NINE
Luck remained on Emma’s side as there was no sign of Sarah in either the corridor or the training office. All the same, disparaging comments greeted her late return, one woman expressing a fervent desire that Madam Suck-up would pay the price for popularity. Colour tinged Emma’s already flushed cheeks. Hurrying to her work-station, she welcomed the lack of an immediate neighbour.
‘Leave her alone,’ Jean’s voice rang out. ‘We ought to be pulling together, not promoting division. None of us has any idea what awaits us at the end of the training period, so who can blame Emma for knuckling down to complete the modules. She’s protecting herself, not grovelling, and we should be doing the same. Do you want to end up like Harie?’
‘You have news of her?’ one of the three male trainees aske
