BooksBarbecue
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

Yesterday’s phone call with Gayle was still weighing heavy on his mind and his preoccupation meant he didn’t notice someone following him until he reached the outbuilding and a hand grabbed his shoulder, making him yelp in surprise.

‘Sorry, did I startle you?’ said Gus, grinning.

‘You could say that,’ he wheezed, as his heart pounded against his ribcage.

‘I think we need a chat, don’t you?’

‘I’ve done my bit,’ Alan protested. ‘I told the police I thought it was an accident.’

‘You did, and that’s great. You did good, mate. But it’s the girls I’m here about now.’

‘The girls?’ Alan stammered.

‘I hear you went round to Ruby’s house last night, saying all sorts about me.’

There was an edge to Gus’s voice that scared him. Ruby was one of six girls who operated out of the Pavilion. Her, Lila, Celeste, Krysia and two others whose names he didn’t know.

‘Did I? I don’t remember doing that. I was absolutely bladdered last night – I’d been down The Wheatsheaf since lunchtime.’

He wasn’t lying either. He had no recollection of going to see Ruby, much less anything he might’ve said to her.

‘She was very upset you called her a whore.’ Gus took a step towards him. ‘But not half as upset as I am that you told her I was evil and that you were going to put a stop to my enterprise.’

Alan reeled back. Had he really said that? Shit.

‘She’s making it up,’ he said feebly.

‘Really? Is that why she scratched you down your face?’

Alan’s hand flew to his cheek. Ruby did that to him? But surely he would’ve remembered her clawing his face, her fingernail marking him?

‘I honestly don’t remember going to see her.’

Gus inched closer. ‘Are you calling me a liar now?’

‘No, no, I’m not.’

‘Good. I don’t like it when my girls are upset.’

The way Gus said it made them sound as though they were his pets.

‘I’m sorry,’ said Alan.

‘Lucky for you I’m prepared to let it go this once, because I know it’s been a tough couple of days for you and because I don’t want to screw up the grand reopening.’

‘For what?’

‘The Pavilion, of course. Now the police are wrapping up I want it up and running again as soon as possible.’

Alan’s insides turned to mulch. ‘By when?’

‘Tomorrow. Friday night’s always our busiest time with everyone looking to let off some steam after a long week. So be a good lad and make sure it’s ready.’