Page 130 of Dying Truth

Ninety-One

Kim knocked and entered the office of Principal Thorpe.

She was rewarded with the irritation that crossed his face before his stock smile, etched with tolerance, took its place.

‘You’re here for the memorial?’ he asked, smoothing his hands over the breast of his tux as though bringing attention to his attire.

‘Not exactly, Mr Thorpe,’ Kim answered, sitting down.

He hesitated before taking a seat himself, but the glance at his watch was for her benefit.

‘Unfortunately we still have three deaths and a traumatised little boy in hospital not yet explained at your school.’ And her directness was for his benefit. ‘So, what can you tell us about a young lady named Lorraine Peters?’ she asked, placing the printout on his desk.

His face lost some of its colour as his eyebrows drew together.

‘I don’t… I mean… what…’

Clearly, not a question he’d been expecting.

‘You remember her?’ she asked.

He nodded but offered no more stuttering responses.

‘And you know how she died?’

He nodded.

‘Sorry. I’d like you to tell me how she died,’ Kim clarified.

‘She fell into the swimming pool, if I remember…’

‘I’m not sure “fell” is correct but, yes, she definitely landed and died in the swimming pool. That we are sure of. Did you know she was pregnant?’

He nodded, shook his head and then nodded again.

‘Sorry, Mr Thorpe, but which is it?’ Kim asked, confused.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know at the time, but I found out afterwards.’

‘Mr Thorpe, are you aware of any of your students having an illegal abortion?’ she asked.

He appeared both horrified and flustered as his brain tried to keep up with the change in direction of her questions.

‘It’s okay, we’ll come back to that.’

That had been a deliberate change of subject. He was working too hard on trying to pre-empt what she was going to say next about Lorraine Peters, and she didn’t want him forearmed. His guardedness told her he was hiding something.

‘Sir, you were here at the same time Lorraine Peters and her baby died. As were Laurence Winters, AnthonyCoffee-Todd, Graham Steele, and Doctor Cordell. You were all Spades at the exact—’

‘I was not a Spade,’ he spat at her, his face screwed up with bitterness. ‘I detest those groups.’

‘But you know what went on, don’t you?’ she pushed.

‘I don’t know what—’

‘Something happened to that girl that is somehow linked to the events of this week, and you’re protecting someone,’ she accused.

‘I’m not, I swear,’ he protested. ‘I wouldn’t do that. I don’t know what really happened to Lorraine.’