by Sue Welford
‘It’s someone for you.’
He dried his face and came out. ‘Who is it?’
At the foot of the stairs his sister shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Didn’t ask, did I?’
Drew swore softly under his breath. Sometimes Sophie could be a real pain. Most of the time if he really thought about it.
He ran down the stairs and into the kitchen.
‘Hello?’
‘Drew, it’s Max.’ His friend sounded strange, unusually urgent and serious.
‘Max! What’s up?’
‘Drew can you come down here?’
‘Yes, sure. Is anything wrong?’
‘There’s been a break in.’
‘Oh, no! When?’
‘Last night. Look, the police are comin’ and so’s the boss, you’d better get down here.’
‘Right,’ Drew finished drying his face. ‘I’ll be right there.’
Sophie was leaning against the door into the sitting room. ‘What’s up?’
He told her. ‘Look, you’ll have to get the bus, OK? I’ve got to go.’
‘Oh... all right.’ She made a face and followed him back up the stairs and into his room.
‘Do you mind?’ he rummaged around in his drawer for a clean T-shirt. ‘I’m getting dressed.’
Sophie pulled another face. ‘Well I won’t look, will I?’ She went to gaze out of the window. ‘What’s been pinched?’
‘No idea.’ Drew pulled on his jeans and trainers. He dragged on his T-shirt and ran a quick comb through his hair. ‘I’ll find out when I get there.’
Downstairs he grabbed an apple for breakfast. ‘Will you lock up and everything?’ he said to Sophie.’
‘‘Course I will. Always do, don’t I?’
‘Have you got enough money?’ he said as an afterthought when he was half way out of the door.
‘You could lend me the bus fare if you like.’
Drew tutted and took a couple of pound coins from his pocket. ‘You owe me,’ he said.
‘Don’t I always?’ She gave him one of her unexpected sunny smiles.
Drew grinned back. ‘Take care, now, Soph. Don’t talk to any strangers.’
‘Get lost,’ she grinned again and closed the door.
The road to the hotel was busy. Roadworks along the river bridge made it half an hour before Drew arrived at the fitness centre. There was a police squad car parked beside John Hickson’s Rolls and Max’s jeep.
Max was standing by the counter as he came into the gym. His jaw dropped as he stood in the doorway. Max had said there had been a break in, but not that the place had been trashed.
‘Oh, God, Max. I don’t believe it.’
Drew stood there looking at the mess. The potted plants had been smashed, the free weights thrown against the walls. The posters had been torn down and the drinks machine toppled over. Broken glass and mess lay everywhere. The clock had been wrenched off the wall and lay in one corner. There was a gaping hole beneath the counter where the video machine and C.D. player had been. The shelf that housed the T.V. was empty too. Drew groaned. ‘They didn’t have to smash the place up as well.’
Max spread his hands. ‘Tell me about it.’
It was then that Drew realised there were three other people in the room. A burly, dark haired man in a black leather jacket. Drew knew straight away it was the police officer. John Hickson and Carl. They were all staring at him.
‘This is Drew Devlin,’ Max said. ‘Drew, this is Sergeant Hacker.’
‘Hi,’ Drew said. ‘What a mess.’ He wasn’t scared of the police. When they came to take his father away they had been polite, kind even. He remembered the policewoman making a cup of tea and trying to comfort his mum and Sophie as they led his dad down the path.
The sergeant came towards him. ‘It is indeed. Max tells me you were looking after the place last night,’ he said.
Drew nodded. ‘That’s right.’
There was a sound from the corner and when Drew looked up, Carl was eyeing him with a frown on his face. As their eyes met, Carl leaned towards his father and said something that Drew couldn’t hear. John Hickson’s eyebrows shot up.
‘Really?’ he said to Carl.
Sergeant Hacker had taken out his note book. ‘What time did you leave?’ he asked.
Drew shrugged. ‘About eleven I suppose. I’m not exactly sure.
Carl came over. He leaned one elbow on the counter and gazed at Drew. Drew felt uncomfortable. He turned. ‘What’s so fascinating, Carl?’ he asked sharply.
Carl shook his head. There was almost, but not quite a sneer on his face. ‘Nothing.’ He nodded at Sergeant Hacker. ‘Go on,’ he said.
