Chapter 4 – After 8pm

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MEETING PAUL RAND

Ryan: To be perfectly honest, dad’s a great businessman, but he lacks imagination. He does however believe in the power of the individual, when taught by the right teacher, of course.

Paul: Ryan! In here.
Ryan: Just coming! He’s through here. Come on.
Paul: To whom do I owe the pleasure?
Jenks: Detective Inspector Jenks, I’m investigating a death in the village. I believe you knew Kate Vine?
Paul: Oh, I thought all this was dealt with, Inspector… You do know that Kate Vine was a gherkin short of a Big Mac? You do now…
Ryan: Father…
Paul: You must forgive my son, Inspector. He still can’t summon up the courage to come straight to the point. So what do you want to know?
Jenks: Well, a few more questions, if you don’t mind?
Paul: But I do mind, I’m a very busy man. Try asking an intelligent question… like, do I mind being quizzed about a once promising student who turned into a useless drunk? Ryan, would you mind leaving us for a while?
Ryan: I’ll go back to the centre, I have one or two things to prepare. Call me if you need me, dad.
Paul: You may begin, Mr Holmes, although I’m not going to be able to help you. I don’t have much to do with the course nowadays, so I can’t give you any hard information.
Jenks: That’s as may be, but we need…
Paul: No, that’s as is. But if you want my opinion, I’ll be quite happy to give it to you. So… fire away.
Jenks: OK. Thank you.

Jenks (for himself): Wow. Paul said he doesn’t take any prisoners. It’s obvious who’s pulling the strings in this family and I wonder what they got up to in their previous guise as Third Eye.

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INTERVIEWING PAUL

Jenks: How well did you know Kate?
Paul: Hardly knew her at all, met her a few times on the course, that’s about all.
Jenks: So when was the last time you saw her?
Paul: Last Friday. I just popped down to the course… About seven.
Jenks: Did you speak to her then?
Paul: It’s possible.
Jenks: And how did she seem? Was she happy, sad, preoccupied?
Paul: She was drunk!

Jenks: Do you know if Kate had lost this? It’s her driving licence.
Paul: How would I know that?
Jenks: You didn’t see it lying around anywhere?
Paul: No.

Jenks: Did you know anything about Simon Thompson’s bike?
Paul: No

Jenks: Have you seen this before?
Paul: Looks familiar. Where did you find it?
Jenks: It was… in the woods.
Paul: Presumably it had something to do with Kate or her killer?
Jenks: Well, that’s what I’m trying to establish.
Paul: Shouldn’t it be in an evidence bag, Inspector, in case of contamination?
Jenks: I didn’t have one with me, unfortunately.
Paul: Well, don’t go testing it for DNA will you. It’s got yours all over it.

Jenks: Ever tried Simon’s homebrew? Simon Thompson?
Paul: No, I haven’t. I wouldn’t touch anything that has had Simon’s fingers in it.

Jenks: What do you know about this?
Paul: It’s a Freedom necklace. It’s a symbol we use sometimes on the course. Little bird in cage, flying away… Freeing themselves from their past is the analogy.
Jenks: So do they get them when they join the course or something.
Paul: No, no, no, not as a rule. I think I bought one once as a present.
Jenks: Oh, not for Kate by any chance?
Paul: No, not for Kate. Can’t really remember who it was for, birthday present maybe, for one of the students.
Jenks: Which student?
Paul: I’ve no idea.

Jenks: What do you know about this?
Paul: Looks like a mask.
Jenks: You don’t recognise it?
Paul: Not particularly, looks like a Monarch mask.
Jenks: What’s a Monarch mask?
Paul: Monarch is a fancy dress outfitters… Ryan goes there sometimes.

Jenks: What did you hear about an argument in the pub last Friday?
Paul: I didn’t go to the pub last Friday.
Jenks: You didn’t hear anything about an argument in the pub?
Paul: Should I have?
Jenks: No, that’s fine.

