‘We’re a long way off from that, but it’s important we stop this behaviour in its tracks. Angel’s a popular girl, the staff here like her, even if she can sometimes be a handful.’

‘A handful,’ Sasha repeated.

‘Up until now she’s always had good relations with her peers. But Angel’s so desperate to fit in that she can be easily led. There are some very strong personalities in her new group of friends who will have encouraged her down this road. They can be a bit… wild. The sad truth is, rivalries sometimes get out of control.’

Sasha was gobsmacked. ‘I don’t understand how this can have happened.’

‘Sometimes there are other factors at play.’ Emily leaned forward. ‘How are things at home?’

‘Absolutely fine,’ Sasha said quickly. ‘Things have been manic at work for me, and her dad’s been a bit… preoccupied. But we’ve always been a merry band.’

She blushed beneath Emily’s penetrating gaze, feeling as if she was being judged. Where the hell was her husband? Why wasn’t Kev here with her?

‘I hope Angel feels better from whatever it is that’s been ailing her,’ said Emily, turning away when she heard an email drop into her computer.

‘She’ll be in tomorrow,’ Sasha repeated. ‘I’ll make sure of that.’

It was annoying the way Emily was distracted, watching something on the screen.

‘Have a gentle word with Angel about her actions,’ said the teacher, absorbed in whatever was happening on her computer. Sasha heard someone shout on the speaker, the sound of shocked giggles. ‘And let’s take it from there.’

‘I definitely will. My husband and I have always been careful to teach Angel the difference between right and wrong…’ When Emily turned to her in surprise, Sasha asked, ‘What is it?’

‘One of the pupils has emailed me this link.’ The teacher turned the monitor on the desk to face her. ‘You may want to look at it.’

She saw it was a video embedded on a social media site and her heart leapt when she recognized her garden and patio on the screen. Sasha watched shaky camera phone footage of Kev throwing a punch at Nelson, who went flying, saw herself leaping up from the lounger. She heard the screams of shock and excitement from Angel and her friends.

Sasha stood. ‘I’ve got to go.’

Slipping out of the school gates, she hardly noticed there were more parents there, and protesters with placards, as she pushed through the crowd.

‘There she goes,’ she heard someone call, and glanced up to see Jim Haskell pointing at her. ‘There’s Detective Inspector Sasha Dawson. How many more kids need to go missing, luv, before you get your act together?’