The Mute and the Liar (51 page)

“
This
is
Jasper.
Jasper,
this
is
Alicia,
”
Jayce
introduces
us
and
Jasper
and
I
nod at
each
other.
“
Have
breakfast
and
we’ll
go.
”

I
fumble
about
the
kitchen making
myself
cereal
and
the
two
continue
the
conversation
they’d
been
having
before
I
entered
the
room.
They
seem
to
be
discussing
someone,
but
the
re's
a
sombre,
draining
cloud
around
them
-
they
are speaking in hushed voices with impassive expressions.

“
I’m
telling
you;
he
doesn’t
want
to
see
you.
It’s
been
booked
now,
but
it
took
me
ages
convincing
him
to
accept
more
visitors,
”
Jasper
tells
him.
He’s
got
a
very
harsh,
brittle
voice,
peppered
with
slight
Northern
accent
-
just
now
he
pronounced
the
word
'convincing'
like
'convincen.'

“
I’ve
got
to
see
him.
I
haven’t
seen
him
for,
what
is
it,
two
years
now?
”
 
“
I
know.
I
reckon
it’s
good
for
him
to
see
yo
u
.
It’s
just
that
my
brother
still
thinks
it’s
too
soon.
Time
moves
differently
in
there;
it
still
feels
like
it’s
only
just
happened.
And
seeing
you
lot
just
brings
it
all
back
to
him,
you
know,
”
Jasper
explains
solemnly
in
his
accent
where
every
‘r’
is
pronounced
distinctly and the
word
‘all’
it comes out like ‘awl.’

“
He’s
got
to
move
on
sometime,
though.
He
can’t
just
sit
in
there
miserable forever.
Have you spoken
to
him
recently?
How
is
he?
”

“
Not
doing
well.
They’re
worried
about
him because
he’s
not
eating much
and he hardly speaks.
”

“
Have the others
visited him?
”

“
I’m
not
sure.
I
know
Sasha
used
to
all
the
time,
and
he
used
to
visit
Alex
too
when
he could.
But
I
don’t
think
he’s
been
up
there
for
a
while.
”

“
How long’s
he in
for?
Can
he get
parole?
”

“
He’s
got
nineteen
years
and
the
court’s
set
a
minimum
of
five
years
before
he
can
apply
for
parole.
I
talked
to
him
about
it
though
and
he
said
he
didn’t
want
it
even
if
they
offered
it
to
him.
”
Jayce
looks
visibly
surprised
at
this,
and
Jasper
quickly
goes
on
to
explain:
“
you’ve
got
to
understand
things
aren’t
looking
good
for
him
right
now.
He
thinks…
He
thinks
he’d
have
nowhere
to
go.
Home’s
been
difficult.
You
know
Mum
didn’t
take
it
well.
She
hasn’t
gone
up
there
for
months,
and
Dad’s
still
not
around.
Donny
could come stay
with
me for
a
bit
but
what’s
he going
to
do up in
Swindon?
”

“
Yeah,
I
suppose.
It’s
a
shame
though,
”
Jayce
says
understandingly,
and
he
takes
a
sip
from
the
glass
of
water
in
front
of
him.
“
Is
he
doing
the
education
thing?
”

“
It’s
compulsory,
but
it’s
not
looking
good;
the
last
thing
I
heard
was
that
he’s
stopped
trying.
He’s
in
a
bad
place.
Just
kind
of
given
up on
everything.
”

Jayce
looks
down
solemnly.
“
I’m
sorry.
I
wish
I
could
do
something
for
him.
”

“
We all do. He’s
a
good kid. He doesn’t
deserve this. At
least
he’s
got
you,
though.
Maybe
you
can
knock
some sense into
him.
You
already
know
what
I
thought
about
Ryo’s
gang,
but
you’re all right,
Jayce.
You’re all right.
”

*****

1:50
PM

When
we
got
into
Jasper’s
car
I
was
finally
told
what
was
going
on
and
where
we
were
going,
so
it
wasn’t
too
much
of
a
surprise
when
we
pulled
up
in front
of
Ashfield
Prison.

“
This
is
a
prison
for
young
offenders,
from
fifteen
to
eighteen.
I
didn’t
really
want
to
take
you
here,
but
I’ve
got
a
few
loose
ends
I
need
to
tie
up
while
I’m
here.
Jasper
had
already
booked
to
see
Donny
today,
so
I
asked
if
he
could
book
us
in
as
well.
You’re
lucky
they’re
letting
you
in;
you’ve
got
to
be
sixteen,
and
you’ve
only
just
turned
sixteen
today.
Oh,
and
they
wouldn’t
have
let
us
in
if
Jasper
wasn’t
coming
with
us,
because
we’re
both
under
eighteen.
I
know
it’s
not
ideal
considering
it’s
your
birthday,
but
don’t
worry,
we’re
only
going
to
stay
for
a
bit.
It’s
just
I
owe
Donny
a
lot,
and
I
figured
you
might
as
well
come
too
and
see
how
we
live
once
you
and
your
gang
of
detectives
have
done your jobs.
”