by Beevis, Keri
‘Phoebe Kendall and Shona McNamara disappeared exactly five days before the car accident. Did you know that?’
Jack shrugged, seeming disinterested. ‘What about it?’
‘Don’t you find that odd?’
‘Not especially. Where are you going with this, Lila?’
‘Shona’s locket was with my things. Something spooked Mark when he went into the woods. What if there’s a connection?’
‘What do you mean a connection?’
‘What if Mark was the one with the locket?’
‘You think he killed Shona? How did he manage that when he was on a date with you?’
‘No.’ Lila shook her head impatiently. ‘I’m not suggesting he killed her, but what if he saw her that night?’
‘In the woods?’
‘Yes, Jack, in the woods.’
He perched on the arm of the sofa beside her, as he ingested her theory.
‘The locket turned up in Norfolk, right where the crash happened,’ Lila pushed. ‘Is it really that big a stretch?’ As far-fetched as it sounded, she knew her theory held some weight. She recalled Mark’s face that night. He looked like he had seen a ghost. ‘We need to figure out what happened with Mark, find out what he saw.’
‘He’s dead, Lila. How are we supposed to do that? We already went back to the woods. The police have the locket. Let them look into it.’
He still seemed distracted and for the first time, Lila noticed he was wearing his jacket, had his keys in his hand.
‘You off out somewhere?’
‘I’m going over to Queen’s House School. Steph’s headmistress has agreed to meet with me.’
Of course, the revelations about Stephanie were still weighing heavily on his mind. It was understandable that they took precedence. Lila set down her iPad, reached for her crutches. ‘I’ll come with you.’
‘There’s no need. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.’
Was he closing her out again? She changed tack. ‘Okay… I’d like to come with you.’ She forced a smile. ‘We’re in this together, remember?’
Jack stared at her for a moment, looking a little annoyed at having his own words thrown back at him. ‘Okay,’ he relented. ‘But come on. We’re going to be late.’
He was quiet on the drive over to the school, seemed preoccupied with how the meeting was going to go and whether he would get the answers he so desperately wanted. Lila let him brood, understood him well enough to know that he was stubborn and wouldn’t open up until he was ready. She was here with him, would be there for him, if and when he did need her. For now that had to be enough.
The school was just outside Holt. She knew it was private and suspected that the parents paid a hefty fee to send their little darlings there. She still found it daunting when Jack took the turn off between two large stone pillars into a long driveway flanked by tall neatly trimmed conifers. She had attended a purpose-built state school that no way resembled the large old ivy-covered house they were approaching. This building was more like a stately home than a place of education with its wide sash windows and huge black front door, above which hung a brass sign welcoming them to Queen’s House Private School. Lila spied a couple of pupils heading around the far side of the house wearing the smart green uniform and felt inadequately dressed.
‘Did you go to school here too?’ she asked as Jack found a space in the car park to the side of the main house.
‘What? No, this is an all-girls’ school. But no, I didn’t go anywhere private like this.’
She thought for a moment he was going to leave it there, given the monosyllabic answers she had mostly gotten during the journey, so he surprised her by elaborating. ‘Henry has deep pockets. My dad was – is – a journalist. Used to do some quite cutting-edge stuff. He has always been a firm believer that you have to earn your way in life. We moved around a bit. Cambridge, London, eventually Norfolk. All state schools though. He wanted Tom and me to have opportunities rather than hand everything to us on a plate. I think my mum would have done the same for Alyssa, Oliver and Steph, but Henry could afford it, so insisted on them having the best.’
Lila suspected there was no love lost between Jack and his stepfather. He seldom mentioned his own father though. ‘Does your dad still live in Norfolk?’ she asked.
His lips curved at the question. ‘Two minutes from here with wife number three, who is exactly six months and thirteen days older than me. He sold out cutting-edge journalism for cosy lifestyle columns in the local press and pretends to be working on his first fiction book, which we both know he will never finish. You want to stop by for afternoon tea after we’re done here? I can’t promise he won’t hit on you though.’
