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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

‘It’s devastating to think of the children scattered across Mansell,’ she said, her voice full of emotion. ‘Children crave routine and they need the structure that school gives them. But I don’t see what choice we have. The children’s education cannot be disrupted any longer.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ said Alan lamely.

‘It’s not your fault. I do need you back on site tomorrow though. Are you fit enough to return to work?’

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’

‘You’ve been through a lot this past week, Alan. I want to make sure you are feeling mentally capable of doing your job with everything that’s going on. I have a duty of care to my staff as much as to the children.’

He was touched by her concern and it gave him the impetus to shake the sleep from his leaden limbs and resolve to freshen up, starting with getting rid of the bristles puncturing his chin and having a shower. He would pop to the shops after and get some decent food in for dinner, no processed crap. And no booze: he was done drinking for at least the rest of the week.

‘I’ll be fine,’ he assured her.

He meant it. Talking to Gayle made him realize the job at Rushbrooke was all he had now, and like children with their routines he cleaved to the security it gave him. He needed to get back to normal too.

62

There were too many people still milling about for Maggie to confront Umpire. Instead she shot him furious looks across the incident room while she prepared to brief Carmichael about Imogen. Once or twice he glanced back, but his expression was impenetrable, which annoyed her even more.

Carmichael was, to her relief, as competent as she looked. She listened intently as Maggie went through her log and brought her up to speed on where the investigation into Benji’s death was. She was older than Maggie, at least late forties, and she had the air of someone who stayed calm in a crisis. She was also astute.

‘I get the feeling you’re not happy about this,’ said Carmichael, quiet enough so the others couldn’t hear.

‘No, I’m not. Well, not because of you,’ Maggie said hurriedly. ‘I’m annoyed because I wasn’t warned this was happening. I’m worried about how Imogen will take it. She and her mum are already concerned they’re being bumped down our list of priorities and this will convince them their fears are valid.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll reassure them that this is in their best interests.’

Maggie frowned. ‘I’m not sure I follow.’