Jenks: Could you tell me a bit about this?
Paul: Had it designed by an agency…
Jenks: And when was that?
Paul: Last year.
Jenks: That’s when you started the business?
Paul: Yes, I suppose so.

Jenks: Have you ever seen one of these before?
Paul: I believe it’s a scrying mirror, Pagan thing.
Jenks: Ever used one?
Paul: Why would I use a scrying mirror?
Jenks: So you have no interest at all in this sort of thing?
Paul: No.
Jenks: Does the Atlas course use them at all?
Paul: Not at all. Strange question.

Jenks: How well did you know Liam?
Paul: Liam who?
Jenks: Liam who took his life.
Paul: Oh… Well, as far as I remember he was a good student, confident, out-going.
Jenks: You didn’t notice any problems?
Paul: I believe he had problems at home.
Jenks: Were you there when he died?
Paul: Yes.
Jenks: And afterwards? You didn’t see him after the meeting?
Paul: No.
Jenks: What was Liam like that night?
Paul: Well, apart from being drunk, or possibly BECAUSE of that, he seemed perfectly happy.
Jenks: He was drunk?
Paul: Well, I assume the bottle in his hand contained whiskey and not lemonade.
Jenks: Lots of similarities to Kate, don’t you think? Drinking, depression… Is that normal for the students?
Paul: People come into the Atlas course for quick solutions to their problems. And when they don’t get them as quickly as they might have liked, sometimes their impatience gets the better of them.

Jenks: If I did this, would it mean anything to you?
Paul: I presume you’ve seen an Atlas student doing that?
Jenks: Ah, so this is an Atlas thing?
Paul: Well, it wasn’t exactly our idea… The students started doing it spontaneously to show commitment to the course. Cute, really. Which student did you see doing that?
Jenks: I’m not sure, but he was carving it into a tree. I told him to stop.
Paul: Did you really? Why?
Jenks: Defacing public property.
Paul: That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! What’s the punishment for that kind of thing nowadays, a prison sentence?
Jenks: It’s usually a fine.
Paul: What about defiling public liberty? Does that carry a fine too?
Jenks: Oddly enough, the student in question argued a similar point. Is that something you encourage on the Atlas course?
Paul: We encourage people who put ideas first and moral anachronisms second. The problem with the law, Inspector, is that it’s out of date.
Jenks: Well, I suppose that’s a matter of opinion. However, you still respect it?
Paul: Respect it? I abide by it. We all play by the book, Inspector, but that’s only because of the threat of possible incarceration.

Jenks: Can you tell me a little about the Atlas phrase, Free To Be Free?
Paul: Where did you hear that?
Jenks: I was talking to one of your students.
Paul: It’s a little phrase we conjured up to summarise our objectives.
Jenks: What is your objective, if you don’t mind me asking?
Paul: Mine? Or do you mean the course’s objective?
Jenks: On the course.
Paul: The objective of the course is to free people from bondage. We teach that people are crippled by their pasts, by guilt, their attitudes, their beliefs… all that kind of nonsense.
Jenks: Guilt cripples people?
Paul: Feeling guilty in business is like a meat-eater feeling guilty in an abattoir. Guilt comes from the archaic emotional centres of the brain… It’s a vestige of our animal ancestry, that’s all. In business, you heed it at your peril. I’m sorry, Inspector, my house appears to be haunted… Would you mind closing the door?
Jenks: So you believe that guilt has no place in business?
Paul: None at all… I have few beliefs, Inspector, but that’s one of them.
Jenks: And what if you HAVE done something wrong?
Paul: Well, that’s the whole point. Guilt has nothing to do with it.
Jenks: Interesting opinion.

Jenks: Know what this is by any chance?
Paul: I’ve no idea, gardening isn’t my kind of thing… Rebecca would probably know, I assume you’ve met Rebecca?
Jenks: Yes, I have.
Paul: I’m sure she’ll enjoy telling you what it is, she’s the kind of woman who likes to feel superior. Would probably marry a millionaire, then decide to run her own pub.
Jenks: Yes, why was that?
Paul: Well… she isn’t exactly housewife material. She likes to be in control, like Ryan. Shame isn’t it, that I’m in control of both of them.

