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

‘Now we’ve sorted that, I can tell you my news. It’s being announced first thing on Monday, so consider it a heads-up. I’m moving on.’

‘What?’ Maggie was stunned. ‘Moving on to where?’

‘I’m transferring down to Cornwall. My wife wants to live somewhere more rural and I’m ready for a job change. You know, it’s a shame you’re not a higher rank, Maggie, because you’d be great to take over this job.’

‘You think I could be the Liaison Coordinator for the entire force?’

‘Absolutely. The job requires someone who is considered and organized and above all thinks about the families’ needs when assigning their FLOs. I think you’d be terrific at it.’

‘As are you, which is why you can’t leave!’

She was shocked how upset the thought of him leaving made her feel. She couldn’t imagine not working with him. He was the one who’d recruited her to family liaison in the first place and had overseen her training and every assignment. He was more than her senior officer: he was her mentor and a friend.

‘That’s very kind of you, Maggie, but my bucket and spade are packed. But I’m serious about your potential – you need to think about moving up. It’s time. I know how much you love family liaison and if you’re determined to continue with it there is scope to take what you do to a much higher level. The Met is always looking for officers of your calibre. I know someone who works for the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, I could put in a good word for you.’

‘Joining the Met would mean moving to London.’

‘What’s wrong with that? You’re young, you’re not saddled with kids: this is the perfect time to further your career. Do you really want to spend your entire working life in the town you grew up in?’

Maggie leaned back against the headrest and took a deep breath. She’d never contemplated moving away from Mansell before, mostly because of Lou and the kids. Could she really up and leave? What about Umpire? Yet she knew what he’d say – ever since they’d first worked together he’d been pressing her to apply for promotion. If she moved to London, he’d find a way for them to make it work.

‘I don’t know. It’s a big step,’ she said.

‘Say the word and I’ll make some calls. But don’t let opportunity pass you by, Maggie – there’s a career waiting for you beyond Mansell if you want it.’

52