Page 113

I sit up at this. ‘You’ve never met my son.’

‘I can relay what other professionals have told me,’ says Dr Philips. ‘Tom’s head injury was partially healed when he was admitted to hospital. Which tells us the injury happened some time before Tom fell unconscious.’

‘How?’ I demand.

‘The injury could have happened in all sorts of ways,’ says the doctor. ‘But from our experiences of head injuries, the most likely cause was being struck with something. An object.’

‘You believe he was struck?’ I say, stomach churning.

‘It’s a strong possibility.’

‘What else could have caused it?’

‘Doyouhave any ideas, Miss Riley?’ Kate asks. ‘Any accidents at home?’

‘No.’ I shake my head. ‘I’ve alreadytoldthe hospital this. It must have happened at school. Tom doesn’t go anywhere else without me. And it’snot mewho’s doing this.’ I’m angry now. ‘Don’t you understand? I’m worriedsick. My son is being hurt. No one knows why or how. And instead of helping me find answers, you’re putting me in the dock.’

I wonder if the people walking past this building realise what’s happening inside.

They’re trying to take my child away.

‘Usually the parents are the best source of information,’ says Kate.

‘Do you understand how frightening this is for me?’ I reply. ‘Tom had a seizure the moment he started this new school.’

I see Mr Cockrun bristle, but he keeps quiet.

‘Then Tom came home with injection marks on his arm,’ I continue. ‘Now a head injury. And he’schangingat that school. Why can’t anyone see how odd it all is? How many schools do you know with bars on the windows? Who don’t let anyone in during the school day? Who padlocks gates so no one can get in and out without a key? It’s like all the kids are brainwashed. And the teachers. Tom’s not himself. I’m petrified.’

Kate clears her throat. ‘Now we can hear from you, Mr Cockrun.’

Mr Cockrun fixes me with cold eyes, the fake smile long gone. ‘Children are very well safeguarded at Steelfield School. Physical injuries are recorded immediately. All our staff are DBS checked. Miss Riley has been back and forth to the school on multiple occasions accusing us of whatever she can think of. We have told her repeatedly that these injuries are nothing to do with us.’

‘You’re not in Tom’s class,’ I say. ‘Tom’s teacher can’t watch him every minute. What about playtime? There are holes in the fence.’

‘This is about a family breakdown and nothing to do with us,’ says Mr Cockrun. ‘Miss Riley won’t let Tom see his own father.’

‘If you knew about his father—’

‘Divorce can bring out the worst in people,’ says Mr Cockrun. ‘My feeling is that Tom would benefit from more discipline.’

‘Are you saying I can’t discipline my son?’

‘Two parents are better than one.’

‘Not if one of them has very serious issues.’

‘You’re not thinking about Tom,’ says Mr Cockrun. ‘What’s best for him. The boy wants to see his father.’

I suck in my breath. ‘What?’

‘Look, he’s told me in confidence,’ Mr Cockrun continues. ‘He misses his dad.’

‘His dad is a manipulator and a liar, and it’s none of your business.’

‘It’s our business if Tom has emotional problems and doesn’t behave at school.’

Mr Cockrun starts flicking through papers then, and I catch a glimpse of something – handwriting that looks suspiciously like Olly’s scrawled, spiky loops.