Read Online Dead of Winter by Elizabeth Corley - Free Book Online

playing as cover. Why would she risk leaving in daylight with people about? Given that she took nothing with her, we think she expected to be back in time for breakfast.’
    ‘Talking of which, why wasn’t she missed before eleven?’
    Bernstein walked over to the timeline on the board, annotated in neat black writing.
    ‘Tuesday morning: sixth-formers can have breakfast in their common room if they wish; they only need to go to the main dining room for a full English. The fact that she didn’t appear for a fry-up wasn’t unusual.’
    ‘But it says here the school curriculum starts at eight; why wasn’t she missed earlier?’
    She tapped the board.
    ‘The first period was revision. The girls are meant to spend it in the library or in one of the computer labs. In reality they hang out together in their common room. The second period was Classics. She didn’t show up but the teacher in charge merely noted the fact in his attendance record to report in due course.’
    ‘Is it normal for girls not to bother to show up for their classes?’
    ‘For girls, no; for Isabelle, yes.’
    ‘So she really could have been missing for over twelve hours before it was reported, as Saxby said.’
    ‘Exactly, and you can imagine what her parents think of that. Our investigation is being hampered by a certain lack of cooperation from the staff.’
    ‘Are they hiding something?’
    ‘More likely they’re trying to preserve their reputation and avoid being sued.’
    ‘So what I heard from the bursar, about not telling Isabelle’s parents anything on your instructions …?’
    ‘Was a load of bollocks. Of course we’ve said not to talk to the press or anyone outside the investigation but that doesn’t include the girl’s parents!’
    ‘Discipline here is meant to be strict, isn’t it?’
    ‘I don’t know who told you that but it’s not true. According to the blurb on their website the teaching style demands a lot from pupils but it’s balanced by giving them responsibility for their own conduct. By sixth form, provided the girls maintain their grades, they’re trusted to behave as adults. I didn’t really believe it – thought it was PR baloney – so I talked to a friend of mine at Oxford University about the girls they admit from St Anne’s and she told me they’re among the most mature they see.’
    ‘It’s a system ripe for exploitation if you’re bright, though.’
    ‘Exactly, and I think the headmistress has just woken up to the fact.’
    ‘When can I see her?’
    ‘She isn’t here. She was at a conference in Edinburgh and started back yesterday but her flight was cancelled because of snow. Then her train broke down north of Leeds. She spent the night in a village hall and is on her way back now, which is why the bursar was despatched to deal with Saxby. A couple of Isabelle’s teachers are interesting, though. After you’re briefed you might want to talk to the art mistress. She seems to understand Isabelle better than most. You’ll find her in the stable block.’
    Fenwick spent the next hour with Bazza Holland and then readthe key witness statements. It was clear that Bernstein was running the investigation by the book and what she might lack in personal warmth she more than made up for in efficiency. Fenwick’s only suggestion was to check out every railway station around St Anne’s in case Isabelle had disappeared to somewhere like London or Brighton and had avoided the local stop. Bernstein saw the logic and added the task to her list.
    On his way to find the art teacher Fenwick paused to drink the coffee that had been left on his desk. It was cold and bitter, undrinkable even for him. Despite his body protesting he left without his fix.
    The air outside was so cold it hurt to breathe. A chill mist blanketed the school grounds, reducing trees and shrubs to shadows that loomed like a besieging army. His ears started to hurt in the short time it took him to walk from the main entrance towards