SERIAL PART ONE SETTLING Scores

There was a deafening slam of the front door, immediately followed by the thud of a backpack hitting the ground and angry feet racing up the stairs. All these things combined rather suggested that Finlay, back home from school, had had a bad day, thought Casey.

Casey and Dom exchanged glances. Finlay roughly opened then slammed shut his bedroom door, startling the hitherto half-asleep Oscar and bringing him to his feet with a rousing volley of barks.

‘It’s OK, boy.’ Casey put out a hand to stroke him. ‘Fin’s fine.’

Oscar, unconvinced, trotted out to the hall to see for himself. It had gone quiet upstairs now. Oscar wasn’t allowed on the top floor but that rarely stopped him.

Casey had enjoyed a relaxing day off so far, almost managing to forget the mound of paperwork that would still be waiting for her tomorrow. But all that was about to change. With a sigh she reached for the kettle. At times like this, tea was usually the answer.

‘He’s been full of beans for weeks till now,’ Dom observed. ‘Ever since he found out about that ex-pupil, whatsername, returning to school to sing.’

Given his profession as a journalist, Dom’s capacity for remembering names had always been limited.

‘She’s called Kayla Gayle, Dom,’ Casey reminded him, switching the kettle on.

‘That’s it. I should remember, given how many times Fin’s brought it up.’

Casey rolled her eyes.

‘I remember, however, that she’s friends with Mr