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There is shuffling outside the door. Then nothing.

Is she coming in or not? I don’t have time for this.

I pull the door open, finding Mrs Dudley on the other side. She looks shocked, but quickly reconfigures her face into a gentle smile.

‘Hello there,’ she says, voice unnaturally smooth. ‘You must be Caroline.’

‘Kate,’ I correct. ‘Kate Noble. Child Services.’ I shake Mrs Dudley’s large hand.

‘A pleasure to meet you, Kate.’

I stand back to let her into the room. ‘Shall we get started?’

‘Yes. Of course.’ Mrs Dudley closes the door tight, checking that the latch has clicked.

We take plastic seats opposite each other. It’s a little awkward, our knees nearly touching, no table to shield our bodies.

‘I’m guessing there’s no kettle out here,’ I say. ‘Or I’d suggest a cup of tea.’

‘Oh, I don’t have time anyway,’ says Mrs Dudley, offering another showy smile.

‘So, as you know, I wanted to discuss Tom Kinnock today.’

Mrs Dudley nods, smile tightening.

‘A nurse at the walk-in centre reported some unusual marks.’

‘His mother saw us about that. They’re nothing to do with the school. It’s all been dealt with.’

‘Tom’s marks are a big concern for us,’ I say. ‘The nurse thought they looked like injection marks. What areyourthoughts on that?’

The smile hasn’t left Mrs Dudley’s face, and it’s beginning to make her look deranged. ‘I’m not really qualified to answer anything like that. But this is nothing to do with the school.’

‘No one is accusing anyone of anything. But you’re with Tom for a large part of the day.’

‘This is nothing to do with the school. Alan already explained to Tom’s mother.’

‘This isn’t about criticising the school,’ I say, starting to feel exasperated. ‘I’m just trying to find out what happened. Can you tell me how Tom is in class?’

‘Quiet. Tired sometimes. Perhaps his mother … Someone should talk to her about a proper sleep routine.’

‘Nothing else? No other causes for concern?’

Mrs Dudley hesitates. ‘Have you … Has anyone mentioned anything else about Tom?’

‘Well, that’s what I’m asking you. If there’s anything you want to disclose.’

Mrs Dudley stares out of the window, smile dropping. ‘I don’t think so. No.’

As I scribble notes, Mrs Dudley coughs meaningfully and says, ‘I mean, perhaps the headmaster … There could be an incident he feels is relevant.’

For once her eyes meet mine and I see a human being. Someone who wants to help rather than the robot I’ve been interviewing for the last five minutes.

‘An incident?’ I ask.

‘There could be something Alan might want to tell you, about Tom. It’s not for me to say.’ The fake smile returns.

‘You can tell me,’ I urge. ‘This is confidential. I won’t feed it back to your headmaster.’