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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

Perhaps it was because of her age that Ewan respected her. Cath was two decades older than them, a retired civil servant who lived alone, her husband dead five years now and their two sons grown up and both living in London. She appeared on their doorstep the day they moved in, clutching a bottle of wine and a lasagne she’d made, to save them the worry of cooking on their first night. Ewan’s initial critique was that she was pushy and entitled but over time he’d come to like her as much as Julia did.

‘What should we do?’ Julia asked her worriedly.

‘Tell them you were upset and that you’ll bring her back in whenever they want,’ said Cath. ‘You’re gambling with Poppy’s future if you don’t.’

‘I’m not sacking the solicitor,’ said Ewan huffily.

‘I’m not suggesting you do. Frankly, you should’ve had a solicitor with you from the first moment—’

‘That’s what I said,’ Julia interrupted. ‘I even started looking for one.’

Ewan wasn’t impressed. ‘Really, Julia, you think this is the time to start point scoring? I’m sorry I’m such a crap partner that I didn’t back you up,’ he pouted.

‘I wasn’t saying you were!’

An uncomfortable silence fell over the kitchen. Cath offered to make more coffee.

‘No, thanks,’ said Ewan. ‘I thought we could take the kids somewhere fun before tea. I was thinking swimming at the Lido.’

Julia was alarmed. What if someone had a go at them like earlier?

‘I don’t think it’s a good idea,’ she began.

‘I think you should go,’ said Cath. ‘The kids can’t stay indoors roasting all afternoon. It’ll be nice and cool in the water.’

‘But what if someone sees us?’ Julia fretted.

‘If we hide ourselves away it looks worse,’ said Ewan.

‘He’s right,’ Cath nodded.

‘That’s settled then,’ said Ewan. ‘We can go for pizza after. I’ll tell the kids.’

Cath waited until he was gone.

‘You okay?’

‘I’ve had better days, but it’ll be fine. I’m sure the police will believe Poppy,’ said Julia, trying to sound positive.

‘That’s not what I meant. I mean you and Ewan. I get that he’s stressed but that doesn’t excuse him talking to you like that.’

Julia’s cheeks mottled. ‘Like you said, he’s stressed. I’ve been snappy with him too.’

‘But he’s always like that with you.’

‘No, he’s not.’

‘But he—’

Julia hastily got to her feet.

‘We’d best get going if we want to take the kids swimming. Thanks for the coffee and for having Dylan.’ She quickly hugged her friend and made for the door.

Cath called after her. ‘I’m here if you ever need to talk.’

But Julia had already bolted from the room.

31

Thursday