‘Have you spoken to the school?’ asked PC Dawes.
‘Of course I have!’
‘So they’re handling it.’
‘Yes...No! Not properly. Not in my opinion.’
‘Mrs Miller, these things really are best resolved in school. I would suggest you go back and talk to the head. Is it still going on?’
‘Well, yes, no, I mean Lara’s only just gone back.’
‘I understand these situations are hard, and it’s a very emotional time, but you need to know that Section 4A makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting language with the intention of causing someone else harassment, alarm or distress.’
‘Oh my God, are youserious?’
‘It can lead to a fine of up to five thousand pounds, acommunity service order, or potentially a prison sentence.’
‘This is a joke, right? What about the bloody threatening and insulting language Rosie has been using on Lara, who has beenharassed,alarmedandextremely distressed?’
‘Mrs Miller—’
‘No. You listen to me. What I don’t understand is that if an adult hits you, calls you names, threatens you, then you guys, the cops, are called. When it happens to children, it’s downgraded to “bullying”, when actually there’s your harassment right there, officer.’
PC Dawes waited for her to calm down, and in the silence, PC Hollie slurped his tea. PC Dawes then gave a small, sympathetic smile. ‘Look, I’ve had this with my kid. Got it in the neck at school from another boy. I just told him to walk away. It’s a good tactic.’
Nancy opened her mouth to explain how completely and utterly inadequate this suggestion was, but suddenly all her energy left her.
‘I’ll bear that in mind,’ she said quietly.
‘Stay away from that child and her parents,’ said PC Dawes kindly. ‘It won’t do you any good to get involved.’
I am involved, thought Nancy.How can I not be? I’m hermother.
He got up. ‘Thank you for your time. And the tea,’ he added, as PC Hollie placed his empty mug on the table.
As Nancy closed the door behind them, she rested her forehead on the wood in despair.
SEVENTY
Monday 18 January
Lorna had half thought about going to a bank out of the village to do her business, but it was impossible as Simon used the car for work and the village bus only left every hour to the town and every hour back and she just didn’t have that sort of time to spare.
She slowed as she neared the branch of HSBC then, checking no one she knew was around, she quickly tied up Cooper outside and slipped into the warmth of the building. A quick look around told her there was no one inside she knew and she also didn’t recognize the two cashiers. There was only one other person in front of her in the queue and then it was her turn. She’d already made an appointment online and as soon as she gave her name, she was escorted into one of the tiny customer rooms by Ross; his name badge informing her he was an account manager.
‘So you’re here to open a new savings account with us today?’ asked Ross once they were both sitting down.
‘That’s right,’ said Laura. ‘Easy access.’ She held her bag close to her side.
‘And you have all the relevant ID? We need two types: one photo, one with an address.’
‘I have my passport and the council tax bill,’ she said, taking them out of her bag and placing them on the desk Ross was sitting behind.
‘Fantastic. And what sort of deposit would you like to make?’
Laura thought of the notes held carefully in an envelope in her bag. Not too many, not enough to make people think Christmas fair takings were lower than usual. In fact, she’d worked extra hard to make sure the fair had raised more than in previous years, so no one would notice if not all of it ended up in the school safe. So you could argue the extra cash was all down to her anyway.
Ross was still waiting for an answer. She reached into her bag, pulled out the envelope and placed it on the table next to the identification documents.
