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CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

S ajid was returning from the library when he passed Tim’s open garage. The library was the only place he’d found sanctuary since Laine had gone. Sajid knew she’d want him to continue his studies and work hard, and he told himself he would do it for her. He’d get top grades and make her proud.

If they caught The Vigilante, then Laine could rest in peace. Nothing would bring her back, but at least justice would have been served.

Now, he and Needles were no longer enemies. That would have made her very happy. Sajid felt sure of that.

Tim was putting away his gardening tools. Sajid had meant to visit Tim and Vanessa after DC Carpenter had been arrested to express his and his family’s satisfaction that the driver had been found.

‘Hot day for gardening,’ commented Sajid.

Tim turned, and Sajid saw his hair was soaked in sweat. ‘Bloody is.’ He smiled.

‘We were pleased to hear they arrested the person that knocked down your mum.’

Tim picked up a towel from the floor and wiped his face and hair. ‘Fancy a beer?’ he asked.

But Sajid’s eyes were stuck on the combat trousers that had been lying beneath the towel.

‘Thanks, but I need to get home. Mum hates it if I’m late for dinner.’

‘No worries.’

Sajid felt the sweat run down his back until it itched like crazy. It couldn’t be Tim. Sajid couldn’t comprehend it, gentle Tim, who took such excellent care of his mother. It was just a pair of combat trousers. It didn’t mean anything. Sajid tried to remember if he’d seen Tim wearing combats, but he could only picture him in jeans. Maybe he used them for working on the car.

‘Jesus,’ he mumbled, thinking he’d go mad trying to work out why Tim would have combat trousers. He needed to forget it. It wasn’t Tim. Tim would never have killed Laine. Then he remembered the backpack. Tim always wore a backpack, but Sajid couldn’t remember what it looked like and only vaguely remembered The Vigilante’s backpack. He pondered whether to tell Needles or break into Tim’s garage himself. Yes, that’s what he’d do. Safer that way.