Page 94 of The Examiner

Cameron has a company of private investigators. He specialises in financial fraud, corporate security and industrial disputes. He didn’t want the other group members to know. Gela took me aside before the course began. She was worried I might accidentally say something.

Ben

After trying to run a company and complete an MA, he soon realised he couldn’t do both. I wonder … was he at Royal Hastings to help with burnout or to investigate something?

Hannah

I don’t know if it’s connected, but Alyson’s attendance dwindled at about the same time. I mean, she stopped coming in to Royal Hastings, but was still messaging on Doodle.

Ben

She and Ludya worked together on Assignment Four.

Hannah

Well, they each completed assignments, but was Ludya responsible for both? The affair between Alyson and Jonathan. I’ve wondered if it was going on before the course started?

Ben

Do you know her husband’s name?

Hannah

No. No one ever mentioned him to me.

Ben

What if he can afford to pay a PI to enrol on an MA course and keep an eye on his wife? It sounds to me as if Gela was in on the whole thing and even seems to know Cameron’s ‘boss’. If she means his client – Alyson’s husband – perhaps she’s been ‘enticed’ to collude.

Hannah

Gela wouldn’t risk her whole career for a few pounds.

Ben

Who says it’s a few pounds? It could be enough to worth risking your career, especially if you’re close to retirement and that career is hanging in the balance. Cameron may have left the course when he’d gathered enough evidence for his client. But nonetheless he has a particularly close relationship with Gela.

Hannah

You think so too?

Ben

They say ‘kiss-kiss’. Is that an affair between them, or the name of his investigation into Alyson’s behaviour?

Hannah

Gela is a well-respected academic. I’ve known her for years. She’s lovely and very professional.

Ben

And yet she’s doing everything she can to ensure Cameron scrapes a pass, when he left the course in January. Hannah, you say the students panicked when they heard the voice. Only I’ve read a lot of their correspondence now, and panic doesn’t seem to be a factor.

Hannah

Exactly. You’d think all they were worried about was their coursework and final project, but underneath I think there was a lot more going on.

Ben