The Writers' Circle

Chapter Six.

J had woken early; he'd tossed and turned all night and had very little sleep due to his worrying about the impending visit from the police. 
'What should he tell them?'
'How much did they know already?'
'Had Gra' managed to find the bat - was it was still where he'd left it?'
'If it wasn't there, where was it, who'd found it, what had they done with it?'
He had too many unanswered questions buzzing around in his mind to be able to sleep.
The nurses had been in and out checking on him, wondering what was causing his restlessness, they were familiar with his recurrent nightmares but felt that his atypical sleeplessness stemmed from something else. 
However, as they were unable to get any response from him they simply checked him over more frequently than usual.
'Here you go son.'
The cheerful voice of the male auxiliary bringing his liquid breakfast broke J's train of thought.
'You're awake early - thought I'd have to give you a shove.' the auxiliary continued laughing at his 'joke.'
J looked at him, wishing that he'd just go, leave him alone.
'Urrrrrrrrr.' muttered J, gesturing for the auxiliary to leave.
'Yeah, it's a lovely day out there son, bet you can't wait to go home.'
'Fuck off'.
'Anyhow, I'll leave you to it; you can manage ok, can't you?'
The auxiliary continued chattering as he deposited the thick, weird tasting drink that was J's breakfast, along with two straws on J's locker beside his bed.
The cleaners followed within twenty minutes of the auxiliary leaving, vacuuming the floor, wiping the surfaces, talking inanely and generally being a pain in the arse.
J closed his eyes - if he pretended to be asleep they would leave him alone. 
He needed to think - the pigs were calling in later to take a statement, he wondered if Jane would be with them. he assumed that she would.
J allowed his mind to drift back to 'that' day - he now remembered doing fat cow Reynolds over, remembered most of it but couldn't quite recall the entirety of the scenario which annoyed him, he wanted to remember, wanted to replay every minute detail of the event in his head.  
He wondered what the pigs would ask him and how much they knew - if anything.
J decided that they were probably just fishing in the dark, that they had no real evidence of any sort but were simply going through the motions, 
An idea came to mind.
He would play 'amnesia' with them, tell them he didn't remember anything at all.yeah, he'd just give them a bit, nothing important that they could use but just enough to keep them happy; he grinned to himself pleased with the thought that he might be getting one over on the bastards.
Feeling easier, J congratulated himself on his 'amnesia' idea, he knew it would work It had to, they couldn't argue with him - he couldn't speak!
His cheerfulness turned momentarily to concern - what had happened about the bat?
He wondered if Gra' had managed to find it. 

