Web of Lies by Sally Rigby (best book club books of all time .txt) 📕

‘Henry’s dad lets him have some.’

‘Well, we’re not Henry’s parents and the answer’s still no. It’s a lovely day and we’ll enjoy having our lunch outside watching the boats go by.’

‘Can we get out now?’ Lucas asked as the car came to a standstill.

‘Yes, but stay close while we’re sorting everything out.’

‘Can I take the football?’

‘Okay, but don’t kick it close to the cars or you might do some damage. Go over there and stay where we can see you.’ Jenny pointed at the piece of wasteland directly in front of them. ‘And make sure to come back when I call, or there’ll be no boat trip.’

For once it would be nice not to be the disciplinarian, but that seemed to be the role she’d adopted. Kyle was much more laid-back than she was. It made a good balance, though. It would be no good if they were both the same.

‘Yes, Mum,’ they both said in unison.

‘Come on, Tyler, I’ll race you,’ Lucas said to his older brother, holding the ball and running off.

Jenny leant against the car and watched them. ‘That’s far enough,’ she called. ‘We’re not going to be long, and I don’t want to waste time waiting for you.’

The sun’s rays beat down on her back and she breathed in the fresh country air. Market Harborough, where they lived, was a lovely small town, and they were happy there, but escaping to the country was still a perfect way to relax.

‘You mollycoddle them too much,’ Kyle said, cutting into her thoughts, as he came around the front of the car, stopping beside her. ‘You know, they’re ten and eleven and need to find their feet so they can manage on their own. You’ve got to stop being so protective. You’re not going to be there for them all the time and it’s not like they’re going to run away or do anything stupid over there. Let them enjoy themselves. They’re in no danger.’

She sighed. ‘It’s easy for you to say because you grew up in a rough and tumble house with three brothers. I was an only child, and only had to catch my breath and my parents would whisk me off to the doctor. But you’re right. What harm can they come to over there?’

She headed to the back of the car, determined to relax a little, and pulled out the two cool bags which contained their lunch, and placed them on the ground. She then took hold of two blankets and closed the boot. She listened. There was silence. ‘I can’t hear anything. Where have they gone? I’m going to have a look.’

‘I keep telling you, they’ll be fine,’ Kyle said. ‘Leave them to play.’

Ignoring her husband, she headed to the spot where the boys had run in to the wasteland. The grass was overgrown, but not so much that they’d be hidden. ‘Tyler. Lucas,’ she called, scanning the area, willing them to appear. There was no reply.

‘Kyle, they’re not here and they’re not answering,’ she called out, swallowing back the panic.

Her husband strolled over. ‘They’re probably hiding in the bushes. Or one of them kicked the ball too far. They’ll be back soon, you’ll—’

‘Daaaaaad.’

Jenny’s heart pounded in her chest at the sound of the terrifying yell from Tyler. She ran in the direction of his voice and crashed into him. ‘Are you okay? Where’s Lucas? What’s happened?’ She wrapped her arms tightly around him.

‘He-he’s …’

‘Muuum,’ Lucas came charging through the bushes over to where they were standing, his face ashen and his body shaking.

Kyle grabbed hold of him, picking him up and holding him close. ‘It’s okay, son. I’ve got you. Take some deep breaths and tell us what you saw. It was probably nothing.’

Jenny glanced at him. How did he know that? The pair of them were clearly shaken. Sometimes Kyle’s attitude was too laid-back.

‘A b-body. Dead,’ Tyler said, pulling out of Jenny’s hold and trying to pull himself together.

‘You saw a body?’ Kyle asked, looking at Jenny and pulling a disbelieving face over the top of Lucas’s head.

‘A man lying on the ground. He’s dead,’ Tyler said.

‘It’s true,’ Lucas said, as Kyle placed him on the ground so he could stand on his own.

‘Are you sure he isn’t asleep?’ Jenny asked.

‘No, Mum. He’s dead. Half his head is missing,’ Tyler said. ‘The flies were …’ Tears rolled down his cheeks and Jenny pulled him back into her arms.

She’d never even seen a dead body herself, and now her two little boys had … this could affect them forever.

‘Kyle, go and see and I’ll stay here with the boys.’

Lucas ran over to her, and she stayed hugging the pair of them, while Kyle headed in the direction the boys had come from. Lucas was shaking, and Tyler was ramrod straight, although she could feel his tears seeping through her T-shirt.

After a minute or two, Kyle came running back from through the trees, shaking his head. His face was devoid of colour.

‘It’s true. I’ve just seen the body.’ He pulled out a phone from the back pocket of his jeans. ‘Take the boys back to the car and I’ll call 999. We’ll have to wait for the police to arrive.’

Chapter 2

4 May

Sebastian Clifford sat in his car and stared at the East Farndon church where the funeral of his cousin’s husband was due to take place at eleven o’clock. The vibrant blues and reds of the wild flowers scattering the gravestones were at odds with the sombre occasion. He reached over to the passenger seat and picked up his black tie, flicked up the collar on his white shirt, and wrapped it around his neck. He pulled down the mirror and fiddled with the knot until it was acceptable. If his father had seen it, he’d have insisted on him retying it, using a full Windsor knot. But Seb wasn’t there to make a statement.

It was thanks to his father that he was attending the funeral. He’d never spent a lot