Mirror Man Jacques Kat (classic novels for teens TXT) 📖

mount the pavement whizzed by. My flailing arms caught him, and we tumbled onto the pavement.

‘What you playing at?!’ the cyclist shouted at me, drawing the attention of PC Williams, who happened to be strolling by on the other side of the street.

I freed myself from the mess, shoving the cyclist’s bike off me and into the road, and ran towards the shop. The Suit was nowhere to be seen, but I could hear PC Williams yelling after me.

I ran in through the unlocked front door. A sense of dread clung to me as the bell chimed, but I pushed it aside and dashed through to the backroom.

I hovered near Mr Phillips’s body, though I didn’t look. Instead, I turned and stared at the paper bag containing the remnants of our lemon curds and jam tarts. A pang of terrible guilt washed over me; I hadn’t done a thing to help him.

The bell rang behind me. My time was up.

‘John-Michael, why didn’t you stop? Where’ve you been all night? Your mam and grandad have been worried—’

I remained still with my mouth shut as PC Williams arrived next to me.

‘By ’eck…’ He pushed past me and crouched, checking Mr Phillips for a pulse. I kept my gaze on the lemon curds, watching him from the corner of my eye. ‘Did you just find him like this?’ he asked, looking up at me.

‘Yes… no… yes,’ I stammered.

The constable stood quickly. ‘Well, which is it?’

‘Yes,’ I said.

‘Wait here,’ he said.

I heard him use the phone, and I sat on the chair at my workbench.

‘Did you do this?’ he asked as he returned.

I shook my head. ‘No, I never laid a finger on him. Honest!’

‘Do you know who did?’

I bit my lip to hold back the tears. ‘Yes.’

‘Right, don’t move. I’ll be back in a minute.’

I didn’t move an inch while I waited. I could hear sirens getting closer and closer until they were right out front. PC Williams returned.

‘John-Michael, you’ll have to come down the station with me. Now, I’m not arresting you, but once we’re there, you’re most likely going to be their number one suspect. Do you understand what that means?’

‘Yes, sir,’ I whispered.

‘Good. I don’t think for one minute you did this, and I’ll provide you with assistance the best I can, but you are likely in for a rough ride.’ He went to take me by the arm, then apparently changed his mind. ‘John-Michael, is what happened here the reason you never came home last night?’ he asked.

‘Yes. I was scared he’d follow me and get me too.’

‘Alright, son. Come on.’

He took me out the front door, where a small crowd had started to gather, and put me in the back of the police car before going back inside with some other officers. I guessed The Suit had to be long gone now. I kept my head down as people walked up to the car to get a glimpse of the person in the backseat, and ten minutes later, PC Williams drove me to the station where another officer practically threw me in a cell.

Before the latch locked behind me, he whispered, ‘You’ll end up in Borstal. They’ll love you in there.’ I didn’t know what he’d meant, but I didn’t like the sound of it.

I inspected my surroundings. There was a fixed bench, and it stank of body odour, urine, and vomit with a layer of bleach lingering over the top of it all. I didn’t like it in here, not one bit.

I banged on the door. ‘When can I come out, please?’

No one answered.

I gently perched myself on the edge of the bench and folded my battered hands in my lap. I’d never been imprisoned before, and I imagined all the criminals who’d sat here in the past.

I hadn’t killed Mr Phillips. But then again, I hadn’t helped myself, either. I hadn’t called the police when it happened, and I’d returned to the scene of the crime. Every finger in this town would point at me; the weird kid who couldn’t look at anyone. I’d prove my innocence… somehow.

I didn’t know how long I was in the cell for, but I managed to play two full albums on the record player in my head before I heard any sounds from outside the door.

Keys rattled, and the door swung open; PC Williams stood in the doorway. I glanced up as far as his mouth, which sat in a tight line, as though his lips had disappeared.

‘Stand up, lad, you’re going to be asked some questions now,’ he said.

‘About what?’ I asked dropping my head.

‘Two detectives are going ask you about what happened to Mr Phillips.’

‘But it wasn’t me. I didn’t do anything.’

‘I know you didn’t, lad. But it’s not me you have to convince. You’ll have to tell them everything you know. Do you understand?’

‘Okay.’

‘I’m going to be in the back of the room at your grandad’s request. You can’t have a parent or guardian with you, you’re too old, but we’ve worked it out with the boss. Because of your… difficulties communicating sometimes.’

My eyebrows scrunched together. ‘My communication is fine. I just need a minute sometimes.’

‘Come on, son. We both know you aren’t the same as everyone else. Best I’m in there with you.’

I chewed on my lip for a moment. Judging by the direction of his chin, PC Williams was looking at the clock on the wall, like it was too painful for him to look at me. I couldn’t look at him, either. Whatever had happened to allow me to gaze at Fred’s face had faded away.

‘My grandad is here, you said. What about Mum?’

‘Her too. They’ve both been speaking with the detectives. That’s why you’ve been in here so long.’

My heart sank. They were bound to think it was me, since I hadn’t come home last night. I had to tell the detectives about The Suit, but would they believe me?

Well, they would have to.

PC Williams took me through to a room that smelled