I wait a moment as she types away at her keyboard. I am banking on there being no information about parents’ marital status. I know that it was not something they asked for on the application forms.
‘We certainly won’t break any confidences,’ says the woman’s low and sympathetic voice.
‘I’ve had to change my contact details. My husband’s not behaving well, and it’s for the children’s safety.’ I put a little touch of desperation into my tone for good measure.
‘Of course. Shall I put you in touch with our safeguarding lead?’
‘I’ve done that already, but thank you. I just want to make sure that he doesn’t get any letters or communication. He even stole my email password, you know.’
‘Gosh, how awful for you,’ she says in a breathy whisper.
‘Well, you know how some men are, don’t you? Charming for a while, then simply beastly.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ she says, sounding entirely genuine, which is nice. It’s a horrible feeling when you fake bad news and people are unsympathetic.
‘Firstly, can you update our address. It’s 44 Ennerdale Avenue. Eleanor will be with me in my new address,’ I say.
‘Yes, of course. I’ve put that in the database now.’
‘And please delete my previous address. I don’t want any mistakes.’
‘Of course, it’s your data, you’ve got a right to say what we keep. Anything else?’
‘Well, as I say, the email you have is compromised. Can you delete it and put my new email in?’
‘Of course, no problem.’
I give her my email, which is one of my pseudonyms that I use for online accounts.
‘There, that’s all done for you.’
‘Thank you, that’s so kind. I can’t tell you how helpful you’ve been,’ I say.
‘We’re here to help,’ she says.
‘Oh, I nearly forgot. Eleanor won’t be using her father’s surname. She’s going to take a different name so she can’t be found.’
‘Oh, this does sound awful. Right, let’s get this set up. What would her surname be?’
‘Rook. She’ll be known as Eleanor Rook.’
‘No problem at all, I can change this right now. I know how difficult these things must be.’
‘And can you also note that she prefers the name Nelly to Eleanor.’
‘Of course, no problem. That’s all changed for you.’
‘So pleased, and do please keep these changes private. He’s a violent man and I would hate for any indiscretion to put my daughter at risk.’
‘Fully understood,’ she says.
I put the phone down and smile. Of course, there’s a residual chance that someone will recognize Nelly and ask questions but, as Adams has over a thousand applications, I think this is a small risk worth taking. Anyway, I plan a new haircut for Nelly before September, so that should confuse any curious minds.
It’s only Mrs Pembury I’m concerned about – she wouldremember Nelly, I’m sure – but her absence from school suggests that the evidence of financial impropriety that I’ve sent to her governing body has had the desired impact.
It was quite simple really once I had her bank account details (purloined from a bank statement found in her recycling bin). No one is concerned about security when you’re putting money into an account, and I just transferred three separate payments to her using a new Bitcoin account. I sent copies of these payments, and of three anonymous emails of thanks for her generous support, along with a letter accusing Mrs Pembury of taking bribes for school places, to the chair of trustees, along with a suggestion that they talk to her PA about any cash changing hands.
Of course, Mrs Pembury would deny it all, but evidence speaks volumes and schools hate scandals. She would have deleted the anonymous emails, of course, but they’ll be in the system, and once they initiate a search, well, it’ll look rather like a cover-up.
