The Truth by Peter Grainger

Author:Peter Grainger [Grainger, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B0936P99X1
Goodreads: 57818879
Publisher: #PrB.rating#4.77
Published: 2021-04-21T00:00:00+00:00

There had been an awkward scene in the kitchen, again. The two uniformed officers were not unfriendly, and they were clearly aware of the young children in the house, but they wanted him to go with them to Kings Lake Central police station. They said they didn’t know why. Anthony refused their request – and that’s all it was at this point. Emma was by his side and he saw the look of concern on her face. But the meetings with Christine Archer, though brief, had been useful. He had learned more about his rights in the past ten days than in the previous thirty years, despite having a policeman for a dad. The solicitor had made it plain he was to do and say nothing without her prior knowledge, and as far as Anthony was concerned, that included going unaccompanied back to the police station.

The older officer, a Sergeant Holt, tried a fatherly approach, and Anthony had to wonder if the man knew who his actual father was – surely most of them must know by now; these were local men, some of whom must have worked with Charlie Hills. He said, ‘It’s better to come in without an argument, lad. There’s no need to upset your Mrs, is there?’

Anthony’s answer to that had been, ‘Are you going to arrest me if I refuse?’

The officer looked genuinely uncomfortable as he said, ‘That was not the plan this morning, sir. But if you’re giving me no alternative…’

The ensuing standoff had lasted several seconds before the officer said, ‘Tell me what’s going on, then. I’ll have to make a call.’

There was too much going on to explain it all. He could not say that he wasn’t properly awake because of the tranquillisers, that he needed time and some coffee before facing more questions. He could tell them he hadn’t showered or shaved in two days, and that if they would allow him that little bit of dignity – and a few minutes with his children – he would be at Lake Central at an agreed hour this morning. But he would have representation with him, and if he was arrested now, he would say nothing until his legal advisors were present anyway.

The sergeant heard him out and then left the house to make his call – the other, younger man stayed in the kitchen. Emma offered him a mug of tea – it had just been made – and to the officer’s credit, he accepted. He spooned into it a couple of sugars, took a long pull and said they had a lovely house. Then there was an embarrassed silence because, of course, his presence meant they might not have it much longer.

They heard footsteps and then the sergeant was back in the room. He said, ‘Eleven o’clock at the station. Can you let me have your mobile number, sir? If it gets to a minute past, I’ll be coming back here. I’ve sort of vouched for you…’

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