J glanced through the opening between his ward doors at the clock that hung just outside, on the facing wall.
9.45am???????????????
Surely that can't be right?
He checked again - the clock was generally accurate. 
J was perplexed, he'd only just had breakfast and the geezer had said he was awake early, so what the fuck was the right time?
He shunted himself up on his pillows. 
Reaching for the buzzer beside his bed he suddenly realised that his drink had disappeared from his locker, and looking out towards the clock once more saw a group of doctors walk by, accompanied by the ward sister.
'Shit!'
J realised that he had slept for at least two and a half hours - he was annoyed with himself, he had wanted to think his tactics through carefully, he couldn't afford any mistakes. 
He pressed the buzzer, and an auxiliary nurse peered round the door.
'Hello sweetheart, did you want something?'
J indicated to her that he needed a drink; she smiled and chatted as she prepared it for him, patting him patronisingly on the head she left the ward; simultaneously Jane arrived followed by two coppers and a staff nurse.
J sighed. The moment he'd been dreading had finally arrived.
Jane smiled warmly.
'Hello Jason.'
'Uh.'
'Do you remember that I told you the police wanted a word with you about your poor teacher?'
'Uh.'
'Don't worry Jason; I'm here to help as best I can.'
Jane patted J's shoulder, as she seated herself beside his bed.
J eyed the coppers, attempting to weigh them up. 
An old one, well built with steely blue eyes, short grey hair, and carefully trimmed moustache, - a typical copper, and the other one younger with dark hair, a bit on the skinny side for a copper with a shaving rash on his neck. J decided he was the rookie, the old bugger's puppy dog.
'Well son.'
The older copper began to address J, and then turned to Jane.
'Does he understand what I'm saying?'
Jane smiled wanly at the copper before turning her attention to J.
'Of course he does, he is neither deaf nor stupid; I explained to you earlier that his jaw has been broken and he can't speak.'
'OK.' 
The copper scratched his head, unsure how best to proceed with the interview, and turned to his colleague for suggestions.
'Has anyone got a laptop?'
The younger copper smiled enthusiastically, jubilant at his idea of bringing a laptop into the hospital.
The older one stared blankly at him, before turning his gaze to the nurse who was hovering behind Jane.
'We normally communicate via notepad and pencil'
The nurse volunteered the information with a note of criticism in her voice as she addressed the coppers.
'Furthermore, we do not want the patient distressed in any way, he has made a remarkable recovery from appalling injuries thus far and I am here to ensure that no one jeopardises his improvement.'
J listened intently as the staff nurse continued.
'I would appreciate you concluding your interview as swiftly as possible, our prime concern is for young Jason's welfare and as he tires easily we do not want him subjected to any unnecessary pressure.' 
J stared at the nurse. 'Brilliant stuff missis - that's telling the bastards!' 
He grinned to himself, watching the scene unfold as the nurse stood, shoulders squared, facing the older copper.
'Eeerrrr-hem'
The copper felt uneasy, he wasn't used to being scrutinised - however, if he wanted a statement from the kid, he'd have to take it easy in front of the old bitch.
'Very well, we'll do as you suggest, do you have a pen and paper for the boy to write on?'
Jane patted J's shoulder as she pulled her chair closer to his bedside, the two coppers each pulled a chair up opposite Jane. 
The nurse stood at the end of his bed overseeing the proceedings, having supplied J with a new notepad and two pencils.
He shunted up on his pillows and waited for someone to speak. 
Eventually, the older copper addressed J.
'Well son, do you feel up to making a statement for us?'
'Like fuck!'
J stared fixedly at the copper, and then turned to look briefly at Jane, before writing in his notepad.
'OK'. 
'Eeer-hem, let's see then, you normally attend Greehaven Upper School?'
'Y.'
'And on the day in question, can you remember when you last saw Mrs Reynolds?
J thought for a few minutes before writing his reply.
'Wot day?'
The copper appeared flummoxed for a moment; J's reply was not what he anticipated. 
J stared at him again, looking as blank-eyed as he could, imagining that the copper was transparent, and that he could see through him to a blank white wall.
'Eeeerrrr, the last day you attended school, can you remember what time you arrived home?'
'No.'
The copper looked at Jane, pleading for assistance, back up, anything to get J to cooperate.
Jane remained silent, much to J's amusement.
He was going to enjoy this 'interview' - and he was going to push the bastards to the limit!
J looked at the copper who was struggling - he wanted to laugh, but didn't dare let any sign show on his face - he had to stay 'blank' . for now anyhow.
'OK son, let's try something else.' 
The copper looked him in the eye, he had a feeling that the kid knew something, but wasn't telling - and he wasn't going to let a bloody kid get one over on him, oh no.
A determined look crossed the coppers face as he thought, trying to work out how to catch J out - 'Right son, no more messing around, I want some proper answers from you, now then, you had detention with Mrs Reynolds on your last day at school - am I correct?'
'Eeeeeeeeeerrr.'
'Come on son, yes or no.'
J didn't know what to say, if he said yes, it would blow the 'amnesia' - he looked at Jane for help.
Jane looked at the copper.
'He probably doesn't remember, but I believe he was a little late getting home that day.'
'Well son?'
'Dunno.'
'You don't know what - whether you had detention, or whether you were late getting home?'
The copper's voice had an edge to it - he was getting irritated with J.
'Dunno.'
'He often goes out with his friends after school, I don't force him to return home immediately - after all he is almost 16, and hardly a child.'
Jane volunteered the information, which only served to annoy the copper further as she had given J an 'alibi'.
'We know you were kept in on detention, however, we don't know exactly what time you left school, your teacher Mr -eeeeer, Breeze said he saw you at about 4.30pm, would that be correct?'
'Dunno.'
'Look here son, you can't keep on saying that you don't know.'
The copper raised his voice; frustrated that he was getting nowhere.
'Jason has suffered a severe concussion; it's perfectly understandable that he cannot remember minor details.'
The staff nurse bristled as she addressed the copper. His manner was annoying her considerably.
'OK, lets move on - what size shoe do you wear son?'
'Eeeeeeeerrr.'
'Don't play that game with me son, you know very well what size shoe you wear.'
The copper smiled to himself, the kid wouldn't be able to get out of that one so easily.
'dunno'
Jane interrupted before the copper could press further, "size 7"
'Thank You.'
The coppers voice was triumphantly sarcastic as he wrote Jane's answer down in his notepad.
'Now we're getting somewhere.'
J glared at him.
'Do you play any sport son?'
Puzzled at the question, J looked up at the copper who sat, pen poised, waiting for an answer.
'Well, do you, or not?'
Suddenly J realised what the copper was driving at - the baseball bat.
'No.'
'Are you sure?'
'Sure.'
'You were seen carrying sports equipment.'
J winced, wondering who'd seen him. time for 'amnesia.'
'Dunno.'
'I think you do know son, now then, are you sure you don't play any sport?'
'Sure.'
J decided to continue with the same answer, rather than arouse suspicion by altering it.
'OK then, if you are so sure that you don't play any sport, perhaps you could tell us why you were seen carrying a baseball bat on your last day at school?'
J paused for a few seconds, apparently thinking about the question.
'Dunno.'
'Do you deny that you had a baseball bat?'
'Dunno.'
'Either you had it or you didn't, come on son, which is it?'
'Dunno.'
Jane leaned over to J.
'Do you remember anything about having a bat, dear?'
'No.'
The copper glared at Jane, he didn't need her interference. He decided to change tack.
'How did you get along with your teacher, Mrs Reynolds?'
J shrugged.
'Just a teacher.'
'Did you like her?'
'Dunno.'
'Did you dislike her?'
'Dunno.' 
'Oh come on now son, either you liked her, or you didn't.'
The copper was pushing, trying to get a definite answer from J.
'She just a teacher, same as the rest.'
J was determined not to give himself away on that one.
'She often gave you detention, how did you feel about that?'
J shrugged.
'How many other teachers gave you detention?'
J shrugged again, this was getting a bit tricky.
'Only one other, a Mr Breeze, ever gave you detention, now why was that son?'
'didn't like me I spose.'
'And did you like those teachers?'
The copper pressed for an answer.
J shrugged.
'Just teachers aint they.' 
'On the day in question, that is, your last day at school, did you see anyone as you left?
'Dunno.'
'Do you remember seeing anyone loitering around the school grounds, for instance?'
'nah, dunno.'
'Do you like school son?'
'No.'
'Why not?'
'Just don't.'
'Do you normally wear trainers?'
The coppers question threw J for a few moments; he didn't like the way he kept 'jumping' from one thing to another.
'Eeeeeeerrrr.'
'yeah.'
'Size 7?'
'spose.'
'What make are your trainers, Nike, Fila or what - I imagine you wear the designer ones?'
'Dunno...'
J didn't like the way this was going.
'What make of trainers do you wear son?'
'Dunno.'
'I think you do know, but we'll leave that for the moment, now, how much do you weigh?'
'Dunno.'
The copper sighed heavily, and looked at Jane. 
She shrugged, she had no idea how much J weighed, and couldn't see the relevance of the question either.
The copper turned his attention to the staff nurse.
'Do you have his weight on record?'
The nurse looked over to J.
'No, he came in as an emergency, but I would assess somewhere around 58 to 62kg - is this relevant?'
'Yes madam, very relevant.'
The copper jotted the figures down in his notebook.  

