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Back I Know What I Saw
Chapters (59)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise for I Know What I Saw
  3. By the Same Author
  4. Dedication Page
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  54. Now read on for a preview
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  59. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I remember walking in circles, frantic. Parts of my brain are imploring me to wipe surfaces and things I might have touched. And then I see the record pieces and the world stops spinning. I am caught in that nowhere time. One of the pieces is smeared with drying blood and I know that he has touched it, his finger cut from the broken glass. The working, calculating part of my brain impels me. I should take it. In a light daze I grope around for something to wrap it in and find some newspaper.

There is the wine. She was drunk. She fell. I pick up the bottle and pour some of it on her shirt. I study the angles. What will work. I see her pendant next to her on the floor.

And then, I run.

I hear the door at the end of the corridor slam. And as it does, at last, I too am slammed, back into existence.

I am here. On this bridge.

‘I didn’t mean to do it,’ I say, crying.

‘It wasn’t you,’ he exclaims.

‘It’s been so long, Seb.’

He holds me then until the tears finally subside. He releases me from his embrace and puts an arm around my shoulder.

‘Come on. Let’s go home,’ he says.

We dodge the traffic to cross the road. The car is sitting against the kerb edge, waiting to take us away. But I know as I climb in that it can never take me far enough.

The road opens out before us. Seb reaches out and touches my arm as he drives. I think I see somebody behind us, and I turn around to look in the back seat. It’s empty.

Now read on for a preview

Now read on for a preview of the next Imran Mahmood novel

1

Now

‘You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you fail to mention when questioned something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand the words of the caution?’

‘Yes. I’m a lawyer,’ I say. A chemical smell radiates from my skin.

‘And you are declining your right to free legal advice?’

‘Yes. As I said, I am a lawyer.’

They swabbed me. I was made to stand on a paper sheet as they bagged my clothes and took every swab they wanted. They poked cotton-tipped sticks into my cheek. Cut my nails. Wordlessly for the most part, as if I wasn’t there.

‘But not a criminal lawyer. You’re a personal injury lawyer, aren’t you?’

‘Can we get on with this? I’m sure there are more pressing questions than my career trajectory. I’ve been sitting down there in the cells for ten hours now.’