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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
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  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
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  80. 77
  81. 78
  82. 79
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  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

Under questioning, Byford confirmed ACC Bailey sent him to keep an eye on the investigation into Benji’s death because he was aware some of the prostitutes he used operated near the school and it was too close for comfort. Byford then admitted to concealing evidence by hiding the notebooks in his drawer. He knew when he found them in Benji’s room that the flowered notebook would expose Bailey, recognizing his phone number in it just as Renshaw had, and he’d made the decision to protect his mate at the expense of the investigation.

‘Do you think Anna knew Byford was Bailey’s mate?’ Burton queried.

‘She can’t have done. She didn’t react when he turned up; I never got the feeling they already knew each other.’

They were in the lift now, going up to CID. As it juddered to a halt on the third floor, Burton shot Maggie a curious look.

‘Do you really not know who the new SIO is?’

‘I told you, I’m out of the loop.’

‘I think you’re in for a surprise then.’

The department was even busier than usual. Three officers Maggie had never seen before were loitering by the back of the room, chatting quietly amongst themselves. On recognizing Burton, one of them came over to greet him and then introduced himself to Maggie as DS Abram Joseph.

‘We’re joining the investigation,’ said Abram.

‘Which one? The boy’s death or the murder?’ asked Maggie.

‘The murder, and also the prostitution ring. Bailey’s saying he wasn’t the only high-ranking officer involved but he’s refusing to name names because he wants to cut a deal to save his job. That’s not going to happen, so it’s down to us to find out who the rest are.’

‘I hope that doesn’t mean Benji’s case is now less of a priority,’ Maggie frowned. ‘I’m the FLO and we owe it to his mum not to let it slide.’

Someone standing behind her laughed.

‘Always the defender, Maggie.’

She spun round at the sound of the familiar voice.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ she exclaimed.

Belmar Small adjusted his tie with a wink.

‘I’ve come to work.’

‘You’re on the case now?’ She locked eyes with Burton as the penny slowly dropped. ‘You mean . . .?’

‘Yep. That’s why I was surprised you didn’t know.’

Nathan chose that moment to barrel up to them.

‘Can someone please tell me what the bloody hell is going on?’

‘We’re discussing the new SIO,’ Burton told him.

‘Who is it?’

‘Me.’

The group swivelled round and Maggie’s insides gave a violent lurch.

‘Right,’ said Umpire. ‘Let’s get this briefing started.’

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