Page 100 of Dying Truth

He hesitated and then shook his head. ‘If I’m honest, I’m afraid not. In my position it’s often the kids that cause the most trouble that come to my attention.’

She could understand that. Teenage problems and angst often presented as loud, troublesome and disruptive behaviour.

‘Did you have any reason to see him at all?’ Kim asked, wondering if there was some kind of link there.

He shook his head. ‘I’ve checked my records in case my memory had failed me, and he never asked to see me, nor did I have cause to seek him out.’

‘You know he was in one of those secret clubs?’ Kim asked.

‘Damn groups,’ he said, angrily.

‘You don’t approve?’ she asked.

‘I fully support Principal Thorpe’s efforts to stamp them out. They offer nothing positive to the majority of the students and a sense of imperialism to the few. Any group that insists on initiation pranks to join is not a good place to be,’ he said, lacing his fingers. ‘Now, is there anything else I can help you with?’

Kim got the feeling he wanted to move on.

‘Joanna Wade gave you a poem of Sadie’s?’ she asked.

He nodded. ‘She did and then asked for it back.’

‘Did you read it?’ she asked.

He hesitated. ‘I did, but I didn’t really understand it,’ he said, looking sheepish.

She didn’t hold that against him. She wouldn’t have got it had it not been for Joanna.

‘Did you speak to her about it?’

He nodded. ‘I tried to ask her about it. I know Joanna was concerned about something in the poem, but she didn’t say what. She knew I was meeting with Sadie, so asked me to raise it and see if she opened up at all.’

‘Were you hopeful?’

He shrugged and then shook his head. ‘She hadn’t opened up so far in our sessions, but I gave it a try. Sometimes it just takes something small, a catalyst if you like, to take the first brick out of the wall.’

Kim took the poem from her back pocket.

Graham looked surprised and then smiled. ‘I won’t ask.’

‘It’s a copy,’ she explained. ‘But I’d like you to take another look at it and tell me what you think.’

He took the sheet from her and reached for a pair of John Lennon-style glasses that looked totally lost on his face. He read and frowned at the same time. ‘I’m afraid I still don’t get the content, but it does seem as though she’s angry about something.’

Kim leaned across and pointed at the capital letters at the beginning of each line spelling out the word ABORTED.

‘Oh, Oh, I see,’ he said, colouring slightly. He stared at it for a full minute. ‘I should have spotted that,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘Seems so obvious now.’

‘Don’t feel too bad,’ Kim said. ‘We’re detectives and didn’t see it at first.’

His face filled with horror. ‘You don’t think Sadie—?’

‘No,’ Kim said, shaking her head, quickly. ‘Definitely not Sadie but would you have any idea who she might have meant. Have any of the girls—?’

Graham held up his hand and stopped her. ‘If they had I wouldn’t be able to divulge it as you well know, Inspector.’

She accepted his point.

‘Has anyone required additional or urgent counselling?’ she asked, going for the same answer in a roundabout way.