Chapter Four

It transpired that waiting in the Head's office wasn't the approved M.O. for Warley. Instead, Jack and Phryne found themselves sitting on a hard bench in the corridor outside it.

"If this is meant to make me regret misbehaving, it's working," muttered Jack.

Phryne shot him a cheeky grin. "But Jack, you're so good at misbehaving. You even know a song about it. And you misbehaved beautifully last night, as I recall …" She turned her knees towards him, and gently pressed them against his thigh, her eyes becoming unfocussed in recalling a fond memory.

"Miss Fisher" he warned – but his words belied the light in his eyes, and hers laughed back at him as she stood to examine the photos on the wall behind them. It was the standard, whole-of-school photograph, serried ranks of uniformed young ladies looking as though butter wouldn't melt. The teachers were in the front row, and she scanned for an image of the victim.

"Is this Constance, Inspector?" He stood to look over her shoulder, and followed her pointing finger.

"Yes, that's her. Sitting next to the Bursar. Quite the contrast." He was silent for a moment, appreciating the chance to see his childhood friend in happier circumstances than his most recent experience. As they both scanned the photo, a rapid step was heard behind them, and they turned to see a grey-haired woman approach.

"Detective Inspector Robinson? Anne Mackay," she stretched out her hand and he found his own grasped in a firm shake. She turned to Phryne. "And Miss Fisher. Are you … assisting the police in some fashion?" She fought to keep the distaste from her tone, although Phryne felt the effort warranted a B-minus at best. The wretched woman made it sound as though Phryne's assistance was most likely to be as a suspect.

"Indeed, Miss Mackay," she confirmed. "The Inspector felt it might be advisable to have a woman on his team, given the nature of the interviews which will unfortunately have to take place. We have … worked together in the past." She gave a clipped smile. If Miss Mackay wanted professionals, that was what she would get. In spades, doubled and redoubled.

Jack glanced from one to the other and felt that intervention might be a good idea.

"Miss Mackay, I understand it was two of the students who found the body. I realise it will be disturbing for them, but I have to ask that we are allowed to interview them as soon as possible. Of course, you will wish to be present yourself, or have one of your staff in attendance."

The Head nodded briskly. "Marianne and Christabel are in the San, and I expect they will still be asleep for another hour or so – I asked that they be given a sedative."

"In the meantime," Jack asked diffidently, "could we perhaps ask one or two questions of the teaching staff? Beginning, of course, with yourself?"

"Ask away, Inspector, but I don't know anything. I came straight to my office after breakfast, and have been here ever since, until the news of Miss Lambert's death came to me."

"I was rather hoping to get something of an overview of Miss Lambert's recent past. Had she argued with anyone? Appeared worried about anything? Perhaps received something disturbing in the post?"

Miss Mackay considered, her head on one side. "No, nothing of the kind, Inspector. I realise you will have to ask these questions, but I believe you will get the same message from everyone on the teaching staff. Miss Lambert was well-liked, and got on well with almost everyone – and those with whom she was not on especially good terms were, shall we say, the more challenging members of my team."

"In other words, it wasn't Miss Lambert's fault if they didn't get on with her?" Phryne suggested.

"Indeed, Miss Fisher," the Head acknowledged. "I suppose … there isn't any chance that this could have been a dreadful accident?"

Jack grimaced. "We'll have a better idea once we've examined the scene thoroughly, Miss Mackay, but it looks highly unlikely. In the meantime, it would help enormously if we could have a list of the staff – teaching and non-teaching – so that we can get started on interviewing them."

The list was duly produced, and Jack groaned inwardly. A dozen teachers, and as many again cleaners, groundsmen, kitchen staff and so on. There wasn't the least chance of getting through all of these in one day.

"Miss Mackay, is there a telephone I can use for a moment?" She offered her own, and he placed a call to the morgue.

"Inspector Robinson here, is Dr MacMillan available? Thank you, I'll wait."

"Mac? Jack Robinson. Have you received the body from the Warley murder yet? Well, it should be with you soon. I know it will take a while to confirm cause of death, but the sooner you can give me your idea of time of death, the better – we're in the world of timetables so we can find out a lot by asking the right questions. Yes. We'll be at the school, so if you could get someone to pass us the message? Thanks, Mac." He rang off.

Looking up at the Head, he said, "I don't want to waste your staff's valuable time by interviewing them twice, so I'll wait to hear back from Dr MacMillan before starting those interviews, but it would be helpful if we could get a feel for the layout of the building, entrances and exits and so on. Would you mind if we did a little exploring?"

"Of course, Inspector. The place should be more or less empty – I sent the girls back to their boarding house, and I expect the teaching staff will be in the staff room."

"If you could perhaps let them know we'd be grateful if they could remain on site for the moment, we will begin interviews as soon as we have word from the doctor."