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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

Maggie’s mouth dropped open. It was an outrageous accusation for Byford to make against Renshaw, especially in front of the rest of the team.

The room stilled as they waited for Renshaw to let rip, as Maggie thought she would, but instead the DS falteringly outlined the team’s objectives for the day and called the briefing to a close. As she quickly left the room, Nathan turned on Byford.

‘That was fucking out of order,’ he snapped.

Byford remained unruffled. ‘If you want to sit by and say nothing as she puts Donnelly in the frame for God knows what, be my guest. But I’m not having my career screwed up because of it.’

‘We’re a team, she’s our boss, we do what she says,’ said Nathan.

He stalked from the room. Burton, looking equally peeved, followed him.

‘What about you, Maggie? Are you going to stand by her to the bitter end? Although, judging by that ridiculous theory you came up with, I’m pretty sure I already know the answer,’ said Byford scathingly.

‘Thrashing out theories, however crazy they might seem, is part of being a detective, or did you miss that bit in training?’ she retaliated. ‘As is knowing when to disregard them, which is what I’m doing. I get what you’re saying about not rushing to assume the worst of Donnelly, but the way you spoke to DS Renshaw was so disrespectful. She could have you thrown off the case for insubordination.’

‘She won’t,’ said Byford blithely. ‘Look, it’s really simple to me: Donnelly changed his statement because once the shock had worn off he knew he couldn’t be certain Poppy had pushed Benji and he felt he had to say so. But instead of believing him we’re searching for angles to punish him for not wanting to convict an eleven-year-old girl for something she didn’t do. And that’s because Renshaw wants to make a name for herself with this investigation. Don’t even try to pretend like you don’t know that’s true, Maggie.’

She couldn’t bring herself to contradict him.

‘I won’t apologize for trying to inject some rational thinking into this case,’ Byford added. ‘Because right now it doesn’t look like anyone else is going to.’

38

Julia barely slept again and the fitful night left its mark with dark circles under her eyes and a foul mood she couldn’t shake off as she made breakfast. Pancakes, Poppy’s favourite, meant to be a treat and something to take their minds off what was happening. Instead, the formality of them sitting round the table together on a Friday morning simply reinforced the grim turn their life had taken.

‘You’ll break the plates if you slam them down any harder,’ remarked Ewan as she laid the table.

‘You do it then,’ she said, dropping the stack in front of him.