Page 219 of Murder in the Family

(swallows)

Right.

BILL SERAFINI

Had you met Luke before?

MITCHELL CLARKE

(shaking his head)

No. I’d seen him, at a distance, but that’s all.

HUGO FRASER

When you were skulking about shagging Maura in that stable block, no doubt.

MITCHELL CLARKE

(ignoring him)

I’d never spoken to him. And in any case, the state of the body – you wouldn’t have recognized who it was – no one would—

BILL SERAFINI

So then what?

MITCHELL CLARKE

(shrugs)

It was like I said before. I saw the cops coming for me and I just ran.

LAILA FURNESS

Why didn’t you tell the police you knew Maura?

MITCHELL CLARKE

You really need to ask?

HUGO FRASER

Because he didn’t want to get slapped with a bloody rape charge, that’s why.

MITCHELL CLARKE

I was just akid– ablackkid who’d grown up on a council estate in Ladbroke Grove. I didn’t needany more trouble from the law. And I didn’t want to cause a shitload of hassle for Maura either.

LAILA FURNESS

(sighing)

I suppose I can understand that.

ALAN CANNING

And that’s it? There’s nothing more you’re not telling us?

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