‘In an ideal world. But I can’t say.’ Mel takes in a long, slow breath. ‘By the way, there is one line of inquiry that you might be able to help with.’
‘Fire away.’
‘There’s a suggestion that Gemma may have been having an affair with one of her tutors. A member of staff.’
The chancellor looks shocked. She looks over at Amanda, then back at Melanie. ‘And do you have evidence of this, Inspector?’
‘No. But have there been rumours?’
‘I’ve heard nothing. Amanda? Are you aware of this?’
The press officer shakes her head.
‘Right. Well, we’ll need to quash that. Probably just tittle-tattle.’ The chancellor’s fiddling with the pearls around her neck.
‘Possibly. But we’ll need a list of all Gemma’s tutors for interviews. And if you do hear anything at all, you’ll be sure to let us know?’ Mel is staring at the chancellor now.
‘Of course.’
‘And that other list I asked for? Any staff sacked. Tribunals. Anyone who might hold a grudge.’
‘It’s in hand. Unfortunately, my head of people is in Meltona, would you believe.’
‘Oh goodness. The hurricane?’ Matthew widens his eyes. The chaos on Meltona island has been on the news for three days. So that’s why the list’s been slow to arrive.
‘She’s safe, thank God. They all got to higher ground. She managed to borrow some reporter’s satellite phone to contact family but all comms are down again. She doesn’t expect to be flown out for a few more days. But I’ve got other staff working on the list for you. By tomorrow, latest.’
‘Thank you. Though I’d really like to speak to your HR lead on Meltona if that’s at all possible. What’s her name?’
‘Molly Price.’
‘Right. We’ll try the comms our side but if she gets through again, would you ask her to ring me?’
‘Sure.’
‘And you mentioned student support. Can we run another check on whether Gemma was seeing anyone? A counsellor. Anything like that?’
‘That would be confidential.’ The chancellor is frowning.
‘In an attempted murder inquiry, I’m afraid nothing is confidential.’ Mel stands to signal the meeting’s over. ‘Right. Forensics are nearly finished on site. We’ll release the cathedral back to the authorities by tomorrow. And I look forward to your board’s decision.’ She doesn’t shake hands again, just heads to the door.
‘Of course. We meet at six p.m. I’ll email you straight afterwards.’
Matthew follows Mel but at the door she suddenly turns back. ‘Oh, by the way, I heard some rumblings of redundancies. Could we have that list too?’
Matthew suddenly understands why Mel’s so keen to speak to the HR lead.
The chancellor’s also standing. ‘All universities are up against it, financially. No secret there. We hope to use voluntary severance. There’s no list yet, Inspector. No decision. No disputes. We have a happy ship.’
Mel pauses and then smiles before leaving the room. Matthew follows and they’re careful to say nothing until safely out of the building. As Mel fires the central-locking key towards her car, she leans into the rear passenger door.
‘So what do you make of them? Our chancellor and our head of communications?’
‘Not sure. But they clearly disagree over the final ceremony.’
‘And what do you think, Matt? Have I called it wrong? Should I have played safe and advised cancellation?’
‘Like you said before, you can’t win either way.’
Mel opens her driver’s door. ‘Which gives me precisely four days to crack this case . . . with your help.’ She grins.
He tilts his head but is careful not to reply.
‘What’s your gut saying, Matt?’
He pauses to think but not for too long. That would defeat the object. ‘My gut’s saying it’s to do with the baby. We obviously can’t press for paternity tests while she’s in a coma. Legal nightmare. But we do need to find out who the father is.’
‘OK, Matt. I think I might agree with you. Meantime let’s go see Gemma’s dad. Find out why the hell he’s been lying to us, eh?’
CHAPTER 16
Lemon
The cot is assembled now and I’m pleased with it.
The curtains are up too – lemon, of course – and I have found a matching duvet. Lemon with little white elephants.
There’s still work to be done, so many boxes in the corner to be unpacked and sorted, but I feel it is all finally coming together and I like to come in here in the evening now and sit in the tall-backed chair. It feels so calm and special. Stops all the noise and the stress. All the questions in my head.