Judy decides that the best use of her first day in lockdown would be to follow up on one of Liz抯 suicide cold cases. She starts, as they always do these days, with Facebook. There are no results for Rosanna Leigh or Celia Dunne. Either their pages were closed when they died, or they are in the minority of people who are not on the social networking site. Even Judy has a profile, although she hasn抰 posted in five years. Cathbad doesn抰 have a personal page but he does have one for his yoga teaching. Miranda is already asking to join and lots of Michael抯 friends are already there, despite the age limit. Maddie has hundreds of Facebook and Instagram friends who all post identical pouting pictures of themselves. Clough posts pictures of his dog and his children. Tanya shares fitness tips. Almost the only people Judy knows who aren抰 on Facebook are Ruth and Nelson. Perhaps they have more in common than they realise.
Karen Head does have a page though. Her family have kept it open as a memorial to her. Judy supposes it抯 a new kind of immortality but it抯 still disconcerting to see Karen抯 smiling face looking out at her. Judy scrolls through the messages.
Rest in peace angel.
Sleep well Kaz sweetheart.
Can抰 believe you are gone.
We love you Miss Head.
This last reminds Judy that Karen was a teacher. She makes a note to talk to the school. Presumably, even if schools are closed, there is someone to take messages? Michael and Miranda抯 school is still open for the children of key workers, which presumably includes Judy. She抯 not going to suggest that they go to school, though, when she knows that they抣l have a wonderful time being educated by Cathbad. As if prompted by an otherworldly power, her phone buzzes. Maddie.
慔i, Judy. You busy??
慛ot really. It all feels very surreal.?
慖 know. The streets are deserted. You could have a picnic in the middle of the A149.?
慞lease don抰。？
慖 won抰。 I popped in to see Cathbad and he was doing yoga with the kids in the garden.?
Judy can imagine the scene. It makes her wish that she was at home and not in this weird socially distanced workspace.
慖 was wondering,?says Maddie. 慍ould I come and stay with you for a bit? Just while we抮e in lockdown. The lease is almost up on the flat.?
慜f course,?says Judy. 慪our room is waiting for you.?
慖 can help Cathbad with the home-schooling.?Maddie always calls her father by his name, or rather by his alias.
慖t would be good if you could remind him to do some,?says Judy.
Judy抯 hunch is correct. Karen抯 school, Gaywood Juniors, is still open and the headteacher himself answers the phone. 慪es, we抳e got about fifty children here,?says Richard Parsons, 憇ome of them very vulnerable. It抯 been a nightmare making everything Covid-safe.?
慖t抯 the same here at the police station,?says Judy. 慣hough I suppose it must be harder making children stay two metres apart.?
慖t抯 impossible,?says Richard. 慉nd it抯 difficult for teachers too. Some of them are shielding or looking after elderly 璸arents. I抦 having to live apart from my family because my youngest has asthma.?
They talk for several minutes before Judy can mention Karen. Richard抯 voice changes immediately. 慞oor Karen. That was such a shock. She was a lovely woman and a great teacher.?
慪ou say it was a shock,?says Judy. 慏id you have any idea that she was depressed or having suicidal thoughts??
慛one at all,?says Richard. 慖 knew she抎 been hit hard by her divorce, but she seemed on good terms with her ex and was devoted to her daughter. Karen was always such a sunny presence around the school, organising get-togethers and what have you. She even got us to have a sponsored slim last year. I lost two stone. I抳e put it all on again since though.?
慘aren was at a staff get-together the night before she died, wasn抰 she??