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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

‘They already know and trust you, so who better to step up and take more responsibility for the investigation? I can make it clear to them that you’ll still be in regular contact, while I’ll be there to ease them through procedural stuff. Between us I’m sure we can allay any concerns they have.’

Begrudgingly Maggie had to admit to herself that Carmichael was going to be a great replacement.

‘How long have you been a FLO?’ she asked.

‘I’ve lost count,’ said Carmichael with a smile. ‘I was one of the first wave when they brought in the new training, so that’s going back to 2000, 2001.’

‘Have you never wanted to do anything else?’

Carmichael gave her a shrewd look.

‘No, I love liaison. Nothing else has appealed to me in the same way. I did do a stint as an Acting DS myself once, but I knew pretty quickly it wasn’t a good fit for me.’ She leaned forward and dropped her voice even lower. ‘Don’t do anything rash because of today. You might find you like it.’

‘I wouldn’t be too sure.’

Carmichael grinned. ‘I’m guessing someone will be getting it in the neck tonight. He should’ve warned you.’

Maggie blushed. ‘You know about us?’

‘I know from what others have said that you’re a couple who have always acted professionally when working together and that’s all I care about.’ She leaned forward again. ‘But make sure you give him hell when you get him home.’

63

Feeling better after his shower, Alan rifled through the cupboard under his kitchen sink to find some old carrier bags to take to the supermarket, save himself some money buying new ones.

Rising up, his cheek itched again and he rubbed it furiously. He’d decided against shaving when it occurred to him the bristles were doing a good job of masking the scratch on his face. The fewer questions he solicited about that, the better. But bloody hell it itched.

Leaving home, he was pleased to see the weather had cooled a bit; having not ventured outside the entire weekend and with the curtains kept shut he’d had no idea whether it was sunny or raining. The cloying heat that made it difficult for him to breathe had dissipated but it was still pleasantly mild.

There was a Co-op not far from The Wheatsheaf but Alan turned right out of his garden gate to head in the opposite direction. He didn’t want to bump into anyone he knew and he didn’t want to be tempted into having a drink. He needed to keep a clear head.

As he ambled along the pavement his thoughts strayed uncomfortably to Ruby. He hated to think what might’ve happened to her. She seemed like a nice girl, all things considered, and no one deserved to be discarded like unwanted rubbish under a pile of cement.