Helping Sarah

Chapter 38

Michael

Yes, I know. That last word was a mistake, but I was in no state to consider what words passed my lips, and the man was an imbecile. And he wouldn't let me talk to Sarah.

We were placed in separate cars when we were finally taken to the police station, and there was no sign of either Sarah or Charlie as I was escorted to an interview room nor would anyone tell me anything.

Alan joined me there three hours later with DI Murphy. I had by then pretty much worn a path in the linoleum floor from the door to the barred window and back, and my temper hadn't grown any better.

Nor had the detective inspector's, judging by the glare he gave me, but at least he kept quiet while I gave him my version of events and once again explained my reasoning for searching out Lenny without waiting for the police. My story did not dim the DI's glare.

Alan tried to stop me when I got to the part about knocking out Lenny, but I didn't care. I cared only about Charlie, and I would have done much worse if Lenny had put up a fight. And besides, Lenny would be sporting the evidence of my performance for weeks.

DI Murphy tried again to give me a lecture on interfering with police business, but my stare and Alan's guffaw quickly shut him up. Right then, my solicitor was worth every penny.

"Sign here," the detective ordered sourly as he shoved a piece of paper across the table towards me.

Only when I had signed my statement was I allowed to leave. It was full dark by the time Alan and I walked out of the police station, and I probably looked more like I ought to be going into the building to spend the night in a cell with my wrinkled clothes and dishevelled hair pointing in every which direction, but I ignored the stares.

The moment we were away from the building, I halted Alan. "Where's Sarah?"

"They let Mrs Graves go home with Charlie hours ago."

The news, though not unexpected, made my shoulders slump, both from relief that Sarah wasn't still held here and frustration that I hadn't had a chance to see her. "Is Charlie all right?"

Alan directed me towards his car. "Yes, he seemed so. He's a resilient little guy. Though he was understandably reluctant to be without his mother even for a moment."

"Did she say where they would go?" Their things were still at my house. Maybe I could find them there and talk to Sarah.

"To her in-laws. It was a Mr Graves who drove them there. Her brother-in-law, I understand. He mentioned that the entire family will be there with them for the next few days. We arranged to talk soon."

My hand halted on the door handle and all the energy, anger and hope that had held me upright for the last hours trickled away. I had seen Ben in the commotion outside Lenny's house too. He had been allowed close to Sarah and Charlie, had been able to help her and comfort them, talk to them and hold Charlie when he got too heavy for Sarah. All those things that I was supposed to have done.

I leaned my head on my elbow on the roof of the car. Otherwise my legs would give in. My throat tightened. and I closed my eyes while I focused on simply breathing instead of crumbling.

I wanted nothing more than to talk to Sarah, see for myself that both she and Charlie were all right, hug them both tight, but neither Ben, Helen or Benji would let me into their house.

Hell, I doubted even Lisa would lift a finger to help me get near Sarah. Not now. Lies had been bad enough. Causing Charlie harm was unforgivable.

"So, where can I take you to?" Alan asked across the car.

"Home," I told him. Though without Sarah and Charlie there, the house would be too quiet.

I would have to get used to that now.