The Know by Martina Cole Read Free Book Online Page B

I’d better carry her home. Thanks again, Tommy.’
     
    ‘You’re welcome, Mrs Brewer.’
     
    ‘Call me Joanie, everyone does. By the way, where’s your dad?’
     
    Tommy looked uncomfortable for a split second.
     
    ‘He stays out sometimes, I don’t know where. Don’t like to ask.’
     
    He was clearly as green as grass, and Joanie smiled at him. She knew from the neighbours that his father treated this poor man like dirt. She had heard him going off herself at times. Suddenly she felt incredibly sorry for this overgrown boy before her.
     
    ‘Pop over for a cuppa tomorrow, if you like?’
     
    He grinned from ear to ear and she could see him swelling with pride.
     
    ‘I would love to take you up on your invitation, thank you.’
     
    She smiled again and then picked up her daughter easily. Kira was as light as a feather. She settled into her mother’s body and Joanie could smell cheese and onion crisps mixed with butter. She hugged the child to her, happy now she had her back safe and sound.
     
    Joanie walked home quickly and quietly. The less the neighbours knew the better. People only know what you tell them. Her mother had drummed that into her from a kid and it was true. It had stood Joanie in good stead all her life.
     
    Especially since she’d lived round here.
     
     
Jon Jon was in the interview room at the police station.
     
    ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. What serious assault?’
     
    He shook his head once more and settled back in his chair.
     
    ‘Come off it! Your best mate is in intensive care, you were seen going into his squat and now you’re trying to tell us you know nothing about it?’
     
    Jon Jon grinned.
     
    ‘Catches on quick, your mate, don’t he? I said, I don’t know what you’re talking about and I’m telling the truth. I was with Cherise, one of me birds. So who exactly saw me there?’
     
    The DC was getting annoyed.
     
    ‘Never you mind.’
     
    ‘If I had been seen there, which would have been a lie, you would have arrested me by now, wouldn’t you? I know my rights, see.’
     
    ‘You can also afford the best brief there is. Fuck me, Giros must be worth a fortune these days. Only as far as I know you ain’t got a job, have you?’
     
    Jon Jon’s solicitor Jeffrey Callington raised his hand and said: ‘You don’t have to answer that, Jon Jon. They found nothing at your home, and they have nothing even to put you at the scene. Now, if it’s all right with you gentlemen, I think it’s about time we left. My client came here of his own volition . . .’
     
    The DC blew out his lips noisily as he interrupted.
     
    ‘With his solicitor in tow!’
     
    Callington stared at the younger man disdainfully as he said, louder now: ‘Is there a law against that then? Only if so, I have never heard of it. If you aren’t careful we might be taking this further ourselves. This is the seventh occasion on which you have pulled my client in and each time you’ve wasted valuable hours of both his and my time.’
     
    He smiled coldly.
     
    ‘I take it we can leave?’
     
    The DC smiled back sarcastically.
     
    ‘Be my guest.’
     
    Jon Jon grinned.
     
    ‘No, ta, I’d rather go home, but thanks again for the offer.’
     
    Callington was still smiling as they walked from the room.
     
    When the door shut on them the DC said through gritted teeth, ‘He was lying his head off.’
     
    DI Baxter, a veteran of twenty years’ standing, answered him sarcastically, ‘No! You don’t fucking say?’
     
    ‘He’s alibied, sir, it checks out. The girl and her parents are willing to make statements.’
     
    The WPC was still green enough to give people the benefit of the doubt. She smiled as she said: ‘Who do you think did attack the victim, sir?’
     
    ‘Well, I think it was that lying little bastard who just left, but I suppose Professor Plum in the library with a candlestick is a better bet at this particular moment in time. That is one