Jenks: Have you ever heard of Salvia Divinorum, or magic mint?
Paul: Sounds like it might be a drug.
Jenks: It’s a hallucinogenic plant. Legal as a matter of fact.
Paul: I’m not a drug taker, Inspector. I have no enthusiasm for voluntarily poisoning your brain.
Jenks: And you’ve never seen anyone on the course taking it?
Paul: Well, if someone had, they wouldn’t have done it openly. We don’t allow drugs or alcohol on our course. We like to tell the students that success is the best drug. Whether you buy into that of course is another matter.

Jenks: What do you know about this?
Paul: So you’ve been graced by Goebbels’ presence already, have you? James, our local minister for propaganda. I presume Ryan told you about our… previous incarnation?
Jenks: He explained, yes.
Paul: Did he tell you anything scandalous?
Jenks: Not unless you count the suicide.
Paul: Well… These things happen.
Jenks: Was it your idea?
Paul: The suicide?
Jenks: Third Eye.
Paul: Yes, I suppose it was. As my son had started to atrophy, I decided I ought to give him something to do.
Jenks: And Third Eye was the same as Atlas, teaching business skills?
Paul: Very similar.
Jenks: So Liam’s death didn’t prompt you to make any change?
Paul: There was nothing we could do about Liam’s death, Inspector. Any more than we could do anything about Kate’s. It was out of our control.
Jenks: You can’t blame me for wondering, Paul. Two student deaths in two years…
Paul: It’s called a coincidence, Inspector. I expect they ate fast food also, but you’re not investigating all the local chippies, are you?

Jenks: So if you don’t allow drink or drugs onto the site, why did you allow Liam to drink whiskey all night?
Paul: Well… We did give him various warnings, did try to stop him, but… It didn’t work.
Jenks: But you let him stay on the course?
Paul: Well, we couldn’t throw him out, this isn’t a primary school, Inspector. We’re not the police, we can’t enforce these rules. If they pay their fees, they’re entitled to stay on the course.
Jenks: And what if they want to take drugs?
Paul: As long as they do it with discretion, frankly, I don’t care if they want to wipe or inject paint stripper all over their faces.
Jenks: Do you store any alcohol at Atlas?
Paul: No.
Jenks: Is there a kitchen?
Paul: Why, do you want to go down there and check?
Jenks: Well, obviously, you wouldn’t mind if what you’re saying is true?
Paul: Of course, I wouldn’t mind. It’s past the lavatories, down the corridor, but you won’t find any drugs in there OR alcohol.
Jenks (to himself): Whether I find alcohol at Atlas or not, it probably isn’t particularly relevant, but it’s worth a look anyway.

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BACK AT ROSENBAUM ESTATE (ATLAS)

Jenks (to himself): So the kitchen must be down the corridor there, is what Paul said was true.

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WITNESSING AN ATLAS SESSION

Ryan: Let yourself go… Feel your soul lifting… Then wait… For the moment to break free… Then… Break… Free…
Hannah: Haaaa!
Ryan: Excellent, Hannah!
Jenks: Well…
Ryan: Could you come back later, please?
Jenks: What’s going on here?
Ryan: Please, leave.
Jenks: Sorry, Ryan, there are a few more questions I have to ask you yet… and time’s ticking by.
Ryan: Leave.
Jenks: OK.

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INSIDE ATLAS KITCHEN

Jenks (to himself): Interesting. Well, there’s a TV right there with a DVD player. I don’t think anyone will mind if I have a quick look at this…

Ryan (DVD): Freedom, TRUE freedom, means freedom from many vices that society has traditionally believed to be virtues. Self criticism, self doubt, guilt… Ladies and gentlemen, these are not virtues. These are sins. Born of a fake morality implanted deep within our minds and collective consciousness by governments and religions throughout the ages with the sole purpose of preventing the masses, stopping US, from achieving the same success, happiness and freedom enjoyed by those at the very pinnacle of society. I’m going to show you that common morality is nothing more than the cynical creation of an elite, desperate to stay in power. An elite, hell bent on preventing YOU from reaching your full potential… By making you feel guilty for pursuing success. But the good news is, that you CAN take back control. You CAN become the success you deserve to be. Atlas will give you a unique and powerful advantage. Life in all its technicolour glory can be yours. All that you have to do is stay, embrace it, enjoy it… and learn to love your ambition. Welcome to Atlas!

