Page 163 of The Guilty Girl

Lottie said, ‘We know the reason you left the school. You quit in disgrace and not because of anything Noel Glennon did. I am giving you the opportunity to tell the truth.’ And if she didn’t, Lottie was so wired she was in danger of shaking her to death.

‘Wh-what do you think you know?’

‘If that’s the way you want to play it, I will gladly spell it out for you.’

Lottie held out her hands, then brought them together in a loud clap, making Sarah jump in the armchair.

‘Sarah Robson, you took photos of the girls in the showers. Noel confronted you with a statement from one of the girls. He went to the principal about you and she dismissed you. She should have brought us in; might have saved a few lives. But I don’t blame her. The blame lies squarely on your shoulders. Now, are you ready to talk?’

Sarah stood and went to the window. She took the cat in her arms and rubbed him. Her mouth hardened, a nerve in her neck twitched and her eyes narrowed.

‘You have it all wrong, Inspector. It was a misunderstanding. I didn’t tell you lies at all. I just—’

‘Twisted the truth?’

‘This is ridiculous,’ she snapped. ‘Noel Glennon is a creep. He hung me out to dry in order to save his own sorry arse.’

‘I still haven’t heard an explanation. Have you, Garda Brennan?’ Lottie glanced at the young garda, pleased to see she was busy taking notes.

‘No, boss.’

When Martina spoke, the cat jumped from Sarah’s arms, catching Lottie off guard. Had she actually thrown the animal at her? Leaning back, fearing it was about to attack, she relaxed as it walked along the arm of the couch to lie down on the back cushion again.

Sarah sat, eyes still wary. ‘You seem to know the truth about my dismissal. What else can I tell you?’

‘Why did you take those photos?’

A shrug. ‘Because I could. Then Ivy Jones caught me and threw a wobbly. Told Glennon. I’m convinced he was already up to something with her and others.’

‘Were you taking the photos for someone else?’

‘Only for my personal perusal.’

‘Likely story.’

Sarah flinched, then sat like a weary statue.

Lottie continued. ‘Do you like young girls? In particular, naked girls taking showers?’

Silence.

‘Why did you tell us Lucy was a bully?’

‘It was the truth.’

‘Then you said she was sad, only acting the prima donna. Why?’

‘I believed she wasn’t being true to herself.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

Sarah sighed. ‘I thought she was hiding something. It was like she put up protective armour. But she hadn’t always been sad. Something had to have happened to change her.’

‘How do you come to that conclusion?’

‘She acted differently in public to what I saw at her home.’

Lottie reckoned all teenagers did that. ‘Was she taking drugs?’