Lila could tell from the amusement in his eyes that the question was rhetorical, so chose to ignore it. ‘He sounds like quite a character.’
‘He has his plus points.’ Jack switched off the ignition. ‘Come on.’
She stored the information away as she climbed out of the car, fascinated at the snippets she was gradually learning about Jack’s life. He wasn’t a closed book, but likewise he didn’t give information away freely. The more she got to know him, the more intriguing she found him, and the more intriguing she found him, the harder she fell.
Jack may not have gone to a private school, but he seemed comfortable enough in finding his way around. Lila followed him across to the main entrance, into the wide high-ceilinged reception and along the corridor, struggling to keep up with his brisk pace. The hallways were quiet, pupils in lessons, the only sound coming from the pair’s footsteps and Lila’s crutches as they hit the hardwood floor. She had a hospital appointment in a couple of weeks and would be glad to finally have her leg out of plaster and be rid of the things.
As they entered a small reception area, a blonde lady glanced up from her computer and smiled warmly. A gold name plaque on the desk identified her as Mrs Rosemary Vale.
‘Good afternoon, may I help you?’
‘I have an appointment with Mrs Crawford. Jack Foley.’
Rosemary clicked her mouse, glanced at the screen and nodded. ‘Yes, please take a seat. Mrs Crawford is with someone at the moment, but she shouldn’t be too long. I’ll let her know you’re here. Can I get either of you a drink? Coffee, tea, water?’
Jack asked for coffee, while Lila opted for water. Her throat was a little dry; nerves she guessed. This place was like a different world to her; the wall behind the reception desk adorned with expensively framed certificates and photographs of pupils graduating. A glass cabinet stood centre of the wall, lit up to display numerous trophies. Lila and Jack sat on the Chesterfield sofa as Rosemary fetched their drinks before going to knock on the headmistress’s door, slipping inside to let her know they had arrived.
‘Have you ever met this Mrs Crawford before?’ Lila asked Jack quietly.
‘Nope.’
‘So how are you going to approach this?’ When Jack shot her a hard look, she elaborated. ‘She may not take kindly to being told someone in her school is leaking exam answers.’
‘Leave the questions to me, okay?’
Lila liked being right as much as the next person, but on this occasion she would have preferred that she wasn’t.
Mrs Crawford (no indication of a first name on her desk plaque) was slight in build, softly spoken and had the mannerisms of a small bird. At first, Lila was shocked that this docile-seeming woman held such a high position of authority. She quickly learnt that first impressions were deceiving and the headmistress was a formidable force, more than ready to stand her ground against Jack.
She had politely welcomed them into her office, giving Lila a brief questioning look, clearly curious as to whom she was. Pleasantries and condolences dispensed with, Jack got straight to the point of why they were there, the accusation that someone at the school was selling test answers and blackmailing pupils hanging in the air as Crawford’s smile froze, the look in her eyes when she addressed him, pure steel.
‘
We are an all-girls school, Mr Foley.’
‘I’m aware of that.’
‘So you’re insinuating that a member of my teaching staff has been engaging in criminal activities and sexual encounters with the pupils?’
‘Not insinuating. Telling you this happened to my sister.’
‘What happened to your sister was a tragedy, nothing more, nothing less. Creating vicious rumours isn’t going to bring her back.’
‘I’m not–’
Mrs Crawford held up a hand, cutting him off. ‘Stephanie was a spirited girl, smart when she applied herself, but often too caught up in the drama of life. She also had a fanciful imagination and given that she was struggling in classes in the last few months, it doesn’t surprise me that she was looking for an excuse.’
‘My sister did not make this up.’
Lila glanced at Jack, aware how tightly coiled he was, knew he was barely hanging on to his temper. ‘Mrs Crawford,’ she tried to reason, keeping her tone neutral, friendly. ‘Stephanie confided in a friend. She was scared and worried. I don’t see what she would have to gain by making this up.’
