Morgan said, ‘We’re going to talk to the students first, and search Natasha and Cressida’s rooms. If, after speaking to the students, we haven’t any answers, then we’ll start a search of the grounds and go into the local village, the pub and talk to locals.’
‘Right,’ Grayson said, stroking his chin.
‘Unless you have any comments or recommendations, sir?’ Morgan asked.
‘No, no. I have full confidence in you. The superintendent told me you were her best. I’m sure you’ll track them down. They’re young. Probably went out for the evening and didn’t think of the pandemonium that would ensue when they didn’t turn up for their cornflakes this morning.’ His words were jovial, but his expression was tense.
He stood.
‘Right, I’ll let you get to work. Keep me updated,’ Grayson said.
‘I’ll find Mr Doyle and get the keys to Natasha and Cressida’s rooms,’ Morgan said, as Karen hung back.
‘Sir, I wanted to have a quick word if that’s possible?’ Karen asked Grayson when Morgan had left the room.
‘Of course. What is it?’
‘It’s actually nothing to do with this case. It’s about the internal investigation into DI Freeman’s corruption. You’re aware of it, sir.’
‘Yes,’ the chief constable said slowly, carefully. ‘I am aware of it, DS Hart.’
‘I’ve been trying to get an appointment to see you but it’s been nigh on impossible.’
‘I’ve been very busy. I believe you spoke to Assistant Chief Constable Fry.’
‘I did, sir. But I found it hard to convey how important this investigation is, not just to me personally but to the force. I don’t believe the corruption starts and ends with DI Freeman.’
‘I’m well aware of your thoughts, DS Hart. I believe you shared all this with the assistant chief constable a few weeks ago.’
‘I did, sir, but since then nothing has happened, and quite frankly, I’m losing hope in the system.’
‘The system is in place for a reason, DS Hart. The investigation is ongoing. There are two young women missing. If you can’t give this case your full attention, then perhaps I should ask the superintendent to assign another officer.’
Karen clenched her teeth and took a deep breath before replying. ‘That won’t be necessary, sir. I’ll give this investigation my whole focus. I just wanted to make sure that you hadn’t forgotten about it.’
‘Of course I haven’t forgotten. I’m hardly likely to forget a corruption investigation,’ he said in an annoyed whisper as he buttoned his coat.
After he left the room, Karen took a moment to collect her thoughts. That hadn’t gone well but perhaps it was her fault. She hadn’t chosen the best time to approach him.
Trying to push all thoughts of corruption aside, she headed out to find Morgan. Chief Constable Grayson was right – Natasha and Cressida deserved her full attention. As much as it pained her to admit it, Freeman and the corruption investigation would have to wait.
CHAPTER SIX
Karen found Morgan talking to Graham Doyle in the entrance hall. Doyle had a set of keys clutched in his hand.
‘Mr Doyle has the master set,’ Morgan explained as Karen approached. ‘He’s going to take us up to the rooms.’
‘Thank you,’ Karen said to Doyle, stepping back for him to lead the way.
Doyle gave a snooty sniff and strode across the entrance hall. They walked along the corridor, passing the drawing room and the closed door to Chidlow’s study, to the rear of the house where there was another large, sweeping staircase.
It was even darker there. The wood panelling covered every wall and the floor-length curtains let in very little light from the window in front of the stairs. Portraits of women in old-fashioned clothes were hung along the staircase.
As they began to climb the stairs, Karen asked, ‘Was this the set of stairs where Ethan saw Natasha and Cressida leaving last night?’
‘Yes, actually, it was,’ Doyle replied.
‘The teacher who fell from the roof . . .’ Karen began.
‘A very unfortunate incident.’
‘What’s your gut reaction? Do you think it was an accidental fall?’
Doyle paused before replying. ‘I really couldn’t say.’
The wood creaked beneath their feet as they continued in silence.
When they reached the first-floor landing, Doyle turned to Karen. ‘She didn’t seem depressed to me. There’ll be an inquest, I expect. One thing was a little odd, though.’
‘What was odd?’
‘Well, she didn’t like this house very much. Got a fancy into her head it was really haunted. Silly, I know.’ He smiled and shrugged, playing with the set of keys, passing them from hand to hand. ‘She said she’d heard noises.’
‘What kind of noises?’
‘I don’t know. I think she’d been spooked by the ghost stories.’
‘Ghost stories?’ Morgan asked.
‘Well, they say Chidlow House is haunted by the Drowned Lady, one of Lord Chidlow’s ancestors who drowned in the lake. All nonsense, of course, and I didn’t really think Alison, Miss King, was the flighty type. She was a good teacher. Obviously something had scared her. I wondered if she’d dreamed the noises. Perhaps she’d been sleepwalking when she fell from the roof.’
‘Did she have a history of sleepwalking?’
‘I don’t know. It’s pure speculation on my part.’
‘She fell at night and no one saw anything?’ Karen asked. She would need to follow this up and get the official incident report.
‘Yes. They think it happened at night, but no one saw or heard anything. She wasn’t found until the next morning, when the groundsman discovered her body on the patio. Thankfully I was able to stop the students seeing the body.’ He turned and pointed to the next set of stairs. ‘The boys sleep on the second floor, but Cressida and Natasha’s rooms are on this level.’
‘How many girls are there on the course?’ Morgan asked.
‘Six girls, and seven lads,’ Doyle said. ‘I’ve been fielding calls this morning. I’m sure all the parents are going to want to take their children home today, so if you want to speak to them, I suggest you do it pretty quick.’
‘I’d appreciate it if you would make sure that none of the students leave before we talk to them, please, Mr Doyle,’ Morgan said.
‘I’m not sure how I can stop the parents taking their own children home.’ Doyle sniffed.
‘Do your best. Tell them the police have asked the students to remain on the premises until after we’ve told them they can leave.’
Doyle sighed as though he had the weight of the world upon his shoulders. ‘I can’t believe this is happening. This course has been one disaster after another.’
He put a key in the lock of the first door they came to. ‘This is Natasha’s room.’
The room was small with a single bed pushed against the wall. The decor was similar to the rest of the house. The lower half of the wall was covered in wood panels; above it was a section wallpapered with a grey-and-white damask pattern, faded with age.