J was getting worried, he knew where the copper was going with his questions, and he needed time to think.
Time for some acting .
J closed his eyes; he rubbed at his closed lids with the back of his hand and then opened them again slowly, feigning a stifled yawn. 
'Are you getting tired Jason?'
The nurse looked over to him, smiling as he nodded.
'I'm sorry, but you will have to leave, the patient needs his rest.'
The copper swore under his breath, he was sure that he could have broken the kid if he'd had a little more time.
'We may have to call back, the boy can probably give us a little more information, and we would ask you to bear in mind that this is a murder enquiry, therefore the sooner we can get to the bottom of it, the better.'
'Very well, but any future visits must be by prior arrangement.'
The coppers rose to leave, flipping their notebooks shut and replacing them in their pockets.
'Thank you son, you've been most helpful.'
J sank back onto his pillows, sighing deeply.
He had to think, and think fast, the bastards would be back and he had to have answers before then.     
He wondered once more whether Gra had managed to find the bat and if he'd destroyed it yet.

The older copper strode back to the car, stony faced and furious that he'd not managed to get any further with the kid. He unlocked the door and sat inside tapping his fingers impatiently on the dashboard as he waited for his sidekick to join him.
'Well Hawkins?'
He bellowed at the younger copper as he threw himself into the passenger seat beside him.
'Sir?'
'Well, what have we got then Hawkins?'
'Eeerr, let me see Sir.'
Hawkins reached for his notepad.
'Bugger all, that's what son, bugger all - and you don't need your notepad to tell you that.'
Hawkins fumbled in his breast pocket and drew out his notepad.
'Size 7 trainers Sir.'
'Along with half the bloody sixth form.'
'58 to 62kg weight?' Hawkins was desperate to appease his boss.
'And how much does the average 15 year old, size 7 shoe wearer weigh Hawkins?'
Hawkins sat quietly, watching D.S. O'Connor's face growing redder with anger by the minute.
'Right handed Sir, I noticed when he was writing?'
D.S. O'Connor threw him a cursory glance.
'The baseball bat Sir, he didn't deny it.'
'No, and he didn't bloody well admit it either Hawkins, don't forget, we haven't found the sodding thing yet either.'
'We could get a warrant Sir..'
'Oh yes Hawkins, and on what grounds do we search the kids' place?' 
'Sus?' 
'What bloody sus? We've got bugger all to go on Hawkins and you know it.but my gut tells me that little sod knows more than he's telling - I'll get the little bugger, you see if I don't, Hawkins.'
With that, D.S. O'Connor fired up the car engine and roared out of the Hospital grounds, back towards Greenhaven Police Station.