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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

The story came tumbling out as they sat together on the sofa, arms entwined. Maggie wanted to drink in every moment of being with her nephew because she knew, once the conversation ended, she had no choice but to call Lou and let her know Jude had run away to Mansell.

But first she listened.

‘We stayed with Nana and Granddad for about a month, so we could get into a school near them. Then I think Granddad gave Mum the money so we could get our own flat. It’s about a five-minute walk from theirs so at first we saw them all the time. They’d get Scotty from school and helped Mum with Mae.’

‘At first?’

A shadow crossed Jude’s face.

‘Before Terry.’

‘That’s your mum’s new partner?’

‘Fiancé.’

Maggie couldn’t hide her disappointment.

‘She’s marrying him? How long have they been together?’

‘Three months. I hate him. He shouts at us and tells us what to do.’ Jude slammed his fist down on the sofa in frustration. ‘I don’t want him to be my new fucking dad.’

‘Whoa, mister, I know you’re upset but it’s not okay to swear like that.’

Jude’s eyes glistened with tears.

‘Can I please come and live here? Please, Auntie Maggie.’

‘You know your mum isn’t going to let that happen. Whatever else she’s done she loves you with all her heart. Have you told her how you feel about Terry?’

‘I’ve tried, but you know what Mum’s like when she meets a new bloke. Nothing else matters.’

Maggie understood. For years she’d watched a revolving door of men come in and out of her sister’s life and saw how the first flush of passion always turned Lou into a giddy, distracted mess. When the children were younger it didn’t seem to trouble them so much, plus she had been there to step in and make sure they weren’t neglected. But the toll of this latest relationship was evident now on Jude’s pinched, tear-streaked face.

‘Has Terry ever got physical with you?’ she asked.

‘No, but he threatens it all the time. He raises his fist like he’s going to hit us, so we’ll get scared. He’s even done it to Mae.’

Anger coursed through her.

‘Why doesn’t your mum stop him?’

‘He does it when she’s not there.’

‘Have you told Nana and Granddad?’

‘We hardly see them now. They don’t like Terry either and Mum says until they’re nice to him they’re not welcome at ours. I want to see them but I’m worried what Mum will say. We talk on the phone, though.’