Jenks (to himself): Well, that was odd, looked like someone pickpocketing. Why make a video of it?

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ANY SUGGESTIONS, EMMA?

Jenks: What do you know about doll burning?
Emma: Doll burning… I think it was something they did on the course. Simon mentioned it.
Jenks: They didn’t do that when you were there?
Emma: No.

Jenks: Have you seen this before?
Emma: No… don’t think so.

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WHAT ABOUT YOU, SIMON?

Jenks: What do you know about doll burning?
Simon: On the course? It’s a ritual thing, getting rid of things that you don’t need, throw it into the fire.
Jenks: And that’s a good thing?
Simon: Well, yeah, it helps you get rid of things you don’t need, so you can move on, take control again.
Jenks: So what are the masks for?
Simon: They’re just to help you get into the right frame of mind. Just gets you into the ‘zone’, helps with the trance.
Jenks: A trance?
Simon: Yeah, it’s like self-hypnosis, we do it on the course sometimes, just to help you get into the right frame of mind.
Jenks: So you hypnotise yourself… How do you do that?
Simon: Just stare into a mirror and chant something you know, say the same thing over and over again. Or you can just close your eyes and put yourself into a trance, some people can do that.
Jenks: And that’s safe?
Simon: Well, yeah, hypnosis doesn’t work the way most people think, you can’t just be hypnotised if you don’t want to be hypnotised. But you can learn to hypnotise yourself.
Jenks: What did you say it was called, autohypnosis?
Simon: Self-hypnosis, autohypnosis, same thing really.
Jenks: I think Simon was a bit too quick to play down the role of auto-hypnosis on the course. I’ll have to… uh… ask around about this.

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BACK TO EMMA

Jenks: Do you know about autohypnosis?
Emma: Some type of self-hypnosis isn’t it?
Jenks: Yeah. Have you ever tried it?
Emma: No, I haven’t, but I think Kate was into it. She learnt it from when she went to Atlas.
Jenks: And what did she tell you about it?
Emma: Erm… Not a lot really. I think it helped her, I think she used it as a sort of self meditation.

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REBECCA?

Jenks: What do you know about doll burning at Atlas?
Rebecca: Only that it’s part of the course. I’m… not entirely sure what they’re for, but I made dozens for him.
Jenks: YOU made them?
Rebecca: Oh, Ryan can’t make anything, he’s practically dyspraxic.

Jenks: Do you know anything about this?
Rebecca: No, sorry. Ask Ryan.

Jenks: Do you know anything about hypnosis used on the Atlas course?
Rebecca: Are you sure you mean hypnosis, or the power of persuasion?
Jenks: What’s the difference?
Rebecca: Not a lot, but if you want someone to do something, it’s usually easier to ask nicely.
Jenks: Atlas uses persuasion techniques?
Rebecca: Well, don’t all businesses use it, Inspector? Ever heard of advertising?

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AND YOU, JAMES?

Jenks: What do you know about doll burning at Atlas?
James: Doll burning? What sort of doll burning?
Jenks: It doesn’t mean anything to you?
James: No! Should it?
Jenks: No. That’s OK.

Jenks: Seen this before?
James: No, what is it?
Jenks: Do you recognise it?
James: No. Should I?

