“What a lovely distinction.” Scott clapped his hands together, sitting up. “Right then. I think it’s time we called the police.”

“The police?”

Scott did his best furious teacher face. Which wasn’t very difficult, with how badly he wanted to hurt something, someone. Anyone. Flipping the desk would feel so good. Just a release. His thoughts were fragmented. This was Casey; she was finding new ways to torture him.

“Yes, the police,” he said. “We’ll let them handle this. Make sure you have all the details ready.”

“Don’t worry.” Beth swallowed, eyes flitting here and there. She looked so young for a moment, far younger than fifteen; Scott felt like he was bullying a toddler. “I’ve got my story all figured out, sir.”

“Your story.”

“Not my story. What happened. What you did to me.”

“Ah, right.” Scott picked up his mobile. “And what was that, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Beth reached for her sleeve, tugging it down. She’d done it in class many times. Once, Scott was sure he’d seen scars on her wrist; she always wore her long-sleeved sweatshirt, even when it was warm. During PE, Scott had seen her wearing wristbands. Whatever this poor girl was going through, Casey had no right to use her, to twist her.

Right then, Scott wanted to kill her. His own wife. Look what she’d done to him. And now an innocent child.

“You…” Beth paused. “It was after school and you saw me near the shops. You said you wanted to talk to me, and then you grabbed me, sir, and dragged me into an alleyway. It was quick and horrible and then it was over.”

“When was this?”

“The fifth of March, sir.”

“Where?”

“Xpress Store, you know the one, just around the corner from school.”

“You sound like you’ve been coached.”

She shook her head. “You raped me, sir. Please stop pretending.”

“Wait a second.”

He was holding the phone too tightly. He wanted to crush it. Navigating to Casey’s name, he clicked call. It rang twice and then she answered, sounding chirpy. “Hey, hubby.”

“I take it this is you.”

“You’ll have to be more specific, darling.”

“I’ve got Beth Vaughn in my class.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know who that is.”

“Right.”

“But let’s say I did…”

Scott’s hand went for his stress ball, but he stopped himself. He couldn’t let Beth see the effect Casey was having on him.

“Yeah, let’s say that,” Scott said.

“It’s possible I got a little peeved, my sweet beautiful husband, when I learned about your little slut playing detective.”

Scott closed his eyes for a moment. “Lauren.”

“I still talk with the book club girls from time to time. I know what they say about me, how they gossip and bitch, but the truth is they like me. The truth is everybody likes me. I’m a very, very likeable person.

“So you see,” she went on. “I can’t have some little bitch poking around where she’s not wanted. I’d say the book club is off-limits now, wouldn’t you?”