The Secretary by Zoe Lea

Author:Zoe Lea [Lea, Zoe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780349422664
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2019-06-03T23:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

Lisa wasn’t waiting for me. I’d done as she asked and made an appointment outside of school hours like all the other parents, but when I went I found her classroom locked. It had been a slow week, most of which I’d spent hiding in my office. There had been no announcement of Janine’s investigation by HMRC, no journalists or headlines in the local paper and, to be honest, I was a little disappointed. I knew things didn’t move at lightning speed, but I expected something. A rumour in the staffroom about Janine’s tutoring company at least. But Becca reported nothing.

Since the cupcake incident in the house, I’d taken to sleeping how we did that night, the bedroom door barricaded and the kitchen knife under my pillow. Sam in bed beside me. This was no time to be pedantic about him sleeping alone. I’d had no more texts, no more special deliveries of vile cupcakes, but it didn’t stop me from feeling unsafe. I hadn’t heard anything more from the police, but after learning what Janine did to Eve, how relentless she was, I found I was jumpy at everything. Everywhere had become a frightening place. I was waiting for her to do something next and it was driving me mad.

It was a good five minutes before Lisa arrived.

‘Right,’ she said, finally appearing along the corridor, ‘let’s get inside. I’ve had a terrible week, someone messed up the board so I’m all mixed up with my planning and, to make matters worse, I’ve been put down to volunteer with the residential trip.’ She fiddled with the keys. ‘I tried to tell John that it’s impossible for me to go that week, I have a friend’s wedding, but he insists my name is on the list.’ I suppressed a smile as she opened the door. ‘And now I have to lock up the classroom because we have a thief. Has Sam told you?’ She nodded. ‘Stickers were moved and my marking pen, my special red pen with a feather on top, has been stolen.’

‘Stolen?’ I asked, and glanced towards the children’s drawers at the back of the classroom. Toby was still off school, which meant the pen was still in his drawer, as yet unfound.

‘I know it’s only a little thing –’ she went to her desk ‘– but my mum bought it for me when I passed my teacher training so it’s quite sentimental. It wouldn’t be important to anyone else, which makes me think it’s a child.’

She stared at me, waiting for a response.

‘I’m taking it very seriously,’ she said, when I didn’t say anything. ‘I’ve asked them all but, so far, no one’s admitted it, so I’m not giving out any stickers until the thief comes forward.’

‘No stickers for any of them?’ I asked, and Lisa sat down, smoothing her skirt along her knees.

‘They all love the gold stickers,’ she said, ‘so I’m confident that the culprit will come forward soon. Until then, everyone suffers because of their selfish actions.

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