16
There’s a note in my pigeonhole when I get to school that morning. It’s from Mike, the headmaster.
Can you come and see me, please?
It’s unusual for Mike to leave a note. Actually, I don’t think he’s ever done it before. Normally, if he has something to tell me, he would drop by class at break. I wonder what… And then I remember.
Mrs Ashford-Wells.
I completely forgot about her letter.
I still have a few minutes before class starts, so I stop by his office. ‘I’m so sorry,’ I say from the doorway.
‘Sit down, Kate. What are you sorry about?’
I like Mike. He’s got a ‘bonhomie’ about him – a cheerfulness mixed with kindness. Everybody loves him, even the children.
I check my watch before sitting down. ‘Mrs Ashford-Wells. Isn’t that why we’re here?’
He scratches his bald spot. ‘Yes. It seems Diana is at it again. I got a barrage of emails and a call this morning?—’
‘I’m really sorry – I didn’t get a chance to reply.’
‘Kate, please. That’s why I asked you here. She told me that she left you a letter? At your house?’
I nod. ‘It was pinned to the door when I got home. I should have replied. I’m so sorry.’But I’ve got a dead body in my freezer and this weird woman staying in my house. It focuses the mind on all the wrong things.‘How did she know where I live?’ I ask.
‘That’s what I asked. Apparently, Penny Henry told her. I understand Caroline has been to your house once?’
‘Yes, that’s right.’ But I’m astonished. Are parents exchanging teachers’ addresses that they learn through their children?
‘I want to apologise,’ he says. ‘It’s completely unacceptable, and I’ve had very stern words with Mrs Ashford-Wells. I’ve made it clear that we don’t condone parents visiting teachers at their homes. I’ve asked her not to do it again.’
I let out a breath. ‘Thank you,’ I say.
‘And I don’t expect you to reply on a weekend, but if you have some time today…?’
‘Absolutely. I’ll do it at lunchtime.’
‘I appreciate that. Do you need help with the response?’
I get up. ‘I’ll repeat what we said before. That Gregory is not ready.’
‘Perfect. Thank you. Let me know if she contacts you again.’
‘Thank you, Mike. I will.’
I spend the day on autopilot, sending a brief email to Mrs Ashford-Wells at lunchtime. On the way home, I pick up the ingredients Teri asked me to get for her dinner this evening. I also drop by the hardware store and ask for advice on how I could lock an old freezer. ‘So it’s childproof,’ I say, as if I had a gaggle of children running through the house trying to climb in it.
A part of me thinks it’s a complete waste of time since Teri won’t be here that long, and God knows I have no intention of keeping Max in there any longer than I have to, but the idea that I have anopenfreezer, for Christ’s sake, with adead bodyin it,accessible by anyone, is giving me hives.
The young man is very helpful. He sells me a metal hasp and staple, some kind of latch with a loop for a padlock.
‘How would I attach it?’ I ask.
‘With this.’ He shows me a drill.
I pay cash, shove it all to the bottom of my Waitrose bag and leave.
