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Back False Witness Save as PDF
Chapters (100)
  1. Cover
  2. Title page
  3. Dedication page
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. 60
  64. 61
  65. 62
  66. 63
  67. 64
  68. 65
  69. 66
  70. 67
  71. 68
  72. 69
  73. 70
  74. 71
  75. 72
  76. 73
  77. 74
  78. 75
  79. 76
  80. 77
  81. 78
  82. 79
  83. 80
  84. 81
  85. 82
  86. 83
  87. 84
  88. 85
  89. 86
  90. 87
  91. 88
  92. 89
  93. 90
  94. 91
  95. 92
  96. Acknowledgements
  97. DEAD GUILTY
  98. 1
  99. FALSE WITNESS
  100. Also by Michelle Davies

Julia let out a sob. The episode was a dark, petrifying moment in her past, her lowest of low points. What she had done would haunt her for the rest of her days and she would never be able to make it up to Poppy or Ewan.

‘I don’t know how many times I can say it before you’ll believe me,’ she cried. ‘I wouldn’t have hurt Poppy . . . I never would’ve jumped.’

42

Burton had gone up to Rushbrooke with Renshaw so Maggie had to call him to see if he’d heard back from social services yet.

‘Not yet, no. I was going to chase them this morning but it looks like we’ll be here for a while,’ he said.

‘Have the dogs found anything yet?’

‘The search is about to start. There’s been a delay because the head teacher got very upset when we told her why we’re back. Between this, Benji’s death and last night’s fire, she’s pretty on edge.’

‘I’ll bet. Having to keep the school closed indefinitely must be a huge pressure. Text me the number for social services and I’ll call them now.’

‘Will do. Hang on a sec, Anna wants a word.’

Renshaw came on the line.

‘How did you get on with Tess Edwards?’

Maggie relayed the conversation to her. ‘That’s why I was ringing Burton, to see if social services have anything on the family. He hasn’t heard back so I’ll chase them myself.’

‘Good. After that I want you and Byford to go round to check on the Hepworths. They’ve got a solicitor acting for them now, but I think if you say you’re not there to question Poppy but want to see how they are, they might not call him.’

‘Okay, but what’s the real point of us going?’

‘You spend every case as a FLO in close proximity with relatives and that means you’re brilliant at picking up on dynamics. I want you to see what’s going on in that house right now between Poppy and her parents and the parents themselves.’

‘But why?’

Renshaw lowered her voice. ‘Because if this search doesn’t amount to anything, I need to make sure we’ve still got a case to fall back on. Proving Poppy’s involvement in Benji’s death is still our priority.’

Byford wasn’t happy when Maggie revealed they were taking a detour on their way to see Imogen.

‘Isn’t it a conflict of interest us visiting the suspect when we’re the victim’s mother’s liaison?’

‘We’re detectives as well as FLOs and when everyone else is busy we have to muck in. Besides, it’s just a house call, nothing formal. Can you call Imogen and let her know we’ll be round a bit later? I’ve got to call social services first.’