She shook her head. ‘No, but once she’d said whatever it was that she had to say, he gripped her arm and she cried out a little in pain. She then shook him off and walked away.’
‘Where were you when all this was happening?’
‘Just about to turn onto that corridor. When I have a free period, sometimes I use the gym equipment. When I saw them I stopped and waited. I didn’t want him to see me. I’d spent so long avoiding him, it was like second nature. I peered around the corner and they were too busy in their own world to notice me. I don’t go around spying on people. I came across them, that’s all.’
‘Do you know her husband?’
‘No. I’ve only ever seen photos of him on Facebook.’
‘Is there anything else you can tell us?’
Wyre scribbled away, filling the silent moment with pen scraping on paper.
‘Only that something’s definitely not right with Tom. If you want to look into someone, look into him. The way he treated me, I’m sure there will be others in his past. He shouldn’t be working in a school.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘There will be no one manning reception in exactly five minutes. I’m really sorry but I have to get back.’
Gina stretched her legs under the table. They would visit Tom Whittle next.
As Miriam led them out, Gina stopped. ‘Miriam, if you do hear anything or you think of anything else later, please call me.’ She passed her card to the woman. ‘It can sometimes be the smallest of things that lead to the biggest of breaks. Like you, all we want is to find Annabel and bring her home safely.’
Miriam took the card with a smile. ‘I will do.’ As they went to turn the corner, Miriam almost bumped into a pupil. ‘Omar, you should be in class. Your absence in maths class has been noted. Where have you been?’
‘I, err…’ The dark-haired boy began to fiddle with the strap on his rucksack. Gina wondered how much he had heard.
‘You were what? Didn’t you think that I or Ms Law would notice your absence?’
He looked up at Gina, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to answer Miriam.
‘Omar.’
‘Sorry, miss. I fell off my bike.’
Miriam looked him up and down. ‘You look okay. Do you need to get checked out at the sickbay?’
‘No, miss. It didn’t hurt. Can I just head to maths?’
‘Yes, I’m sure Ms Law will want a word with you. It’s not the first time you’ve been late. Such a promising student. Don’t ruin things. Okay?’
‘Okay, miss. I won’t. Thank you.’
‘Now go on before you fall behind.’
The boy hurried past her. Gina turned to see that the boy was also looking over his shoulder at her, then he ran. His gaze, although brief, had been so intense that it made Gina shiver slightly. ‘Who’s that?’
‘Omar Abidar. He’s a good kid really, just bunks off here and there. He’s one of Annabel’s prize students – gifted and talented. She keeps saying he’s destined for big things. If only he could knuckle down more and be on time. I’d hate for him to waste his potential.’
There was something in the way he looked at her that was still unnerving Gina now. Maybe he was worried around the police or maybe he knew something. He looked so skinny and childlike.
As they reached reception, Miriam smiled at the man behind the desk before he left her there.
‘Could you please write down Mr Whittle’s address?’
‘Certainly. It will be my pleasure.’ She tapped a few keys and noted down the address. ‘Here you go. I know he’ll have had something to do with her disappearance. Don’t be fooled by him. He’s an accomplished liar who takes what he wants.’
TWENTY-SIX
Omar
That was the police. Maybe they’ve been asking about me. Someone must have seen me hanging around by Annabel’s house. I run to the toilets and lean over the sink and I imagine the police saying,Omar, how well did you know Mrs Braddock? People have seen you hanging around her house and looking through her windows. And now she’s missing. What have you done to her?