The sergeant raised his eyebrows, then glanced at John Hickson. ‘You didn’t see anyone lurking about?’
Drew shook his head. ‘No. I locked up, took the cash tin over as usual then left. The car park was empty apart from the night porter’s Fiesta.
Max butted in. ‘I often leave Drew to lock up for me,’ he said. ‘He uses the machines after work, sometimes quite late.’
‘Has he got a key?’ asked Hacker.
‘He’s got my spare set but he always returns them to me.’ Max confirmed.
Drew turned to Max. ‘How did they get in?’
‘Round the back,’ he said. ‘They smashed the cloakroom window.’
‘I made sure it was locked.’
‘Yes, they smashed the whole frame.’
Drew sighed. ‘I’m really sorry, Max.’
‘It’s not your fault,’ Max said. He turned to the sergeant. ‘I’ve got the serial numbers and everythin’ of the TV and video if that’s any help.’
‘Oh, they’ll be long gone,’ Carl said. ‘You know about Devlin’s father I suppose?’ he went on. ‘You know he’s in prison. Fraud, but that’s only another way of saying he stole money from his firm.’
Drew felt a surge of anger. Trust Hickson to bring that up. Before Hacker could answer he said sharply. ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’
Carl shrugged and went back to stand beside his father. ‘You tell me, Devlin.’
Drew took a deep breath. ‘No, Carl. You tell me.’
The two boys glared daggers at each other across the room. The sergeant was looking at Drew. ‘Any of your friends use the gym, do they, son?’
‘No,’ Drew said. ‘They can’t afford it. I only use it because Max lets me work out for free.’
‘Hard up are they?’ the sergeant said.
It didn’t take much to know what he was getting at. Trust Carl to stir things up.
‘Yes, as a matter of fact they are,’ Drew said evenly. He hadto keep his temper. ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’
Max put his hand on Drew’s arm. ‘Cool it, Drew,’ he warned.
Hacker was looking at his note book. ‘We think the robbery took place about one thirty,’ he said. He pointed to the smashed clock on the floor.
‘Yeah?’ Drew said. ‘Well I.....’ He stopped. One thirty. He had been with Cindy. What if the sergeant asked where he was... who he was with?
They were waiting for him to go on.
‘... I told you, I left about eleven,’ he said. ‘That’s the usual time the gym closes, huh, Max?’
‘Drew, you don’t have to explain anythin’ to me,’ Max said.
‘No, but I’m afraid he does to me,’ said Hacker.
‘Yeah,’ Carl said. ‘And us.’
Drew clenched his jaws together. ‘If you’ve got anything to say, Carl,’ he said angrily. ‘Then say it. If you think it was me who pinched the stuff and smashed the place up, then you say so, OK?’
Carl raised his eyebrows. ‘If the cap fits...’
Drew lunged forward. Max stepped neatly in front of him and held his arms. ‘I said, cool it, Drew,’ he said.
Drew was shaking all over. His eyes blazed. ‘He can’t get away with that, Max,’ he said through his teeth.
‘Drew,’ Max hissed. ‘You’re diggin’ a hole for you
rself, don’t you see?’
Drew turned Hacker. ‘Look, if I wanted to pinch the stuff I’d have taken it out the front door, not through the window,’ he said.
‘Yes, but that would make it rather obvious, don’t you think, son?’ Hacker said. ‘You’re a bright lad, even you must realise that.’
Drew wished he would stop calling him ‘son.’
‘All right,’ John Hickson spoke for the first time. ‘Just tell the sergeant everything you know.’
‘I don’t know anything,’ Drew said. He glanced desperately at Max. Surely this couldn’t be happening. They couldn’t really believe he’d do a thing like that.
Hacker had been taking it all in. The hostility between the two boys, the accusing tone of Carl’s voice. ‘Right,’ he said. ‘Now, Drew. You say you left about eleven?’
‘That’s right, I’ve told you already.’ Drew took a deep breath. He was beginning to calm down. He didn’t even know why he was getting into such a state. He hadn’t done anything. Max had picked up one of the stools and made him sit on it.
‘Just making sure, son,’ Hacker went on. ‘Left by yourself, did you?’
‘Yes. Everyone else had gone by then.’
