The Backs (2013) by Alison Bruce Read Free Book Online

scene. We later heard that the only other piece of evidence that could have carried more weight never made it to court. Gen says he came out of the gateway as she went in. So he knew Rebecca Osborne was critically injured. He didn’t just stand there while Gen was being attacked, did he? It’s obvious to anybody that he was guilty.’
    ‘But not to your wife.’
    ‘I’m not going to the police with an accusation of harassment against that man. It would probably take them only five minutes to prove she’s making it up, and then they’d want to know why. Gen went through plenty in court, so do you think I’d let her throw it all away by having her convince the police that she may have made a mistake? I’d be opening the door to her taking the biggest downhill slide possible. There can’t be any doubt over Jackson, because Gen would be vilified.’
    Jimmy was making sense, but Goodhew still failed to see where he himself might fit in.
    ‘If only I had the money, I’d hire someone to watch her.’ Jimmy grunted. ‘Except that still wouldn’t be right. She needs some kind of resolution. D’you know her only reason for thinking Jackson is innocent?’
    Goodhew shook his head, but Jimmy hesitated, almost as though he had trouble bringing himself to continue.
    ‘Jackson’s expression was
wrong
.’ Jimmy strummed his fingers on the table and looked at him, clearly agitated.
    Goodhew sat a little straighter. ‘That’s it?’
    ‘That’s it. I understand the trauma, her fear of being alone, even the fear that the man she’s sent to prison might come after her. Then I think, if she really believes he’s innocent, why isn’t she scared of the real killer? What the fuck is the
wrong
expression? That’s the reason she says she can’t move on.
    ‘Look, I’m not walking out on her because she’s developing mental health issues – if she is – but the idea that she has been festering for so long over something so trivial . . .’ abruptly he pressed his lips together and scowled. ‘I don’t know what I’m asking you . . . Maybe you could find a detail that’s been missed? Something that will make sense of a
wrong
expression?’ Jimmy pushed his chair back and hurried to his feet. ‘Now I’ve said it out loud again, I can hear how stupid it sounds. Forget it, I’m sorry.’
    Goodhew didn’t try to stop him. He’d already promised himself that he’d turn down anything pushed in front of him, so watching the man trudging out of the Michaelhouse Café should have been the very end of it. But the whole meeting had left him thinking, something he was still engaged in when his grandmother rejoined him.
    ‘An interesting man,’ she remarked as she placed a tray of tea things on the table between them.
    ‘Seems perpetually uncomfortable. What does he do for a living?’
    ‘He works in the purchasing department at the Council offices. He’s been there since leaving school, secondary education. He married Genevieve when she was twenty-four, after they’d dated for five years. No children, small mortgage, no debts.’
    ‘How do you know all this?’
    ‘It doesn’t matter, the point is, I do.’ She filled up both cups. ‘I doubt he’s ever courted the limelight, so I don’t think he’s crying out for help for any other reason than he truly needs it.’
    That made Goodhew smile. ‘I hope that’s not emotional blackmail. You
know
I’m not getting involved.’
    She smiled too. ‘I forgot.’
    ‘But you’re right about the limelight. He’s not the adventurous type, not a risk-taker or a narcissist, yet he’s come here to tell it all to a complete stranger. And in such a public place . . .’ he glanced at his grandmother. ‘Is that why you picked here as our meeting point?’
    ‘In part.’
    ‘And the other part?’
    ‘Are you going to look into it?’
    ‘Into what? A wrong expression?’
    ‘Come on, that’s the part that intrigues you.’
    ‘It’s obvious there’s nothing I can