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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

‘What’s on your mind, DC Neville?’ Umpire asked evenly.

She could feel eyes upon her as she cleared her throat. Everyone within the force knew that they were a couple and for the first time she minded that they did.

‘Was Ruby going to the centre because she was an addict?’

Umpire levelled his gaze at her and a million unspoken words passed between them. He knew she was angry with him.

‘Crack was her drug of choice, but according to the outreach workers at the centre she’d been clean for three months. If any of you locals have any idea who her dealer was, speak up.’

Nathan suggested a few names, which Umpire jotted down on the evidence board.

It wasn’t why Maggie had asked though – she was thinking about Renshaw and what Bailey might’ve exposed her to by sleeping with prostitutes.

‘We are systematically checking every single phone number in Ruby’s notebook—’

‘How do we know for sure it’s hers?’ Nathan interrupted.

‘We’ve had it corroborated. She was known to carry it on her person.’

His caginess led Maggie to the conclusion that Bailey must’ve verified it. She wondered if Umpire had interviewed him and knew that, if he had, it would’ve been difficult. Bailey had been Umpire’s biggest supporter and it was under his auspices that HMET was set up with him in charge. How ironic that the same team was now tasked with investigating him.

‘Now, I know some of you are concerned about the Benji Tyler investigation being overshadowed by the murder. Don’t be. I’m the SIO for that as well and I want it solved as much as you do.’ He inhaled sharply, then his voice quickened. ‘I’ve decided that DC Neville will act up as DS for the remainder of the investigation into Benji’s death. DS Andrew Finnegan, who joins me from HMET, will be Deputy SIO for both cases.’

Maggie was dumbstruck. He wanted her to do what?

‘DC Hazel Carmichael is stepping in as FLO to the Tyler family. For the time being she’ll work alone under Acting DS Neville’s guidance. Welcome to the team, Hazel,’ he added, nodding towards the back of the room.

Maggie spun round in her seat to see an older woman with cropped, silvery-grey hair nodding back.

Slowly she turned round to face Umpire but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. She could barely contain her fury but knew that if she exploded now it would be force-wide gossip by the end of the day. Instead she raged internally, calling him all the names under the sun. How dare he remove her from liaison without a word of warning? How many times did she have to tell him that she didn’t want a fucking promotion if it meant giving up the role she loved?