‘And you went straight home?’
Drew almost panicked. He hadn’t gone straight home. He had gone to Cindy’s. But he couldn’t tell the sergeant that. Not in front of Carl and his father. Not even in private for they’d be sure to find out. He took another deep breath. ‘Er.. yeah,’ he said.
He could tell the sergeant knew he was lying. You didn’t get to be a detective sergeant without having a pretty good idea when people weren’t telling the truth. All he had got to do, of course, was prove it.
‘You sure about that?’
‘Yes,’ Drew said more firmly.
‘So at one thirty you were at home?’
‘Yes,’ Drew said.
‘Can anyone confirm that?’
Drew’s heart sank. His mum knew exactly what time he got home. Nearer three than one thirty. Supposing they went and asked her without her knowing why?
‘Er... no.’ he said.
The sergeant was looking at him shrewdly.
‘There was no-one at home, then.’
‘They were asleep,’ Drew said. ‘But I don’t know why you’re asking me all this. I told you, I don’t know anything about it.’
‘He’s lying,’ Carl said suddenly. ‘I can tell. Look at him, he’s not even looking you in the eye.’
‘Shut-up, Carl,’ his father hissed in his face. To Drew’s surprise Carl took a small step backwards. It was suddenly easy to see where he got his bullying ways from.
John Hickson nodded to Hacker. ‘Go on, Sergeant.’
‘Now, wait a minute,’ Max interrupted. ‘Look, Mr Hacker, I trust this boy. There’s no way he would have done this. What reason would he have?’
‘‘The same reason as anyone else,’ Carl said. He spoke in a low voice. Almost as if he didn’t want his father to hear but couldn’t resist the urge to speak. ‘Sell the stuff... he’s pretty hard up. His mum’s only a nurse and as I said, his dad’s...’
Max turned. ‘Do yourself a favour, Carl,’ he said. ‘If you don’t shut-up, I’ll shut you up.’
Carl closed his mouth. One person he really wasn’t going to argue with was Max Lewis. Drew saw a secret smile flicker around his mouth. A triumphant kind of a smile. He had done exactly what he set out to do. Let suspicion fall on Drew. Drew clenched his fists together by his side. The urge to fly at Carl almost got the better of him.
The sergeant was scribbling in his book. Drew still couldn’t believe this was all happening. It was like a nightmare you couldn’t wake up from. He looked at Carl again, then, suddenly, he knew. This was exactly the chance Hickson had been looking for for years. The chance to get his own back for that punch on the nose. For Drew’s name being linked with Cindy’s. For knowing the rumours about him and the girl from Marie’s school and almost getting the better of him that evening in the pub. Even if they couldn’t pin the burglary on him, he had sown the seeds in his father’s mind. Employing a criminal’s son... He had the feeling John Hickson wasn’t going to like that. He wasn’t going to like it one bit. And there was only one way Drew could prove he was innocent. By telling them he was with Cindy. And that was the last thing he could possibly do.
‘So there’s no-one,’ Hacker was saying. ‘No-one who could vouch...’
Drew shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘No-one.’
Then, out of the blue, a voice came from the doorway.
‘Yes there is. Me.’
Drew spun round. Cindy was standing there. She had one hand on her hip, in the other jangled her car keys. How long she had been listening, he didn’t know.
She came over and stood beside him. ‘I was with Drew last night, sergeant,’ she said. ‘We were at my house. He left at gone half past two.’
Drew gazed at her in astonishment. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. She was risking her relationship with Carl just to give him the alibi he needed. Could it be that she really cared about him more than he’d thought? ‘Cindy, you don’t have...’
She put her hand on his shoulder. ‘Yes, I do,’ she said softly. So softly that he thought he was the only one that could hear.
‘Cindy...?’
She gave him a small, half smile. A smile that seemed to say it’s OK Drew, you don’t have to worry. Hope soared in his heart. She cared about him, she really cared.
Carl was standing with his mouth open. He swallowed noisily. ‘Cindy... what are you on about?’ He was almost shouting. ‘Why are you lying? There’s no need to stick up for this creep.’
She looked at him. ‘I’m not lying, Carl,’ she said. ‘I was with Drew.’
Carl turned to his father. ‘Dad...?’
