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That explained why he’d done no studying for his exams, Kim thought. He’d known he was never going to sit them.
Josh continued. ‘He told me how long to wait and he told me to say I saw a white van speeding away, but not to raise the alarm until I got to school to allow him enough time to get away from the area. The story of the white van meant no one was looking for a kid on a bike.’
‘Josh, why are you lying?’ Rose begged.
‘I thought he’d be back in a few days, a few weeks at most, and then his stuff was found in Cannock. I guessed he’d done that himself but it was too late. I was too scared to tell the truth.’
Kim could hear the misery and regret in his voice, but Rose was still shaking her head.
‘It makes no sense.’
‘Bradley staged his disappearance and later his death,’ Kim reiterated.
‘He wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t just leave. It was just an argument. He was a child. You’re lying. If he was alive, I’d know it.’
‘He opted out, Rose,’ Kim said, having more information on that than Josh. ‘He chose another way of life. He’s a vagrant that goes by the name of Jericho.’
‘But Josh knew and—’
‘Josh was his best friend,’ Kim said, defending the man who had now gone mute as though the consequences of his silence were just starting to sink in.
Kim continued. ‘Josh swore to keep his secret, and he’s been living with the guilt for ten years. He knows what it’s done to you and he hates himself.’
‘I…d…don’t…believe…’
‘Yes, you do, Rose. You even told me yourself that Brad wasn’t like other kids. Possessions meant nothing to him. He couldn’t follow rules and he craved freedom. He wanted a life with no ties.’
‘But I’m his—’
‘No ties,’ Kim emphasised. ‘No one else has to die, Rose,’ she continued gently. ‘Now you know the truth.’
‘I’m so sorry, Mrs Foster,’ Josh said, stepping forward.
Kim reached out to stop him, but it was too late.
The hurt and disbelief in Rose’s eyes had hardened into something else, and it was directed at just one person in the room.
‘You lied to me. This is all your fault,’ she said, moving towards him with the knife outstretched.
‘I n…never meant…I’m so…’
‘Rose,’ Kim warned.
‘They’re all dead because of you,’ she cried, lunging forward.
It was one of those moments when time slowed down and everything seemed to happen at once.
Everyone in the room called Rose’s name.
Josh cried out in pain.
Kim, Bryant and Penn all moved forward as though a starting gun had been fired.
Bryant grabbed the weapon.
Penn bent over Josh.
Kim ran to Eloise. She could see that Bryant was cuffing and moving Rose.
