“I want to speak to Newt.”
“You won’t be able to. They’ll have taken his phone off him. You need to think about what you’re going to tell the police.”
River wanted to lie, to say that he’d seen Barney and Newt struggling and the gun had gone off. No one could contradict him. But he shouldn’t need to lie. Barney had been the aggressor. Newt had simply been trying to save both their lives. But if Newt told the truth and said that River was unconscious, a lie wouldn’t help the situation.
“The story’s out.” Max scrolled on his phone. “River Lawson Shot… Shooting At Home of River Lawson… Bodyguard Kills Man Who Shot River Lawson.And many versions of the same thing. Calls are pouring into the office asking about you. Great publicity forMedway Boys.”
“Fuck off.”
Max winced. “Sorry.”
“Harry G…Gardner came to see me yesterday.”
“What did he want? Hoping to step into your shoes if you weren’t fit forKaden’s Monster?”
“He’s the reason Barney tried to kill me in Cro… that fucking place I can’t say… Cro…Croatia.” He tutted. “And why he came to the house with a gun.”
River told Max everything that Harry had said.
“Christ Almighty! How did Barney behave with you onCloud Fall?”
“Not…friendly but not…unpleasant. I asked Harry to make a statement to the police.”
“Do you think he will?”
“He said he would.”
Max leaned back on the couch.
“I’m not going to deny Newt,” River said. “Not going to…Du…Dubai with Dila. I want Newt out of prison.”
“You’re not thinking long term.”
“I am. I want Newt out now. Misha wants me forKaden’s Monster. He’s not going to…change his mind and go for Harry…if I come out as gay. Harry’s bisexual. Not out. He asked about me.”
“What did you say?”
“That I was the same. Easier than…explaining.”
“Oh God.”
“Please,” River said quietly. “Help Newt.”
“Let me think about everything.”
When the police arrived, Max made them coffee and left the room at their request. It was the same guys who’d spoken to River before, DI Sutcliffe and DS Pierce.
“Before we talk, can I ask if you’ve had a…statement from Harry Gardner?” River asked.
“Yes,” Sutcliffe told him.
River hoped Harry had told the truth.
“We’re going to record our conversation and DS Pierce will take notes. The statement will beread back to you or you can read it. Then you’ll be asked to sign it, confirming it’s a truthful account.”
River started from the moment that he and Newt had arrived back from the hospice and finished by repeating what Harry had told him. The difficult bit was not telling them about what Phelan had done. He’d already told Max but… he didn’t want to tell the police unless Newt agreed.
“Did you see anything after Colter fired the gun?” Pierce asked.
