BooksBarbecue
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

Gus got to his feet and tossed the inhaler onto the ground as he walked away, leaving Alan scrabbling to reach it.

49

Poppy Hepworth’s composure was remarkable for a girl her age. She hadn’t been at all flustered when her dad informed her she had to accompany Maggie and Byford up to Rushbrooke, nor had she reacted when, on arriving at the school, Renshaw explained what it was they needed her to do. She’d compliantly followed Renshaw through the gap in the hoardings without so much as a backwards glance.

Ewan Hepworth was a different matter. Clearly agitated he wasn’t allowed to chaperone his daughter on the other side of the hoardings – he was made to stay put to avoid scene contamination – he paced the playground while whispering furiously into his phone. Maggie suspected he was talking to his solicitor, who, if he was worth his fee, was presumably telling Ewan to cooperate for Poppy’s sake.

A few metres away Byford was also on his phone. Maggie wondered who he was talking to – it can’t have been Imogen because she’d called herself to let her know they were still delayed. Except it hadn’t been Imogen who answered but Grace, keen to express her annoyance they were being made to wait around when they were desperate for an update. Maggie had apologized profusely and said they’d get there as soon as they could.

As she watched Byford, her phone pinged to signal a received text. She opened the message without a thought, then gasped when she read it.

Happy birthday, Auntie Maggie. We really miss u. I wish u and Mum wud make up. xoxo Jude

Maggie was overwhelmed with delight. The message was the most unexpected birthday present she could’ve hoped for. Immediately she texted her nephew back.

It’s SO lovely to hear from you. How are you? How are Scotty and Mae? Send them my love. I miss you all so much. I wish I could see you. Let me know how you’re doing. xxx

Minutes ticked by but no more texts arrived. She was toying with ringing Jude when Byford appeared at her side.

‘I’ve got to go.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’m needed in Trenton. That case I had to go back for is about to collapse and I’ve been told to be there this afternoon to review my notes again.’

For someone facing a work crisis Byford didn’t seem unduly troubled. Maggie wished she could be as laid-back about things.

‘You’ll need to let DS Renshaw know,’ she said.

‘She already does. ACC Bailey’s called her.’

It must be serious if the Assistant Chief Constable was involved. Byford made no acknowledgement of the fact that Bailey was Renshaw’s boyfriend and Maggie wondered if he even knew.