Donny was about to add something when Tina came rushing up. ‘Can I use the office for my next meeting? I was going to use the side office, but it’s already booked out.’

Donny replied to Tina as he watched Frankie slink off. He looked edgier than usual. ‘Yes, crack on. I’ve just seen Ged’s dad parked up outside, so he’ll be here in a minute. Try to have him in and out pronto. I don’t trust him in this school. Thieving fucker.’

Tina rolled her eyes and looked round to check none of the students had heard the headteacher. Sometimes he forgot where he was. Donny slung his jacket over his shoulder. ‘I’m going to have a quick cig before the police come about Amelia. They’ll be here for a while and I will be gasping if I don’t get one now. I believe they want to speak to a few of the students again.’

Tina swallowed hard but remained silent, not trusting herself to utter a word.

Kevin sat down and faced Tina. He seemed confident, not afraid to open his mouth. He was unshaven and you could smell stale tobacco smoke on his clothing. He leant forward and clapped his hands over his knees. ‘Right, I’ll get to the point, shall I? I want my lad out of here and back in mainstream school. This place is fucked up, he’s not like these kids in here, he’s got a brain, he’s clever. I think he went off the rails a bit when I got put in prison but I’m home now and I’ll sort him out.’

Tina twisted her pen in her hands. ‘Ged is doing fine here. And getting him back in mainstream school is something that doesn’t just happen overnight. We’ll have to wait until his grades are better and he’s more settled. I’m not sure if you’re aware, Mr Grey, of the incidents he’s been involved in. He’s trashed a classroom and assaulted another student. This is not the kind of behaviour that will get him back into his old school.’

Kevin dismissed her last comment and shrugged his shoulders. ‘Nah, don’t give me any of that bullshit. The kids in this school are messed up in their heads. Ged’s not like that, he’s got a good head on him and I don’t want him mixing with these delinquents anymore. I’ve heard about some of the stuff that goes on in this school and it’s not right. Drugs, girls who’ll open their legs for anybody. Nah, I want my boy out of here.’