Free Truth Will Out by Pamela Oldfield Page A

have been the same man. I mean Jem’s about my age although he looks younger but it could be him. Tom says this constable turned up on the doorstep and Jem’s mother, that’s Mrs Rider, made out he wasn’t there and said they were victimizing him just because he was a bit wayward . . . or was it backward?’
    ‘Well, he is! Both.’
    ‘But she’s a funny woman. Tom reckoned she’s a bit like a witch only fatter and if you cross her she’ll give you the evil eye! Like a spell. Not that she’s got black hair – hers is a bit gingery – but she’s got piercing eyes.’
    Together they began to clean the bathroom. Penny threw damp towels out of the door into the basket on the landing, gave the bath mat a shake, draped it over the sill of the open window and began to rub Vim around the bath with a damp cloth. Meg cleaned the basin and polished the mirror above the sink.
    Penny went on. ‘She refused to let him in – the policeman I mean – so they went away but Tom had seen Jem looking out his bedroom window, so he got on his bike and went after the police to tell them but when they got back, Jem had gone. Run off somewhere. So Tom thinks he must know something or why would he run off like that? Made him look guilty.’ She straightened up from the bath. ‘That’ll have to do. I’ll start on the bed.’
    Meg said, ‘That poor Mrs Brent. She looks so pale and her eyes are all red from crying. If I were her I’d go home.’
    Just then the door of the room opened and, as if somehow summoned, Mrs Brent came nervously into the room. Both young women stared at her.
    She said, ‘I understand one of you knows this Jem. Mrs Cobb told me.’
    Meg said,‘It’s her. Penny. She knows him.’
    Penny said, ‘It’s not me exactly. My young man lives next door to him.’
    ‘Please tell me anything you know about him. I understand the police were going to interview him.’
    Penny and Meg exchanged startled looks.
    ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Brent,’ Penny said, ‘but I’ve never even seen him. I only hear about him from Tom. He says Jem’s a bit of a tearaway and often in trouble with the police but that’s all I know . . . except his mother’s a bit sort of scary. Tom saw the policeman arrive and Jem was in the house but his mother said he wasn’t and as soon as they’d gone away Jem went out.’ She shrugged.
    ‘Oh!’ Mrs Brent’s face fell. ‘So he hasn’t been interviewed.’
    ‘Not yet.’
    She hesitated. ‘Would you say this Jem was . . . violent? I’m wondering if he might have . . . done something to my husband.’ Her voice was shaking. ‘Whether he might have . . . hurt him. I saw him, you see, when he came to my house, but only briefly and I didn’t look at him seriously. I had no idea . . .’ She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and pressed it to her eyes.
    She looked, thought Meg, as though she might faint at any moment. ‘I don’t think he’d hurt anyone,’ she said quickly. ‘Not violent. No. Not Jem Rider. Just up to no good. Pinching things off doorsteps and name-calling and . . . and throwing stones at cats. He was in my class at school and when he turned up he was always getting the cane but no, I don’t think he’d do anybody any real harm. Would he, Penny?’
    ‘Not from what I hear.’
    Mrs Brent uncovered her eyes and took a deep breath. To Penny she said, ‘If you do hear anything else, would you let me know? I’m staying here for another night but I may go home tomorrow.’
    ‘I will, yes. Try not to worry. The detective is really good at his job. You’re lucky to have him on the case. He’s got a wonderful reputation.’ She smiled reassuringly.
    ‘That’s good news. Thank you. You’ve really helped me. I must let you get on with your work.’
    When she’d gone Meg looked at Penny with raised eyebrows. ‘The detective is wonderful? Good at his job? What do you know about him?’
    ‘Nothing,’ Penny admitted, ‘but she’s in such a state. I