Read Online When He Fell by Kate Hewitt - Free Book Online

you’ve already found them.” Lewis’s voice is even and measured but I can feel the latent anger underneath it. I think Mrs. James can too.
    “Based on what I’ve heard this morning, it seems quite clear that Joshua pushed Ben,” she answers.
    “So you mean it was an accident,” Lewis says after a moment, his voice so very even.
    Mrs. James’s purses her lips. “I’m not sure about that, Mr. Taylor-Davies.”
    My whole body goes rigid and I can’t speak, can’t process what she is implying. “That’s bullshit,” Lewis says calmly.
    Mrs. James stiffens. “Mr. Taylor-Davies, please.”
    “Two nine-year-old boys messing around in a playground, and there is an
accident
. What are you trying to turn this into?”
    “I am simply trying to find the facts of the matter,” Mrs. James answers with chilly dignity. “Ben’s mother, Madeleine Reese, has some questions. We, as a school, need to give her the right answers—”
    “I know Maddie,” Lewis cuts across her. “She’s not behind this. You’re looking for someone to pin this onto, God only knows why, and it’s not Josh.”
    “All I’m suggesting is that we talk to Joshua and see what he has to say for himself, so we can deal with the matter appropriately.”
    “Appropriately?” Lewis repeats disbelievingly. “What the hell does that mean?”
    Mrs. James draws herself up. “Naturally Burgdorf does not tolerate violence of any kind.”
    “My son is not violent,” I say quietly. “If Josh pushed Ben, it was nothing more than an accident as my husband just said. A very unfortunate and tragic accident.” My voice trembles and I gaze at her, daring her to contradict me. “I can’t believe you would suggest otherwise.”
    “I am not suggesting anything,” Mrs. James says primly, “other than that we ask Joshua to join us so he can explain himself.”
    “Fine,” Lewis says, biting off the word. “Go get Josh.”
    Mrs. James calls for her PA and we wait in tense silence while our son is fetched. My mind is racing, racing.
Why
wouldn’t Josh tell us about Ben’s fall? I’m afraid of the answer:
because he pushed him
. But why would Josh push Ben? He doesn’t push. He doesn’t get angry; he goes quiet. Nothing makes sense.
    A few minutes later Josh appears in the doorway, his eyes huge and dark in his pale face. I rise from my chair and go to hug him; his shoulders are bony and thin under my hands and he leans into me for a second before he moves away.
    “Josh, sweetie,” I say quietly. “Mrs. James and Dad and I want to talk to you about what happened yesterday.”
    He nods slowly, and a sigh escapes him, a sound of defeat. “Okay.”
    “Joshua, why don’t you sit down,” Mrs. James says. Her voice is brisk and to me it sounds unwelcoming. I grit my teeth, wishing she could try a little harder.
    Josh takes a seat next to Lewis and rests his hands on the armrests of the chair; they look pale and thin, his fingernails bitten down to the quick. I wonder if that is recent; I don’t remember Josh biting his nails before.
    “Joshua, can you tell me what happened yesterday at the playground?” Mrs. James asks.
    Josh doesn’t answer. Seconds tick by, and no one says anything. I can feel tension knotting my shoulders, dread pooling like acid in my stomach.
    I take a deep breath. “Josh,” I say softly. “Please answer Mrs. James.”
    He takes a deep breath. “Ben fell,” he finally says, his voice so soft we all strain to hear it.
    “How did he fall?” Mrs. James asks. Josh doesn’t answer. “Joshua?” Impatience sharpens her voice. “Did you and Ben have an argument? Were you fighting on the playground?”
    “Talk about leading questions,” Lewis mutters.
    “No,” Josh says softly.
    “No, you weren’t fighting?” Mrs. James clarifies. She sounds like a lawyer.
    “No,” Josh says again, and this time his voice is clear. He looks up at Mrs. James and meets her narrowed gaze unblinkingly. “We weren’t fighting.” And