The Guilty One Read Online Free PDF Page B

when you were inside the park?”
    Sebastian shook his head violently, as if to shake away a fly.
    “You’re shaking your head, but there was a witness who said he saw two boys of your age fighting at the top of the park. Did anyone speak to you when you were with Ben—tell you to stop fighting?”
    “I’m so sorry, Sergeant,” said Charlotte. “He just said that he and Ben didn’t have a falling-out. Seb’s just not the type for fighting, are you?”
    The sergeant took a deep breath then asked Sebastian if he wanted a break and a drink of juice. When the boy left to go to the bathroom, accompanied by PC Brown, the sergeant folded his arms on the table. Daniel noticed the fleshy softness of the man’s hands.
    “I know it’s hard, Mrs. Croll, but if you could try not to answer for him?”
    “I know, I will—I can, I suppose it’s just second nature. I can see he’s not being as articulate as he could and I just want to help clear things up.”
    “That’s what we all want—to clear things up. Do you think you might step out for a little bit—have a cup of coffee maybe, just while I go through the rest of the questions?”
    Charlotte sat up in her seat and looked at Daniel.
    “It’s up to you,” said Daniel. “Or you could agree to stay, but remain silent. You’re entitled to be here.”
    “You’ll make sure he’s okay?” Charlotte asked.
    “Of course.”
    She seemed pained to leave and gave Daniel a strained look before being shown out.
    When Sebastian was brought back in, without his mother, he chose to sit closer to Daniel. He seemed fidgety and Daniel felt the occasional brush of the boy’s arm against his, a foot against his trouser leg.
    “So, you say there was no argument between you and Ben?”
    “No, we were play-fighting for a little bit. We were playing hide-and-seek and chasing each other, then when he caught up with me we were rolling in the grass and play-fighting.”
    “Sometimes play-fighting can get out of hand. Is that what happened? Did you take it too far?”
    Again, Sebastian’s cheeks colored with anger. “No,” he said. “ I didn’t, but Ben hit me a couple of times and it hurt—maybe he didn’t mean to and so I shoved him off me.”
    “I see. You shoved Ben. What were you doing when the man with the dog called on you to stop? Were you hitting him?”
    “No.” Sebastian was beginning to look pained. “Sergeant, this is getting very repetitive,” said Daniel. “I think you’ll find he’s answered these questions already. Can we move on?”
    Sebastian sighed deeply and Daniel caught his eye and winked at him. The boy smiled broadly and then tried to wink back, scrunching up both his eyes.
    “I can’t do that, look,” he said, his eyes tightly shut. “I need to practice.”
    “Never mind that now,” said the sergeant. “After your fight, did you go to the adventure playground?”
    Sebastian was grinning with his eyes tight shut and the sergeant gave Daniel a look of exasperation. Daniel cleared his throat and then gently touched Sebastian’s arm.
    “I know it’s hard, but just a little longer, okay, Seb?”
    “Is your hand sore?”
    “Not anymore, thanks, it’s getting better.”
    “Was it bleeding?”
    “Not anymore.”
    “Was it gushing with blood?” Again the mint eyes wide before Daniel.
    Daniel was surprised to feel his heart beating faster. He shook his head once—straightening his shoulders—and watched the police officers wetting their lips as they studied the boy.
    “What happened once you were at the adventure playground?”
    “We climbed up high and played on the tires, then I said I wanted to go home ’cause I was hungry.”
    “I’ve got a picture here of the playground; where were you climbing?”
    “I want to see my mum,” said Sebastian.
    “Just a little longer, Sebastian. We’ve asked your mum to wait outside and you can see her as soon as you’re able to tell us what happened,” said the sergeant.
    Daniel understood