“I don’t want to go to school,” the boy muttered, shuffling his feet on the pavement as his dad and the police officer walked him toward the car. “What? It’s the last day of term, nonuniform day,” his dad said, trying to sound cheerful. “You’ll get to hang out with your mates all day and clear out your tray.
”
The boy shook his head, his voice small and desperate. “I just want to see Mom. When’s she coming back? ”
The officer, Kit, crouched down to his level.
“She’s just got to help the police with a problem first, mate. Should be done soon. ”
“Can I just stay here and wait for her? ” the boy asked, his eyes pleading.
His dad exchanged a quick glance with Kit. “Well, seeing as school’s off the to-do list, what do you want to do while we wait for Mom? ”
“Can I get back into my pajamas? ”
“Of course you can.
”
A flicker of relief crossed the boy’s face. “And when Mom gets back, we can make popcorn. ”
The officer’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He waited until the boy was out of earshot before his voice dropped to a whisper loaded with dread.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know what to say to him. You’re going to have to get my mom back as soon as you can. ”
“I’m doing everything possible,” Kit said, his jaw tight. “I can’t do it,” the dad said, his voice cracking.
“How am I supposed to tell him that he’s not going to see his mom for I don’t know how long? ”
Kit tried to steady him. “CPS hasn’t charged her yet. So stop panicking.
”
But the truth was, the woman they were waiting for wasn’t coming home anytime soon. Sarah had been taken in for questioning—and now, everything was falling apart. Later, Dylan stormed into the pub, his anger radiating off him in waves. A man, Lauren, sat at the bar and looked up as Dylan loomed over him.
“Why are you telling people I did that to Betsy? ” Dylan snarled. “What have I done to you? It was my dad.
”
Lauren didn’t flinch. “You blame me for what happened to her? You’re the one who strangled her. You ruined her life.
You’re trying to ruin mine too. Look at you, walking around acting like you’ve done nothing wrong. ”
“But I haven’t actually,” Dylan shot back. “Oh, really?
” Lauren’s voice dripped with contempt. “You’ve been strangling your girlfriend and telling lies about me. I already told you, it was my dad. ”
Dylan’s voice rose to a near-shout.
“Oh, it’s my dad. It’s my dad. It’s you! It’s you!
You’re spreading dirt on me. You put your own girlfriend in the hospital. Wasn’t enough to do that to her. You’re either stupid or sick in the head.
Maybe both. ”
Down the bar, Gary sat nursing his coffee, the confrontation washing over him until his girlfriend appeared at his side, her face pale. “Gary,” she whispered, “I need to know what’s happening. She’s been in there all day.
”
“Like I’ve said, she’ll be released at some point today,” Gary said. “Yeah, you’ve said that,” she shot back, her voice rising. “But my worry is that once they’re done with her, they’re going to come banging that door down for you. ”
Gary sighed heavily.
“Oh, we really got to do this again. ”
“Yeah, we do. Until you can convince me you had nothing to do with any of it. How do you think Liam and Jake are going to take it if you get locked up again?
”
“I just feel like you never listen to me,” Gary said through gritted teeth. “Because you keep asking me the same question and expecting a different answer. I don’t think Sarah had anything to do with it. Okay.
It’s obvious they’ve got the wrong person. ”
Gary’s hand tightened around his cup. “I’m not getting irate. I’m just sick and tired of doing this.
I’m bored of it. I’m going to get a coffee. Do you want one? ”
She shook her head.
Meanwhile, in the hospital, Betsy lay in a bed, her speech slow and halting, pain evident in every word. Her mother sat beside her, her demeanor sharp and protective. “An anti-coagulant? ” Betsy’s mother questioned the doctor.
“It’s for the prevention of blood clots that could lead to another stroke or make this one worse,” the doctor explained. When the doctor left, Betsy’s mother leaned in. “What is her problem? ” Betsy muttered.
“They’re looking out for a mate,” her mother said, her tone turning fierce. “Betsy, he strangled you during sex. He sexually abused you. You need to listen to your mom and get him locked up.
He could have killed you. ”
Betsy shook her head weakly, tears in her eyes. “I’ve already told you. I don’t know how it got there.
”
At the police station, Sarah sat across from the detective, her hands folded on the table. Her lawyer, Kit, was beside her, but even he looked uneasy. “You think it’s a coincidence that Theo’s blood just happened to be on your blouse and shoes? ” the detective asked.
“But anything could have happened,” Sarah insisted. “Who’s to say that whoever attacked me didn’t kill Theo first and then his blood got onto me when I was hit over the head with the same weapon? ”
“Okay,” the detective leaned back, his eyes narrowing. “Let’s go along with that theory, shall we?
Yesterday, you were adamant that you couldn’t have been in the vicinity of Mr. Silverton’s murder because you were being simultaneously attacked at number eight Coronation Street. That’s your solid alibi. ”
“Yes, exactly.
”
“And your reasoning for having the victim’s blood on your clothing and shoes is that the attacker may have used the same weapon to later attack you. ”
“Yes. ”
“But then I’m left thinking that if the attacker could have killed Theo before attacking you, what’s to say that you couldn’t have killed Theo before being attacked? ” The detective shrugged.
“Do you see my predicament? ”
Sarah’s face went pale. News spread quickly. The locals gathered in the pub, heads shaking.
“How can they arrest Sarah? First me, now her,” someone muttered. “I mean, how can they think she’s even capable of that? Theo was massive.
”
Gary’s girlfriend kept pressing him, until he snapped. “Look, the less that you know, the better. ”
“Are you being serious? ”
“I am.
I’m sorry. ”
Later, in a quiet corner, Kit’s phone buzzed. It was Sarah, her voice breaking. “Kit, I cannot be here.
I need to get out of here. Is there anything you can do? ”
“I can’t,” he whispered. “I know where this is going.
I’m sorry, but as it stands, all the evidence points to you. Lisa’s got the bit between her teeth. ”
“I can’t leave Harry like this. Please,” Sarah begged.
“I tried everything. And she knows I know more than I’m letting on. ”
“Look, that doesn’t matter now,” Kit said, his voice steadying. “The CPS is going to charge you with murder, and they’re going to deny you bail.
You’ll be up before the first sitting at court. It’s likely you’ll get remanded. ”
Sarah’s breath caught. “I’ll go straight to prison.
”
“I know this is hard, but you just need to explain to him that it was self-defense and there was nothing you could do. ”
“I can’t do this,” Sarah sobbed. Kit’s voice hardened with urgency. “Sarah, listen to me, right?
Just tell the truth. Tell them that Gary made you cover it up. If not for you, then for Harry. ”
The silence hung.
The truth, whatever it was, was about to come out. And it wasn’t going to save everyone.
