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‘What?’ says Mina.
‘How?’ says Lydia.
I shake my head.
And then Tristan comes out of the school, looks both ways, hurries down the steps, and I push Lydia so I can get out and run over. ‘Tris? What happened?’
His eyes are still wide and vague. He waves a hand, looking past me. ‘Stay in the car,’ he says to Mina and Lydia, and they do what they’re told. He pulls me over to the fountain. Blood runs in a ribbon down his neck, staining his white shirt.
‘Tris,’ I say, trying to get a closer look at his cheek, but he rears away.
‘Miss Smith – she attacked me.’
‘What?’
‘We were… We were getting along fine. And then she lashed out.’
‘She what?’
He shakes his head. ‘I don’t know. She pulled me and I pushed back and she fell.’ He puts his head between his knees and blood drips onto the gravel.
‘I don’t think you should sit like that,’ I say, and I haul him up and sit with my arm around him. ‘Where’s Mother?’
‘What?’
‘Where’s Mother?’
He looks at me, thinking. ‘She went in to check on Miss Smith.’
‘Check on her?’
He shakes his head. ‘I don’t know.’
My stomach drops.
He whispers something.
‘What?’
He looks right at me. ‘I think she’s dead, Frankie.’
54
NOW
The policeman comes back in with coffee for me and sets it down. I take a sip. It’s too hot.
‘Please go on,’ he says.
I squeeze my eyes shut and let the story flow out of me.
Mother rushes out, checking side to side. We’re still alone. I’m by the fountain. Mina and Lydia are still sitting dutifully in the car. We’ve been here for ages. The boarders must’ve finished their dinner by now and gone back to their halls. The canteen staff will be leaving soon.
‘Okay, I’ve done it,’ she says.
‘Done what?’ I ask.
She rubs her hands down the front of her trousers. She scowls at me. ‘I called Eakin – the police. He’s on his way. And an ambulance.’
