‘Come in, Mitch. Hi, Dixie.’ I had a bad feeling. Sure enough, I’d no sooner entered the classroom than Kate started heading back out. She was pulling Phoebe with her.

‘Stand aside,’ she told Mitch, who shuffled away from the door, his smile fading. Pat was untying her son’s craft apron. The cheerful buzz of kids’ voices was suddenly pierced by George’s wail of protest. ‘I don’t wanna go!’

Pat seized his arm and stomped after Kate.

‘Pat,’ I said, but she didn’t even look at me.

By now all the kids were confused. Dozens of little eyes swung in my direction. I closed the door behind Pat and announced, ‘This is Mr McCall. He’ll be reading with us today.’

‘Hello, everyone!’ Mitch doffed his hat and pulled out a squashy rubber duck that made a honking noise when he squeezed it. There was a general coo of pleasure.

Aaron beamed. ‘My Poppy does magic,’ he said.

I shot Mitch a warning look. He immediately shoved the duck into his pocket. ‘Who wants to read a book?’ he asked.

About a dozen hands went up, including Caleb’s. I saw Linda making a note.

‘Mr McCall will start with Aaron.’ I knew there would be fireworks if I chose anyone else. A disappointed moan made me feel like the Wicked Witch of the West. I turned to Dixie and asked if she could show Mitch where to sit. ‘You’ve got Chloe first,’ I said.

Dixie nodded. She seemed uneasy, but didn’t push back. Mitch sat down with Aaron. I started distributing pipe cleaners. Things were finally settling when I heard heavy footsteps in the hallway outside.

The door banged open and I looked up. It was Joyce.

‘Mrs Rooney…’ I began, straightening. I could see Pat in the hallway behind her. Pat the crony. Pat the spy.

Joyce ignored me. She marched straight across the room towards Aaron. Mitch edged in front of him.

‘Joyce,’ he said, ‘we haven’t finished our book.’

That was when Aaron bolted. He darted past Mitch, ducked under Joyce’s elbow and ran for the door. She whirled around and caught him just in time.

He screamed.

‘You’re hurting him!’ Mitch cried, then shied away from her furious glare.

‘Mrs Rooney.’ I stepped forward. ‘You can’t just come in here like this.’

‘I’m calling the police,’ Joyce snarled. She pointed at Mitch. ‘That man’s a felon.’

Then she walked out, taking Aaron with her.

‘…So she went off and tore Howard a new one,’ I said, ‘and now she’s banned from the canteen.’

‘Oh, love,’ Dad murmured at the other end of the line.