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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

‘Fine by me,’ said Maggie. ‘I don’t have any plans.’

‘I had a night in planned with a bottle of wine,’ said Burton resignedly. ‘Talking of which, you missed Julia Hepworth’s drunken antics. She turned up absolutely hamm—’

He never got to finish the sentence.

‘For fuck’s sake!’ Nathan suddenly shouted, making them jump. ‘I don’t fucking believe it.’ He rushed across to them holding a printout, so worked up his face was scarlet.

‘I’ve just found this mixed in with the pile of statements – it’s the transcript of the caretaker’s 999 call. I don’t know why the fuck we weren’t given this sooner. Anna, you really need to read this.’

Renshaw snatched it from his hand. As her eyes scanned the document, her cheeks burned like Nathan’s.

‘He’s been lying to us from day one. According to this, when the dispatcher asked him to describe what had happened, Donnelly replied – and I quote – “The boy was on the wall and the girl pushed him. Oh God, oh God, I think he’s dead.” The dispatcher then asks if he’s sure the girl pushed him, and Donnelly replies, “I saw her do it – she put her hands on his chest and pushed him with all her might.”’

53

Alan knew as soon as the door went that he was in trouble. The head walked in first and on her heels were DS Renshaw and the male officer Alan had seen milling around the school interviewing some of the teachers.

His little office suddenly felt very crowded.

‘I’m sorry to disturb you,’ said Mrs Pullman, sounding anything but, her expression set like stone. ‘These officers need to speak to you as a matter of urgency. As it’s nearly four o’clock I’ve told them you can be relieved of your duties for the rest of the day.’

Alan nodded but was distracted by the male officer, who had walked over to his desk and was peering closely at his computer screen. There was nothing incriminating open on the desktop, but still Alan’s pulse juddered with fear.

‘You’re welcome to use my office,’ said Mrs Pullman.

‘I think it would be better if Mr Donnelly came down to the station with us,’ said Renshaw. ‘You don’t mind that, do you?’

‘How long will it take?’ he asked worriedly. ‘I need to lock up at the end of the day.’

‘I’m sure Mrs Pullman can find someone else to do that.’

The head nodded. ‘I’ll do it myself if needs be.’ She fixed her eyes on Alan’s. ‘Can I please ask that you cooperate with them? It would be in everyone’s interests if you did. Rushbrooke needs to get back to normal.’