Chapters (70)
‘Thank you for your support,’ he continued, pocketing the tissue that seemed little more than a prop. ‘But my family and I would like to be left alone to grieve.’ Stepping back from the microphone, he turned and left the stage.
The crowd fell into eerie silence. Sarah was stunned. This wasn’t natural. Any parent in his situation would be baying for blood, not worrying about house sales. She caught the surprised expression on Gabby’s face as Mr Irving left. She seemed taken aback too. After a short pause, Superintendent Marsh took the microphone, giving advice on general safety and taking questions from the floor.
Sarah had heard enough. Pushing past the crowd she walked through the internal double doors to use the bathroom. She knew her way around the school, which had been refurbished in recent years. As well as attending briefly as a pupil, she’d given talks to various classes while working in uniform. Her footsteps echoed down the corridor, the walls adorned with student posters, trophy cases and lists of upcoming events. She stilled at the sounds of harsh whispers rising from a classroom.
‘I didn’t expect to see you here.’ Sarah leaned against the wall to listen. It sounded like Councillor Dean.
‘I didn’t do it for you,’ a second man replied, an edge to his tone. ‘I’ve got too much money wrapped up in these developments for things to go pear-shaped now.’
Sarah listened intently. It was Simon Irving.
‘As for Blackhall … the less said about that, the better. We don’t want that rearing its ugly head again.’
‘I’m doing everything I can to keep it out of the press.’
A sudden thump of fist against wood. ‘Your best isn’t good enough! Do I need to remind you what’s at stake here?’
‘I … I … of course you don’t,’ Dean stuttered in response. Silence. ‘Once again, I’m sorry for your loss,’ Dean continued. ‘Do they have a suspect yet?’
‘Yes they do, and when they bring him in I’m going to string him up by the balls. My wife’s at home now, in bits. I can barely get a coherent sentence out of her. I only hope me coming here tonight pays off.’