I MET WITH Linda Balodis at eight o’clock on Tuesday morning. We discussed Aaron Rooney. She was pleasant and professional, with short feathered hair and shrewd brown eyes. I was glad I’d started writing Krystal’s report the previous night because it meant I had everything in my head: times, dates, strategies, absences. I didn’t have to consult my diary notes when Linda asked questions.

She scribbled away as I gave her the rundown. Like most caseworkers, she’d once been a teacher herself; I felt she understood what I was talking about, though she wasn’t giving anything away. There was a sense of distance.

As the kids trickled in, she watched me interact with them. I introduced her to the parents as an ‘observer from the department’. Most didn’t seem interested. Some assumed she was a student teacher. Only Beth asked for more details—and when I told her Linda was there to assess Aaron, she said, ‘Good.’

Joyce arrived a few minutes before the bell rang. I glimpsed her out of the corner of my eye and the adrenaline immediately kicked in. My heart rate sped up. I turned to Linda. ‘Here’s Aaron.’

She nodded. Joyce passed Luke’s dad, who was on his way out, and flashed him a brilliant smile. Then she charged straight at me, dragging Aaron with her.

‘Do you have my report yet?’ she asked.

‘I do.’ As I reached for the envelope on my desk, I said, ‘This is Linda Balodis, from the Learning and Support unit in Bathurst. She’s here to assess Aaron.’

Joyce turned to stare at Linda, who held out her hand.

‘Nice to meet you, Mrs Rooney.’

For a split second Joyce didn’t respond. Then she smiled ferociously, eyes twinkling, head bobbing.

‘Well, this is great. What a relief. I’m glad someone’s showing an interest in my grandson—he’s having such a hard time, poor kid.’

Before I could intervene, she added, ‘His mother lives in a pigsty. There were cockroaches in his lunchbox yesterday. No wonder he’s having trouble at school. But we’re working hard to solve the problem.’

Linda proffered a polite smile. Then she leaned down and said, ‘Hey, Aaron. I’m Linda. Can I show you something?’

Aaron looked alarmed. He began to bite his knuckles.

‘Go on, Aaron. Off you go with the nice lady.’ Joyce gave him a prod and he shuffled towards Linda, who led him away as the bell rang. I was distracted for a moment, rounding up kids and collecting money, but Joyce didn’t leave. She pulled my report out of its envelope and read it right there in the classroom.

It didn’t take her long.

‘What the hell is this?’ she demanded when she’d finished. I was listening to Amber’s rambling account of a sick pigeon while I fiddled with Caleb’s shoe, so I couldn’t really concentrate on Joyce.