Melissa’s nod was automatic, as though she were responding to something that had been drummed into her, over and over. Maybe she didn’t want to be part of this, but she was clearly too scared to back out.

‘Lance,’ said Ben, trying to turn. ‘You don’t want to do this. I know you don’t. I heard you. In the darkroom. You didn’t even know what was going to happen! So that’s … what I’ll tell everyone! If you help me, if you let me go, I’ll say—’

‘Shut up!’ Lance hissed in Ben’s ear. ‘Just … just shut the fuck up, will you? It’s too late. Don’t you get it? I tried to make you understand, but you were too stupid to see. How many times does someone have to insult you before you realise they don’t want you around?’ Ben felt rather than saw him shake his head. ‘Why did you have to be so gullible? So fucking desperate! Right from the start! Do you think it was an accident we were there to meet you the day you arrived? That we happened to be there whenever you needed help? It wasn’t one of your roommates who put piss on your bunk! It wasn’t always the other kids who stole your stuff! It’s your fault what’s about to happen, not mine!’

Now Ben was the one to shake his head. He felt despair as the truth finally sank in. He and Callum were almost toe to toe now, the stole in Callum’s outstretched hands the only thing between them.

‘They … they won’t believe you!’ Ben said. ‘Kill me if you like, but they’ll catch you! They’ll figure out it was you! They won’t believe Father Steiner was capable!’

‘I’m afraid they will,’ Callum responded, almost consolingly. ‘That’s partly why we chose Father Steiner in the first place. There are always rumours about people like him. It hardly matters if we started them or not. And unfortunately, he won’t have an alibi. He’s alone in his room right now. I checked just before we came to find you. And the laxative I slipped into his tea this morning should keep him there for a few hours yet.’ He smiled as he registered the confusion on Ben’s face. ‘Every Saturday morning, he has one of the catering staff deliver a pot of Earl Grey to his door. And he tends to leave it sitting in the corridor long enough for it to grow cold – or for someone passing to slip a little something into the pot.’

Callum’s smile vanished, and he raised the stole, clearly preparing to loop it around Ben’s neck. At the same time, Lance tightened his hold on Ben’s arm. But as he did so, he lowered the letter opener slightly, and Ben realised this was his one and only chance.