Page 115 of A Game of Lies

‘Oh, wait.’ George produces a third bag, as though she’s only just remembered she had it. ‘And of course there’s this, which was in your pocket when you were brought into custody.’ She slides it along the table. ‘It’s the key to the box of secrets.’

There’s a long pause.

Henry isn’t smiling now.

FIFTY

WEDNESDAY | FFION

‘And he still won’t admit it?’ Ffion has bitten her nails to the quick, waiting for Leo and George to come out of interview.

‘His solicitor stopped the interview to “consult with her client” and, when they came back, he went no comment. Not that it matters – he’s bang to rights.’ George grins at Leo, still on a high, and Ffion feels a lurch of something she isn’t ready to acknowledge.

‘Thanks to you.’ Leo looks at Ffion. ‘Piecing together those film clips was an outstanding piece of work.’

‘Someone in the tech team would have found them at some point,’ Ffion says, ignoring the warmth that spreads through her at the praise.

‘By which time, we’d have released the witnesses and Henry – I mean Clive – would have disappeared.’ Leo’s jacket rides up as he stretches out his arms. ‘DCI Boccacci’s on the phone with the CPS now,’ he says through a yawn. ‘She’s proposing an alternative charge of false imprisonment, in case the attempted murder doesn’t stick.’

If Clive Manning enters a not guilty plea, it will be months before they’re all called to give evidence. Ffion thinks about standing in the witness box as a victim, not only as an officer; imagines her testimony torn apart by the defence. ‘Are you staying on the investigation?’ she asks Leo, then curses herself for sounding as if she wants him to. ‘You’re Boccacci’s star pupil, after all.’ It comes out sharper than she means.

‘No, I’m done. Heading back to Cheshire now.’ He turns to George. ‘You’ll follow up with the Child Maintenance Service?’

‘Too right I will.’ George looks at Ffion. ‘You should have seen his face when Leo read out his secret. Like he didn’t give a shit.’

‘I guess it’s the least of his worries now,’ Ffion says.

‘Take care.’ Leo extends a hand to George. ‘Great job in there.’

‘Great job yourself.’ She reaches up and hugs him instead, and Ffion stares out of the window into the back yard, where two uniformed officers are washing down a patrol car.

‘It was good to work with you again,’ Leo says, and Ffion realises he’s talking to her.

‘You too.’ She snaps her gaze back and pastes on a smile. ‘See you on the next one!’ She laughs, but it sounds false, even to her.

‘Bye, then.’ Leo takes a half-step forward. He holds up a hand in an awkward wave. Then he leaves.

Outside, the uniformed officers are packing away the pressure washer. A few seconds later, Leo crosses the yard and gets into his car. Ffion can feel George’s gaze on her.

‘You’re a fucking idiot, Ffion Morgan.’

‘You’re the second person to tell me that in as many days.’

‘Do you know how often decent men come along?’

‘I’ll let you know when I meet one.’ Ffion tries for a laugh, but her face won’t comply.

‘It’s obvious you like him, and he clearly adores you, although God knows why – you treat him like shit.’

‘Sure. He’s such a fan, he grassed me up to Malik, who gave me a lecture on conflicts of interest, then took me off the job.’ Ffion walks away.

‘That was Alun, you idiot,’ George calls after her. ‘And – much as I hate to admit it – he had a point. You should have disclosed the fact that Caleb’s in a relationship with your sister. He might not have been a prime suspect, but—’

‘Caleb?’ Ffion stops abruptly.

‘Alun spoke to Seren at the farmhouse. You’d been arguing about something? She spilled her guts, apparently, and you know what Alun’s like – total jobsworth. Any opportunity to make someone else look bad.’

Leo didn’t tell DI Malik that Ffion had withheld Ceri’s envelope.

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