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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

‘We understand,’ said Carmichael.

‘I’m not sure you do. My grandson was the most precious thing in the world to us and we’re bereft he’s gone. I feel like my heart has been ripped from my chest and it hurts so much I can barely breathe.’

Imogen’s tears came suddenly, unbidden.

‘Mum’s right. Every time the door goes, I expect him to run in calling my name. I wake up in the middle of the night craving a cuddle, like my body is literally aching for him. I want to feel the weight of him again, feel his arms around my neck, and I can’t. I miss him so much,’ she cried.

‘So you can tell us you understand, but really you don’t,’ said Grace. ‘The only thing that’s keeping us from going completely mad right now is the idea that someone will pay for his death, and soon.’

65

Maggie left Carmichael comforting Imogen and Grace, and made the short drive to the Hepworths’ house. She parked in a side street around the corner because she wanted to check her phone before going in; it had pinged twice on the drive over and she didn’t want to be sitting in full view of the Hepworths’ front-room window as she checked her messages.

The first was an email from Burton and the news it imparted was frustrating: the digital autopsy results were in but there were no visible signs to show Benji had been pushed, no bruising or contusions to his chest or back. However, the conclusion did echo Mal Matheson’s preliminary report that the severity of Benji’s head injury suggested he had fallen with unnatural force.

Burton’s email finished by saying Umpire was now deciding whether the scan could be trusted and if they should insist on a scalpel PM being carried out, in case there were signs of internal bruising. He was going to seek advice from the head of Legal Services before taking the request to Imogen. Maggie dreaded to think how she would react.

The other message she’d received was a text – and to her delight it was from Jude. She scrolled down its length, her pulse beginning to race. Her nephew hadn’t messaged her to say hello again, he was asking for help.

I hate it here. I want to come home. I want to go back to my old school. Can I live with u? Mum’s got a new bf and he’s nasty.

She messaged back immediately.

That doesn’t sound good. Can you talk now?

Ten long seconds passed until the next ping.

Can’t now, Mum’s here. But I’ll try soon.

I’ll be waiting. But if you need me before then, call ANY TIME.

I will. XXXXXX

I love you kiddo. And Scotty and Mae. XXXXXX