Page 68 of Don't Tell Teacher

Grumpy footsteps pound the stairs.

‘There’s medicine missing,’ I tell him, as he reaches the bottom step.

‘I didn’t—’

‘Don’t lie to me Tom!’

He freezes.

‘Tell me the truth right now,’ I demand. ‘Or there’ll be trouble. Big trouble.’

Tom won’t look at me.

‘Why?Whydid you take it?’

‘I didn’t take it.’ Tom turns on the staircase. ‘I’m tired. I’m going to lie down.’

‘Tom.’

‘I just need to sleep.’

I want to grab him. Shout until he tells me everything.

But of course, I can’t.

I feel powerless, watching him trudge up the stairs to bed.

But I’m not powerless. Not any more. I don’t have to just sit back and take this. Not like I did with Olly.

I grab my phone, searching my contacts for Steelfield School.

I want to speak with Tom’s teacher, Mrs Dudley. I need answers.

Today.

Kate

8.13 p.m.

Tessa is annoyed with me. She hasn’t said so explicitly, but every time she passes my desk, she huffs like an angry rhino.

I can imagine her inner monologue:I told her not to do that school visit. She’s far too behind on her paperwork. We’re already overwhelmed …

‘What are you doing now, Kate?’ Tessa is behind me suddenly, frothy cappuccino in hand. ‘Not wasting time messing around on the Internet, surely?’

‘Looking up incidents of self-harm in children,’ I say. ‘Just getting an idea of frequency and presentation.’

‘You think Tom Kinnock’s been poking himself with needles?’

‘I’m considering every possibility.’

‘Oh, you’ll never get that Tom Kinnock file straight now. There’ll always be a black mark over it with the paediatrician’s report missing. Tom Kinnock needs to be tucked away in a back drawer somewhere and you need to get the Neilsons in order.’

‘The boy had possibleinjection marks, Tessa,’ I say. ‘I’m not tucking him away anywhere.’

That silences Tessa for a moment, which is a rarity. Then her face turns smug and she waves a finger. ‘But that’s never been proved by a doctor, has it? It could be sewing-needle marks for all you know.’

‘It’s more than just the marks. Tom’s been late to school a few times. And he’s tired. He’s fallen asleep in class before.’

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