8:00am.
"Mum... I'm home." Ben shouted as he pushed open the door. "I forgot to take my PE kit to Tom's last night... Mum... MUM!" Ben stood, frozen with fear as he saw Marie at the foot of the stairs, apparently unconscious, with a cut to her head, the blood from which had dried, telling him she had been her some time. He ran over, shook her hard. "Mum, wake up!"
He dropped to his knees and brushed her hair off her forehead. "Mum..." Tears streamed down his face as he stood and ran through to the lounge to find the phone. His face fell as he saw the destruction. He dialled quickly. "I need the police... and an ambulance... we've been burgled... my mum's hurt... unconscious."
***
10:00am.
"OK... so we'll go and see Jennifer Thomas..." Jim agreed. Ramani nodded. "If you're sure you're up to it... are you sure you're alright?" Ramani asked, gesturing to the plaster on his cheek.
"I cut myself shaving." Jim smiled.
"You'd think someone your age would be used to shaving by now... maybe you should grow a beard. Come on." She patted Jim's shoulder lightly, and they moved to the coat stand, picking up their jackets. Just as they were about to leave, Gina Gold came in through the swinging double doors.
"Jim can I... can I have a word?" She looked at him seriously.
"Ramani and I were just on our way out - can it wait?"
"No it can't. In the office?" She gestured towards the door.
"OK..." Jim frowned, following Gina to the small office in the CSU. He closed the door behind him. "What's wrong - it's not June, she's alright, isn't she?"
"June's fine as far as I know... It's... it's not easy to tell you this." Gina sighed and shook her head. "It's Marie."
"What about her?" He asked, his eyes betraying not a flicker of emotion.
"She's in St Hugh's, Ben found her unconscious at the foot of the stairs..."
Jim said nothing, continuing to stare impassively at her.
"She came round a while ago... she wants to press charges against you."
"She... wants to press charges against me?!"
"She alleges that you assaulted her this morning. I'm sorry Jim." Gina looked away.
"I didn't touch her."
"I... I don't believe her, but you know we have to investigate this. She's badly injured."
"I can't believe this. I KNEW she would do this. It was her that was attacking me, where do you think I got this!" He gestured to his cheek.
"I'm sorry Jim. You know how things stand."
"So what are you going to do?" Jim backed toward the door, his eyes confused and full of tears. "Arrest me?"
"I'm sorry Jim." Gina shook her head.
"You CAN'T do this to me... talk to June, she knows what's been going on!" Jim backed away further, opening the door and stepping into the CSU.
"I'm sorry Jim. We will investigate it further." Gina followed him into the main room. "Come with me."
"But I'M the victim here!" He yelled, drawing everyone's attention.
Gina approached him. "Come with me." She muttered quietly, reaching for his arm. "This is hard enough without you forcing me to do it in front of all your friends."
"Get off me!" Jim walked away from her, towards his desk. "I promised to visit June this afternoon, and you... nobody, you OR Marie is going to stop me."
"Don't make me do this Jim." Gina bit her lip and followed him across the room.
"You're not doing this." Jim shook his head.
"I'm sorry Jim. I'm arresting you on suspicion of assault... anything you do say..." Gina continued reciting the caution as she felt the stares of every person in room burning into her back.
"You're not putting me into one of those cells..." Jim looked at her, his eyes suddenly terrified.
"I'm sorry Jim." Gina muttered as she helped him to his feet.
"No... I'll do what you want but DON'T lock me up..."
"We'll need to interview you first..."
"Just..." He sucked in a breath, shuddering. "Tell June. She has to know, she's the only person who can help me... the only one who knows the truth..."
"We'll tell her eventually... she's very delicate right now remember?"
"Eventually could be too late." Jim mumbled as Gina led him away.
"If she can be a witness then we'll tell her, we'll investigate this to the hilt Jim. We know you haven't done anything."
"Thanks." Jim sighed, looking to the floor as his colleagues watched, stunned into silence.
***
"Name...." Sgt Sheelagh Murphy began the procedure, not looking up at Jim as he was booked in.
Behind them, Gina Gold and Adam Okaro spoke in hushed tones. "This was our worst case scenario." Adam mused. "I think Jack Meadows should question Jim, along with DC De Costa, as this is a domestic violence case... whichever way round it may be."
