It was situated down a quiet country lane, and I struggled to find somewhere to park that wouldn’t be blocking the road. Once we’d parked some distance away, Anna and I walked back through the slushy snow to the front of the house. Now we knew about Leon and Joe I was anxious to find out the real reason the previous head teacher left the school. It seemed like too much of a coincidence for such a small school to have two major safeguarding incidents in less than a year – were they connected?

Looks like something from a Disney film, Anna commented, a look of disapproval on her face. I got the feeling she’d had visions of Ms Villiers living in a smart city flat rather than this ramshackle cottage in a sleepy Wolds village.

As we opened the gate and crunched our way up the gravel path, I caught myself admiring the garden. Even in the depths of winter it didn’t feel dead, more like it was on pause. There was an archway that we had to walk underneath to reach the front door, and I could just imagine it covered in roses in the summer.

We approached the cottage and a dog started barking inside; before I had a chance to press the doorbell the door was opened, and Jane Villiers stood framed in the doorway. Tall and broad shouldered, with short grey hair, she was wearing a pair of walking trousers and a heavy woollen jumper. She held the collar of a black Labrador that was straining to get past her.

‘Who are you?’ she asked, looking directly at me and not noticing Anna.

‘Paige Northwood,’ I replied, speaking and signing at the same time. ‘I’m Anna’s sister.’

The frown fell from Ms Villiers’ face as she saw Anna standing behind me.

Of course, of course, come in, she replied, switching to BSL. She backed away, giving the dog a gentle shove so we had space to get in. I hesitated for a moment, but after a nudge from my sister I stepped into the house.

The woman looked over the two of us before letting go of the dog’s collar and ushering us inside. The dog bounced around our legs, sniffing our knees and whacking every limb and surface with its thick tail. Anna shied back from it a little, but I got down and gave the dog some fuss before he bounded into the next room.

Anna Northwood, she said, coming up to Anna and giving her a hug, then holding her at arm’s length.

You’ve changed more than I expected, she told my sister once she’d broken away. Come into the front room. Tea?