‘And that’s all that matters, is it? Time? Never mind shared interests, or common goals, or loyalty.’
‘I think you’re being a bit harsh.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah. For a start, I have been loyal to you. You were invited on this trip, weren’t you?’
‘I might have been invited, but it’s pretty obvious your loyalty is with George.’
Miles takes a deep breath, giving careful consideration to what he’s about to say. He doesn’t want to upset Elis, but, at the same time, he can’t allow him to carry on. ‘Elis, mate,’ he says, in the sort of measured but purposeful tone a schoolteacher might use. ‘I’m glad you came on this trip, I really value our friendship ... but you need to remember that I’ve known George for pretty much my whole life. We’re almost like brothers.’
Elis stares at the darkening mirror of glass in front of them, his jaw set tight. Then he slowly turns his head to look at Miles, his eyes wide and burning with emotion: surprise, loathing or fury, or some combination of all. ‘You’re unbelievable.’
‘I’m not sure what you want from me. Am I expected to grovel at your feet every five minutes? For the rest of my life? Is that what you want?’
Elis stands. ‘You really are an entitled, spoilt, ungrateful little prick,’ he says slowly.
Miles recoils, stunned by the venom in Elis’s words. ‘Am I?’
‘You are.’
Miles gets to his feet and steps back, putting a few yards between them. ‘Well, if you don’t like me, you’re free to leave any time you like.’
‘Yeah, I am,’ Elis says, as Miles turns and crosses the room towards the exit. ‘And I’m also free to change my statement, any time I like.’
Miles stops in the doorway and turns to face him. ‘Sorry, what?’
‘You heard me. I’m free to change my statement. And I might do just that. Maybe I’ll go to the police and tell them the truth about the night of Caira’s murder, that youdidn’tcome to my flat, that wedidn’twatchChinatowntogether, and that, quite frankly, I haven’t got the foggiest idea what you were up to that night.’
Miles is dead-still, a statue in the doorway. ‘Now you’re being ridiculous.’
‘No, I’m not.’
‘You are. Why on earth would you do that?’
‘Because it’s the right thing to do.’
‘The right thing to do? You’d be admitting perjury. You’d go to prison.’
‘Maybe I would. But not for as long as you’ll get when they do you for murder.’
‘No.’ Miles shakes his head. ‘That’s not how it works. I’ve been acquitted.’
‘Are you sure about that?’
‘I’m not having this conversation.’
‘I think you’ll find we just had it.’
Miles’s veins are electrified, fizzing with anger. HowdareElis turn on him like this, after everything he’s been through? After bringing him on this trip, all expenses paid. He steps towards Elis, shining the torch in his face so that he squints into the light. ‘You’re deluded,’ Miles says. ‘What you’re saying, it pretty much amounts to blackmail. What are you thinking, here, that you can hold this over me forever, like some sword of Damocles?’
‘What wereyouthinking? That you could just treat me like crap and get away with it?’
Miles opens his mouth and immediately closes it, deciding against the first thing that comes to mind. He takes two drawn-out breaths. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve upset you. I genuinely am. But I think it might be best if you make your own way onward once we reach the next town. And perhaps we should avoid each other in future.’
Miles turns and leaves the hide, unwilling to continue the conversation. He has no intention of staying for Elis’s response, but hears it anyway as he makes his way down the steps.
‘You’ll do well to avoid me.’
