Page 16 of Final Betrayal

‘You like Penny better, then?’

He blushed. ‘Suppose so.’

‘What happened at the nightclub? Anything out of the ordinary?’

‘Nothing happened.’

‘Did you leave with the girls?’

‘No.’

‘Come on, Ducky.’

‘What’s this about anyway?’

‘I’ll tell you after you answer my questions.’

He sighed and picked up a pen from the narrow ledge that Lottie supposed was his desk.

‘There were about a hundred and fifty other people at the club on Saturday night. It was packed.’ He twisted the pen around his fingers.

‘Did Amy and Penny leave together, or were they with you?’

‘I’m not going out with either of them,’ he said quickly. She could tell by his face that he wished he was.

‘Which of them do you like the most?’

‘Penny.’

‘You don’t like Amy?’

‘I didn’t say that. For feck’s sake. That’s what you lot do, isn’t it? Twist everything. I’m saying nothing else.’

‘Sounds to me like you have something to hide.’

‘I haven’t. So there.’ He dropped the pen and folded his arms.

‘Did the girls leave together?’ Lottie asked again.

‘I don’t know. No, wait a minute. Amy left first. Me and Penny, we had another shot … and a snog.’

Lottie smiled to herself. A shot and a snog. ‘So you remained there with Penny after Amy had left?’

‘Amy wouldn’t wait. We were out in the beer garden. It was drizzling rain. Don’t think she even had a jacket.’

‘What was her rush?’

‘I have no idea.’

‘Did she take a phone call or anything?’

‘I told you, I don’t know.’

‘Where was she going?’

‘Home, I presume.’

Lottie decided not to give him time to think. ‘Did you leave with Penny?’

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