Page 159 of The Guilty Girl

She couldn’t lose him now. ‘Why were you watching Jake?’

‘He stole drugs from a special stash hidden at the barracks. I was told to find out where he had them. But then he was attacked at the party and everything went to shit.’

‘Who attacked him?’

‘Don’t know. I was way back in the trees. Just heard the patio door smashing, then saw Jake lying there on his back.’

‘What happened then?’

‘I texted it in. Like I was told to do. Reporting it. That was my job.’

‘Texted who?’

He shrugged and slipped a hand into his pocket. Taking out his phone, he tapped the screen. ‘I have the number.’

‘I’ll have to take your phone into evidence to be checked,’ Lottie said. She suspected Oscar’s contact used a burner.

‘You’re in big trouble,’ Ivy hissed at her brother.

‘Shut it, Ivy,’ Rita warned, her face flushed from her son’s revelations. ‘I have no idea what’s going on.’

That makes two of us, Lottie thought.

‘You’re not meant to know,’ Oscar said to his mother.

‘You’d better speak up about it now, before this gets out of hand,’ Rita told him.

‘It’s already out of hand,’ Lottie said. ‘Three young people have lost their lives since Friday night. Oscar, this is your chance to explain. I want to find this murderer.’ She was going to add before he or she gets you, but the boy seemed traumatised enough.

‘You already know about our gang,’ he said. ‘The drugs are always stashed in the attic where you found me. We pick up the pills there and sell them. Jake joined us after his dad died. Said he was doing it for his little sister.’

‘Go on,’ Lottie said. Time enough for analysis later.

‘Thing is, he was greedy. Stole some of the drugs we aren’t allowed to touch. I don’t think they were for him. He didn’t use, not like …’ He glanced up at his mother before dropping his head quickly. Lottie could see Rita almost frothing at the mouth.

Oscar continued. ‘I don’t know who the boss is because we only communicate by text. I was told to watch Jake, to find out where he hid the drugs and if he sold them.’

‘How did Jake come to be working at Lucy’s party?’

‘I presume he got a text to go there. I got a text to watch him.’

‘What else did you see that night?’

‘Not much. I was hiding in the trees. Didn’t want anyone to see me.’ He glared at Ivy. ‘I thought Jake was dead, but then he got up and crawled back inside on his hands and knees. After that, I saw his car leaving and I followed it, but I was on my bike, so I lost it.’

‘When you reported this to whoever you were texting, what were you told?’

‘To watch the guards.’

‘When did you find out Jake was dead?’

‘Got a text to go to the canal last night. Saw you there and the body on the ground.’

‘Who killed Jake?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Where was he killed?’