Page 50 of Dying Truth

He thought for a moment. ‘If I recall correctly, it was Mr Campbell, her physics teacher. She’d become withdrawn and sometimes obstructive in science lessons.’

‘Do you remember why?’

He shook his head. ‘I met with her only a few times. She was not the most communicative pupil I’ve spoken to.’

‘So, she didn’t open up to you?’

‘No, but I have my own theory, which I tried to discuss with her.’

‘Which was?’

‘I think that she felt inadequate beside her sibling and began to rebel to get attention for herself. I think she tries to meet her parents’ expectations for greatness and falls short.’

The picture was becoming a little clearer for Kim. After reading that letter from the girl it seemed she was searching for her own identity. The kid had probably had Saffie rammed down her throat. No wonder she hadn’t opened up to him. He had laid his own opinion at her feet and even he had wanted to talk about her sister.

‘But hasn’t Saffie been a musical star for years?’ Kim asked. ‘Why would she suddenly begin acting up about that now?’

He shrugged. ‘Add a few teenage hormones into the mix and it becomes a bit more likely that—’

‘You don’t think it’s something more recent than that?’ Kim asked. ‘Something that happened just in the last few weeks that caused her to rebel?’

Although her behaviour was hardly what Kim would call rebellious. Quiet, morose, withdrawn and obstructive was how she herself spent most days of her life.

‘Were you surprised when you heard the news of her… death?’ Bryant asked.

He hesitated and then shook his head.

‘No, not really. She was an unhappy child.’

‘Did she ever speak to you of enemies? Was there someone she was having any trouble with?’

He looked surprised. ‘Not at all.’

‘So, you logged and recorded your concerns with…’ Bryant asked.

Kim hid her satisfaction. Like her, Bryant was feeling that this kid had been let down on just about every level.

‘Well, no, I didn’t actually log…’ his words trailed away as he seemed to realise his own contradiction.

‘Sir, I’d like you to—’

‘What the hell is going on out there?’ Kim asked as the sound of footsteps and raised voices increased outside the door. She was sure they’d have heard a fire alarm.

Steele stood and opened the door as Dawson’s flushed face appeared in the doorway.

‘Fourteen-year-old boy, boss,’ he gasped. ‘Suddenly collapsed and is being rushed to hospital.’

All three of them ran for the door.

Thirty-Two

Dawson arrived at the A&E department of Russells Hall Hospital two minutes after the ambulance. The boss had told him to go, and he had driven in the slipstream of the ambulance until two motorcycles had got in his way.

He hurried through the waiting area, filled to overflowing with sick and injured, to stand behind a woman holding a coughing child complaining about the wait.

The receptionist checked and told her there were just a couple more people in front of her. Appeased the woman turned and looked around for her seat, which had been taken.

Dawson approached the window. ‘A teenage boy, ShaunCoffee-Todd, has been rushed in. Can you tell me…’