Free What She Saw by Mark Roberts Page A

could focus.
    His phone rang.
    â€˜DCI David Rosen.’
    â€˜Hi, David, DC Riley.’
    â€˜Problem at A and E?’
    â€˜No. I’ve just emailed you the list of people who attended A and E last night.’
    â€˜Copy the whole team in on it. Thanks, Barry.’
    Rosen opened his laptop and turned it on, but his attention was drawn away by something he saw on Bannerman Square through the open door of the MIR.
    He stopped what he was about to do and watched.
    Stevie Jensen, on his way home from school, had acknowledged a younger girl who was tying something to the scene-of-crime tape that cordoned off the place where Thomas Glass had burned in a Renault Megane.
    The girl made the sign of the cross and fell into a prayerful mode.
    It was Macy Conner, eyes shut, face composed peacefully.
    Rosen left the Portakabin and, walking quietly, stood behind Macy. The carnations looked just about fit for the bin, and the price drop label read ‘60p’. A poor little girl’s offering for another unfortunate child.
    She opened her eyes, turned and said, ‘Mr Rosen?’
    â€˜Hello, Macy.’
    â€˜How’s Thomas?’ she asked. ‘He’s not very well.’
    â€˜Is he still alive?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜I’m leaving flowers because I want him to know I’m thinking about him.’
    â€˜That’s very thoughtful of you.’
    â€˜Can you tell him I’m praying for him?’
    â€˜Next time I see him, I will,’ said Rosen.
    The cut on her lip was vivid and looked set to tear and pour blood.
Even after your own trauma
, thought Rosen,
you’re mindful of the suffering of others
.
    â€˜Do you know his mum and dad?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜It must be terrible for them.’
    Rosen glanced at the small card sellotaped to the plastic bag holding the virtually dead carnations.
    To Thomas
    Get well soon
    Macy
    The handwriting was immaculate linked print, and displayed a maturity beyond her years. The message was, Rosen guessed, the well-intentioned but naïve sentiment of a ten year old.
    â€˜Mr Rosen?’
    He smiled, encouraging her, hopeful she’d come up with some other detail but not wishing to push her too hard.
    â€˜I’ve got something to tell you.’
    â€˜Go on.’
    â€˜We weren’t totally honest with you when we called in over there.’ She indicated the Portakabin with a nod of her head and a look of shame.
    â€˜OK?’
    â€˜Mum did have a bad head last night and that’s partly why she couldn’t go to the shop for the electricity card. But there was another reason why I had to go and Mum couldn’t.’ She touched the swelling on her lip. ‘My grandma lives with us. She’s that sick she’s mostly in bed. Mum doesn’t let her be on her own in the flat. In case she dies of the cancer. I’ve heard Mum talk to the nurses. She can’t talk to me. I’ve tried to talk about things but she just clams up. She told the nurses she was terrified of her mother dying. And scared of her dying all on her own. When we came to see you this morning, my big brother, Paul, he was in the flat with Grandma, but Paul wasn’t around for some of last night and so Mum let me go to the shop for the electricity card.’
    â€˜I’m very sad to hear about your grandma.’
    Macy looked at Rosen directly, openly. ‘So am I. I’m so close to her. Mr Rosen, I was on my way over to your cabin to tell you because I’ve been worried sick all afternoon.’
    â€˜What’s been worrying you, Macy?’
    He felt the warm stirring of a bond forming with the little girl before him.
    â€˜Because we didn’t tell you the whole truth. About why it was me who had to go to the shop. I couldn’t say anything when I was withMum. I’m sorry. It’s wrong to lie and it’s really bad to lie to the police.’
    â€˜You’ve nothing to be sorry to me for. I