The Silent Ones: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller(33)

‘Tom?’ I duck down and look into the car. ‘I’ve been texting you, ringing you but your phone was off.’

‘Just get in for a few minutes, Jules, while I explain.’

I get in the back seat with Josh so I can continue to hold him close as Tom tells me that Josh already knew all about Maddy before he even returned to school.

‘How can that be?’ I say faintly.

‘A few people had brought their phones on the trip,’ Josh sniffs miserably. ‘They had to hand them in on the first day for safekeeping, but the teacher gave them back when we got on the bus to come home, and Bradley Macken’s mum had sent him a text to say Maddy had been arrested.’

‘She hasn’t been arrested yet.’ I roll my eyes in fury. Parents acting like juveniles, spreading gossip via their own kids! I’d like nothing more than to give Bradley bloody Macken’s mother a piece of my mind right now.

It unnerves me, hearing Maddy’s name and the word ‘arrest’ paired together so casually. Other people are peddling inaccuracies that mean nothing to them but have the power to wreck our lives.

I shiver, even though it’s stifling in the car.

Josh rests his damp cheek on my shoulder.

‘It was horrible, Mum.’ His voice is muffled as he speaks into my arm. ‘After Bradley got the text, the others who had phones started googling and reading out what had happened. Then someone started a chant about Maddy being sent to prison.’

I feel heat rising through my chest and neck.

‘And what the hell were the teachers doing while all this was happening?’ Tom fumes.

‘Mrs Carrington took their phones back until we got off the bus,’ Josh said. ‘But it was too late then because everyone knew about it. Leo moved seats.’

A lump rises in my throat and I battle not to throw up. I open my mouth to ask Josh more questions, but there’s a disconnect between my thoughts and my voice. Nothing comes out.

‘Shall I take him to your mum and dad’s?’ Tom watches me.

‘No!’ I snap.

Josh pulls away, a little startled. He looks at Tom and back at me.

‘Why? Why can’t I go to Gran and Grandad’s?’

‘Because… it’s not convenient right now. They’ve got a lot on their minds.’

‘It’s better than him staying at the station though, surely?’ Tom dips his chin and looks at me meaningfully.

I doubt there’ll be a bed for Josh at the new unit. We’ve got to try and protect him from all this, but both Tom and I need to be close to Maddy right now.

I’m aware that it’s totally unfair of me, but I silently curse Tom’s parents for taking their annual holiday at the worst possible time.

‘I want to see Maddy,’ Josh says quietly. ‘Is she in a cell?’

‘No, no. It’s not like that, Josh,’ I try and reassure him. ‘They’re just asking her and Brianna lots of questions so we can find out exactly what happened.’

‘Maddy wouldn’t do that, she wouldn’t hurt Bessie.’

I look at him. Something about the way he referred to Bessie nearly made my heart stop. I glance at Tom, but I can see it hasn’t registered with him.

‘Josh, did you know Bessie Wilford?’

His pale face flushes a little.

‘Not really,’ he says in a small voice. ‘I only went with them there once.’

My mouth drops open and Tom’s brow furrows. He turns more fully in his seat to face us in the back.

‘You’ve been to Bessie Wilford’s house with Maddy and Brianna?’ He is struggling to keep his voice level.

Josh swallows hard and his hand grips mine a little tighter.

‘You’re not in trouble, Josh. It’s just very important that your dad and I know every scrap of truth.’

‘You’re not in trouble at all, champ.’ Tom smiles, but it looks more like a grimace. ‘But we’re a team, you, me, Mum and Maddy, and teams have to work together, right?’

‘Right,’ Josh whispers.

‘So you just went to Bessie’s house once with Maddy?’

‘Yes, Dad.’

‘And Brianna was there too?’

Josh nods.

‘Now this next bit is really important,’ Tom says. ‘Can you remember exactly when it was you went there?’

Josh thinks. ‘It was our last school holiday. May half-term, I think, Dad. We were at Grandma and Grandad’s for a few days.’

‘That’s great, buddy. And can you remember why the girls went to see Bessie?’

Josh shrugs. ‘I think she asked them to.’

Tom and I look at each other.

‘She did?’ I say lightly. ‘How did she do that? She lives on the outskirts of the village.’

Josh opens his mouth to speak, and then hesitates.

‘It’s OK, Josh. You and Maddy won’t get into trouble for any of this. We just need to know all the facts so we can protect you both. Do you know how Bessie managed to ask the girls to visit her?’

He nods, and I feel his grip on my fingers loosen a little.

‘She rang and invited her,’ Josh says.

He’s not making much sense and I start to wonder if he’s over-tired after the trip.