SETTLING Scores

Kayla had left an impression on her friends – but would they really have gone so far?

- Geraldine Ryan

THE STORY SO FAR: Eager to secure the respect of his pupils, music teacher Blake Dixon has persuaded his old school friend and famous singer, Kayla Gayle, to perform at the sixth form prom. But though the two of them were once in a band with three others, the group had split up acrimoniously when Kayla’s individual talent was recognised. Because of this, Kayla is surprised when Blake renews contact with her, but nevertheless agrees to return to her home town to perform. However, as the time approaches for Kayla to perform, there’s no sign of her. Neither is there any sign of Izzie, Blake’s girlfriend, who is not only a fellow teacher, but also another old school friend of his and Kayla’s. He suspects she’s kept away because she stills bears Kayla a grudge. Then, in the middle of the night, DI Casey Clunes gets a call out to the hospital. Kayla lies unconscious, the victim of an attack.

A day after Kayla Gayle had been brought into hospital by the young couple who’d found her staggering along the lane leading from Keeper’s Wood, no arrests had been made.

A subdural haematoma, which can strike any time, had put her into a coma, which meant that without any information from Kayla herself, the police had nothing to go on.

Given the direction from which she’d emerged, however, a full sweep of the area had been in motion since first light. It was while Casey was waiting at her desk for any news from the search, that her phone rang. Finlay rarely rang her at work, so she guessed he had a good reason.

‘’Sup?’ she said. ‘Stop trying to sound cool, Mum,’ was his withering reply. ‘Fine. In that case, how goeth it with thee?’ A long exasperated sigh reached her.