The Pact by John L. Probert Page A

his head. “It’s as if that school’s in another country. Their own laws, their own way of doing things.”
    Parva gestured to the burnt out ruin in the high street. “A bit like what’s been happening out there, then?”
    Wilkins nodded. “Exactly like it, miss. Do you think there might be a link?”
    “I didn’t until I spoke to you,” Parva replied. “But now it’s looking pretty obvious. Can I rely on you not to tell anyone what I’m up to in there?”
    “Of course. To be honest I’d warn you to stay away from the place. I certainly wouldn’t go there unless I had to, but if you need any help, let me know.”
    Parva gave him a warm smile. “Thanks,” she said. “But I wouldn’t want to get you into the kind of trouble I’m probably going to find myself in before long.”
    Wilkins frowned. “What are you intending to get up to?”
    “I’ve been putting it off for too long,” Parva said, her expression serious. “It’s time for me to take a look at where those girls died. And I’ve still got no idea how I’m going to come up with an excuse to get inside that room.”

 
    10
     
    The Ecology of Pond Life took less than an hour, thanks partly to one of the textbooks Parva had bought in Bristol and partly because of her photographic memory. The girls left the classroom with the most complicated flow diagram of pond organism interactions imaginable, although Parva was quick to call one of them back before she could escape.
    “Emily?”
    The girl ignored her until the third time Parva said her name. Then she came shuffling back, her bag slung over her shoulder, her eyes downcast, as if the most interesting thing in the room was the grey linoleum.
    Parva sighed. “Do I really have to call your name three times to get your attention?”
    Emily shrugged.
    “Well never mind. I need to speak to you.”
    There was still no reply. Instead Emily kicked at the floor and looked away.
    Parva pressed on regardless. “You know you said I should leave things alone?”
    Another shrug.
    “Well I can’t. It’s all much too important. Something serious has happened in the town and I’m thinking it might be related to what happened to those girls.”
    Emily’s words were a mumble as she kept her face averted. “What do you want me to do about it?”
    “I just want you to answer some questions. I’m not going to tell anyone you spoke to me. You won’t get into any trouble for this.”
    “No,” said the girl. “But you will.” Finally she looked at Parva. “And why would you want to? What have you got to do with all of this? Why should I trust you any more than the others who came?”
    Parva frowned. “What others? Do mean the ones who came to take the bodies away?”
    “No.” They’d lost eye contact again. “The ones who came before that. The ones from London. The ones who said we had to keep quiet or there’d be trouble.”
    “I’m not from London, I’m from Bristol.” Oh way to go , Parva thought, mentally kicking herself as soon as the words had escaped her lips. That’s really going to make all the difference .
    “I don’t care where you’re from,” came the deserved reply. “Who are you really? And why do you want to know what’s going on here?”
    It would be a risk taking this girl into her confidence, on both their parts. But Parva could see there was no way she was going to be able to get this girl to open up otherwise. It was difficult enough getting her to talk.
    “My name in Dr Parva Corcoran,” she said. “I’m here undercover to try and find out the truth behind the suicides. There’s concern that the girls might have been murdered, and the more I see of this place the more I’m starting to be convinced it might be true.”
    Emily smiled, which must have been a new experience for her, Parva thought. Then she did something else quite unexpected. She held out her hand.
    “That’s a lot more than any of the others were willing to come out with,” she said.