police?”
“I did and they didn’t want to know. I went to the school governors and staff, the same lack of any interest. They said the same as you, kids mess with drugs and some swallow an accidental overdose and die.”
“So why do you think it was murder?” I asked him.
A shadow passed over his face as he recounted his last conversation with his daughter. “She came to me a while back and said that some of the kids at Fleming were pushing drugs, she was worried about it. Katie was like that, always thinking of other people. A couple of months back she said she was onto someone at school who she thought was actually behind the whole thing and that she’d nearly got enough evidence to take it to the cops. I told her to be careful.” He stopped to take out a handkerchief and wipe his eyes. He swallowed and then continued. “Two days later she was found dead. It was murder, plain and simple.”
I nodded. “It sure sounds like it, someone covering their tracks maybe.”
Morgan interrupted. “I want you to enroll at the school, Sarah, you can pass as seventeen. Get yourself kitted out with school uniform, all of the stuff, books, sports clothes and so on.”
I smiled inwardly as I pictured myself back in one of those sexy little tartan miniskirts again. Maybe I’d strike lucky and pull a guy this time, trouble was, he’d be seventeen, not much use to virgin Sarah.
“No problem, boss, I can do that. How long does the job last?”
“One month initially,” he replied. “But Brian wants it to go on for as long as it takes.”
Ginsberg leaned forward. “I want you to find the bastard who murdered my daughter, get the evidence and I can take it to the police and have the bastard locked up for ever.”
His expression was fierce and determined, I imagined he wanted a lot more than that when the person responsible was uncovered. If he owned a gun, and he probably did, it was likely he would be tempted to use it. I hoped not, there was no future in that line of thinking.
“So you’ll do it?” he said.
I nodded. “No sweat, I’ll do my best.”
We spent some time going over the details of Katie Ginsberg’s life, I made notes of her contacts and friends at school. Morgan handed me a hard drive.
“That’s a copy of Katie’s computer drive, you can take it and look through it, there’s everything you need to know about the academic side of things and of course who she was in contact with, good or bad.
“Could I ask you a question, Sarah,” Ginsberg said suddenly.
“Sure, of course.”
“You’re still young, I realize that, but are you married yet, Miss Walsh? Or have you got a regular boyfriend?”
I blinked. Wow, some question, I couldn’t see the relevance of it, but still, there was no harm in telling him. “The right guy hasn’t come along yet, that’s why not. When he does, I’ll grab him quick.”
“Yeah, I see. The thing is, Katie was, er, well, sexually, she was...” He faltered.
But it was obvious. “You mean she was gay, a lesbian?”
He nodded. Yeah, exactly.”
“Is that relevant to this investigation?” I asked.
“Not at all.”
“Then it’s of no interest, it makes no difference to us.”
I looked at Morgan and our eyes met. It made all the difference in the world, of course. The fact that the victim was a lesbian meant that the investigation would be slanted to look at other motives for murder, other girls, jilted ex-lovers, whatever.
Morgan looked at me. “I’ll give you the file later, Sarah,we’ll talk more then, that’s all.”
“Ok, nice meeting you, Brian. I’ll give it my best shot, I assure you.”
“Thank you,” he replied.
I nodded to him and left.
Two weeks later I was making my first report. I handed over a file containing documents and other materials I’d photocopied together with prints from photos I’d taken with my cellphone. He indicated a chair and I sat down and waited while he read through the file.
“Yep, this is good
“I did and they didn’t want to know. I went to the school governors and staff, the same lack of any interest. They said the same as you, kids mess with drugs and some swallow an accidental overdose and die.”
“So why do you think it was murder?” I asked him.
A shadow passed over his face as he recounted his last conversation with his daughter. “She came to me a while back and said that some of the kids at Fleming were pushing drugs, she was worried about it. Katie was like that, always thinking of other people. A couple of months back she said she was onto someone at school who she thought was actually behind the whole thing and that she’d nearly got enough evidence to take it to the cops. I told her to be careful.” He stopped to take out a handkerchief and wipe his eyes. He swallowed and then continued. “Two days later she was found dead. It was murder, plain and simple.”
I nodded. “It sure sounds like it, someone covering their tracks maybe.”
Morgan interrupted. “I want you to enroll at the school, Sarah, you can pass as seventeen. Get yourself kitted out with school uniform, all of the stuff, books, sports clothes and so on.”
I smiled inwardly as I pictured myself back in one of those sexy little tartan miniskirts again. Maybe I’d strike lucky and pull a guy this time, trouble was, he’d be seventeen, not much use to virgin Sarah.
“No problem, boss, I can do that. How long does the job last?”
“One month initially,” he replied. “But Brian wants it to go on for as long as it takes.”
Ginsberg leaned forward. “I want you to find the bastard who murdered my daughter, get the evidence and I can take it to the police and have the bastard locked up for ever.”
His expression was fierce and determined, I imagined he wanted a lot more than that when the person responsible was uncovered. If he owned a gun, and he probably did, it was likely he would be tempted to use it. I hoped not, there was no future in that line of thinking.
“So you’ll do it?” he said.
I nodded. “No sweat, I’ll do my best.”
We spent some time going over the details of Katie Ginsberg’s life, I made notes of her contacts and friends at school. Morgan handed me a hard drive.
“That’s a copy of Katie’s computer drive, you can take it and look through it, there’s everything you need to know about the academic side of things and of course who she was in contact with, good or bad.
“Could I ask you a question, Sarah,” Ginsberg said suddenly.
“Sure, of course.”
“You’re still young, I realize that, but are you married yet, Miss Walsh? Or have you got a regular boyfriend?”
I blinked. Wow, some question, I couldn’t see the relevance of it, but still, there was no harm in telling him. “The right guy hasn’t come along yet, that’s why not. When he does, I’ll grab him quick.”
“Yeah, I see. The thing is, Katie was, er, well, sexually, she was...” He faltered.
But it was obvious. “You mean she was gay, a lesbian?”
He nodded. Yeah, exactly.”
“Is that relevant to this investigation?” I asked.
“Not at all.”
“Then it’s of no interest, it makes no difference to us.”
I looked at Morgan and our eyes met. It made all the difference in the world, of course. The fact that the victim was a lesbian meant that the investigation would be slanted to look at other motives for murder, other girls, jilted ex-lovers, whatever.
Morgan looked at me. “I’ll give you the file later, Sarah,we’ll talk more then, that’s all.”
“Ok, nice meeting you, Brian. I’ll give it my best shot, I assure you.”
“Thank you,” he replied.
I nodded to him and left.
Two weeks later I was making my first report. I handed over a file containing documents and other materials I’d photocopied together with prints from photos I’d taken with my cellphone. He indicated a chair and I sat down and waited while he read through the file.
“Yep, this is good
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