AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I felt my hackles rise, the old itch to strike creep into my fists.
‘I know it was you who sent that clipping.’
He just shrugged, a thin smile on his nasty lips.
‘It didn’t work. If anything, they’re closer than ever.’
‘So where is he then?’
I didn’t want to be talking to Des out here in the dark or anywhere else, but I’ve never been very good at backing down from a fight.
‘If you must know, he’s helping his folks out in Ireland.’
‘Ireland, eh?’
His tone was goading, calling me a liar.
‘That’s right. Brownstone in County Wicklow.’
‘Never heard of it.’
‘Yeah well, it’s a tiny village. Only a few hundred people live there.’
‘And he didn’t ask you and your maw to go with him? Doesn’t seem very friendly.’
‘I can hardly miss school.’
He tutted, took a step closer. His breath smelled like old drains. I stepped back.
‘She deserves better. Someone who appreciates her.’
I laughed nastily.
‘What, like you?’
Being unkind is the very worst thing you can do, my mother always said.
‘Worse than stealing?’
‘Worse than anything.’
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—’
But he was already scuttling off; head down, shoulders rounded, just like he had when Matty told him to back off that day on Parliament Hill.
I tried to apologise the next morning, steeled myself all night to do it, but there was no answer when I knocked. No dog barking in his flat. No white van parked outside.
We didn’t see him again for weeks. And by the time we did, putting things right with Des Banister was the very last thing on my mind.
KATIE HARDCASTLE
It’s amazing to me that so many people still think Matty Melgren is innocent.
LOUISA SHAW
To be fair, Katie, most of the prosecution’s case was circumstantial. The footprint evidence for example. And don’t get me started on that identification circus.
KATIE HARDCASTLE
