The Anniversary

Chapter 9

“Mr Reynolds?” Dodds’ voice brought him back. “Did Carl have any enemies?”

Toby shifted in his seat and rubbed his hands over his face. Suddenly he felt exhausted.

“No. He could be the usual moody teenager but he always thought of other people. He puts others before him.”

“That’s true enough.” Charlotte agreed. “I had to talk him into giving a statement after I told him the school had security footage of him being attacked.”

Toby stiffened. So Carl was going to make a statement. He patted Charlotte’s hand, getting a smile in return. At least she had got through to him.

Dodds had also stiffened.

“When did this attack happen, Charlotte?” She asked.

“Tuesday. He was leaving the locker room after track and a classmate Jason jumped him. He hit Carl on the head with a baseball bat. He had to go to the ER to have stitches put in.”

“Did anyone go with him to the ER?”

“Louise did.” Toby answered. “I picked him up after he had been treated and I also paid the bill.”

Dodds nodded, taking it all in. She focused on Charlotte.

“What’s this Jason’s surname?”

“Tyrie. He was Louise’s on-off boyfriend. They’re not together right now.”

“I know him.” Dodds said quietly. “His dad is influential to my department.”

Toby sat up.

“Does that mean you’re not going to do anything?” He demanded.

Dodds gave him a slight smirk.

“Not a chance. A crime was committed and just because his dad does things for us it doesn’t mean we’re going to let him off lightly. If Jason’s committed a crime he most certainly will do the time.”

That made Toby feel a little better. At least he knew they weren’t going to turn away. Twenty years ago when Simone had been attacked, the police had laughed and walked away. Her attackers had never paid for their crimes. At least this was going in Carl’s favor this time.

“Do you think he attacked Carl because he knew that Carl was going to testify?” Dodds asked Charlotte.

“No.” Charlotte was certain about that. “The only person Carl said that to was me. We haven’t said a thing to anyone else.”

Dodds sighed. She planted her hands on her knees and stood, grimacing as she straightened her knees.

“I’ll have some more questions later but I’ll let you get back to your family.”

“Thank you.” Toby stood and held out his hand. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be much help.”

Dodds gave him a tired smile and shook his hand firmly.

“Don’t worry, you were more than helpful. Do you want a ride home, Charlotte?”

“My parents are here.” Charlotte wrapped her arms round her middle. “I’ll stay a little longer.”

Dodds gave her a slight smile before walking away. As she left, Emil exited the elevator. He saw Toby and beckoned him over urgently. Sensing something wrong, Toby left Charlotte standing by Carl’s window and hurried to join his friend.

“Where did you go?”

“I needed to call a friend.”

“What for.”

Emil glanced around them before drawing Toby to a corner. Even then he lowered his voice.

“I thought the name Reveley sounded familiar so I put a call in to my PI.”

“You didn’t sleep with the mother, did you?”

“No! But I did recognize the name. I worked with a guy name Reveley a few years back. He had two daughters but I only met the older one.” Emil paused. “Her name is Candace.”

“Candace?” Toby only knew of one Candace. “As in my brother’s girlfriend?”

“Yes. Reveley married Candace’s mother when she was four. Louise came along shortly after.” Emil raised his eyebrows. “Think there’s a connection?”

There was most certainly a connection. And Toby knew he needed to find out before the police did. He glanced back towards Carl’s room, thinking of Simone further down the hall. Then he turned back to Emil.

“Could you do me a favor? Say no if you don’t want in.”

“My godson and my best friend are in hospital because some sick bas*ards beat them up.” Emil’s mouth hardened into a thin line. “I’m in.”

*****

Toby banged his fist on the door.

“Come on, open up, Mike!” He bellowed. “Mike, I know you’re in there. I can hear music. Let me in!”

He hammered on the door again. He had been outside for the past ten minutes but Mike had been refusing to open the door. His brother wasn’t out because the lights were still on and he wasn’t asleep as Toby could hear music being played inside. He rang the bell and hammered again.

Eventually Mike opened the door. He was wearing black silk pyjama trousers, his chest laid bare. His hair was mussed and there was a slight sheen of sweat on his skin. Toby didn’t need to guess what he had been up to in there.

Mike gave him an incredulous look.

“Toby, what the hell? Hey!”

Toby shoved him hard in the chest, making Mike stumble back and nearly lose his footing. Toby kicked the door shut and advanced on his brother.

“What did you do, Mike?” He snarled.

“What are you talking about?”

Toby grabbed Mike’s throat and pinned him against the wall.

“What did you do?”

“Let go of me!”

Mike tried to pry his hand away but Toby held on tight. He was easily stronger than Mike and could hold his own. Plus with his fury driving him it wasn’t that difficult to keep him pinned.

“You set Simone up to be attacked, didn’t you?”

“What?” Mike stared at him like he had gone mad. “Are you high?”

Toby shook him, Mike’s head bouncing off the wall.

“You’ve never liked Simone. You’ve never hidden that fact. And you know she’s been beaten up before for being with me. So you decided to use it again and this time you got my son as well.” Toby tightened his hand. “Are you that disgusting you would attack a child?”