“I'm afraid I slipped,” she said calmly, sitting up and ignoring the excruciating pain in her back. “A patch of wetness.”

“This is awful,” Mr Hanning said. “Terrible. Are you…”

“Did the fall hurt your back, Emily?” Mrs Crossen interrupted. Mr Hanning looked at her gratefully.

Miss Sidley got up, her spine screaming in her body.

“No,” she said. “In fact, the fall seems to have worked some minor chiropractic miracle. My back hasn't felt this well in years.”

“We can send for a doctor…” Mr Hanning began.

“Not necessary.” Miss Sidley smiled at him coolly.

“I'll call you a taxi from the office.”

“You'll do no such thing,” Miss Sidley said, walking to the door of the girls' lav and opening it. “I always take the bus.”

Mr Hanning sighed and looked at Mrs Crossen. Mrs Crossen rolled her eyes and said nothing.

The next day Miss Sidley kept Robert after school. He did nothing to warrant the punishment, so she simply accused him falsely. She felt no qualms; he was a monster, not a little boy. She must make him admit it.

Her back was in agony. She realized Robert knew; he expected that would help him. But it wouldn't. That was another of her little advantages. Her back had been a constant pain to her for the last twelve years, and there had been many times when it had been this bad – well, almost this bad.

She closed the door, shutting the two of them in.

For a moment she stood still, training her gaze on Robert. She waited for him to drop his eyes. He didn't. He looked back at her, and presently a little smile began to play around the comers of his mouth.

“Why are you smiling, Robert?” she asked softly.

“I don't know,” Robert said, and went on smiling.