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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

He expected the police would want to question him about her, but he didn’t mind. This time he had nothing to hide, because he knew nothing. He had no idea who killed Ruby or why. He wouldn’t be lying this time.

Encouraged, his stride became brisker and he whistled a tune as he walked. The tunnel had a glimmer of light at its end: Gayle hadn’t said anything to the reporter, the police couldn’t force him to change his story back about the Hepworth girl and Gus was willing to alibi him for Wednesday evening in return for his continued silence.

His step faltered as he dwelled on Gus for a moment. He didn’t want to rely on him, but what else could he do? Then he had a thought, and reached for his phone. Get it down in writing – don’t just accept his word for it.

Hi, Gus. Cheers for letting me say I was at yours on Weds. Owe you one. Alan.

It took about six seconds after he’d pressed send to realize what he’d done. He stopped in the middle of the pavement, white as a sheet, staring down at his phone.

He’d set up a false alibi in a text and he’d made it sound as though it was all his idea.

Fuck.

Alan clutched his phone, wondering how he could retract the message and make it vanish from existence. Perhaps he could call Gus, ask him to delete it from his phone. Would that be enough?

Alan’s thumb was about to press down on the green handset symbol to make the call when a car screeched up to the kerb beside him. The passenger door opened and a man got out. For a split second he thought it was Gus and his stomach did a somersault. Then he realized it was the detective who’d interviewed him on Friday about his 999 call, DC Thomas.

‘A word, Mr Donnelly.’

‘I’m on my way to the shops,’ he said feebly.

‘I need you to come down to the station with me.’

He could feel himself backing away, even though he knew he shouldn’t and that it was a bad idea to, but it was as though he had no control over his legs.

‘Mr Donnelly, don’t make this more difficult for yourself.’

He turned to run but Nathan was too quick and his grip on Alan’s upper arm too firm.

‘If you don’t come with me now, I’ll be forced to arrest you on suspicion of perverting the course of justice,’ Nathan said.

Alan’s legs gave up on him.

64

Imogen took instantly to Carmichael and seemed mollified by her and Maggie’s explanation of how things would work from then on. Grace, on the other hand, raged with indignation.