Page 45 of Seven Days

‘I want to talk to you about what happened that night. Why don’t you take me through it?’

‘Is someone else in trouble? For selling us alcohol?’

She shook her head. ‘I’m not really interested in that kind of thing. And I can promise you I won’t do anything with any information you give me. I want you to speak as freely as possible.’

‘OK.’ He paused. ‘Me and Andy went – we went to see a film. We saw Pirates of the Caribbean. Andy had some White Lightning cider and he snuck it in. We drank it and we were pretty loud – laughing, that kind of thing – and the usher kicked us out. So we went to the park, and on the way we bought some Mad Dog—’

‘Mad Dog?’ Wynne said.

‘It’s a drink: MD twenty-twenty. We call it Mad Dog. It’s cheap.’

‘And you drank it in the park?’

He nodded. ‘We bought four bottles. I drank a bit more than Andy, I think.’

‘And then what?’

‘I was sick, and I lay down by the roundabout. Andy said we should go home and after that I don’t really remember anything until I woke up at home.’

‘And Mr Best?’ She leaned forward. ‘Do you remember seeing him?’

‘No. I think I’d passed out before he showed up.’

‘You didn’t see him before you passed out? In the park?’

‘No. Why would I? Has he done something?’

Wynne shook her head. ‘Just checking.’ She got to her feet. ‘Thank you, James. That was very helpful. I can see myself out.’

3

DI Wynne walked up to Best’s front door and rang the doorbell. She stepped back and waited.

It opened a few moments later. Best looked at her. He was dressed in a pair of old jeans with grass stains on the knees and a loose-fitting sweater. He folded his arms.

‘Hello,’ he said. ‘You again. How can I help you this time?’

‘I have some questions.’

‘I’ve given you all the information I have.’ Best shook his head. ‘What’s your name again? I’ve a mind to report you. This is tantamount to police harass—’

Wynne glanced around then shoved him hard in the chest. He stumbled backwards and she stepped into the hall. She shut the front door, her heart beating hard in her chest, and swung her right foot hard into his shin. There was a loud crack. Best bent over, his hand clutching at his damaged leg.

‘You shut the fuck up,’ she said. ‘And listen to me.’

Best looked up at her, his eyes wary.

‘What were you doing last night? With Maggie Cooper’s brother?’

‘Nothing.’ He stood up, wincing in pain. ‘It was a simple coincidence.’ He gestured at the front of the house. ‘The park is there. I was walking home and I saw him come out. I didn’t know he was related to the Coopers.’

Wynne stared at him. ‘I don’t believe you,’ she said. ‘I don’t believe a word you say. You’re a lying piece of shit.’

He shrugged. ‘He was in the park getting drunk. How could I have had anything to do with that? He was drunk on the street outside my house and I was concerned. That’s all there is to it, Detective Inspector Wynne.’

It was true: James had confirmed it. But still. Why was he watching? And would he have done the same for another teenager?

‘So you took him home?’