She watches the small muscles in his face twitch but the expression remains the same. A terrible stillness settles over the room and, in a very calm voice, Cullen says, ‘Have you any idea how many dark blue Volvos there are in a city like this? I really think I should call student welfare. Evidently, you are not coping.’ She watches him reach out for the phone and in a blink she has slammed her fist down on the back of his hand. The handset clatters onto the desk.

‘You have become rather paranoid, Nevis. I’d say borderline delusional. If you were your usual self, you’d understand just how much trouble I can get you into.’

Shame sits on her skin like a rash. She wants to dive into a shower and scrub it off and make herself clean. She knows now that she has no future at Avon, that to carry on this conversation might well ensure that she has no future at any university, but none of that matters. She is thinking of Satnam now and how she can beat Christopher Cullen.

He stands and goes over to the door and calls for Tina, then he turns and comes to sit in his chair once more. He is no longer looking at her and, she knows, he will not respond to anything she says.

‘Ms Smith is just leaving,’ Cullen says to Tina when she comes to the door.

Nevis rises from her chair, sensing that everything hangs on these last few moments. She had come seeking an explanation but that no longer seems necessary. What she is after now is proof. That’s what the Dean’s always taught her, isn’t it? Without proof you have nothing. She pulls out the phone from her pocket, and standing calmly, she says, ‘Just before Satnam Mann went to the bridge she texted someone. Whoever it was blocked their ID and called her back. They spoke for seven minutes and twenty-three seconds. More than long enough to have a conversation. I called that number back.’

Cullen lifts his hand, as if to stop her. His face is crumpled now and a peculiar, dead shade of pink.

‘Ms Smith is leaving. Please show her out.’ Alarmed by his tone, Tina hesitates. ‘Now!’ Cullen says. Her face stricken, Tina advances towards Nevis. Before Tina reaches her, Nevis has pulled out her phone and is tapping at the screen. She feels a hand on her elbow as Tina tries to lead her from the room.

‘Call student welfare,’ Cullen says. ‘The student is very unwell. She needs a psych evaluation. And cancel all my meetings.’

The phone on Cullen’s desk begins to buzz and spin.

Chapter 47

Cullen