Jenks: Ever heard of autohypnosis, James? Self-hypnosis?
James: Yeah.
Jenks: And what do you know about it?
James: It’s another name for scrying. Some people call it auto-hypnosis, I call it scrying.
Jenks: Right… So you’re saying scrying is just self-hypnosis?
James: It’s scrying. You can scry on anything, I don’t use a mirror. I can scry watching the clouds, or maybe the water on a lake in the moonlight.
Jenks: And when you’re watching the water, what happens? You go into a trance?
James: You lose yourself in your unconscious, you go deeper and deeper, you swim around… You try not to go too deep. If you go too deep, you start drowning. You get dragged down to the bottom. As long as you stay swimming, you come to the surface again. Then you see the world as it really is. It’s like a journey to a place people talk about, but nobody’s ever seen. You’re thinking about Kate, aren’t you?
Jenks: What makes you say that?
James: She bought a mirror. Sold her one last year.
Jenks: Was she into using mirrors like that?
James: No idea, but she bought one.
Jenks: Right…

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INSIDE RYAN’S GARAGE

Jenks (to himself): So those are Ryan’s guitars kept in a garage. Not really the best place to keep them.

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PAUL IS HIDING THINGS

Jenks: What do you know about doll burning at Atlas?
Paul: Not much, it’s one of Ryan’s ideas. My son is under the delusion that he’s a genius.

Jenks: Seen this before?
Paul: The writing looks familiar, but no.

Jenks: Can you tell me more about the autohypnosis techniques used on the course?
Paul: We don’t use hypnosis on the course.
Jenks: Not at all?
Paul: Not anymore.
Jenks: So how WAS it used?
Paul: Hypnosis is probably the wrong word, Inspector. It was nothing to do with trances or anything like that… It was meant to force… to HELP students.
Jenks: DID you force them?
Paul: You can’t force anybody into being hypnotised, you have to WANT to be hypnotised. It’s not something out of your control. You can’t be hurt or damaged in any way by hypnosis.
Jenks: So you’ve never put pressure on students to enter into hypnosis?
Paul: It would be impossible to do so.

Jenks: Does Ryan play the guitar?
Paul: Ryan? Ryan couldn’t get a tune out of a radio, he’s tone deaf!
Jenks: So he’s never tried to go professional?
Paul: If he did try it was never going to happen.

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JENKS IS ATTACKED IN THE WOODS

Jenks (to himself): The DVD! That’s all they took. It must have been deliberate. Someone clearly wanted that back. Nice and helpful of them to leave a piece of evidence behind them.

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WHAT DOES SIMON KNOW?

Jenks: What do you know about Ryan’s guitar collection?
Simon: Not a whole lot – I know he brought a guitar to one of the groups once, at the end of one of the stages. That’s the only time I’ve seen him with a guitar.

Jenks: Seen this? Know the shop?
Simon: Yeah I know the shop, I hired something from them last year I think.
Jenks: For a party, I assume?
Simon: Yeah, yeah, something like that.

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ANY MORE LIES, EMMA?

Jenks: What do you know about Ryan’s guitar collection?
Emma: I know he plays because he tried to buy one off me.
Jenks: Do you play?
Emma: I used to. I used to be in a band, but I was the singer as well, so I got away with it.
Jenks: Singer as well!
Emma: Yeah, I used to sing in a band every night… Sometimes, it was in a pub, usually at Rebecca’s.
Jenks: What was that called?
Emma: It was called Blackstone, and once this guy from a record company came to see us, and he said that the band was rubbish, but that I was good. So after that I don’t think they liked me much, and then we broke up after college.
Jenks: Can’t hide talent!

Jenks: Do you know the shop? Have you used it?
Emma: No, but I know where it is.

Jenks: That band you sang in, Blackstone, who else was in the band?
Emma: Just a few people from college.
Jenks: Including Liam?
Emma: Yeah.
Jenks: Why did you say you didn’t know him?
Emma: No, it’s not that. I just thought you meant did I know about his suicide.
Jenks: Did you?
Emma: No, I was away on holiday.
Jenks: When he died?
Emma: Yeah, I only knew him through the band.
Jenks (for himself): She definitely knows more than she’s saying. She was in a band with Liam, but didn’t know about his problem? I’m not sure I believe you, Emma.

