Tina walked into the rec room and did a double-take. Why were the sofas pushed together? And who had left a bag on the floor? She approached it cautiously and picked it up. Slowly, she started to pull out the items inside it. Hairbrush, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, knickers … What the hell?

‘Rita!’ she shouted through the open door. ‘Come here and have a look at this lot.’

The cook’s face was scarlet as Tina held the knickers out in front of her. They were passion killers, baggy and discoloured. ‘Do you know who owns this lot? Is someone planning a trip? I tell you what, nothing surprises me in this place anymore.’

Rita edged closer. ‘Give them here. I’ll bang it in the lost property. Leave it to me.’

Tina passed the bag over and turned to carry on with her tour of the classrooms.

Rita checked her watch. Still time before the kids turned up. She quickly followed Tina into one of the rooms and pushed the door shut behind her.

Tina looked up. ‘Did you want something else, Rita?’

The cook nodded. ‘I’m just a bit concerned about the whereabouts of Amelia.’

But there was an unusual tone to Rita’s voice. A coldness.

Tina sat on the edge of one of the desks and ran her hand through her hair. ‘We all are, Rita. She’ll turn up no doubt, they always do. She’s probably met some boy and is holed up somewhere with him.’

Rita wasn’t moving; she stood firm, blocking the door. Tina was starting to get nervous.

‘Can I get past you, Rita, I have to get some other checks done before the students arrive.’

‘I followed you,’ Rita hissed.

Tina looked rattled. ‘Followed me where exactly?’

Rita bent forward and ran her tongue around her lips. ‘To the flat where you’ve got the girl locked up. I’m not bleeding daft. I worked it out ages ago when Amelia was in the toilets spewing her guts up. It isn’t rocket science, is it? Give me some bleeding credit, love, I wasn’t born yesterday.’

Tina’s jaw dropped; she was lost for words. She was going to have to bluff her way out of this one. ‘I don’t have a clue what you’re going on about, Rita, so please move out of my way and let me get on with what I have to do.’

‘No,’ she snapped. ‘I’ll tell you what I know shall I, so we can cut the crap.’ She took a deep breath and continued. ‘Amelia is tubbed. And,’ she paused, ‘let’s think who we know who can’t have children … erm, let me think.’ She narrowed her eyes and stepped closer to Tina. ‘You, is that correct?’

Tina forced herself to stand tall and shrugged the comment off. ‘Don’t be silly, Rita, have you heard yourself? Now, move out of my way and stop talking shit.’