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Back False Witness
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

Maggie was frustrated her parents hadn’t contacted her for help and she wondered if it was their pride stopping them. They’d whisked Lou down to the south coast in the hope of rebuilding their oft-fraught relationship with her but in a matter of months it had soured again.

For now, though, she needed to focus on practical matters.

‘Does anyone know you’ve run away to Mansell? Did you leave a note?’

Jude looked puzzled. ‘I haven’t run away. We’ve been here all weekend and I didn’t want to go back so I came here. Mum thinks I’m at Toby’s house, saying bye.’

Maggie reeled at his comment.

‘You’ve been here, in Mansell, this weekend?’

‘Yeah, we came up to see our friends. Mum’s kept us off school today so we could stay an extra day.’

Maggie didn’t want Jude to see how hurt she was but failed miserably.

‘Auntie Maggie, why are you getting upset?’

‘I miss you guys so much and I can’t believe you’ve been round the corner this whole time and I didn’t know. Are Scotty and Mae here too?’

‘Yeah, they’re with Mum.’

‘Is this the first time you’ve been back?’

Jude looked sheepish. ‘No.’

Maggie thought being estranged from her family was painful enough, but this was something else, like a punch to her guts with a sledgehammer.

‘Where’s your mum right now?’

‘Denise’s.’

‘What, that woman she worked with years ago? I didn’t know they were friends still.’

Jude shrugged. ‘That’s where we’ve been.’

Maggie weighed up what to do. If she agreed to let Jude stay even for one night Lou would go mental. But if she rejected his request, when would she get to see him again? It could be years.

But, ultimately, she had to do what was right.

‘I need to tell your mum that you’re here.’

Jude was crestfallen. ‘Really?’

‘I’m afraid so. I know it’s not the answer you want, but she’s your parent and I’m not. As much as I’d love you to stay with me, I can’t decide where you live.’ She held out her hand. ‘Give me your phone. I don’t have her new number so I can’t call her from mine.’

‘If she comes to get me maybe you two can make things up.’

‘I would like nothing more,’ said Maggie, ‘but it’s up to your mum.’

‘Did you love my dad?’

The question was so unexpected that she fumbled the phone and dropped it into her lap.

‘I – well, I don’t –’

‘Did you or didn’t you?’

She studied his face, which was so like his father’s, especially his eyes. For a second she closed hers, remembering. When she opened them again she smiled.