an image of Linda Gibson in a body bag on the front page of the Stepney Gazette, or on the national news.’
‘Of course. I’ll see if the ambo guys can take the body out discreetly. There’s always someone with a smartphone handy.’
‘Thanks. Can you get details of Linda’s bank transactions in the last twelve months?’
‘Done it. She banks with Barclays. One current account, a joint account, a savings account and an ISA.’
‘Good.’ He was certainly more pro-active than Barnesy.
‘Alexej’s requested Linda Gibson’s medical records for any reference to her cutting her wrists.’
‘Those should yield some leads. Was anyone not in the staffroom apart from Roger Allen, Steve Rowe, the engineers and Rich?’
‘We’re still checking. A couple of staff nipped out and came back.’
‘That it?’ He was hovering and I couldn’t help wondering what was to come.
‘Briscall is on the warpath. Two of the school governors are friends of his and something about —’
‘Targets?’ I rolled my eyes.
‘He wants an arrest within twenty-four hours.’
‘And how come you know this and I don’t?’
Dan had his hands raised in a don’t-shoot-the-messenger gesture.
I felt a wave of annoyance. ‘Twenty-four hours? If he wanted to help, he could authorise the fast-tracking of the toxicology and forensic results and get over here.’ I drew breath and took stock. ‘Okay, shall we go through the key staff at the school?’ I re-arranged the photographs, placing the two senior managers next to each other. ‘There’s the assistant head, Shari Ahmed. She’s in charge of the sixth form. And the bursar, Neil Sanderson, who’s in charge of staff and budgets. Do you think they’re involved?’
‘Haven’t noticed anything to indicate they are.’
I was silent for a moment. ‘What about Roger Allen?’ I tapped his mugshot. ‘He’s the deputy head of curriculum. Also part of the school management team.’ I shifted his picture underneath Shari’s and Neil’s. ‘How does he fit into things? Where the hell is he today? You’d think unless he was critically ill, he’d have managed to get himself in for the first day of term.’
‘It’s pretty odd behaviour. Certainly puts him in line as a suspect, but it might be a coincidence. He’s the only person we haven’t spoken to. And Linda’s husband.’
‘Which means when all the staff leave here shortly, unless we get to Allen first, he can get the run-down from someone before we speak to him.’
‘He’s still AWOL.’
‘Where on earth has he disappeared to?’
‘No idea at the moment. We’ve tried to track his phone but it’s switched off.’ He checked his watch. ‘I need to go. Neil Sanderson and Shari Ahmed are about to brief the staff and I want to be there to observe. I’ll bring Sanderson back with me to interview.’ Dan weaved his way round the canteen tables towards the doors.
I rubbed my eyes and rested the palms of my hands on my face for a moment. Frustration was biting. The two people we most needed to interview, we couldn’t.
The staff were still stuck in the staffroom, waiting for news or to be told they could go home. In the kitchen area, a few people were chatting by the fridge when Steve wandered over.
‘Anyone want a cuppa?’
‘It’s Steve, isn’t it?’ a friendly-faced woman asked.
Steve recognised the person who’d brought him into the staffroom from reception earlier when he arrived.
‘You’re covering for Zoe, aren’t you, teaching psychology? I’m Andrea. In English. I think I saw you at your interview.’
‘Hi. Yes.’ Steve was relieved to have a distraction. ‘Have you worked here long?’
‘Oh, years. Nearly seven? Something like that. It’s a great school. Sure you’ll love it.’ She had a Welsh accent and the sort of impish face and choppy, short hair that made her look fun. ‘I started on a temporary contract, bit like you, and ended up staying on. The senior managers are decent and we’ve got a great team of school governors.’
‘I’m glad to get back to London. I grew up here.’
A sneering voice interrupted them. ‘Hope you’re not telling the new boy all our ghastly secrets.’ It was Moira, who was still nursing a sour face and had the staffroom copy of the TES tucked firmly under her arm. ‘He’ll be running back to his training supervisor asking for another job.’
Andrea glanced at Steve and, in full view of Moira, rolled her eyes. ‘What secrets, Moira?’ she simpered patronisingly.
But Moira wasn’t finished. ‘You do know Linda and Roger —’
‘Moira – enough.’ Andrea faced away from the woman and looked at Steve. ‘Don’t take any notice of her. She delights in winding everyone up. Let’s go and sit down.’ She pointed at some chairs on the other side of the staffroom. ‘You’ve gone green. Don’t want you passing out on your first day, do we?’
But Moira was tailing them, muttering to herself. ‘What happened when you went to fetch Linda? Was she —’
‘For goodness’ sake.’ Andrea whirled round. ‘Do you ever stop?’ And to Steve she said, ‘C’mon, let’s go and sit over there.’
They carried on chatting as they walked over to some seats.
‘Training supervisor? Have I got a flashing neon L-plate on my forehead saying I’m a newly qualified teacher?’
They were out of Moira’s earshot now.
‘Don’t take any notice of her. She’s a nasty piece of work. Always tries to intimidate new staff. She’s the staffroom bully and a dreadful gossip.’
‘That’s good to know, I guess.’ Steve managed a tiny laugh.
‘Listen. A few of us are going to the Morgan Arms after school if you fancy it. It’s the pub on the corner as you walk towards Tredegar Square.’
They sat down.
‘What a good idea,’ said Steve. ‘Talk about a nightmare day.’
‘Yes, I don’t remember covering “What to do if your head teacher carks it” on my PGCE. Did you?’ She grimaced. ‘Which is not exactly in good taste. I’m sorry. It’s the . . . Oh bugger. I have no idea what to say so I think I should just shut up.’
They both blushed.
