Page 39 of Maybe Tomorrow

‘Anthony’s name has come up in our investigations and we’d like a formal word with him down at the station,’ Eddie said, a tight smile on his chapped lips.

‘Are you arresting him?’

‘Not at the moment. If you’d like to come with us, Anthony.’

‘Why?’ Anthony asked, confused.

‘Anthony, if you obstruct our investigation, we can arrest you, but it won’t look good for you.’

Jane leaned down to Anthony and lowered her voice. ‘Anthony, go with them. It’ll be all right. I’ll phone your mum for you. I’ll tell her what’s going on. She can come and get you.’

‘They’re arresting me?’ He looked up at her with wet eyes.

‘No, sweetheart, they’re not. They just want to talk to you because you knew Alice. You were her friend. Just go with them,’ she said, looking up at everyone in the library watching them. She knew Anthony being taken away by police would be around Whitby in no time. ‘Do as they say, Anthony. They’re the police. You can trust them.’

Slowly, Anthony was helped to his feet. DC Ritter took one arm, DC Tyler the other, and they led him through the shelves of books, past the gawping customers, out through the doors and to the waiting car haphazardly parked on the pavement.

As he was placed into the back of the car, Anthony looked at Jane through the window. The look on his face would stay with her for the rest of her life. He was mortified. He was scared.

Laura and Carol were in the doorway to the staffroom, arms folded, watching what was happening.

‘Did they just arrest him for killing Alice? Laura asked.

‘No. No. Of course, they didn’t.’ Jane said. She was still dumbfounded. ‘He’s just helping them with their enquiries.’

‘Well, we all know what that means, don’t we?’ Carol said.

‘Do we?’ Laura asked.

‘You remember Andy, my Reg’s brother, don’t you? Well, when he worked at Granton’s, there was this big scandal to do with money going missing. The police interviewed everyone, including Andy. A couple of weeks later, they came back and asked Andy to accompany them to the station. Helping with enquiries is what they said. Next thing, Reg gets a call from his mother. They’d only charged him with theft and fraud.’

‘No!’ Laura said, hooked on the story.

‘He denied it, obviously. It went to court. He was found guilty and served five years.’

‘Is he out now?’

‘Oh, yes, he’s out. His mother won’t have anything to do with him. She wouldn’t even have him in the house when his father died. He’s in Tunstall now. We don’t see him,’ Carol said, pulling a face.

‘Anthony won’t go to prison, will he?’ Laura asked, looking to Jane for the answer.

‘Of course, he won’t.’

‘I always knew there was something strange about Anthony,’ Carol said. ‘I mean, you’ve heard what some of the parents said about him when he worked on the children’s club. That’s why he stopped doing Saturdays, isn’t it, Jane?’

Jane ignored her.

‘Alice was… well, you know… she was raped. Anthony isn’t capable of doing that,’ Laura said.

‘He’s a man. He’s capable,’ Carol said, turning on her heel and leaving the room.

Jane looked up at Laura. ‘I’m going to ring his mum. You look after the desk. And make sure Carol isn’t spreading any harmful gossip.’

‘Will do.’

Laura left, closing the door behind her.

Jane got Anthony’s number from the list of staff contact details taped to the wall. She picked up the receiver and dialled. It rang and rang and rang, but there was no answer.