"Jack's at home, it's his day off... shall I go and call him in?" Gina spoke softly.
"Please." Adam nodded. "We'll have to place Jim in one of the cells while..." Adam looked concerned as Gina winced. "What?"
"Is there no way we can avoid that?"
"We can't be seen to be playing favourites, Gina..."
"But... I take it you don't know much about his past."
"Not much no, the alcoholism of course, but... is there something I should know?"
"He was arrested on suspicion of murdering a prostitute. He hadn't done it, of course, but it'll bring back the memories of his breakdown and his problems. He begged me upstairs not to do it to him..."
Adam sighed and looked down. "Gina... as much as this pains me from this moment on Jim Carver is a prisoner and must be treated as such."
"We know he's innocent of this... he's the victim, apparently got injuries to prove it... we need to help him Adam."
"I agree... but I can't sanction breaking protocol." Adam swallowed and walked over to Jim. "Jim... I'm sorry, but until DCI Meadows arrives we're going to have to put you in one of the cells. I hope you understand."
"Please no..." Jim begged, the colour draining from his face.
"Jim, I'm sorry, but you know the procedure... it won't be for long, I promise."
"Please..." Jim sobbed.
"I'm sorry... Tony..." Adam gestured to Tony Stamp, who was jailer for the day.
Tony walked up to Jim, placed a hand on his arm. "I don't want to do this, Jim..."
Jim looked around utterly defeated as Tony led him to the cells. He stopped and turned to Gina and Adam, his eyes pleading with them.
"It won't be for long." Gina repeated. Then she looked up to Adam, her _expression one of utter concern. "DCI Meadows is on a golf course out in the country, I reached him on his mobile. He'll be here as soon as he can, but... it could be two hours."
"Great..." Adam muttered. "Is there no-one else can interview him? The last thing Jim needs is to be locked up in there for hours."
"I think it's best that he is interviewed by a senior officer... it has to be someone from CID and Debbie McAllister and Phil Hunter... well..."
"No chance... I'm not having them anywhere near him, and Samantha's on leave. We'll have to wait, maybe the FME can give him something to calm him down."
"I think the FME may be a good idea...." Gina nodded, as Tony approached, looking worried. "Tony, what's wrong, is he OK?"
"He's really freaking out... the last time I saw him like this..." Tony stopped and shook his head.
Gina and Adam walked up towards the end cell, and from inside they could hear desperate sobs. Adam pulled down the hatch and saw Jim sitting on the hard bench, rocking back and forth, muttering the word "No�" over and over as he cried.
"Can we not put him in an interview room ma'am?" Tony asked. "Have someone sit with him?"
"I... is the FME here, do you know?" Gina bustled.
"Not sure, you'd best ask Sergeant Murphy."
Sheelagh, who had been listening in, spoke up. "He is... Dr Mackenzie. Came in to look at a prisoner on heart pills about half an hour ago, think he's just packing up."
"Tony, go and get him. Bring him here. We can't leave Jim like this."
"Sir..." Tony darted away. Adam looked down at Gina. "I want Jim's injuries documented. They'll be needed as part of the investigation. Every cut, every bruise and every scar."
"The FME's on his way... he can do that when he look over him. What do we about June?"
"I don't know... if we tell her... we could exacerbate her illness, but if we don't..."
"She'd never forgive us... She is a witness too, Jim confided in her. He promised to go and see her this afternoon."
"Then... then you go and see her. Tell her and see if she's willing to make a statement. It's a risk, but one we have to take."
***
Two hours later.
June lay on her bed, listening to the pouring rain against her window. In front of her lay a book, beside her, Tigger, with whom she had formed a strong bond. Every few moments, she would glance up, expectantly, then sigh and look back down.
Gina hovered outside the door for a few moments before finally knocking and pushing the door open slowly. "June..." She forced a smile.
"Ma'am..." June sat up. "What are you doing here... I was expecting... someone else."
"I..." Gina swallowed. "I just wanted to see how you are. You're looking a bit better. Can I sit down?"
"I'm feeling a little better..." June nodded. "Something's wrong... I can tell... where's Jim?"
"Who's this?" Gina asked, perching on the edge of the bed. Tigger meandered over to her and nuzzled her hand.
