Free Charlotte by Stuart Keane

on him. I would have noticed."
    "Which is the first detail. The second is your husband's wound. Dr. Barden didn’t have any blood or skin under his fingernails so he didn’t defend himself. Which means he didn’t give your husband his injury. Do you know how he got the wound?"
    Patricia chuckled, not believing the situation. "If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me."
    "Try me."
    Ledger returned with a nurse, mop and bucket in tow. Moore nodded to the new arrival and looked at Patricia.
    Patricia stood up. "Okay, but I need to make a phone call first…"
    "Sure."
    "And I need a drink."
    Moore nodded. "I'll supervise."
     
    "Hello, Rita?" Patricia heard a low humming in the background. Bad line?
    "Yes, who is this?"
    "It's Patricia."
    "Oh, hiiii Pat, how are you? Long time no see!"
    "I know, it's been too long…listen, can you do me a favour? It's kind of an emergency? Bruce is in the hospital and…well, it's a long story."
    "Oh my, I'm sorry to hear it dear. Anything I can do, name it?"
    D.C Moore was leaning against the wall, watching Patricia. A coy smile was on his lips, observing for any misplaced word or hint of danger. Patricia knew better than to fuck with the police.
    "Can you go over to the house and look after Amy for a couple of hours? It might be a night job. I'll pay you."
    "I'm sorry, hon, I can't. I have plans this evening."
    Great, fucking great, thought Patricia. She lowered her head. Moore stepped forward. "Problem?" Patricia shook her head and sighed.
    "Mike can do it though?"
    A smile lit up Patricia's face. "Really?"
    "Yeah, he's not doing anything tonight. He's off school. I'm sure he could use the money too, lazy sod."
    "That's fantastic; I'll pay him fifty quid if he stays on the couch. I just need him to keep an eye on Amy. Can you send him straight away?"
    "Of course. Give my love to Bruce. I'll catch up with you when you get back."
    "Definitely. Thank you, Rita, you're a life saver."
    Patricia hung up. She breathed out. D.S Moore stepped forward. "You left Amy, who's nine, if my notes are correct, alone?"
    "No," she lied. "The babysitter is due to leave any minute."
    They walked to a new interview room. Patricia could see the nurse mopping the floor with a disgusted look on her face. This is going to be a long night , she thought.
     
    "Mike. Mike . Get your lazy arse down here."
    "Mummmm, I'm playing Call of Duty."
    "Not anymore you’re not. Get down here, now. "
    Footsteps rattled the floor above and after a few seconds, Mike bounded down the stairs, landing in the hall with a thump. "What is it?"
    "I need you to go over to the Brunswicks' house and look after Amy. Her parents are otherwise occupied and they need your help."
    "Mum, seriously? Why would I want to look after that crybaby?"
    "They're paying you fifty pounds."
    "Whoopee doo, I get more than that in my pocket money."
    "If you do this, you can have three days of no chores. You can play Call of…whatever your games are called to your heart's content."
    Mike smiled. Chance to get my prestige up a little. "Sure, I'll do it."
    "Good boy. Now, head over there and make sure she's okay. You can sleep on the couch. Take whatever snacks you want from the fridge." With that, Rita turned around and walked into the living room.
    Excellent, thought Mike. I get fifty quid, three days of freedom, and I get to punish Brunswick for punking me out the other day.
    Mike put on his coat and left the house, walking towards Amy's house.
    Payback is a bitch.

ELEVEN
 
"Your daughter did this?"
    "Yes, Amy. She was defending herself. I don’t know—Bruce was angry from the meeting with Dr. Barden…" Patricia trailed off, realising her mistake. She didn’t want to bend the truth though; she was already in enough trouble. She took a sip of her lukewarm coffee. It was still as bitter as the previous cup. After the liquid went down, she bit her lip and continued. "He wasn't angry when he got in the car; he exploded on the way home. It was as if a switch