Page 202 of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
Ellie Cooper
You can see schoolgirls walking across the quad. It must be their first day back after summer break.
Ellie Cooper
Mand! I’ve looked up a map of the school. The roof where Oliver is hiding … it’s called The Orchard Building
Amanda Bailey
I shouldn’t have let it get this far. I have to stop him doing anything truly stupid. Driving to Ascot now. This is so you know. Just in case.
Ellie Cooper
In case what?
Amanda Bailey
Oliver says I live in 2001. He’s wrong. I live in 1991. I print out my research and archive it as I go. In case it’s disputed or queried. Mark Dunning did the same.
Amanda Bailey
Ellie, I’m going to the school and will post something to you on the way. Whatever happens, you’ll get it in the next few days. It explains how and why Harpinder Singh died. In case anything happens to me.
Ellie Cooper
Don’t go anywhere, Mand. I’m speaking to the police now. They’ll get there before you. It’ll be fine.
Later messages from me to Amanda Bailey, 6 September 2021:
Ellie Cooper
Everything OK, Mand? I haven’t heard from either you or the police. I hope that means you’re alright, but can you let me know?
Ellie Cooper
Hi, Mand. Did you go there? Is everything OK now?
Ellie Cooper
Just had a thought: at the start of all this you and Oliver were racing each other to the baby, and in a funny sort of way, you still are!
Of course, I never received an answer.
8
I Take Over from the Late Amanda Bailey on 8 September 2021
I received Amanda’s letter as she predicted. Inside was a key, a printout of that final message exchange between her and Oliver, and this handwritten note:
Ellie,
This key opens a safe deposit box. The address is on the label. Inside you’ll find my Alperton Angels research. In addition to cuttings and notes, I’ve printed out every interview, WhatsApp conversation and text message. These are the only versions that exist now – anything electronic has been deleted in such a way that it can never be retrieved.
It’s a precaution in case something bad should happen. But it won’t. Everything will be fine. As you’ll see, Gabriel is innocent of Harpinder Singh’s murder.
If anything happens to me, I’ll leave it up to you what you do with the enclosed.
Amanda
