Free The Surrogate by Tania Carver Page A

together. ‘Sorry.’

    ‘That’s all right.’

    The head teacher allowed a small smile to cross her face. ‘At times like this I wish I still smoked.’

    Anni gave a small smile. ‘I’m sure you do. Right. Claire Fielding and Julie Simpson. Friends?’

    Emma Nicholls nodded.

    ‘Julie was Year Six, Claire Year Four, right?’

    Emma Nicholls nodded again, her hands fidgeting as if an imaginary cigarette was there.

    ‘And Claire was pregnant.’

    Another nod.

    ‘How long did she have to go until maternity leave?’

    ‘A couple . . . a couple of weeks.’

    ‘Was it planned, d’you know? Was she happy about it?’

    Emma Nicholls frowned. ‘Is that important? She’s dead.’

    ‘I know. But we have to ask these questions. Helps us find out who did it.’

    ‘Right.’The frown slowly disappeared to be replaced by a sigh. ‘She seemed happy about it, from what I could gather.’

    ‘We believe she had friends round last night.’

    ‘Yes. A baby shower.’ Her lip trembled again.

    ‘Ms Nicholls, we’re trying to track down anyone one else who may have been there. Could you give me any names?’

    Emma Nicholls didn’t have to give the matter any thought. ‘Chrissie Burrows. Geraint Cooper. They were talking about it this morning.’

    ‘That’s it? Just those two?’

    ‘Just . . .’ Tears threatened her eyes again.

    Anni waited until the head teacher was once more under control.

    ‘Ms Nicholls, I’ll need to talk to them too.’

    Emma Nicholls nodded. Anni looked at her notes. ‘What about Claire’s boyfriend? Did she ever mention him?’

    The frown returned to Emma Nicholls’ face, along with a guarded look in her eyes. ‘Her boyfriend.’

    ‘Ryan Brotherton,’ said Anni, looking at her notes once more. ‘At least that’s what we’re assuming. His name crops up a lot in her diary. Dates, that sort of thing. Did she ever mention him at all?’

    ‘Well, Claire didn’t have a very . . . easy relationship with him from what I could gather. As I said, it was none of my business. She was an excellent teacher, very professional, and the children adored her. Whatever else went on in her life, as long as it didn’t impinge on work I couldn’t get involved.’

    Anni said nothing.

    Emma Nicholls continued. ‘Claire had recently split up with her partner.’

    Anni frowned. She hadn’t received that impression from the notebooks in Claire’s flat.

    ‘You look surprised.’

    ‘I am. I was given to understand that the relationship was still ongoing.’

    Emma Nicholls shook her head. ‘Again, I must stress that I seldom interfere, but my staff know my door is always open for them. A few months ago Claire was looking very despondent. I asked her if she wanted to talk. She didn’t. Julie . . .’ Again the dark cloud descended as she spoke the name. ‘Julie . . . told me that Claire and her partner had split up. And that Claire was taking it very badly.’

    ‘When would this have been?’

    Emma Nicholls thought. ‘About . . . when she announced she was pregnant. Five months ago? Six months. Something like that.’ Her fingers fidgeted again. ‘Everyone rallied round, as I said. And she got over it eventually.’

    ‘Do you think she wanted him back?’

    Emma Nicholls looked surprised at the question. ‘Of course. Wouldn’t you?’

    ‘Yes. I suppose I would,’ Anni said, trying to smile.

    ‘Yes. Even him.’

    Anni leaned forward. ‘Even him? What d’you mean?’

    Emma Nicholls did her auditioning thing once more. ‘He . . . I don’t think he did her much good. Not just running out when she was pregnant, but . . .’ She put her head back. Anni felt as if she was about to impart something important. Then she leaned forward, waved her hand. Whatever it was she was going to say, the moment had passed. ‘I don’t know. I don’t know. You wanted facts. Anything else I could say would be conjecture.’

    Anni realised this would be as much as she was going to