For a summary of what's happened, please see author notes.

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3rd September 2023

Rachel’s left me at home again today. At least it seems she’s beginning to trust me. If she still thought I was speaking to Lucie, there’s no way she would be leaving me on my own. I didn’t question her about what she spoke to Daniel about. I pull out my phone. Lucie hasn’t been in touch since we met Ruth the other day. Part of me wishes I could go with Ruth to speak to people. She might not ask the questions I’ll be able to think of, that’ll help drive the investigation forward. The police certainly wouldn’t have thought to ask them.

I shake my head. Sod it; I can’t be done with this waiting. It’s driving me mad. I dive into the hallway, pick up my car keys from the console table, and head outside, the bright sunlight temporarily blinding me. The school where Susannah worked is about a fifteen minute drive from here. At the time of her murder, it was the centre of media activity, as it was the last place where she was seen alive. Up until now, there’s been nothing that’s prompted me to want to go and visit it, but after what Ruth said to me the other day; I need to find out more. Perhaps there might be someone there who I can talk to.

My heart beats against my chest as I near the school. I park in a similar position to where Joshua must’ve parked on the day he went to meet her. The autumn term doesn’t actually start until next week, so at least there’ll be no kids around. I get out of the car. The street seems too quiet. On the other side of the road, a middle aged woman walks a golden retriever; her focus is on her phone, at least she hasn’t noticed me.

I try to picture this scene a year ago, Joshua sitting here, getting more and more frustrated in the car as he waited for Susannah. What would I have done if I’d been in his position? I scan the area and begin to walk up to the school, my heart rate increasing. I’m walking the exact route Joshua took a year ago before his life fell apart. What was going through his mind?

I stop at the gates and peer through. The grounds inside the school are empty, of course they would be. I clasp my hand around the metal gates. Something was going on with Susannah in the days before her murder, something Joshua wasn’t aware of. I try to picture her, leaving the building in a hurry. Where was she going? Who did she meet?  

‘Can I help you?’

I blink rapidly. A dark haired woman wearing a purple dress has stepped out of the main door of the school. She’s staring right at me, there’s a phone in her hand; her eyes are wide. Shit, she must’ve seen me on CCTV. I stumble back.

‘I . . . I,’ I say. I can’t get the words to form on my tongue.

‘You do realise this is private property,’ she says, taking a step further.

I compose myself. ‘I’m sorry, I’m Joshua Hall’s mother; I know Susannah worked here a year ago before she was killed. Please I’d just like to speak to you about her.’

The woman glares at me. ‘You’re the one who sent the journalist round.’ This must be the person who Ruth said didn’t want to speak to her.

Ruth’s face fills my mind. ‘My son is innocent. Something was going on with Susannah before she was killed, whatever it was; it might reveal who killed her. Please, you have to help me.’

‘If you don’t leave now, I’m going to call the police,’ she says. She’s halfway across the car park now.

‘I’m sorry, I.’ Tears begin to fill my eyes. She’s making a call on her phone now I can see. ‘Don’t worry, I’m leaving.’

I sprint back to my car. Sweat patches are forming on my arms. Before I slip into my seat, I glance back towards the school. She hasn’t come out onto the street. The gates haven’t opened, she’s still standing in the car park; her phone is clamped to her ear. No, she can’t be calling them.

I twist my key into the car engine, swing my car out of its parking space and onto the road.

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Characters:

Stacey (mother of Joshua) 

Lucie (foreman of the jury)

Joshua (Stacey's son)

Susannah (murder victim) 

Rachel (Stacey's daughter)

Daniel (Stacey's ex-husband) 

Ruth (journalist) 

DI Dominic Hitchens (lead detective)