Of course it was too much to ask that my first day back would go to plan. Then, of course, I’m dead to the world when my alarm actually goes off. “You need anything else, just holler. ”
“Yeah, but I mean, what if the kids do believe that I knew what Megan was up to?
”
“Well, then they’re idiots. ”
“But what if? ”
I wanted to get one that said, “But first, coffee. ”
“No, I didn’t.
Do you know what? ”
“Do you know that? ”
“Uh, you’re seeing things cuz I called you first thing. ”
“Police have still got mine.
”
“It’s no good to them. ”
“Well, she’d be a lot better if you arrested Daniel. She’s got dashcam footage and we’re going to have to check that out. ”
“Teenagers are the only ones, aren’t they?
”
“But they are good girls though, both of them. How much do I owe you? ”
“Don’t let them rile you because they can smell fear, Daniel, like hyenas and we are their prey. ”
“I do have some authority with them.
”
“Sure, but not now. First day back after everything and they’ll be lying in wait. ”
“Do you know what, Brian? ”
“Should you really be going to school in this state?
”
“You all right? ”
“I’m just heading to the charity school. ”
“Well, has he quizzed you any more? ”
“No, no, look, just be cool.
”
“Yeah, if only it was that easy, eh? ”
“Weird old teacher and a groomer girlfriend should be locked up. ”
“She goes after the boys and he tries it on with the girls. ”
“Both of you, stop.
”
“You should be holding us. ”
“Bell’s long since gone. ”
“One foot in front of the other. You can do it.
”
“Did you get my text? ”
“No, I’m just going to— What? I’ve not seen you in ages. ”
“Go on, say something quick before you make it up.
”
“Because I don’t want to be here. ”
“I don’t want to be having scran and then remembering this is the place I was attacked. ”
“Thought you were doing all right. ”
“Well, obviously I’m not then, am I?
”
“One minute you’re fine and then the next it all comes flooding back. ”
“I just thought of all the stuff that’s happened under this roof. ”
“Well, why don’t we go out then? ”
“No, visiting hours start soon.
”
“Yeah, it sounds like a holiday could work then. ”
“You two were looking cozy yesterday. ”
“But he was making out like I was up to something when the only ones acting shifty are you two. ”
“All right, sorted.
Sarah can’t sit around moping around all day. ”
“I feel for her, I do, right? But our daughter is in the hospital now, all right? ”
“Do you, though?
Because it feels like I’m the only one doing anything. ”
“No, you listen, all right? ”
“All right, I am out. ”
“You walked into me on purpose.
”
“No, I bumped into him and— What, and now he’s crying about it? ”
“I’m not really sure he’s going to want you to help, especially after what you did. ”
“All those kids are losers. I’ll tell them.
I’ll tell them I’ll knock them out if they don’t delete the videos. ”
“No, I don’t know what just happened. ”
“It’s all right. ”
“You should go and get your lunch.
”
“Stay strong, darling. ”
“Hey, I’m still pulling people in for questioning. ”
“Well, they haven’t, all right? Not even close.
Unless Tyrone suddenly admits that he saw me, then I’m done for. ”
“What do you mean? ”
“He reckons I should plead guilty to manslaughter. ”
“Then Adam is off his head.
”
“Tell an innocent young woman to confess to a murder she didn’t commit. Do you have any clue what this is like for me? ”
“I can’t do 20 odd years in this hole. I just can’t do it.
”
“I could be out in 7 years if I plead guilty. ”
“All right, just the one. ”
“I mean, I know you’re not. I’m not saying you were— I mean, you’re not fine.
”
“Honestly, like a simple anemia filler would have been fine. Why did I have to tell everyone I’m shiny? ”
“Whiskey, double, no ice. ”
“Just the whiskey, Tom, no chat.
”
“Uh, maybe not the best idea. ”
“I’ll decide when I’ve had enough. ”
“Do your job, Sean. ”
“Plenty of other pubs that will serve me.
”
“I’ve not done anything. I mean, I can’t stop thinking about you all day. ”
“I’ll be a proper gent. ”
“I hope not.
”
“I was only talking to the bloke. I mean, I can’t exactly ignore him, can I? ”
“No, she’s not. ”
“She’s got no alibi.
”
“And then your ex reckons that she’s got no chance of getting in front of a jury. ”
“I don’t know what to do. ”
“I’ll have another shandy if you’re having one. ”
“Not all that happy to see me, mate.
Just do one, will you? ”
“Maybe a mixture of both. ”
“What are you still sniffing around for? ”
“Oh, you’re going to ignore me after everything that you’ve done?
”
“It’s probably best if we don’t speak. ”
“Would have been if you just stayed out of my life. And I imagine that Will, the poor lad, he probably feels the same way, too. ”
“Because of you— because of what you did, that’s why I’m a mess.
”
“Blame me all you like. ”
“No way. ”
“No, I know what you’re capable of. ”
“Yeah, so do I.
”
“Haven’t you got stuff to do? ”
“I mean, my solicitor does me editing— like proper annoying little jobs worth. ”
“Family’s everything into it. ”
“It’s not fair.
”
“No, it won’t. ”
“His first day back went well, then. ”
“It all got too much for him. ”
“It won’t take long.
I told you before about Danielle. ”
“Right, enough with the digs, all right? There’s no phone in evidence. Where is it then?
”
“How should I know? ”
“Sorry, I mean you’re only the detective. If my phone’s gone walkies, that’s significant, surely. ”
“Yes, and if it’s disappeared, you need to look into that.
”
“You really do stink at your job. ”
“All right, I’m sorry. I just— I’ll look into it. Missing mobile phone, I’m on it.
”
“No phone was retrieved that night. ”
