Hard Tail(76)

She sighed. "Honestly, until we've heard from the police regarding the other party's statement, we simply can't speculate."

Matt's hand had crept into mine at the word prison, and now he spoke up. "What if someone told the police Ste-Pritchard has a history of violence?"

"They won't," I said firmly. "Not unless they really have to."

Kate's eyes had widened, and she leaned forward in her seat. "I really think-ow! Tim, did you just kick me?"

"Sorry-my foot slipped," I said innocently, wiggling my bare toes at her as if in evidence.

Kate's gaze tracked suspiciously from me to Matt, but she didn't ask any more questions.





Chapter Twenty-One




The drive down to the police station in the centre of town was a nerve-jangling one. We took the BMW, as it turned out Kate had driven down in a brand-new two-seater MG. Seemed like I hadn't been the only one making changes in my life. Matt gave the shiny red sports car a wistful glance as we passed it, and I started wondering about trade-ins.

Only for a moment, though, as I remembered I ought first to see if I'd be at liberty to drive the thing.

When we got to the police station, there was a frustrating wait to talk to someone who actually knew anything about the case. Eventually we were greeted by a young officer I didn't recognise and whose name I was too nervous to catch. Did the fact that he called me "sir" mean I wasn't going to be charged? Or was "sir", in this instance, just police shorthand for "You violent scumbag"?

He took us to an interview room, where he opened up a file and briefly scanned its contents before looking up with a bland expression. "Right, Mr. Knight. We've spoken to Mr. Pritchard-apparently he became somewhat belligerent on being questioned-and we're happy that the statement you gave us corresponds with the truth."

If I hadn't been sitting down, I'd have collapsed with relief. Matt, hovering in the corner as there were only three chairs, gave a huge grin.

"So there's just the matter of the assault charge."

My heart leapt back up into my mouth so fast my head spun.

"Will you be wishing to pursue the matter, sir?"

"I-what?" I croaked.

Kate rescued me. "He means, do you want to press charges against Mr. Pritchard?"

"I … " I could charge him? Get Prick-tard sent to jail?

"I think Mr. Knight would like a few moments to consider the matter," Kate said smoothly.

"Right." The officer stood up, glancing at his watch. "I'll give you ten minutes and then look back in on you, all right?"




 

 

Kate stood too. "That'll be fine. Thank you."

As the door closed behind him, she sat again. I hadn't got up in the first place, sincerely worried I might just fall down. "I think I just aged ten years," I muttered.

"So, are you going to do it?" Kate asked.

I looked at Matt, who'd perched on the edge of the table next to me. "What do you think?"

"It's your decision," he said.

I nodded. "No, then."

"No?" Kate's head snapped round. "Why on earth not?"

"Because … because it's not just about a fight in a car park," I said. "Which, by the way, I won. If this goes to court, there's a good chance a lot of other things are going to come out … " I faltered at the unfortunate choice of words, and Kate shot Matt a shrewd glance. "Anyway, maybe I got a few bruises, but Prick-I mean, Pritchard came off worse. It doesn't seem right to get him fined or sent to jail or whatever as well."

Matt squeezed my hand. I was pretty certain Kate noticed that too.

***

Stepping out of the police station into the sunshine was like climbing out of a black pit of despair into, well, the sunshine. "Thanks so much for coming down," I told Kate. "Even though it turned out to be a bit of a wasted journey."

"Don't be silly. I got to meet Matt, so it certainly wasn't wasted."

I may possibly have been sporting a soppy grin at her words, as she gave me a fond and almost motherly smile. Matt just took a really good look at his trainers' scuffed toes, and the tips of his ears turned red.

With Jay still in hospital-and with me guiltily aware I hadn't visited him in days-I didn't like to leave my phone off any longer, so I switched it back on. It rang almost immediately. "Sorry, I'd better get it. Just in case."

It turned out it was Jay. Calling from his mobile, my phone told me. "Are you allowed to use mobile phones in a hospital?" I asked.

"I'm not in hospital anymore. They chucked me out yesterday. I'm at Mum and Dad's. So what's this I hear about your secret life of violent crime?"

What? "How did you-" I broke off and gave Kate a hard stare. For the first time this morning, she looked unsure of herself.