Read Online A Question of Identity by Anthea Fraser - Free Book Online Page A

she said. ‘Is Barnie free, by any chance?’
    â€˜Hi, Rona. Yes, no one’s with him as far as I know.’
    â€˜Then could you put me through, please?’
    â€˜Rona!’ The features editor’s voice boomed over the phone. ‘Great to hear from you! How are things?’
    â€˜A bit slow, to be honest, but I’m ploughing on.’
    â€˜Not ready to rejoin our ranks?’
    â€˜Not at the moment. Actually, I’m hoping to test your memory. Does the name Springfield Lodge ring any bells?’
    â€˜The hotel, you mean?’
    â€˜I was thinking more of its previous incarnation.’
    â€˜It’s had several, one of them being a private girls’ school.’
    â€˜That’s the one. Do you know anything about it?’
    â€˜Not really; it closed down years ago.’
    â€˜Any idea why?’
    â€˜Hey, Rona, what is this? Twenty questions?’
    â€˜Sorry! I’ve come across an old school photo dated 1951, and a member of staff has been rather spectacularly obliterated. I was wondering why.’
    â€˜If it belonged to one of the girls, it could be any reason, ranging from a sudden fit of pique to long-standing resentment or revenge for favouritism. Why, is it important?’
    â€˜It isn’t really, but some friends of Lindsey’s are curious.’
    â€˜So they turned to the Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency?’
    Rona laughed. ‘You know me – I can’t resist a challenge. What I was wondering, though, is if it’s possible to trace the photo­grapher on the off-chance that he still has the negative.
Chiltern Life
’s full of photos – I thought perhaps you could tell me which firms specialized in school photos.’
    â€˜That long ago? Have a heart! And as you’ll appreciate, everything’s changed since it went digital. Your best bet would be to try the
Gazette
; it could be the original’s in their archives, though it’s rather a long shot.’
    â€˜That’s an idea. Thanks, Barnie; if I decide to take it further – which, frankly, I doubt – I’ll do that.’
    â€˜In the meantime, when are we going to see you? Dinah could do with being cheered up; Mel’s baby’s not due for a couple of months, but she’s already starting to panic.’
    The Trents’ daughter Melissa lived in the States, and her last pregnancy had been difficult enough to warrant her mother flying out to be with her.
    â€˜Heavens, yes – I was forgetting. How is Mel?’
    â€˜She says she’s fine, but Dinah’s convinced that’s only to stop her worrying.’
    â€˜Surely Mitch would let you know of any problems?’
    â€˜Of course he would, but try telling Dinah!’
    â€˜Well, you must come over for a meal and we’ll take her mind off it. It’s some time since we saw you.’
    â€˜Now you’re embarrassing me! I wasn’t fishing for an invite, honest!’
    â€˜It’s well overdue, what with everything that’s been going on. I’ll have a word with Max and come back to you.’
    Only as she rang off did Rona realize that she, too, had come up against a brick wall in her enquiries about Springfield Lodge.
    Jenny Bishop stood at the kitchen sink, staring blindly out of the window. Daniel would be home within the hour, and God knows what she could say to him. Catherine must have told him of Paul’s phone call, and when he’d rung midweek she’d been ready with counter-accusations. But he’d failed to mention it, leaving her limp with relief.
    Though maybe, she thought now, he preferred to wait till they were face-to-face? The coldness inside her intensified.
How
had this happened? She loved Daniel – of course she did – but these days it seemed she hardly saw him. Even when not away, he was seldom home before seven, and by the time she’d settled Alice and they’d eaten it was time for bed.