I don’t risk going through Abigail’s backpack again. Instead, I grab the laundry bag containing my clothes from the top of the toilet cistern then hurriedly stuff it with the waterproof jacket, walking boots and bottle of water that I hid under Sally’s sleeping bag and wedge it back into place above the cistern. When I walk back into the girls’ dorm, I glance towards Al’s mattress. Her backpack is empty, all her belongings strewn over the floor and her mattress. I shove everything back into her backpack as quickly as I can, keeping an eye on the door the whole time. As I slip her iPod into the zipped side pocket, something small and white in the bottom of the compartment catches my eye. I slide the small pack of pills out and turn them over in my hand so I can read the print on the foil side. Pregabalin: my anti-anxiety tablets.

Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Present Day

“Oh, thank God that’s over!” Will drops onto the sofa then swings his legs up and over mine so he’s lying fully stretched out. “I never want to go through another OFSTED again. I am planning on sleeping for the entirety of half-term.”

“That’ll be fun for Chloe. A week in Cornwall with her dad asleep on the sofa.”

“Who said anything about the sofa? I’m claiming the double bed.” He reaches for my hands and pulls me towards him. “Come with us tomorrow.”

“I’d love to, but I can’t. I’m sorry.”

It’s Friday evening, and, following my confrontation with Angharad on Tuesday, and my realisation that I’m putting Will and Chloe at risk by staying with them, I decided that I needed to be at home in my own cottage. Will resisted the move at first, but after I told him about the phone call with Al and the conversation with Angharad, he finally relented.

“Why not?”

“We’ve got volunteer training for the first half of next week, and with Sheila away on holiday and two of the girls off sick with flu, I’m the only one that can do it. And one of the inspectors is due to bring in six puppies that have been rescued from a puppy farm.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“What?”

“Being on your own?”

“I won’t be on my own. Anne is Sheila’s deputy so she’ll be in charge. I’m just doing the training. It’ll be fine, Will.” I rest my hand on his chest. “They’ve arrested Gary Fullerton’s cousin for the break-in. Gary was trying to get his dog Jack back – I was right about that. He just sent his cousin to do the dirty work. Anyway, he’s been taken into custody, so I’m not worried.”