Free Little White Lies by Katie Dale

yes...”
    “So you can’t contact them to prove this?”
    I watch a bead of sweat trickle down the side of Christian’s face as he falters helplessly.
    “Well, no, but—”
    “Would you mind coming down to the station, please, sir?” the officer says. “I have a few more questions I’d like to ask you. You might want a lawyer present.”
    My heart beats fast.
He’s going to arrest him!
    “Wait,” Christian says suddenly. “That’s... that’s not necessary. Can I have a word?”
    “Certainly, sir.”
    Christian glances at me and Mike. “In private?”
    The officer raises an eyebrow. “Very well. Follow me.”
    I stare after them as they enter the pub. What can Christian tell him that will make any difference? How can he possibly get out of this?
    “Shit!” Mike mutters beside me. “That’ll teach me.”
    I turn. “You think Christian did it?”
    “It had to be, didn’t it?” Mike cries. “Everything points to him—his keys were found on the floor, he thought the safe would be full, and his alibi’s pretty shoddy.”
    “The evidence is very compelling.” I nod.
    “But he seemed like such a nice bloke.” Mike sighs.
    “I suppose you can never
really
tell what’s going on inside someone else’s head,” I say quietly. “Evidence doesn’t lie. I guess that’s why justice is portrayed as blind—criminals deserve to be punished, however they look.”
    “You’re right,” Mike says suddenly. “I’m such an idiot—I should never have hired him!”
    I look at him closely. “What do you mean?”
    “Nothing,” he says hastily. “Just... I think of myself as a fair bloke, y’know? I’ve had my share of rough times, I know what it’s like to be down on your luck, so I like to give people a fair go. And Christian... well, he seemed like a decent-enough lad when I took him on.” He sighs. “But I’ve learned my lesson now, all right—I won’t be fooled again.”
    We wait for what seems like forever until the officer finally emerges from the pub.
    “What’s happening?” Mike asks. “Are you arresting him?”
    “No, sir. I’m satisfied that Mr. Webb had nothing to do with the break-in.”
    I stare at him, gobsmacked.
    “What? Why?” Mike asks.
    “Mr. Webb has an airtight alibi for his whereabouts last night.”
    “What?” I ask quickly.
    “I can’t tell you that, Miss.”
    “But you mean he lied about being at home?” Mike says.
    “So long as he wasn’t breaking the law, his whereabouts are his own private concern, sir.”
    Could he be any more cryptic?
    “So what happens now?” Mike asks.
    “Nothing,” the officer says, climbing into the police car. “By your own admission, anyone in the pub last night could have overheard you say you had a full till, and Mr. Webb could have dropped the keys anywhere on his journey home—so unless you know the names and addresses of all your customers, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
    “But—”
    “Plus, as nothing was actually stolen, there isn’t really a compelling case for spending police time hunting for that needle, especially as the keys are now once more in your possession, sir. Good day.”
    Mike’s jaw hangs open as the police officer drives away. Then he glares at me. “Get to work!”
    —
    “How juicy!” Vix’s eyes gleam when she and Kenny come into the pub that afternoon. “What do you think Christian could possibly have told them that he didn’t want you to hear? That he rang a sex line? That he was on some dodgy Internet site?”
    “Perhaps he just wasn’t home alone,” Kenny says. “Maybe someone vouched for his whereabouts after all—someone he doesn’t want anyone to know about.”
    I look up.
    “Like who? A stripper?” Vix laughs.
    “Or a secret girlfriend.” Kenny raises an eyebrow. “Maybe he’s seeing someone else’s wife.”
    “Or maybe he just had a friend over,” Vix says quickly, glancing at me.
    “Then why would he keep it secret?” Kenny argues.
    I