Fatal Witness (Detective Erika Foster #7) (63)

‘That’s me,’ the woman said, with the same hostility she had for the young girl.

‘And what’s your name?’

‘Mrs Sheila Wright.’

She didn’t open the door for them.

‘We’re investigating historical assaults on female students that happened in GDA’s student accommodations. We’d like to talk to you about it, somewhere a little more private,’ said Erika. She held out her warrant card again, and introduced herself and Peterson. Sheila leant over and looked at their cards, and then unbolted the door for them to come inside. The three other women looked up at them with interest.

‘Please. Follow me,’ she said. They moved through to another corridor with doors leading off it. Her office was at the end of the corridor and looked out over a small garden with a central courtyard, trees and empty flowerbeds.

‘I hadn’t been told you were coming today,’ she said.

‘We need to know if you have records of an intruder who broke into your Jubilee Road and Hartwood Road student accommodation and threatened and assaulted young women.’ Sheila’s eyes grew wide at this information. ‘The names are: Kathleen Barber, the incident happened in January 2012 in Jubilee Road, Grace Leith and the incident happened in February 2012 at Hartwood Road, and Becky Wayland, who was assaulted at Jubilee Road in February 2014.’

Sheila looked between Erika and Peterson for a moment, then sat down and swivelled her computer screen around to face her. ‘Wouldn’t you already have this information, being the police?’

‘Not all incidents are reported to us,’ said Erika.

‘And these young women were students here?’

‘They auditioned for places here on the Drama course.’

‘If they weren’t accepted, then they never became full-time students. We don’t keep records for temporary stays, or non-students,’ said Sheila.

‘But if a prospective student staying just for one night was assaulted, or their room was broken into, wouldn’t you have some record of this? As a landlord the school must have an insurance policy,’ said Peterson. Sheila’s fingers moved in a blur as she touch typed.

‘I have no record of these women in our alumni database. We only keep records of students.’

‘What if a window is broken? Or an accommodation is broken into more than once? Do you have a record for the Jubilee Road building?’ asked Erika.

‘Yes. We keep some records on the student accommodations. If there are repairs or incidents…’ Erika noted Sheila’s touch was heavy-handed on the keyboard, as if she was taking out her annoyance on the keys. ‘But I can’t see anything here. Do you know if there was any serious damage when the person gained access? Was a window broken, or a door kicked in?’

Gained access, thought Erika. It was an odd way to describe a break-in.

‘We don’t know if there was any damage,’ said Erika. ‘So you’re telling us that if you have an intruder in student accommodation, nothing is done about it?’

Sheila sat back and folded her arms.

‘No, I’m not saying that. Pastoral care for students is a high priority, officers. We have strong security measures in place. Since 2017, all of our student halls entrances have a video camera. And back since 2000, we’ve had a card key entry system on all entrances and exits into halls. And the windows have bars on them,’ she said.

‘This person who broke in unscrewed the bars,’ said Erika.

‘I’m unaware of this.’

‘How does the card key entry system work?’ asked Peterson.

‘Each student has a magnetic card key, and they use it to open the door. No one can get in without a card key.’

‘Someone could borrow or steal a card key, though?’ said Erika.

‘Technically, yes. But we’re very careful about security, and we upgraded the security to include a camera system in 2017.’

‘Only last year?’ asked Erika.

‘Yes.’

‘Why did you wait until only last year?’

‘Officer, I don’t make policy. I am merely the administrator for student welfare. I don’t control budgets.’

‘Were you the administrator for student welfare back in 2012?’

‘Yes.’

‘Would you be able to give us all records that you have of break-ins and assaults in student accommodation?’ asked Erika.

‘I told you. I don’t have anything for the dates you specify,’ said Sheila. She seemed defensive now.

‘But you do keep records about students. We can come back with a warrant, and make a big old fuss, and say that Sheila the welfare officer is obstructing a police officer,’ said Erika.

‘I’m not obstructing you.’

Erika was now deeply annoyed with this jobsworth.

‘Good. So you will comply with my request as a police officer, and hand over all of your files.’

‘I would need to look through quite a lot of data. I don’t even know if we would have this information.’

Erika rummaged in her pocket and took out her card.

‘This is my number. When the files are ready, contact me, and we will arrange for a secure transfer. I will expect you to call promptly.’

‘Yes,’ said Sheila, chastised.