The Locked Room (Ruth Galloway #14)(31)

The last item in her notes is a reference to Maggie O’Flynn, Avril’s friend who died in January. There didn’t, on the face of it, seem anything suspicious about Maggie’s death, which was apparently due to ‘myocardial infarction’. But Maggie was another woman on her own, someone who went to church and did good works in the community. And now she is, unexpectedly, dead. It’s still part of the pattern.

Judy decides that the best use of her first day in lockdown would be to follow up on one of Liz’s suicide cold cases. She starts, as they always do these days, with Facebook. There are no results for Rosanna Leigh or Celia Dunne. Either their pages were closed when they died, or they are in the minority of people who are not on the social networking site. Even Judy has a profile, although she hasn’t posted in five years. Cathbad doesn’t have a personal page but he does have one for his yoga teaching. Miranda is already asking to join and lots of Michael’s friends are already there, despite the age limit. Maddie has hundreds of Facebook and Instagram friends who all post identical pouting pictures of themselves. Clough posts pictures of his dog and his children. Tanya shares fitness tips. Almost the only people Judy knows who aren’t on Facebook are Ruth and Nelson. Perhaps they have more in common than they realise.

Karen Head does have a page though. Her family have kept it open as a memorial to her. Judy supposes it’s a new kind of immortality but it’s still disconcerting to see Karen’s smiling face looking out at her. Judy scrolls through the messages.



Rest in peace angel.

Sleep well Kaz sweetheart.

Can’t believe you are gone.

We love you Miss Head.



This last reminds Judy that Karen was a teacher. She makes a note to talk to the school. Presumably, even if schools are closed, there is someone to take messages? Michael and Miranda’s school is still open for the children of key workers, which presumably includes Judy. She’s not going to suggest that they go to school, though, when she knows that they’ll have a wonderful time being educated by Cathbad. As if prompted by an otherworldly power, her phone buzzes. Maddie.

‘Hi, Judy. You busy?’

‘Not really. It all feels very surreal.’

‘I know. The streets are deserted. You could have a picnic in the middle of the A149.’

‘Please don’t.’

‘I won’t. I popped in to see Cathbad and he was doing yoga with the kids in the garden.’

Judy can imagine the scene. It makes her wish that she was at home and not in this weird socially distanced workspace.

‘I was wondering,’ says Maddie. ‘Could I come and stay with you for a bit? Just while we’re in lockdown. The lease is almost up on the flat.’

‘Of course,’ says Judy. ‘Your room is waiting for you.’

‘I can help Cathbad with the home-schooling.’ Maddie always calls her father by his name, or rather by his alias.

‘It would be good if you could remind him to do some,’ says Judy.



Judy’s hunch is correct. Karen’s school, Gaywood Juniors, is still open and the headteacher himself answers the phone. ‘Yes, we’ve got about fifty children here,’ says Richard Parsons, ‘some of them very vulnerable. It’s been a nightmare making everything Covid-safe.’

‘It’s the same here at the police station,’ says Judy. ‘Though I suppose it must be harder making children stay two metres apart.’

‘It’s impossible,’ says Richard. ‘And it’s difficult for teachers too. Some of them are shielding or looking after elderly ­parents. I’m having to live apart from my family because my youngest has asthma.’

They talk for several minutes before Judy can mention Karen. Richard’s voice changes immediately. ‘Poor Karen. That was such a shock. She was a lovely woman and a great teacher.’

‘You say it was a shock,’ says Judy. ‘Did you have any idea that she was depressed or having suicidal thoughts?’

‘None at all,’ says Richard. ‘I knew she’d been hit hard by her divorce, but she seemed on good terms with her ex and was devoted to her daughter. Karen was always such a sunny presence around the school, organising get-togethers and what have you. She even got us to have a sponsored slim last year. I lost two stone. I’ve put it all on again since though.’

‘Karen was at a staff get-together the night before she died, wasn’t she?’

‘Yes. We went out for a meal then on to a karaoke bar. Karen seemed on great form.’

Judy doesn’t say that a karaoke bar would be her idea of hell. She asks who would have been the last person to see Karen that night.

‘I think that was Sue Elver. They shared a taxi together.’

‘Have you got a phone number for Sue?’

‘I think so. She left the school after Karen died. Left the profession entirely. But I think I have a number somewhere in my phone. Yes. Here it is.’

Judy takes down the number, thanks Richard for his time and wishes him good luck with the rest of term.

‘It’s not so bad,’ says Richard. ‘I love teaching and it’s good to be back in the classroom. It’s not the same for everyone. I’ve already had parents on the phone begging me to take their children back.’

‘My partner seems to be enjoying home-schooling,’ says Judy.