A Velvet Scream by Priscilla Masters Page B

did.’
    Joanna pursued her point. ‘True. But as far as they knew?’
    Danny shook his head. ‘No.’
    â€˜OK.’ Joanna scanned the room. Anyone else have anything to add?’
    There was a sea of shaking heads.
    â€˜Right. Keep in touch.’
    They tracked Shaun Hennessey down at one of the ‘middle’ schools in Leek where he taught a class of eight year olds. Not wanting to disrupt the class they waited until the eleven o’clock break. The head teacher had set a room aside but seemed concerned that one of his teachers needed to be interviewed by the police. Joanna spent some time reassuring him that the interview was simply a matter of pursuing a routine enquiry.
    Shaun Hennessey was a tall, athletic, handsome man who wore an air of arrogance as comfortably as a well-fitting suit. ‘Inspector,’ he said, with a flash of even white teeth. ‘Sergeant?’
    â€˜Hi, Shaun.’ Korpanski gave Joanna an embarrassed grin accompanied by a lift of the eyebrows and a shrug of the shoulders. Joanna could interpret it perfectly.
    I didn’t realize it was him.
    She could even guess where Korpanski and Hennessey had bumped into each other. Judging by their musculature both were men who “worked out”. They’d have met at the gym, of course.
    Hennessey had visibly relaxed when he had recognized Sergeant Mike Korpanski and Joanna took advantage of his composure.
    â€˜This is just an informal chat really,’ she said, needing the birthday boy to be at his ease. ‘I take it you know what happened outside Patches on Tuesday night?’
    â€˜Yeah. It’s been in the Post and Times .’
    â€˜With a description of the person involved.’
    Hennessey nodded.
    â€˜Do you know what the young woman was wearing?’
    â€˜Steve told me.’
    â€˜Did you see her in the nightclub on Tuesday?’
    Hennessey didn’t answer right away. He thought about it. ‘I did,’ he admitted after a pause, ‘but I didn’t take a lot of notice. To be honest  . . .’ He gave a swift glance at Joanna, as though wondering whether to proceed along this perilous path. ‘She wasn’t my type. She looked – yes, young. Too much make-up. I didn’t like the way she was throwing herself around. She looked a bit – tarty, really.’
    â€˜Did you have a dance with her?’
    Hennessey shook his head. ‘I was at the bar most of the evening,’ he said. ‘Everyone seemed to be buying me drinks and I was enjoying chatting.’
    â€˜Are you married?’
    â€˜Next April. Tying the knot.’ Again Hennessey grinned.
    â€˜And your fiancée didn’t mind you spending your birthday evening with your friends?’
    â€˜No. Jen’s really easy-going. Besides, I’m taking her out to dinner tomorrow night to a very classy restaurant.’
    Joanna smiled at him. ‘Is there anything else you can add?’
    Hennessey shook his head. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I’d like to help but  . . .’ He gave his disarming smile again. ‘The entire evening is a bit hazy – as you can probably imagine.’ They left the school.
    â€˜Sorry, Jo, Mike apologized. ‘I didn’t realize I knew him.’
    â€˜It probably didn’t make a lot of difference, Mike,’ Joanna said. ‘It’s OK.’
    Dr Afarim rang late in the morning. ‘I’ve spent considerable time with young Kayleigh Harrison,’ he said, ‘and have formed some interesting conclusions which may or may not have a bearing on your investigation. Would it be convenient for you to come and talk to me at the hospital – in confidence, of course.’
    Joanna was intrigued. ‘Anything that will help take this enquiry further would be appreciated,’ she said. ‘When would suit you?’
    â€˜I am free at two o’clock,’ he