nodded.
Shepherd ran a hand through his hair. ‘Even if you thought it was cannabis, what were you thinking?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Someone gives you drugs and you just say thank you very much and put it in your locker.’
‘He said he didn’t want to be walking around with it. He was going to a rough pub, he said.’
‘You know how serious this is, right? You’re not a kid any more. You’re playing Big Boys’ Games now, and Big Boys’ Rules apply. As of next year you’ll be an adult, and the way things are going you’ll be an adult with a criminal record.’ Shepherd shook his head. ‘What the hell were you thinking? Cocaine, Liam? You could go to prison, you know that?’
‘Dad, I thought it was cannabis.’
‘Oh, that makes it better, does it? Cannabis is a Class B drug. You can still go to prison for it.’
‘Not for small amounts. It’s been decriminalised.’
Shepherd’s eyes narrowed. ‘Are you telling me you smoke cannabis?’
‘Everybody does, Dad. It’s no biggie.’
‘No biggie!’ Shepherd looked up at the roof of the car and fought the urge to scream at his son. He took a deep breath and forced himself to stay calm. ‘Liam, not everybody smokes cannabis. And those that do are breaking the law, no matter what you say about decriminalisation. It’s a gateway drug. It leads to other things.’
‘Dad, I smoke the odd bit of puff. I’m not going to start injecting heroin, if that’s what you’re afraid of.’
‘What I’m afraid of is you going to prison, Liam, because that’s on the cards at the moment. You’re being charged with possession of a Class A drug with intent to distribute. That could put you behind bars and kill off any chance of a decent career.’
‘Dad, I thought it was dope. Roger said it was dope. I was just holding it until the weekend.’
‘Who is this Roger?’
‘Roger Flynn. He’s a mate.’
‘He goes to the school?’
Liam shook his head. ‘I met him outside.’
‘Outside? What do you mean, outside?’
‘I met him at a party.’
‘A party? Where?’
‘Leeds.’
‘The school lets you go to parties in Leeds? Since when?’
‘Dad, look, everyone does it. Roger has a car, he runs us there and back.’
‘How old is he?’
‘Our age. Pretty much.’
‘How old is he, Liam? Don’t go all vague on me. You’re in big trouble and I need specifics.’
‘He’s eighteen. Nineteen maybe. He’s got a driving licence. And he never drinks and drives.’
‘Does he sell drugs to the kids at the school?’
Liam shrugged. ‘Maybe.’ Shepherd pointed a warning finger at his son’s face. ‘Yes. I think so.’
‘And you’ve been buying drugs from him?’
Liam shook his head. ‘No. Of course not.’
‘But you’ve taken drugs, right?’
‘I smoke pot now and again. And Roger gives me the odd tab of E.’
‘Ecstasy?’
Liam nodded. ‘So this guy is a drug dealer, not a mate. Now did you tell the police it wasn’t yours?’
‘I had to. They said if I didn’t they’d take it that the drugs were mine. But now Roger’s denying it’s anything to do with him.’
‘Well he would, wouldn’t he?’ Shepherd ran a hand through his hair. ‘This is a hell of a mess, Liam.’
‘I know, Dad. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.’
Shepherd forced a smile. ‘Okay, one step at a time,’ he said. ‘The school won’t have you back, so we’ll have to get you in somewhere else. You’re going to have to help me with that. Go on to Google and see what boarding schools are available. Come up with a list.’
‘I don’t have to go to boarding school, Dad. There are schools in Hereford. I can live at home. Katra’s there, it won’t be a problem.’
‘I thought you liked boarding?’
‘When I was a kid and you were away all the time, sure. But I can take care of myself now. One more year and I’ll be going to university.’ His face fell as he realised he was making plans that might well never come to fruition. ‘You know
Shepherd ran a hand through his hair. ‘Even if you thought it was cannabis, what were you thinking?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Someone gives you drugs and you just say thank you very much and put it in your locker.’
‘He said he didn’t want to be walking around with it. He was going to a rough pub, he said.’
‘You know how serious this is, right? You’re not a kid any more. You’re playing Big Boys’ Games now, and Big Boys’ Rules apply. As of next year you’ll be an adult, and the way things are going you’ll be an adult with a criminal record.’ Shepherd shook his head. ‘What the hell were you thinking? Cocaine, Liam? You could go to prison, you know that?’
‘Dad, I thought it was cannabis.’
‘Oh, that makes it better, does it? Cannabis is a Class B drug. You can still go to prison for it.’
‘Not for small amounts. It’s been decriminalised.’
Shepherd’s eyes narrowed. ‘Are you telling me you smoke cannabis?’
‘Everybody does, Dad. It’s no biggie.’
‘No biggie!’ Shepherd looked up at the roof of the car and fought the urge to scream at his son. He took a deep breath and forced himself to stay calm. ‘Liam, not everybody smokes cannabis. And those that do are breaking the law, no matter what you say about decriminalisation. It’s a gateway drug. It leads to other things.’
‘Dad, I smoke the odd bit of puff. I’m not going to start injecting heroin, if that’s what you’re afraid of.’
‘What I’m afraid of is you going to prison, Liam, because that’s on the cards at the moment. You’re being charged with possession of a Class A drug with intent to distribute. That could put you behind bars and kill off any chance of a decent career.’
‘Dad, I thought it was dope. Roger said it was dope. I was just holding it until the weekend.’
‘Who is this Roger?’
‘Roger Flynn. He’s a mate.’
‘He goes to the school?’
Liam shook his head. ‘I met him outside.’
‘Outside? What do you mean, outside?’
‘I met him at a party.’
‘A party? Where?’
‘Leeds.’
‘The school lets you go to parties in Leeds? Since when?’
‘Dad, look, everyone does it. Roger has a car, he runs us there and back.’
‘How old is he?’
‘Our age. Pretty much.’
‘How old is he, Liam? Don’t go all vague on me. You’re in big trouble and I need specifics.’
‘He’s eighteen. Nineteen maybe. He’s got a driving licence. And he never drinks and drives.’
‘Does he sell drugs to the kids at the school?’
Liam shrugged. ‘Maybe.’ Shepherd pointed a warning finger at his son’s face. ‘Yes. I think so.’
‘And you’ve been buying drugs from him?’
Liam shook his head. ‘No. Of course not.’
‘But you’ve taken drugs, right?’
‘I smoke pot now and again. And Roger gives me the odd tab of E.’
‘Ecstasy?’
Liam nodded. ‘So this guy is a drug dealer, not a mate. Now did you tell the police it wasn’t yours?’
‘I had to. They said if I didn’t they’d take it that the drugs were mine. But now Roger’s denying it’s anything to do with him.’
‘Well he would, wouldn’t he?’ Shepherd ran a hand through his hair. ‘This is a hell of a mess, Liam.’
‘I know, Dad. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.’
Shepherd forced a smile. ‘Okay, one step at a time,’ he said. ‘The school won’t have you back, so we’ll have to get you in somewhere else. You’re going to have to help me with that. Go on to Google and see what boarding schools are available. Come up with a list.’
‘I don’t have to go to boarding school, Dad. There are schools in Hereford. I can live at home. Katra’s there, it won’t be a problem.’
‘I thought you liked boarding?’
‘When I was a kid and you were away all the time, sure. But I can take care of myself now. One more year and I’ll be going to university.’ His face fell as he realised he was making plans that might well never come to fruition. ‘You know
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