Danielle Ramsay - Broken Silence

Ellison casually sat down on the edge of his desk. He followed Brady’s eye to the sports posters on the wall behind him.

‘Snowboarding, rock climbing and surfing … that’s what I do. That is, when I’m not teaching,’ Ellison modestly explained for Jenkins’ benefit, rather than Brady’s.

‘I see,’ Brady replied, disliking him even more.

He could understand the allure of surfing in the dazzling warm waters off Australia or the West coast of America, but the gripping, black North East waters that battered Tynemouth beach just didn’t do it for him. There were better ways of spending your cold, drizzling weekends in Whitley Bay. And freezing your bollocks off in the sewage-strewn, icy waters of the North Sea didn’t come close.

‘Do you want a seat?’ Ellison suddenly offered, realising that Brady and Conrad were still standing. ‘Sorry it’s so cramped in here,’ he added as he moved an assortment of sports gear off one of the chairs and dumped it on the floor.

‘Thanks,’ Conrad said as he took a seat.

‘I’m fine standing,’ Brady answered.

His leg was really giving him some gyp and the last thing he wanted to do was to sit down and have it seize up on him in front of Surfer Boy. Not with Jenkins there.

‘So, what can I do for you?’ Ellison asked in a deferential tone as his boyish eyes rested on Jenkins.

‘We were wondering what you could tell us about Sophie?’ Brady began.

Ellison lifted his bright, azure-blue eyes up to Brady’s as he thought about the question.

He shook his head and shrugged apologetically.

‘I really don’t know what I can tell you.’

Brady noticed that despite the relaxed voice, Ellison seemed slightly agitated. Brady couldn’t specifically put his finger on it, but he felt it. He didn’t need some fancy PhD in psychology to know when someone was lying or uneasy about something. It was simple: Ellison seemed too cool for Brady’s liking, considering the circumstances.

‘We were hoping that you might be able to tell us if she seemed worried at all? Perhaps preoccupied in lessons? That kind of thing,’ Brady explained. ‘We’re just trying to get a clearer picture of what was going on in Sophie’s life.’

‘No … I can’t think of anything …’ Ellison answered. ‘I mean … I still can’t believe that this has happened … why would someone …?’ His confused, hurt gaze returned to Jenkins.

‘That’s why we’re here, sir,’ Brady stated.

Ellison looked at Brady.

‘I don’t know what to say. She was a very popular girl. Everyone liked her … I can’t say she ever seemed distracted or worried to me. She was always such a hard-working, sociable student,’ Ellison replied. ‘I can’t imagine anyone doing such a dreadful thing …’

‘Someone did,’ Brady pointed out. ‘Someone who personally knew her.’

Ellison shrugged.

‘I believe that Sophie had been teaching Year 6 maths on a Saturday morning for the past eight weeks?’

‘Yes, that’s right. She was gifted at maths and had already started her A-level module, even though she hadn’t completed her GCSE,’ answered Ellison.

Brady raised his eyebrow, intrigued that Ellison knew so much, given the fact he was just her form tutor.

‘I was also her maths teacher. I teach Year 10 and 11 maths. And then A-level maths,’ explained Ellison.

Brady was surprised. Ellison definitely didn’t look like a maths teacher from his day. If Ellison had said that he was some jock who taught PE then Brady wouldn’t have thought twice about it.

‘What about the school trip to Germany?’

‘What about it?’ Ellison questioned as he distractedly ran a hand through his short, stylishly messy hair.

‘We have reason to believe Sophie began a relationship with someone while on that trip.’

For a second, Brady swore that Ellison looked surprised.

‘I’m afraid I still can’t help you. I was just her teacher. Maybe one of her friends would know?’

‘We’ve tried that, but no luck,’ Brady answered. ‘However they did say that she was allegedly seeing some older guy. You wouldn’t have any ideas as to who that would be, do you?’

**‘No … no, like I said I’m just her maths teacher and form tutor.’

Brady waited for more.

Uncomfortable, Ellison turned to Jenkins.

‘Maybe you got it wrong?’ he suggested.

‘I’m afraid not, Mr Ellison. Mobile phone records don’t lie. They show that she started a relationship with someone directly after the German school trip. And then there’s the autopsy report,’ Jenkins calmly replied.

‘I’m sorry?’ replied Ellison uncomfortably. ‘Are you saying what I think you are? That Sophie was …’ Ellison faltered as he looked from Jenkins to Brady.

‘Sexually active?’ Jenkins asked.

Ellison nodded awkwardly.

‘Yes,’ answered Jenkins as she caught Brady’s eye.

They both waited for Ellison to say something.

‘I’m really sorry about all of this but there’s nothing more I can tell you …’ Ellison finally replied.

‘A student of yours was found murdered in the early hours of this morning. I’m sure there’s a lot more you can tell us, sir,’ Brady firmly stated.

Ellison looked at him.

‘I don’t know what you’re expecting from me. As I said, I was just her form tutor,’ Ellison insisted with an edge of annoyance.

Brady took out the photograph he had and handed it to Ellison.

Ellison looked at it and then at Brady.

Something about the photo bothered Brady.

And it was clear that it also bothered Ellison.

‘What exactly are you suggesting?’ Ellison asked.

Brady shrugged.

Ellison’s face muscles tensed up as he tried to figure out what to say next.

‘Look, I can’t help it if my students develop crushes on me. It sort of goes with the territory … You know …?’ Ellison reasoned arrogantly.

‘I’m sure it does, sir,’ Brady cynically replied.

‘I don’t know what you’re trying to imply, DI Brady,’ Ellison repeated, as he dismissively handed the photograph back to Brady.

Brady noticed that Ellison’s hand was trembling slightly. It seemed the photograph had triggered a nerve.

‘I’m implying nothing, sir,’ answered Brady.

‘Most of the girls on that trip had a photo taken with me. You know what teenage girls are like? They’re full of bravado,’ Ellison said.

‘But it wasn’t bravado, was it? It was full-blown sex. Bit of a difference wouldn’t you say?’

Jenkins suddenly cleared her throat.

Startled, Ellison looked at her.

‘Do you mind if I ask a couple more questions?’ Jenkins said, disarming Ellison with a seductive smile.

Brady looked at her. Ellison may have tried to make out he was an innocent teacher in all of this, but soon Jenkins was going to have him firmly by the balls.

‘You see, I did some research on you,’ began Jenkins slowly.

Ellison’s face dropped.

Brady realised that Ellison had second-guessed what was coming.

‘I’m just curious as to why you handed your notice in at the last school you worked at, Mr Ellison?’

He looked at Jenkins irritably, dropping the charming act.

‘Why? There’s no law against leaving one job for another?’

‘No, there isn’t,’ calmly agreed Jenkins. ‘But it is a little unusual, don’t you think?’

Ellison didn’t answer her.

‘Particularly when you consider the rumour that you were having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a sixth former,’ Jenkins said as she watched him.

Ellison shrugged nonchalantly.

‘So what? It was just that. A rumour. And anyway, the girl was nearly eighteen so shoot me.’

Jenkins smiled at him.