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DEAR, DEAR REBECCA…

Jenks: Does Ryan play the guitar?
Rebecca: He tries… He does keep wasting money on them though. I think he thinks, if he buys the right one, he’ll suddenly turn into Jimmy Hendrix. Sad really. I just let him play in his room. As long as he plays in his room, as long as he plays in there, I don’t mind.

Jenks: Have you seen this before anywhere?
Rebecca: Well, I know the shop, costume shop, just outside the village.
Jenks: Ever used it?
Rebecca: Not personally, but I think Ryan might have.

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JAMES? NO? OK…

Jenks: Seen this before?
James: Nope.

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LIAR, PAUL!

Jenks: Have you seen this before?
Paul: No, I don’t think so.
Jenks: You don’t recognise the shop?
Paul: No.
Jenks: Is there someone else who works at Atlas? Someone who may have been there tonight?
Paul: Well… There’s a cleaner. Comes at strange times, but then… he’s a strange boy. Work experience.
Jenks: As a cleaner?
Paul: Well, we did try him in accounts, but it didn’t work out.

Jenks: Do you visit Monarch Costumes a lot?
Paul: No… Used to go in there occasionally, why?
Jenks: But you do know the shop?
Paul: Yes, of course, I do.
Jenks: You see, Paul, I thought you said you didn’t know where this bag was from.
Paul: Well. Maybe I do.
Jenks: This was put over my head, Paul, by a mugger… Would you like to tell me something?
Paul: Are you suggesting that I had something to do with your mugging?
Jenks: Did you?
Paul: You really ask the most ridiculous questions. Of course, I didn’t.
Jenks: So why did you lie about the shop?
Paul: Well… I didn’t have anything to do with your mugging, Inspector, but I might know somebody who did.
Jenks: Go on.
Paul: Did Ryan mention Jason to you, the cleaner? Unfortunately, Ryan, at some point, told Jason that the DVD mustn’t be removed from the site. So, when he saw YOU take it… he simply thought that he was doing us a favour by… Getting it back. He isn’t exactly what you’d call one of Darwin’s best examples.
Jenks: So what’s on the DVD that’s so special?
Paul: Alright, it was something I did myself, a little stunt I pulled, to amuse the students.
Jenks: What kind of stunt?
Paul: I pretended to steal from the students, I emphasise the word ‘pretended’. The students knew all about it afterwards… Everything was above board.
Jenks: Steal from students… Why?
Paul: We were doing a piece about pushing the limits… so I decided I… I would show them how it’s done. Oh, don’t look so serious, Inspector, I returned everybody’s things immediately afterwards, no harm done.
Jenks: And when was it?
Paul: Last year some time.
Jenks: At Third Eye or Atlas?
Paul: Third Eye, I think.
Jenks: And this was before or after Liam died?
Paul: Well, since you’ll probably find out anyway, it happened to be ON the night that Liam died, as it happened. Before you ask… NO, I didn’t steal from him.
Jenks: Do you think it’s a good idea to encourage students to steal, Paul?
Paul: I wasn’t encouraging students to steal. Policemen are so literal! Life is shade of grey, Inspector. Much as the force would like it, it doesn’t divide neatly into blacks and whites. [PHONE RINGS] Now if you don’t mind, you’re going to have to excuse me for a moment. You know where the door is.
Jenks (to himself): I see he was quick enough to claim he didn’t steal from Liam. But what kind of stunt was that anyway? And Liam dying the same night is all a bit too suspicious.

MAYBE THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW KNOWS MORE…

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Jenks: Did you know about Paul’s money stealing at Atlas?
Rebecca: Are you talking about a particular incident or just in general?
Jenks: It’s something he did on the course. Stunt.
Rebecca: And what did he do exactly?
Jenks: Well, he pretended to steal from the students.
Rebecca: That doesn’t ring a bell. Paul’s stunts usually involve throwing fancy dress parties with scantily clad girls or women dressed as nurses, that’s his usual fetish.
Jenks: When was the last party he threw?
Rebecca: Erm… Some time in the summer. I didn’t stay long.

