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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

Ewan bellowed in anger and Poppy shrieked as he leaned back precariously. Maggie made a grab for the front of the girl’s school dress but as she did someone crashed into her and knocked her sideways onto the grass. Winded, she tried to get up but it all happened too quickly . . . Ewan’s face twisting in shock . . . a blur of red gingham . . . a hand reaching out . . . streaming blonde hair . . . a high-pitched scream . . . a thud.

Then, silence.

91

Two weeks later

Mrs Pullman sighed, then slowly folded the piece of paper up, slid it inside the envelope, and handed it back to Alan.

‘I don’t want to accept your resignation.’

Once again Alan marvelled at the woman’s compassion. Despite everything he’d done and the terrible shame he’d helped heap on her beloved school, she didn’t hate him or even blame him. He’d told her everything, as he had the police, and somehow she’d found it in her heart to understand, acknowledging that it was an impossible situation he’d been in, given the breadth of Gus’s operation, the players involved and the enormous pressure he’d put Alan under. Burning down the Pavilion had proved how much he wanted to put an end to the racket and she’d even offered to act as a character witness if Alan was charged with any offences. He was really going to miss her.

‘I’m afraid you’re going to have to accept it. I’m leaving Mansell.’

She gazed up at him.

‘But why? I understand you want a break – frankly, we all need one. But the summer holidays are coming up and that will give us all pause to regroup and get Rushbrooke back on its feet.’

‘It’s not about what’s happened. It’s my family. I’m going back to Nottinghamshire to be closer to them.’

Happiness radiated from his every pore. Straight after work he was driving up to see Gayle and the children again. He’d spent the past weekend there, visiting old haunts and establishing a couple of new ones, but this time he’d be flat hunting. He couldn’t believe it when Gayle suggested he think about moving back. They could find him somewhere to rent near to her house, she’d said, adding, ‘I’m not promising anything with you and me, but I don’t want you not to be in the kids’ lives. Whatever happens with the police investigation, we’ll be there to support you.’

It was enough bait to make him say yes.

‘What about your dealings with the police?’ asked Mrs Pullman. ‘Won’t they mind you moving away?’

‘I’m bailed until October pending further inquiries. I think they’re more interested in Gus and the others for now.’