John Hickson came towards them. ‘Are you telling the truth, Cindy?’ he asked. Drew was surprised at the sudden softness of his voice.
‘Yes, Uncle John,’ she said simply.
John Hickson turned. ‘That’s good enough for me, Sergeant,’ he said. ‘You’ll have to look elsewhere for the thugs who did this.’ He turned back to Drew. ‘Sorry, son.’
Drew shrugged. He still couldn’t take it all in. ‘No problem, sir,’ he mumbled.
‘Come on, Carl. We’re going to be late.’
But Carl was still staring at Cindy as if he had been struck by lightening.
Holding his gaze, she said with a shrug. ‘I’m sorry, Carl. But that’s just the way it is.’
Carl had gone scarlet in the face. He came and stood in front of them. ‘Have you been going out with him?’ he asked in a low voice.
Cindy shook her head. ‘No.’
When Drew looked at her, her face was pale and defiant. ‘But you’ve been seeing that girl from the High School,’ she said. ‘So you shouldn’t complain if I spend one evening with Drew, should you?’
Drew’s heart sunk. So that was it. She had done it just to get her own back at Carl. She probably hoped he would come to his senses and stop seeing the other girl. He should have known better than to think she really cared about him. What an idiot! He took a deep breath. Well, at least she had let him off the hook. He supposed he should be grateful for that.
Carl was breathing heavily. ‘You told her!’ He glared at Drew. His words were like an admission of guilt.
‘No,’ Cindy said quickly. ‘I got it from someone else.’
John Hickson, Max and Sergeant Hacker were talking by the door.
‘Carl, are you coming?’ his father called impatiently. ‘We were supposed to be at the golf course half an hour ago.
Carl threw them one last furious look and followed his father outside.
The sergeant shut his note book. ‘Well, the fingerprint boys will be here soon,’ he said. ‘Don’t touch anything until they’ve been.’ He went out with Max.
‘Hang on a minute,’ Drew called. He had suddenly remembered seeing that white transit van parke
d by the junction. It might be important.
When he came back Cindy was standing by the counter gazing into space. He stood watching her for a moment. She must have known he was there but she didn’t look at him.
‘I know why you did it?’ he said bluntly. He felt annoyed and angry that she had used him to get her own back at Carl. Mad at himself for being stupid enough to think there might be any other reason.
She frowned. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘Yes, you do.’ His voice came out more sharply than he had intended. ‘You just told Carl about last night because you’d discovered he’d been two timing you.’
She shook her head. ‘No, Drew, that’s not true. I...’
‘Yes, you did.’ His eyes blazed into hers. ‘That was probably the only reason you asked me in for a coffee... just so you could tell Carl and make him jealous.’
She looked hurt. ‘Drew, that’s...’
But he didn’t want to hear any more. ‘Well, thanks for getting me off the hook, Cindy but I reckon I could really have done it myself and to be honest, I don’t like being used. Next time, find some other mug, huh?’
He left her standing there and stormed out. Didn’t she think he had any feelings? Could she only think about herself and Carl? He knew he had to get away, to be on his own for a while. If he didn’t, he might just explode.
He met Max still talking to the sergeant.
‘I’ll be back later to help you clear up,’ he said.
Max could obviously see he was angry. ‘I’m sorry about all that, Drew.’
‘It’s OK, I’ll get over it.’
He ran out into the car park and got on his bike. He gunned the engine and sped out onto the road. He wasn’t even really aware in which direction he was heading. Then he found himself approaching the bridge. He pulled up in the lay-by. He sat there for a minute, breathing heavily. Then he switched off the engine, got off, and climbed over the stile that led to the footpath along the river. Half way, he pushed his way through the overhanging trees and made his way along the inlet bank to the deserted boat house. There, he sat, his knees drawn up to his chin, still trying to calm his reeling senses. How could she do it? How could she use him like that? He’d been a real fool, falling for the pleading in those big blue eyes. ‘I just don’t want to be alone right now, Drew,’ she had said. No, he bet she didn’t. Especially knowing that it was likely Carl was out with another girl. She hadn’t needed to pump him for information because she knew already. What she had needed was a reason to really make Carl jealous. Well, he only hoped her scheme had worked.