Final Term by Leigh Russell

Author:Leigh Russell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oldcastle Books
Published: 2022-10-31T10:16:59+00:00

32

Geraldine would have welcomed a break. Talking to the press was exhausting, constantly having to watch every word she said and then fending off questions designed to trip her into revealing more than she should. But this was a good opportunity to speak to Mrs Robinson in an apparently informal way.

‘Mrs Robinson, we’d like to have a word with you while you’re here,’ she said, once the press briefing was over. ‘It will only take a few minutes. If you could accompany me to an interview room, we won’t keep you long.’

‘Is this really necessary?’ Mr Robinson interjected. He seemed put out when it became clear that Geraldine wanted to talk to his wife on her own. ‘We’re tired and we’d really like to go home now,’ he said. ‘This has been very emotional for my wife and I don’t think she wants to be questioned right now.’

‘Surely you want to co-operate with the investigation?’

Mr Robinson shrugged. He could hardly refuse Geraldine’s request after a remark like that.

‘PC Nash will look after you,’ Geraldine told him.

He scowled at her. ‘You mean he’s watching me? In case I run off without her, is it?’

Geraldine repeated that it wouldn’t take long.

‘I suppose I don’t have any choice, do I?’ Mrs Robinson said, loudly enough for her husband to hear.

Geraldine led her away to an interview room, keen to hear what she had to say when her husband wasn’t in earshot.

‘You had something to say about Cassie?’ she asked when they were both seated.

Mrs Robinson muttered something about Cassie Jackson being a tart. ‘I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but that girl was trouble and she led our Ella astray. If you ask me, Ella would still be alive if it wasn’t for that girl.’ She began to weep softly. ‘I’m sorry,’ she muttered after a few minutes, blowing her nose noisily on a tissue. ‘Please, go on. I’ll try to answer if I can.’

‘In what way did Cassie cause trouble?’ Geraldine pressed on. ‘Did she encourage Ella to take drugs? Or to drink?’

‘It was nothing like that, although I dare say there was drink and drugs involved. No, the trouble with Cassie was that she was obsessed with sex. Ella never showed any interest in boys until Cassie latched on to her. Then all at once everything changed. And I do mean everything. Ella was like a different child. Cassie was a slut, plain and simple. She ran after boys. Couldn’t get enough of them. And she encouraged Ella to do the same, with cheap lipstick and short skirts. It was all done for attention. But Ella never wanted that kind of attention until she fell in with Cassie.’

‘Are you sure it was all due to Cassie’s influence?’

‘Oh yes. I heard Ella talking to her on the phone, and I’ve got eyes in my head. I could see how Ella changed once she was friends with Cassie. She was like a different girl, all skimpy clothes and make-up and staying out to all hours.

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