‘Thanks, Martin.’ Jazz nodded at him and followed Patrick up the cellar steps.

Miles was waiting for them in the lobby. ‘I’ve got Frederiks’s statement, Ma’am. Did Martin Chapman have anything illuminating to say?’

‘He thinks Julian died late Tuesday evening. And it’s definitely murder,’ Jazz said quietly. ‘Patrick, would you go and see the headmaster, tell him what Martin has reported, preferably without sending him into a state of apoplexy. You can reassure him the school will be crawling with police officers and it’s doubtful there will be another murder in the next twenty-four hours—’

‘By which time the perpetrator will be safely under lock and key . . .’ Patrick nodded. ‘I’ll do my best, but we’re sailing close to the wind. If I was after being a parent, I, for one, wouldn’t want my precious young’un anywhere near this place.’

‘Luckily for us, Fleat House was deserted when Bob found the body, so only Frederiks heard him scream,’ Miles said. ‘The boys think they’ve been evacuated and the police are here because some old remains have been found under the cellar floor whilst the boiler was being fixed. They’re all very excited and are speculating who it could be.’

Jazz frowned. ‘Bit far-fetched, isn’t it?’

‘No, Ma’am, apparently not. Legend has it that Fleat House is haunted by a young boy. This boy was so miserable whilst he was here, he hanged himself from the iron hook in the cellar ceiling. The boys think it’s him.’

‘And did he? Hang himself?’ asked Jazz.

‘I don’t know if the story is actually true or not.’ Miles shrugged. ‘Like all folklore, probably overexaggerated. I’ll ask Frederiks, who, by the way, has asked if he can go across to the various dorms where they’ve put up his boys.’

‘Yes. Tell him he can, but he’s not to disappear from the school grounds. If he has a mobile, get the number.’

‘Will do, Ma’am.’

‘By the way, where was Matron when Julian’s body was found?’ Jazz asked.

‘Don’t know. I saw her earlier shepherding the boys out of the house, when the police were arriving.’

‘Can you find her and take a statement?’

‘Will do,’ confirmed Miles. ‘What about Issy? She’s just called to say she’s running out of small talk with Angelina Millar and wants to know when someone will arrive to relieve her. And she’s bursting to talk to you about Rory.’

‘Why don’t you go on and get that over with now, Jazz?’ said Patrick. ‘Miles and I will cover things this end. I’m going to look into what’s being done to find this Millar fellow.’

‘Yes.’ Jazz sighed. ‘It would be nice to assure Angelina we know where he is when I tell her the sad news, but even so, I don’t think Millar’s our man.’

‘To be fair, you’d be saying that anyway. You did release him without charge now, Jazz. If they find him, I’d like to interview him anyway, if I may,’ Patrick said.