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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

‘Even children can be denied bail if the charge is serious,’ said Belmar sombrely.

‘What, you’d send an eleven-year-old to prison before they’ve stood trial?’

‘No, no, she would be remanded into the care of the local authority. It’s called youth detention accommodation.’

Julia felt sick to her stomach at the thought of Poppy being taken away from them.

‘She didn’t do it, I swear she didn’t,’ she said tearfully. ‘You have to believe me—’

A commotion outside in the corridor cut her short. She could hear raised voices, then shouting.

Suddenly the door burst open and Ewan walked in flanked by their solicitor, Darren. Maggie came after them, with Poppy and Ayse trailing close behind.

‘How could you be so stupid?’ Ewan yelled at her. ‘You should never have let them interview Poppy without me or him here.’

Julia scrambled to her feet. ‘I’m sorry, they said we had to come.’

‘God, you are such an idiot,’ he sneered.

Maggie put herself between the couple.

‘Mr Hepworth, you need to calm down.’

He looked incredulous. ‘You can’t tell me how to talk to my wife.’

‘Ewan, let me deal with this,’ said Darren hastily. ‘Did you interview Poppy under caution?’ he asked Maggie.

‘No, she is here as a material witness.’

‘Do you have any further questions for her?’

Julia could see Maggie hesitate. ‘Not right now, no.’

‘Then my client will be exercising her right to leave.’

Maggie nodded, but Julia could tell she wasn’t happy.

‘Right, let’s go home,’ said Ewan, shooting Julia a look that made her cringe. ‘Come on, honey,’ he said, holding a hand out to Poppy.

‘No!’

Everyone looked at her with surprise.

‘I don’t want to go with you,’ she said, scuttling over to Julia and taking her hand.

Julia was stunned. She couldn’t remember the last time Poppy had chosen to go with her over Ewan. Judging by his expression, neither could he.

72

Anyone observing Maggie and Umpire’s exchanges during the final briefing of the day who didn’t know them would never have guessed they were even friendly, let alone a couple. They were the epitome of icy professionalism, trading information in clipped comments that belied their feelings for one another.

Maggie wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep it up though. The intense anger she’d felt earlier had waned to mild irritation and she found that, contrary to her expectations, she hadn’t minded her first day as Acting DS. If nothing else it had been good to work with Belmar again, even if they hadn’t got much further with Poppy. Now, with the end of her shift in sight, there was nothing she wanted more than to head to the nearest pub garden with Umpire, order herself a large glass of chilled white wine and enjoy the last of the heatwave.