"That's Tigger, please, please, Gina, if you have something to tell me, just tell me, don't mollycoddle me."
"There's no easy way to say this." Gina avoided eye contact with June, concentrating on playing with the kitten.
"Has something happened, is Jim hurt?!" June clutched at Gina's arm desperately. "Has she hurt him again?"
"Jim's... been... arrested."
"Wh... what?!" June stared at Gina; a smile twitching at the corner of her mouth, sure this must be some kind of sick joke.
"I'm sorry June... Marie's pressing charges for assault. We know he didn't do it but there had to be an investigation. You must understand that." She reached out for June's hand.
"How is he... how's he coping?" June asked, her breathing becoming rapid, her eyes darting.
"Not brilliantly. We've... we've had to put him in a cell."
"Oh, god no..." June got to her feet, looking around herself. "I have to be with him, you *know* about his fear of being locked up..."
"The FME's given him something to keep him calm, everyone's keeping an eye on him. Jack Meadows is on his way to interview him as we speak."
"No, I need to be with him." June ran for the door, pulling it wide. "I have to get out of here."
"June please..." Gina grabbed her arm. "You have to think of yourself..."
"I can think of myself after all this is over... I'm not going to let her win... I..." June stopped, she was hyperventilating and her face had turned a deathly pale. "Gina... I..." She wobbled then began to slump to the floor.
"It's OK June, calm down." Gina caught her and gathered her into her arms stroking hair and leading her back to the bed. "Concentrate on your breathing."
"I...." June looked up as her doctor, a tall man of about 40, with blond hair that was so reminiscent of Jim's, appeared in the door. "What's going on here?"
"I just had to break some bad news to her." Gina mumbled, continuing to stroke June's hair. "She's taken it badly."
"Evidently..." The doctor snapped. "She is no condition for any trauma, you should know that."
"I know... it's just... she's vital for a case we're working on... it's literally a matter of life or death."
"This may be a Met Clinic but here the patients come first and police work last, this is a retreat for those troubled by their profession."
"Can I have a word with you in private?" Gina asked. "Will you be OK June?"
June nodded dumbly. Gina ushered the doctor outside and closed the door behind her. "It's not just police work, it's personal. Her..." Gina paused, searching for the right word. "Her best friend has been arrested."
"Surely you could have waited to tell her?"
"I was going to, but... look, I don't suppose you were here when Jim Carver was a patient. He was treated for alcoholism and depression."
"Jim Carver..." The doctor paused, deep in thought. "Blonde... big chap? About 3, 4 years ago?"
"Blonde... big chap... yes, that's him. Well, he's been arrested on suspicion of throwing his wife down a flight of stairs."
"Jim wouldn't do that. He's a decent, honest man. Thoroughly nice chap."
"Exactly... and he's going through hell. He... he was being physically abused by her... and the only person he confided in is in there." She gestured to the door.
"I understand... a statement would help so much..." The doctor nodded, then pushed the door of June's room open. June was curled up on the bed, fast asleep. "Well, I'm afraid it won't be now. She's been doing a lot of this... sleeping fourteen, fifteen hours a day." He picked up a throw from the back of an armchair and placed it over her. "She's physically and mentally exhausted."
"She's had it rough these last few months. I don't know how much she's told you... she's agreeing to treatment I take it."
"Yes... we've talked over the alternatives to HRT - she certainly needs something. Amazing how some women walk straight through the change unscathed and others..." He gestured to June. "There's often a lot more to it, things catch up to them... things they've been bottling up... it's a confusing time, like puberty all over again."
"She does bottle things up, hates to ask for help. It broke my heart to see her just collapse into a sobbing heap the other day. I'm glad she confided in me though... we've had our ups and downs but... she's a much loved officer and we can't afford to lose her." Gina shrugged.
"Then let her rest. You can come back tomorrow."
"I'll do that... will you tell her that for me? And that we'll sort things with Jim out. Thanks again."
"Give Jim my best, won't you. Dr Andrews... he should remember me."
"I'll do that... I just hope... that he's not going to end up back in here. He's not good right now."
"He's a fighter. Deep down he's a real fighter. With luck, that strength will win through."
................. on to Part Six
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