The Sculptress by Minette Walters

Author:Minette Walters [Walters, Minette]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK

Eleven

THE OFFICER ON the gate checked Roz’s name against his list the following Monday, then picked up the telephone. ‘The Governor wants to see you,’ he said, dialling a number.

‘What for?’

‘I wouldn’t know, miss.’ He spoke into the telephone. ‘Miss Leigh’s here for Martin. There’s a note that she’s to see the Governor first. Yes. Will do.’ He pointed with his pencil. ‘Straight through the first set of gates and you’ll be met the other side.’

It was horribly reminiscent of being hauled before the headmistress at school, thought Roz, waiting nervously in the secretary’s office. She was trying to remember if she’d broken any rule. Bring nothing in and take nothing out. Don’t pass messages. But she had done that, of course, when she spoke to Crew about the will. The slimy little toad must have ratted on her!

‘You can go in now,’ the secretary told her.

The Governor gestured towards a chair. ‘Sit down, Miss Leigh.’

Roz lowered herself into the easy chair, hoping she looked less guilty than she felt. ‘I wasn’t expecting to see you.’

‘No.’ She studied Roz for a moment or two, then seemed to reach a decision. ‘There’s no point beating about the bush. Olive has had her privileges suspended and we think you may be the indirect cause of the suspension. According to the log-book you didn’t come in last week, and I’m told Olive was very upset about it. Three days later she destroyed her cell and had to be sedated.’ She saw Roz’s surprise. ‘She’s been very volatile ever since and, under the circumstances, I am not happy about letting you back in. I think it’s something I need to discuss with the Home Office.’

God! Poor old Olive! Why on earth didn’t I have the sense to phone? Roz folded her hands in her lap and collected her thoughts rapidly. ‘If it was three days before she did anything, what makes you think it was because of my not turning up? Did she say it was?’

‘No, but we’re stumped for any other explanation and I’m not prepared to risk your safety.’

Roz mulled this over for a moment or two. ‘Let’s assume for a moment you’re right – though I should emphasize that I don’t think you are – then if I don’t show up again won’t that distress her even more?’ She leaned forward. ‘Either way it would be more sensible to let me talk to her. If it was to do with my nonappearance then I can reassure her and calm her down; if it wasn’t, then I see no reason why I should be punished with Home Office delays and wasted journeys when I haven’t contributed to Olive’s disturbance.’

The Governor gave a slight smile. ‘You’re very confident.’

‘I’ve no reason not to be.’

It was the Governor’s turn to reflect. She studied Roz in silence for some time. ‘Let’s be clear,’ she said finally, ‘about what sort of woman Olive really is.’ She tapped her pencil on the desk. ‘I told you when you first came here that there was no psychiatric evidence of psychopathy.

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