Page 96 of Beneath the Quiet

If Dot had tried getting to know me while growing up, she’d have known that I wouldn’t do that. Concealing from the police who shot me?

Not a chance.

Even if my partner hadn’t been with me that day, I’d never have helped Joe by lying to my superior, telling her that I didn’t know who did it. I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the eye if I did, and I wouldn’t be fit to wear my badge if I did something like that.

I’d be lying if I said that I’d hoped I wouldn’t hear more from her, but this is Dot.

I should’ve known my peace wouldn’t last.

It never does.

“What do you want, Dot? I won’t ask a third time.”

“Don’t get yourself wound up. Here I was the other night, thinking that it had been ages since we’d last had ourselves a nice chat. I just thought it was high time I phoned you to do that, y’know?”

My left eye starts twitching at the blatant lies falling from her mouth.

“Right. Because we talk on the phone regularly, don’t we, Dot?”

“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, Maeve.”

Dot’s voice drips with venom, the same as always.

“I’m late for work,” I lie.

I wait for her to carry on, but all I can hear is her laboured breathing through the phone.

“Well, you know why I call, Maeve.” She sniffles. “My boy’s in hiding because of you.”

I close my eyes.

“He brought it on himself.”

“That’s not true,” she scoffs. “He has to earn his way in life somehow.”

My hands begin to shake, and I clutch the phone tighter.

“Getting involved with drug dealing is never a good career choice.”

“He had no choice.”

I bite down hard on my lip to keep the sound of disbelief inside.

“Why did you phone me?”

“Joe called me the other day. Asked where you were.”

“And?”

She chuckles. “I didn’t tell him anything.”

Tension crawls on my skin like ants, the suspicion waving like a red flag in front of me. Dot never does anything out of the goodness of her own heart.

“Why not?”

“I thought you might be willing to help me if I helped you by not telling him about your little holiday by the beach. I need money. You need to keep Joe off your back. Connect the dots, detective sergeant.”

“What?” I huff in disbelief. “You’ve got to be joking.”