‘And bullying goes on in every school, Angelina,’ said Julian. ‘It certainly did when I was at St Stephen’s. You have to learn to live with it, not go crying to one’s parents. Toughens you up for the future.’

‘I’m glad to say that most schools these days wouldn’t agree with you, Mr Forbes,’ Jazz replied coldly, irritated at his insensitivity. ‘It’s their top priority and I’m sure the staff at St Stephen’s are as aware of it as any other.’

‘Oh, I’m sure. All I’m saying is that it’s impossible to stamp it out completely. Boys will be boys.’ Julian patted Angelina’s hand. ‘Rory almost certainly wouldn’t have said anything to you, darling, so don’t feel guilty that you didn’t know.’

‘But David might have known. That’s why he came here last week, because he’d had a strange telephone call from Rory. He wanted to talk to me because he was concerned about him and—’

‘I booted him out,’ Julian said. ‘He was very drunk, and I’m afraid I wasn’t having him in my house. The next time I saw him, he stood in the middle of Foltesham and told me he’d kill me.’

‘Darling, that’s not quite right. He said he’d kill you if you ever touched a hair on Rory’s head. He’d just found out about us. You can hardly blame him.’

‘For goodness’ sake, Angelina, you and David are divorced. It’s no business of his any more what you do or who you choose to be with,’ Julian snapped irritably.

‘Mrs Millar, I was told today by Sebastian Frederiks that your son was being bullied by Charlie Cavendish, the boy that died. Have you ever heard Rory mention his name?’ asked Jazz.

‘No, never. Why hadn’t Mr Frederiks told me? I’m Rory’s mother!’

‘I don’t know,’ said Jazz, not wishing to be drawn on Frederiks’s reasoning. ‘So, you had no idea your son had a problem at school?’

‘Oh dear.’ Angelina wrung her hands. ‘He’d become so withdrawn lately. I’d put it down to the divorce. Poor Rory. Why on earth didn’t he say something to me?’

‘I’m afraid children often don’t. Besides, you are entrusting your child to the care of what you expect will be responsible adults who will act in loco parentis and take appropriate action if necessary.’

‘Absolutely,’ agreed Julian. ‘If anyone’s to blame in this, it’s the school.’

‘But I’m his mother. I should have seen. David knew something was wrong. That’s why he came here.’ Angelina looked up at Julian, whose face was impassive.

Jazz decided to cut to the chase. ‘Your ex-husband was seen by Mr Frederiks on the night Charlie Cavendish died. He was parking his car in the school car park. There was a choir concert at the school chapel, which I believe your son was in. Did you yourself attend?’

‘Yes, I did.’

‘And did you see your ex-husband there?’

‘No, I didn’t. But the night David came to the house, he told me he’d been at the school looking for Rory.’ She sighed heavily. ‘This all seems completely surreal. Inspector, David was on the wagon up until a few days ago. He hadn’t drunk in months and I know he was attending his AA meetings, because I’m friends with the wife of his GP. She has a child in Rory’s year.’