THEY HAD DONE THE PRELIMINARY questioning of the suspects, but it had only been a cursory one. And on Monday morning Rafferty and Llewellyn set out for a second round of questioning. Rafferty decided to start with the boy, Ricky Webster. Afterwards, they could question Don Westlake and David Lodge, colleagues of the victim, both of whom they knew to have pursued her with love or lust in mind, with no luck in either case, presumably.
The boy, Ricky, he had summoned to the head teacher’s office. He came in tardily, reluctantly, and slouched down in the appointed chair. Mr Peterson sat in on the interview, as Ricky was still a minor, so they were uncomfortably close in the small office. It seemed to make Ricky even more uncomfortable than the rest of them.
‘Now then, Ricky,’ Rafferty began.