SIMON, SIMON, SIMON…

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Jenks: What do you know about Paul stealing money from students? Part of a stunt or something?
Simon: Did he do that? I’ve never heard about anything like that. Might have been part of the risk-taking thing though.
Jenks: Explain that.
Simon: It’s part of the course, you have to do something dangerous or risky… something you wouldn’t normally do.
Jenks: Something dangerous?
Simon: Well, not dangerous, just risky. Like saying something you wouldn’t normally say to someone. Or doing something unusual.
Jenks: Like stealing from other students?
Simon: We didn’t do anything like that, but… You have to tell everyone at the end of the course anyway. And you’re not allowed to do anything that would hurt or offend anyone. You’re not allowed to do anything really bad. It’s all pretend really.
Jenks: Seems a bit odd for a business course.
Simon: It works though!

SWEET EMMA?

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Jenks: What do you know about Paul Rand?
Emma: Paul the slime?
Jenks: You’ve obviously met him then.
Emma: Yes, I have.
Jenks: What do you know about him committing a fake theft during one of the courses?
Emma: What, him going through people’s bags? He tried that on me as well, weirdo.
Jenks: So YOU were at Third Eye?
Emma: Yes. Yes, I went there after college for a few months, but then I left because I hated it. I didn’t know Atlas was the same thing when I went with Simon.
Jenks: Does Simon know that?
Emma: No… I didn’t want to burst his bubble, so I didn’t say anything.
Jenks: So he doesn’t know you went to Third Eye?
Emma: No.
Jenks: Ah! So is that where you met Ryan as well?
Emma: Yep.
Jenks: Right! What didn’t you like about the course?
Emma: It was stupid! They used to make you do things to other people and be abusive just to prove that you could, and I absolutely hated it.
Jenks: What sort of things?
Emma: Oh, just stupid things, nasty things to prove you could do it. It was about not feeling guilty. And it was horrible, that’s why I left.
Jenks: And is Simon doing all of this stuff now?
Emma: No. No, I think they had to stop because it was just getting ridiculous. I think someone got arrested or something.
Jenks: Very interesting.

CHEF TO THE RESCUE

Chief: Got something useful to tell me, Jenks?
Jenks: Chief, I found out that Emma was in the band with Liam, the student who died last year.
Chief: Ah. What does she know about Liam?
Jenks: Not much apparently. She wasn’t there when he died.
Chief: Well, make sure she wasn’t. Find out who was there that night, work out what night it was. Make sure Paul Rand wasn’t involved. My other phone’s ringing… Call me back, Jenks.
Jenks: Right-o, Chief.

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NOT YOU AGAIN, EMMA!

Jenks: So you witnessed Paul’s money stealing stunt, is that right?
Emma: Yes.
Jenks: But you weren’t there when Liam died?
Emma: No.
Jenks: Don’t quite understand that, you see, because Paul pulled the stunt on the same night. Liam died later that evening.
Emma: I must have got mixed up…
Jenks: So you don’t know anything about Liam’s death, even though you were there on that night?
Emma: No!
Jenks: Emma… I think you’d better explain, don’t you?
Emma: Well, it was the stupid course, wasn’t it?
Jenks: Go on…
Emma: Well… we were all told to do stupid things, and then that thieving thing happened, so…
Jenks: Take a breath, Emma.
Emma: Liam killed himself because of me.
Jenks: Why?
Emma: Liam had a birthmark on the side of his face… And no-one would mention anything, even though we all knew it was there. And we all thought… THEY all thought it was ugly. So I thought I’d say something and I… I even asked Paul if it was OK to say it.
Jenks: And what did he say?
Emma: He said he wouldn’t mind. Then Liam killed himself. Liam’s dead because of me.
Jenks: Well, Emma, I’m quite sure you regret what you said, but I really don’t think it caused Liam’s death. There’s always more to these things than meets the eye. It wasn’t your fault.
Emma: You can’t tell Simon, please.
Jenks: Simon doesn’t need to know, don’t worry.
Emma: Thank you.

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