Maxwell's Return Read Online Free Page B

pictures?’ Sylvia asked.
    ‘I’m making an online album,’ Jacquie said. ‘We managed to get out and about quite a bit.’
    ‘So, what’s this about Bernard having no alibi, then?’ Maxwell asked, with his sunniest smile.
    Later that evening, with Nolan away on a sleepover and Metternich sprawled over all three cushions of the sofa, his front legs stretched over his head and his back legs turned to the side in a Yoga position of his own devising, Maxwell returned to the question he had been dropping into the conversation all afternoon and through a takeaway dinner. Jacquie turned to face him, chin cupped in her hand, elbow resting on the arm of the chair. Her hair was a cloud of chestnut and the low light from the table lamp on the table between them made her eyes glow. She looked across at Maxwell, one of the two loves of her life – Metternich stirred in his sleep and half opened a steely eye – make that three loves of her life and she knew that she would give in soon. But the rules of the game stated quite clearly in para 4 subsection iiia that there had to be at least one more attempt. Her months with the LA DA (inevitably christened by Maxwell La-di-da) had not been wasted. She could now slow any investigation for weeks, by invoking laws and precedents without number; and that was before she reached for her motion to suppress. She blinked slowly twice and spoke.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she drawled, just a hint of California in her voice. ‘What was that?’
    He narrowed his eyes at her and she was yet again reminded of hissimilarity to Metternich. ‘I said, so Bernard Ryan has no alibi, then?’
    ‘Does he not?’ She feigned innocence. ‘I did not know that!’
    ‘Jacquie!’ he shouted, making Metternich jump in his sleep. ‘Sorry, Count,’ he said, ‘but really. A man has to jump through hoops here just to get some basic information. You said that he had no alibi. I said …’
    She flapped a hand at him and fell back against the cushions of her chair. ‘Yes, yes, all right. I give in. Bernard Ryan has no alibi.’ She picked up a magazine from her lap and started to read, skimming the pages with unseeing eyes until she heard him take in another breath, prior to asking again. With a smile, she turned back to him. ‘I don’t see why you shouldn’t know. It’s not as if he is really a suspect. If Diamond has any sense, he will have him reinstated by the time term starts.’
    ‘But… he told Sylvia he was out on a long-standing arrangement or some such thing. That’s an alibi, isn’t it?’
    ‘It’s an excuse,’ she corrected him. ‘A ruse. A story. A reason. Any number of things. But unless we can get corroborating evidence from anyone who saw him at this so-called long standing arrangement, there is one thing it isn’t.’ She watched him, waiting for a response. ‘What isn’t it?’ she prompted.
    ‘An alibi.’ He was frowning. ‘But…’
    ‘No buts. He hasn’t got an alibi. I haven’t seen the case notes, but I imagine that he probably just wanted to get away from a potentially dodgy situation with a fourteen year old girl. The worst he is is a heartlessbastard, but surely you knew that already.’
    Maxwell took a deep breath and then let it out again without speaking. Then he tried again. ‘He is a heartless bastard, yes, of course he is,’ he agreed. ‘But only with staff. He would sell us all down the river without a moment’s thought. He lives by rule books and lists and government guidelines. He has never met a health and safety initiative he doesn’t like. I would imagine that he sleeps with Mr Gove’s latest edict under his pillow every night. But… but…’
    ‘But?’
    ‘But this was a child. She needed him and he went out and left her. That doesn’t sound like the Bernard Ryan I know. He should have called someone, social services, God forbid or at least Legs. He knew he had done wrong, or why would he have gone to Sylv the next morning? I just don’t think