SETTLING scores

THE STORY SO FAR: In the aftermath of the attack on singing superstar Kayla, Casey and PC Thorpe are spoilt for choice when it comes to suspects, and though Kayla’s former bandmate Jacko has an alibi, neither feel he’s entirely above suspicion. Meanwhile, the other members of their old band, Blake, Izzie and Steph, also seem to be hiding something. Izzie was late to the prom the evening Kayla was attacked, but she won’t divulge why, even to her boyfriend Blake, who accuses her of being involved. And Jacko confronts Steph. Kayla was found coming from Keeper’s Wood after the attack, and both Jacko and Steph had been foraging there that afternoon. Steph hated Kayla, claiming she stole her songs. But Kayla denied it. Steph told Izzie where Kayla was – so surely, it had to be her who carried out the attack?

Izzie Carter didn’t look too good. What was causing those dark shadows beneath her eyes, Casey wondered, as she gestured to the empty chair opposite. She could have driven over to the school to interview Izzie, but had decided against it. She was too easily recognisable as Finlay’s mum, that detective. One sniff of her wandering through the corridors would cause disruption. There would be no work done in the classroom for the rest of the day.

She was running late, thanks to all the time she’d spent relaying to PC Kitty Thorpe the events of her visit to Kayla. ‘They never used