard outside made her jump, but it was just her reflection in the big bay window. Ignoring it, she went back to work.