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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

‘That’s what they all say,’ said Alan flintily. Lincoln had lorded it over him at every opportunity, yet all this time he was the real lowlife at Rushbrooke.

‘It’s true, I swear. Afterwards I knew what a terrible mistake I’d made, what I stood to lose if my wife found out, so I never went back. But if it comes out now, I’ll be ruined. I’ll lose her, my kids and my job.’

Alan wavered. He knew what it was like to wish you could turn back the clock and choose a different path, one that didn’t hurt the people you loved and rob you of your self-respect.

‘I came here to ask if you know what the police suspect. Please, I’m going out of my mind with worry.’

‘I wasn’t questioned in the end. They let me go. I don’t know anything.’

Lincoln went grey. Alan decided to throw him a bone.

‘Gus knows people high up in the police – that’s why I wasn’t questioned. Trust me, they’re not going to let the truth about the Pavilion get out.’

Lincoln’s posture went limp as he exhaled.

‘That’s good to know,’ he said.

‘Was it Gus who told you about it?’

Lincoln looked haunted for a moment.

‘Yes, but not outright. He told me he was having a few after-hours drinks and did I want to join him and his friends. I didn’t guess what the set-up was until it was too late, and then I was too weak and too pissed to say no. I can’t believe I was so stupid.’ He looked like he might cry. ‘I want to tell the authorities what he’s been doing, because of the girl they found, but I’m scared because of where it’ll leave me.’

‘I know that feeling. Look, do you want to come in and talk about it?’ asked Alan companionably. ‘I can only offer you water, mind. The milk’s off and I was on my way to the Co-op when the police came for me again.’

Lincoln lifted up the carrier bag he was holding, the bottles it contained clinking as he did.

‘I came prepared.’

71

It was soon apparent that Poppy was physically incapable of answering any more questions. She had stopped crying but was curled up against Julia on one of the sofas, her face buried into her shoulder, eyes tightly shut. She wouldn’t look up despite Maggie and Belmar doing their gentle best to coax her and after half an hour of trying Maggie called time on their efforts.

‘This isn’t getting us anywhere,’ she said to Belmar. ‘I think we all need a break. Julia, can I get you a tea or coffee? What would Poppy like?’

‘I’ll have a tea please, milk, no sugar. Do you have any lemonade?’

Poppy suddenly raised her head.

‘Really?’