The Address

Emma found Fiona Kerr's business website. Fiona worked in an office near Inverness. She helped small businesses with their accounts. Years earlier, she had worked for the Glenarraidh Education Trust.

Emma checked the telephone number twice. It was a work number. She did not want to call Fiona at home.

On her table were two sets of papers. Ailsa had shown Emma a letter about a scholarship. Calum had shown her emails about a payment. Both students had questions about money, but their papers did not prove that anyone had stolen it.

Emma called Fiona.

“Hello. Is that Fiona Kerr? I'm Emma Fraser. I'm a journalist.”

“Yes?”

“I'm looking at scholarship payments from 2010 and 2011.”

“I don't work for the trust now,” Fiona said.

“I know. Could I ask you some questions?”

“Read their accounts.”

“I have. Some numbers are different.”

“Questions are not proof.”

“That's why I want to understand them.”

Fiona asked where Emma had found the number. Emma explained that it was on Fiona's business website. Fiona told her to contact the trust and ended the call.

Emma was disappointed. But Fiona's refusal did not mean she was hiding a crime. She might simply be busy, or she might not trust journalists.

Emma read the trust's reports again. One document listed scholarships when they were offered. Another listed money when it was paid. These were not always the same date. She needed to understand the difference.

Sarah phoned at lunchtime.

“Have you eaten?” Sarah asked.

“Not yet.”

“Emma, you have talked about numbers for ten minutes. Please eat your sandwich.”

Emma looked at the sandwich on her desk. “I will. Soon.”

Sarah laughed. “That's what you said yesterday.”

After the call, Emma sent Fiona a polite email. She asked if they could meet for a short conversation. She promised not to use Fiona's name in an article without permission. She did not mention Claire or the strange letter.