Page 37 of Child's Play

‘You feeling like we’ve done something wrong?’ Bryant asked as yet another member of staff passed them and glanced their way.

Sitting outside the principal’s office was not something she’d ever done well, and she was glad that the college had not yet commenced its autumn term giving them thousands of students as a further gawping audience.

They were five minutes early for the pre-arranged 10a.m. meeting with Felicity Astor, the head of the college. The woman was taking it to the exact minute by the looks of it. And it wasn’t as if they had a murderer to catch.

Kim stood up and began to pace in front of the glass window that looked into the admin office. Not every desk was filled as term hadn’t started, but the five women inside shared little conversation as they stared at the screen and typed busily.

All except one.

‘Wonder who she’s talking to that can be more important than us,’ Bryant observed. The receptionist had called through to let her know they’d arrived.

Kim took another pass of the window and tried not to stare.

A couple of heads raised and looked in her direction but her attention was on one single lady right at the back. She stood out from the others for a few reasons. First she was a good twenty years older than everyone else in the office. Secondly, her plum ruffled blouse and full face of make-up contrasted heavily with the jeans and tee shirts worn by the rest of the staff, and thirdly she was the only one wearing headphones.

Old school, Kim realised. The practice of audiotyping was dying due to voice recognition software, and the skill of shorthand was almost extinct.

But that wasn’t the main reason the lady had caught Kim’s attention. It was because despite staring at the screen and having her fingers poised above the keyboard, her foot hadn’t touched the foot pedal controls once.

‘Guv, what the?…’

‘Shush, I’m in stalker mode.’

‘In front of a clear glass window?’

Kim approached the clear glass window and knocked on it. The woman nearest almost jumped out of her skin and then offered Kim a terse expression.

Kim ignored her and pointed to the woman at the back of the room.

Eventually the older woman looked her way and Kim motioned for her to come forward. She removed her headphones and walked towards the glass. Kim pointed towards the door.

‘Guv, what the hell are you doing?’ Bryant asked as the woman negotiated the last couple of desks to get out of the door.

Kim held up her ID as she looked at her questioningly. She introduced herself and her colleague.

‘Ida Lincoln,’ she said, moving from one foot to the other.

‘Ms Lincoln, we’re investigating the murder of Belinda Evans. Did you know her well?’ Kim asked.

She had been the only person in the office who seemed unable to concentrate on her work.

Tears gathered in her eyes. ‘We were all called in last night and told the news. It still hasn’t sunk in yet. I know she didn’t work here any more but knowing that she’s gone, I mean, really gone, is just…’

Her words trailed away as she reached into her sleeve and retrieved a handkerchief. Kim gave her a few seconds.

‘Were the two of you close?’

‘I wouldn’t say close but we had a lot in common,’ she said, glancing behind her. ‘Both started to feel like old farts amongst all this youth.’

Kim hadn’t expected that word to come out of this lady’s mouth.

‘There were times in the staff room when the conversations just went over our heads. I’m not into all the new technology and she wasn’t either. We didn’t get all that social media stuff they chat about in there. If I wanted to see cute kittens I’d buy one. We talked about books a lot. I don’t know if you’re aware but she was a very intelligent woman. You wouldn’t have wanted to get into an argument with her.’

‘Why’s that?’ Kim asked, wondering if the woman had been known to show aggression or temper.

‘Because she always had a fact to prove a point at her fingertips. Very clever.’

‘Did the two of you mix out of work?’ Kim asked, noting the absence of wedding rings on Ida’s fingers. These two women could have been good company for each other.