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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

‘It’ll be fine – we have an interview suite specially for minors.’

That alarmed Julia even more. ‘But she’ll be more relaxed at home.’

‘No, it has to be at the station,’ said Renshaw firmly. ‘A formal setting should convince her how much trouble she could be in if she doesn’t tell us the truth.’

‘In trouble?’ Julia gasped. ‘But it was an accident, she said so.’

‘Mrs Hepworth, a boy has died in suspicious circumstances and Poppy was there when it happened. If she won’t talk to us, what are we meant to think? Really, I should take her in to the station now, but I can see she’s in shock so I’m prepared to wait. Hopefully she’ll be more talkative tomorrow after some rest.’

Julia wanted to cry. This was like a bad dream, beyond her control, with Imogen centre stage as her own personal bogeyman.

She’d been trying to ignore the emotions that had been churning inside her since she’d clapped eyes on Imogen in the corridor, pushing them to the pit of her stomach because Poppy needed her to stay focused on her. Now they were bubbling to the surface again: hate and anger, hand in hand.

Yet fear wasn’t far behind them, fear of what Imogen might do and the trouble she could cause. Julia hesitated. Should she tell the police what went on between them all those years ago? Would it make any difference to Poppy’s situation if she did?

Before she could utter a word, Ewan walked out of the head’s office with Poppy in tow. Julia was startled by his expression – he looked shell-shocked.

‘I want to take my daughter home,’ he said.

Renshaw nodded. ‘Your wife can explain what will happen tomorrow. But if Poppy wants to talk before then, call me. Doesn’t matter what time it is.’

She handed Ewan a business card, which he pocketed.

Julia waited until the three of them were alone in the car park, by her husband’s car, before she spoke.

‘What’s going on?’

‘Maybe you should’ve shown more concern inside,’ he answered tersely. ‘I can’t believe you just walked out on Poppy.’

‘It wasn’t like that,’ she said lamely. ‘I didn’t feel well and—’

Ewan silenced her with a look.

‘Let’s get home.’

She waited by the driver’s door until Poppy was strapped into the back seat, then, as Ewan went to open it, blocked his path.

‘Did Poppy say anything else to you when I left the room?’ she asked.

His answer came too quickly to be convincing.

‘No, not a word.’