The headmistress pulled off her glasses, gave Lila a cool glance, as she set them back in her perfectly coiffed chestnut bob. ‘With all due respect, this has nothing to do with you, Miss Anderson.’
‘Amberson.’
Lila’s correction was lost, as Crawford had already dismissed her, returning her attention to Jack.
‘It’s amazing how the mind can react when you are backed into a corner. It wouldn’t be the first time Stephanie had created a story to get herself out of trouble.’ Crawford gave a thin smile. ‘I guess fiction must run in the family.’
That was it; Jack was on his feet, rage flushing his cheeks. ‘Just so I’m clear, I’ve come here today to warn you that a member of your staff may be behaving inappropriately with your pupils and engaging in criminal activity, and you’re choosing to ignore me? Instead you’re telling me my sister was a troublemaker and a liar, and you have no intention of doing jack shit about any of this?’
Crawford also stood, a full foot shorter than Jack, but her fists clenched on her desk, her chin set at a determined angle as she scowled up at him.
‘We are an elite group of schools, Mr Foley, and we only accept the best. All of our members of staff are thoroughly vetted before we employ them and only the head teachers have access to exam papers. Now I am truly sorry about Stephanie, but reputation is key and I do not appreciate you coming into my school and questioning the ethics of my teachers.’
With that they were dismissed.
Lila caught the almost-sympathetic look that the receptionist gave her as she tried to keep up with Jack who had stormed off ahead, guessed she must have heard the raised voices. She didn’t envy Rosemary having to work for Mrs Crawford. The woman was a dragon.
Jack had threatened that he would go to the police, but it was a bluff. They all knew that there was not enough proof for the police to investigate anything.
Jack was outside, appeared to be waiting for her, as Lila pushed open the heavy entrance door. As she approached him, feeling his frustration and wishing she could magic up the answers he needed, a tall blonde girl strode confidently towards him, spoke a couple of words to him then embraced him in a hug he was quick to return.
The girl was a pupil, wearing the regulation green uniform, though looked older than her years. Put her in a bar and Lila guessed she could pass for twenty-two. Way too young for Jack, but she was pretty and long-limbed, and the way she was touching his arm with one hand while playing with a long strand of hair with the other was pure flirtation and had something stirring in Lila’s belly. She recognised it as jealousy and, irritated by her reaction, poked it down as she hopped her way across to join them.
‘Everything okay?’ she asked brightly as the girl pouted, looking a little annoyed that Lila had interrupted.
‘This is Jessica,’ Jack told her. ‘She was a friend of Steph’s.’
Jessica studied Lila briefly before turning her full attention back to Jack. ‘So as I was saying, if there’s anything I can do to help, and I mean anything, you just have to ask. I’ll never forget all the good times and memories we shared, the beach parties and staying over at your house. Oh, Jack. I miss her so much.’ Tears welled in the girl’s eyes and she flapped a hand in front of her face as if that would somehow control them, as Jack put a comforting arm around her.
Lila managed to resist rolling her eyes, noting a little bitchily that none of the tears actually fell. She didn’t doubt that Jessica missed her friend, but suspected the over theatrics were purely for Jack’s attention.
‘Actually, there is something you can do to help.’
Jessica glanced at Lila as if she was a bug she’d just wiped off her shoe; her eyes suddenly dry and filled with annoyance at having her moment interrupted. ‘There is?’
It wasn’t Lila’s place to ask, but Jack had had no luck with the headmistress. Lila couldn’t leave without at least trying to get him answers.
‘We need information about someone at the school. A teacher.’ Jack shot Lila a look, warning her to tread carefully. Obviously he didn’t want everyone finding out about what had happened to Stephanie. Lila got that. ‘Before Stephanie died, she mentioned there was someone selling exam answers.’
‘She did?’ Jessica’s tone turned wary as she cautiously looked from Lila to Jack. ‘Is that why you’re here?’
‘Do you have any idea who she was talking about?’
