I hesitate, but then I decide that it would be best to tell her the truth. “I saw the papers and knew they were for our maths exam. Which Henry would be doing too. And I was scared he’d just hand in another blank sheet of paper and fail it. I took photos of the questions.”
“Did Mr.Ward catch you?”
“No. I’d been out of his office for ages, waiting in the corridor when he came round the corner.”
“Because he wanted to give you time to fall into his trap,” adds Sinclair.
“Anyway, I told Henry about it. We argued. I deleted the photos. But he had them on his phone too. Because I sent them to him... Yesterday I was called to Mrs.Sinclair’s office because Mr.Ward told her I’d cheated. He couldn’t prove it, but then Henry came along and showed them the photos on his phone. He said it had been him.”
“What?” Grace’s voice is shrill now. “But why would he do that?”
To protect me. I don’t say a word, but she looks at me andI’m sure she understands. Because she’s known Henry so long and knows that he’d do anything to keep others out of trouble.
“Fine.” Grace puts her tray on our table and pulls out her phone. She scrolls for a few seconds, then holds it out to me. Tori and Sinclair jump up and lean in as I start the video. There’s a selfie of Grace and Olive, then a shot of the hallway, and another view out of a window into the courtyard. In the background, you can hear the usual jumble of voices at break time. Laughter, snatches of conversation. I turn up the volume and hold my breath. Yes. It’s not very clear, but it’s Mr.Ward’s voice.
Kindly come to my office next Wednesday at five... Do you know where that is? Room 2350 in the old building.
I exchange glances with Grace, then hear my own voice repeating the room number, a “Yes” from Mr. Ward, and then the video ends.
“He really did say it,” Tori murmurs, looking at me. “That was no mistake, was it?”
“Absolutely not,” declares Sinclair.
“But why would he do that? Has he got it in for you?” Grace asks. I feel three pairs of eyes on me. Yes, but why? Because he wants me gone. Because since my very first lesson with him, there’s been something about him that makes me nervous. Because I finally have to know the truth.
The others stare at me as I get up.
“I have to make a quick call.”
My fingers are sweaty as I dial the number I’d never wanted to call. But I do, and I’m almost surprised that he picks up right away. And that he agrees to meet me this same afternoon in a café in Edinburgh.
Mum’s eyes bore through me as she gets out of the taxi that brought her from the airport to the school. To my surprise, she gives me a hug.
“What on earth were you thinking?” she asks.
I shut my eyes. “I only wanted to help,” I whisper. My chest feels too tight to breathe. I’ve achieved the exact opposite. Henry’s been suspended and is now with his brother in St. Andrews.
“I honestly thought you had more sense,” Mum says as the taxi turns. “Photographing exam papers... God, Emma.”
“I know.” I clench my fists. “It was wrong and I’m sorry. But it might never have happened if you’d told me the truth from the start.” When Mum hesitates, I know I’m on to something. “Mr.Ward didn’t get me to go into that office by chance. One of my friends has a video of him telling me the room number, so I’ve got proof. But he says he didn’t. He wanted me to find those exam papers.”
Mum keeps looking at me.
“Why would he do that, Mum?” I don’t want to talk to her like this. But I have to know what this is all about. “Why have I had the feeling—since my very first day here—that he wants to see the back of me as soon as possible?”
“Emma, this is all very—”
“Complicated, I know. But it’s more than just something between you, Dad, and him now. Henry’s been suspended. For my sake. Because he’s an idiot and took the blame and I couldn’t prove it wasn’t him. That’s why I need the truth. So he can come back and finish his A levels.” Furious tears sting my eyes. “We’remeeting Dad at twelve in the Saint Giles in Edinburgh. You two can tell me everything there.”
He’s already there when I open the door, and he stands up as we walk toward him. I can see the surprise on his face as he recognizes Mum.
“Hi,” I say, sitting down. “Thanks for coming at such short notice.”
“Not a problem,” says my dad. His eyes are on Mum. I’m not sure when they last saw each other. I only know that Mum doesn’t look half as shaken as I’d feared. I may be confronting her with her past but, at this moment, I understand she’s built a new life and he can’t hurt her anymore.
“Hello, Jacob,” she says calmly as she sits down.
“Laura.” He clears his throat and sits too. “I didn’t know you were—”
