edge of annoyance.
Brady took out the photograph he had and handed it to Ellison.
Ellison looked at it and then at Brady.
Something about the photo bothered Brady.
And it was clear that it also bothered Ellison.
‘What exactly are you suggesting?’ Ellison asked.
Brady shrugged.
Ellison’s face muscles tensed up as he tried to figure out what to say next.
‘Look, I can’t help it if my students develop crushes on me. It sort of goes with the territory … You know …?’ Ellison reasoned arrogantly.
‘I’m sure it does, sir,’ Brady cynically replied.
‘I don’t know what you’re trying to imply, DI Brady,’ Ellison repeated, as he dismissively handed the photograph back to Brady.
Brady noticed that Ellison’s hand was trembling slightly. It seemed the photograph had triggered a nerve.
‘I’m implying nothing, sir,’ answered Brady.
‘Most of the girls on that trip had a photo taken with me. You know what teenage girls are like? They’re full of bravado,’ Ellison said.
‘But it wasn’t bravado, was it? It was full-blown sex. Bit of a difference wouldn’t you say?’
Jenkins suddenly cleared her throat.
Startled, Ellison looked at her.
‘Do you mind if I ask a couple more questions?’ Jenkins said, disarming Ellison with a seductive smile.
Brady looked at her. Ellison may have tried to make out he was an innocent teacher in all of this, but soon Jenkins was going to have him firmly by the balls.
‘You see, I did some research on you,’ began Jenkins slowly.
Ellison’s face dropped.
Brady realised that Ellison had second-guessed what was coming.
‘I’m just curious as to why you handed your notice in at the last school you worked at, Mr Ellison?’
He looked at Jenkins irritably, dropping the charming act.
‘Why? There’s no law against leaving one job for another?’
‘No, there isn’t,’ calmly agreed Jenkins. ‘But it is a little unusual, don’t you think?’
Ellison didn’t answer her.
‘Particularly when you consider the rumour that you were having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a sixth former,’ Jenkins said as she watched him.
Ellison shrugged nonchalantly.
‘So what? It was just that. A rumour. And anyway, the girl was nearly eighteen so shoot me.’
Jenkins smiled at him.
‘It just doesn’t look that great from where I’m sat, now does it?’ Jenkins continued.
‘Meaning?’ demanded Ellison, exasperated.
‘Look, let’s be straight here. Your fifteen-year-old student has turned up murdered. We have evidence that she was having a clandestine sexual relationship. One that started when she went on the Germany school trip, accompanied by yourself. You have a chequered past, shall we say, when it comes to becoming personally involved with your students—’
‘That is a ridiculous assumption!’ attacked Ellison.
‘Really? It seems that your last employers suggested that you hand in your notice to avoid any damning publicity. Sixth former or not, it is still deemed unacceptable by most people.’
Ellison clenched his jaw as he looked at Jenkins.
Brady watched, impressed as she casually moved her sleek, black bob back from her face.
‘Firstly, it was an unsubstantiated claim. The girl had a crush on me. When I refused to accept her advances, she turned into a malicious, hysterical liar and tried her utmost to make sure I lost my job. How about you open your eyes and take a good look at the way these kids act nowadays? They’re not the sweet innocent girls you’re making them out to be. In fact, most of the sex talk I overhear in the corridors would make you blush.’
‘Finished?’ Jenkins asked.
He didn’t answer, but his look said it all.
‘Thank you for your time,’ Jenkins politely concluded as she stood up.
Ellison didn’t answer her. Instead he turned and busied himself packing his bag to leave.
‘Sir?’ Brady said, walking to the door. ‘Don’t disappear. It won’t look good.’
‘Why would I?’ Ellison retaliated.
‘That’s what I’m trying to figure out, sir.’
‘What did you make of Ellison?’ Brady asked as Conrad drove them back to the station.
‘I thought he was full of himself,’ Conrad replied.
Brady nodded. He wasn’t going to disagree. He didn’t like Ellison. But it wasn’t just the fact that he made Brady feel old. There was something about his manner that didn’t rest easy with Brady. He thought about what Ellison had said. Or more to the point, what he hadn’t.
Paul Simmons suddenly came to Brady’s mind. His gut feeling was telling him that both the victim’s step- father and teacher knew more about her life than they were letting on.
Brady turned to Jenkins who was sat in the back of the car.
‘What did you make of him?’
Jenkins swept her hair back from her face as she thought about Ellison.
‘He was very uncomfortable when you showed him the photograph, that much was clear. And he tried very hard to hide his surprise that you had it. Other than that, it’s difficult to say,’ offered Jenkins.
‘Is that it?’
‘What more do you want? Do you want me to tell you that I thought he was a jerk? Is that it?’ Unlike him, she didn’t react to hunches or gut feelings. Her job was to remain rational and impartial.
‘His reaction to that photograph was understandable,’ Jenkins stated.
‘Maybe,’ answered Brady.
His steady brown eyes penetrated hers, holding her gaze. She was surprised at how gentle his eyes were, realising she had never noticed before. There was something about Jack Brady that she found intriguing. Jenkins suddenly felt a flush of irritation as she tried to suppress the attraction she felt. She firmly reminded herself that he was an ex-patient and a colleague. Nothing could ever happen with him, more so given the fact that it was painfully obvious to her that he was still in love with his estranged wife.
Annoyed with herself, she shifted her gaze, breaking his hold over her.
‘You have to think about how Ellison would have felt. A student of his has been found murdered. And then you turn up with a photograph of the two of them suggesting he was having an inappropriate relationship with her.’
‘I didn’t exactly say that,’ retaliated Brady.
‘You didn’t have to. Subtlety isn’t your strong point, Jack.’
‘So what are you saying?’
‘All I’m pointing out is that Ellison wouldn’t be human if he didn’t react guiltily when you handed him that photo. Most people in his situation would. It’s the ones who don’t that you have to watch out for.’
‘You mean like Simmons?’
‘I didn’t say that, Jack,’ replied Jenkins.
‘You didn’t have to, I did,’ stated Brady.
Jenkins sighed. Why, she questioned, had she ever allowed Gates to talk her into working with Jack Brady?
‘Anyway, talk about me being heavy-handed. What about you with the accusation that he’d slept with a previous student?’ Brady asked.
Jenkins smiled at him.
‘I just wanted to see his reaction.’