‘No I don’t. No idea at all. Sorry.’
She was lying. Lila debated on whether to call her on it, didn’t have to as Jack spoke.
‘This is important, Jess, please. I promised Steph I would check it out. Now she’s gone I feel like I would be letting her down if I don’t.’
The girl wavered, reluctant to reveal what she knew, but seeming desperate to please Jack. And damn him if he didn’t pick up on that, played on it, stepping in close and personal, and fixing Jessica with a look that most women would find hard to resist as he lightly ran his fingers over the back of her hand. ‘Please, Jess. I need this. I miss her too, so much. You have to help me. You’re my only hope.’ His voice was no more than a silky whisper, but it broke her.
She caught hold of his hand, squeezing tightly. ‘I only know a little.’
‘Tell me.’
‘Steph was right. There’s this guy – they call him The Bishop – and he can help with test answers.’
‘Who is he?’
‘I’m sorry, I don’t know, Jack. I’ve only heard his name mentioned. He’s very careful not to be found out.’
‘But he has to be a teacher at this school, right? How many male teachers are there? You must have your suspicions who it is.’
Jessica shook her head. ‘I don’t think he’s at this school. I’ve heard he’s helped students over at King’s House in Cambridge too. If you want to get hold of him you have to go through the right source, but he won’t meet with you until he’s thoroughly checked you out, knows you’re genuine and not going to rat on him.’
‘So give me the name of the right source who can put me in touch with him.’
‘I’m sorry; it doesn’t work that way. If you want to get in touch with him you have to follow an Instagram page: Beat The Bishop–’
‘Beat The Bishop? Seriously?’
Jessica shot Lila a look, annoyed at the interruption, probably not even understanding what the saying meant.
‘Go on,’ Jack urged, narrowing his eyes at Lila when she added under her breath, ‘Classy.’
‘So you go on to the page and it’s full of movie pictures. There’s one from The Godfather and you have to like the post and comment, ‘I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.’
‘What then?’
‘Then you wait. The Bishop checks you out, makes sure you’re legit and if he thinks you are, he gets in touch. It’s all on his terms though and you have to pay. If he agrees to help you t
hen it’s not cheap.’
‘I know,’ Jack said tightly. ‘Listen, I want you to make contact with him for me.’
‘I can’t.’
‘Please, Jess. I just need you to make the initial contact.’
‘He won’t pick me, Jack.’ Jessica looked genuinely apologetic. ‘I’m a straight-A student and top of my class. He checks this stuff out. He’ll know I don’t need his help. I’m sorry.’
Although he seemed initially annoyed, the information Jessica had provided still gave plenty to think about, and Jack was in a brighter mood on the way back to Burnham than when he had left the headmistress’s office.
‘Thank God we ran into Jess,’ he told Lila as he pulled out of the long driveway and back onto the main road. ‘At least this wasn’t a completely wasted journey.’
‘Thank God she had a crush on you,’ Lila added dryly. ‘I don’t think we’d have gotten anything if you hadn’t flirted it out of her.’
Jack glanced in Lila’s direction, his sharp blue eyes not missing a beat. ‘You sound jealous.’
‘Ha, Not jealous. I was fascinated. You turned on the charm and she was putty in your hands. It worked. You were flirting with her though.’
‘I’ve known her since she was twelve. Steph used to sometimes bring her over for the weekend. And yes, she might have a crush, but she’s barely eighteen, still a kid. I don’t think of her that way.’ He was silent for a moment, before adding with a grin. ‘I would have charmed the pants off Mrs Crawford if I’d have thought it would get me answers.’
His comment made Lila giggle as she tried to imagine it. ‘I think you’d need to do more than flutter your baby blues at that lady. She was evil.’
‘The White Witch, Mrs Danvers and Nurse Ratched all rolled into one.’
Another moment of silence passed. Jack took one hand off the wheel, reached across and squeezed Lila’s hand. ‘Thanks for coming with me. I might have really lost it if you hadn’t been there.’