Page 27 of Dying Truth

Dawson frowned as the kid slipped back into the gym hall.

What the hell was the Queen of Hearts?

Eighteen

‘So what’s the plan now?’ Bryant asked, glancing at his watch. It was almost five o’clock and they were taking a breather outside.

True to his word Mitch had packed up forensics a few hours earlier. The bloodied gravel had been removed and a patch of brand new pristine stones dropped in its place. But even without the marker she would have been able to pick out the exact spot of the young girl’s bloodied head.

So far, they’d spoken to fifteen teachers and not one of them had been able to offer anything useful. In fact, all they’d managed to establish was that Sadie had left one lesson completely intact and had never turned up for the next and no one had seen her in between.

‘I want to speak to Sadie’s sister,’ Kim said. ‘We’re getting nowhere with the adults. I want to know more about Sadie, but I don’t want to mention the self-harming to her parents yet. Saffron might have known,’ she said.

‘We could always do my appraisal,’ he said, taking her by surprise.

She hadn’t given it a thought, despite Woody’s prompting.

‘Err… not right now,’ she said.

‘Why not, we’re clearly not going to see any more teachers and I’m sure getting the address for Saffron Winters can wait for ten minutes.’

‘You think that’s how long it will take?’ she asked, raising an eyebrow.

‘If you conduct them the way you do everything else, we’ll probably have it nailed in five and still have time for a cuppa.’

‘It’s just not the right—’

‘Guv, is something wrong?’ he asked.

‘No, it’s just—’ she stopped speaking as her phone began to ring.

‘Ah, just the person,’ she said to Bryant, seeing Principal Thorpe’s name on the display.

‘Stone,’ she answered.

‘Inspector, it’s Principal Thorpe,’ he offered, formally.

She waited for him to continue.

‘I’m calling to confirm that alternative arrangements for questioning have been made should you require them,’ he offered, tightly.

Kim fought back the smile.

‘That’s very kind of you, Principal Thorpe,’ she said. ‘And while I have you would it be possible to take down the address for Mr and Mrs Winters?’

‘Of course, I have their main address in Droitwich and their holiday home in Snowdonia. Which would you prefer?’

‘Whichever address I can find their other daughter, Saffron.’

‘Oh,’ he said, surprised. ‘In that case you’ll be needing neither. Saffron Winters is still here, at school, with us.’

Nineteen

‘Well, this is a bit more acceptable, don’t you think, Bryant?’ Kim asked, as they looked around the room.

Principal Thorpe had kindly guided them to a spacious reading room adjacent to the library. Despite the falling dusk she could still make out the view of the hockey pitch and tennis courts.

Bryant whistled appreciatively. ‘Good result even if your methods are somewhat—’