Page 171 of The Examiner

Why do you ask?

Gela

Jem and Patrick have presented me with a spreadsheet and timeline detailing missing items. Canvas, paint, resin, plaster.

Ludya

WTF? Loads of people use the studio and the storeroom.

Gela

They’ve logged Suzie’s arrival at, and estimated departures from, the studio on all given days.

Jonathan

Jem can’t know what’s missing and what isn’t. She’s blind.

Ludya

Patrick must have done that bit. Jeez, the gruesome twosome.

Gela

It’s not Patrick, it’s Jem. She knows that storeroom inside out. She wants to be as independent as possible, so she familiarises herself with her environment. Patrick helped with the spreadsheet and the trade prices of the items.

Jonathan

Trade prices?

Gela

Apparently Suzie has acquired £125.81 worth of art supplies.

Suzie

Is this acceptable? For students to spy on other students?

Gela

That depends if they’re right or not. Have you taken anything from the cupboard that hasn’t been used for a class assignment?

Suzie

Alyson is desperate to get a new exhibition off the ground and, apart from this commission she’s got no money coming in. I said I’d help out and get her a few essentials, that’s all. We’ve been shipping it through the rear doors. It’s the least we can do, considering the risks she’s taking for us.

RH WhatsApp group members Ludya Parak, Alyson Lang, Jonathan Danners and Gela Nathaniel, 24 October 2023:

Gela

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ABOUT? IT WAS STUPID, RECKLESS AND DANGEROUS. YOU DO NOT SET FIRE TO ANYTHING IN MY STUDIO. I CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT, I’M SO ANGRY.

Suzie

Cameron’s phone has a security feature that claims to alert the police when someone it doesn’t recognise looks at it. He works in marketing for financial services. Why that level of security?

Gela

What has that got to do with you setting fire to Jonathan’s assignment?