The Interpreter by Brooke Robinson

Author:Brooke Robinson [Robinson, Brooke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781529901450
Published: 2023-01-26T00:00:00+00:00

17.

Four victims that we know about. And how many others? The ground beneath me warps as I read the news. If I hadn’t changed the questions put to the Uber driver, those women may never have come forward. I came this close to not misinterpreting that day. If the accused had been found not-guilty, they might have gone their whole lives thinking they wouldn’t be believed but now they have a real chance of seeing The Lad convicted for those crimes, too. I won’t be caught. The defence team is unlikely to ask for the trial’s audio for review. I doubt they’ll even appeal; surely they are consumed with defending these new charges which the Crown Prosecution Service says it is aggressively pursuing.

I made the right decision again, but misinterpreting cannot become a habit. I am not reckless. Unless there are compelling circumstances, I won’t do it again. If someone noticed and Exia scratched me from their books, it wouldn’t be easy for me to change jobs. A period of unemployment is something when it’s only me, but quite another when it affects Elliot.

It is four o’clock now, making it late night in Singapore. I message Richard asking if he’s awake. A few minutes later, a video call comes through my laptop.

‘I know it’s late,’ I say. ‘Sorry I haven’t been in touch earlier. It’s been busy here.’

‘Hi. I’m happy we can connect. How’s it all going?’ Richard is sitting in his study, a large window right behind his desk. There is tropical rain coming down in great sheets. I can almost taste the humidity through the computer screen.

‘That’s what I wanted to tell you. The adoption was confirmed,’ I speak loudly so he can hear me over the weather.

‘So it’s all sorted? The little guy’s yours?’

‘Yep.’

‘Congratulations! I’m so pleased for you.’ I know he means it.

‘I’m going to get him, okay? So you can say hello.’

‘Oh, great,’ Richard says, surprised.

I carry the laptop into Elliot’s room where he’s playing with a Lego set on the carpet.

‘Elliot. This is Richard. I told you about him. He’s in Singapore. Remember we looked at where that is on the globe?’ I crouch so the camera is level with his face.

‘Hello.’ Elliot waves into the screen, not sure exactly where to look.

‘It’s lovely to meet you,’ Richard says. ‘What have you got there?’

‘It’s my Halloween Lego. It’s a witch.’

‘That’s brilliant. Oh yes, Halloween soon.’

Elliot’s attention goes back to his toy and he swivels slightly, turning his back on the laptop. It’s weird for him to meet a strange adult this way. At least he said hello in a friendly manner. Back on my feet, I carry Richard to the living room.

‘He’s a bit shy,’ I say.

‘It’s lovely to see him. It really is. Hey, your apartment’s nice.’ Richard is leaning closer to the screen, looking over my shoulder.

‘It’s okay. It’s quite big for London. But now the adoption is confirmed we’re free to change address so we’ll move somewhere much cheaper soon.’

‘I spoke

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