Backup Girl [Tom Hiddleston] {EBT book 2/4}

Preparations

"You're early Kate, how was Italy?" Adam asked as she out down her bag in the studio.
"Just beautiful. Relaxing, just what we needed I think." Kate's brain was on autopilot, and Italy felt like months ago.
"Hey," said Ed from the doorway.
"Hi," Kate turned to face him. "Can we talk? Somewhere private?"
"Um, yeh. Come to the office down the hall, just give me 2 minutes."
"Everything OK? You don't look well," Adam asked.
"Yeah, nothing to worry about. I just have a cold."
"Craig and I were about to get coffee anyway, want one?"
"Yes, please. Thanks." Kate took out her wallet, the one Tom had just given her, and guilt kicked so hard in the stomach she thought she might be sick. The bag, the wallet, the jewellery...
"My treat," Adam said as he walked past.
Kate ran for the bathroom and vomited up her breakfast. She was just barely keeping herself together. She had considered just telling Tom what was happening, that she needed to go home but she would return. But he didn't deserve to be dragged in to this, to be worrying about her when he couldn't do anything. This is your mess, you can fix it yourself. And then live with your own decisions. That last statement was oddly familiar.
Cleaning herself up she walked from the bathroom to where Ed was sitting and almost fell in the the other chair next to him. "Are you sick?" He asked, concern in his voice.
"No its just a cold."
"You're pregnant aren't you? I heard you in the bathroom."
Kate was so shocked she laughed. "No, definitely not pregnant."
"OK then what's going on. You look like hell."
I feel like it. "When the tour finishes, the first 2 months, I'm going back to Australia. Uh, permanently."
"Oh. Would you consider coming back for the next album or another tour? You're such an amazing artist I'll be really disappointed to lose you."
"I'd love to. But I have some personal stuff to take care of first and I don't know how long that might take."
"Kate," he put a hand on her shoulder. "Is there anything I can do? You really do look like hell. I think maybe you should go home."
"Hm," Home. Kate fought to stop from vomiting again. "Run through some charts first and then I think I'll take you up on that."
"OK." Ed stood and then sat down again. "Hold on. What about Tom?"
Shit. "I know you guys are sort of friends, but I haven't told him yet. Please don't say anything. I'm telling him tonight. Please?"
"I'm a terrible liar but the odds if me talking to him before you do are pretty slim. He knows something is going on though?"
"No, he doesn't. He has no idea."
Kate got up and went back to the bathroom. She didn't need him seeing her cry.

After rehearsing half the charts for the tour Kate was ordered to go home early and she took the opportunity, calling Luke on the way.
"I'm out at the moment but- actually why don't I just meet you at home and we can talk there. Tom won't be there until late this afternoon."
They arrived almost at the same time and Kate let him in. He handed her a hotel key card. "You're booked in until you leave for the tour."
"Thank you, Luke. I guess I need to pack up."
"Have you heard from the police?"
"Not yet."
"Good. I talked to the lawyer and we can ask them to keep it quiet at least until charges are actually laid. He said there are legal avenues to keep it out of the media but really it only takes one person to overhear something and it's all out in the open."
Kate's phone rang. "Katherine Allen?"
"Yes, speaking."
"Hi Katherine it's Inspector David Parsons. I believe you'd like to make a statement about Dean Waters?"
"Yes. Do you mind if I put you on speaker? I have my agent here with me."
"Not at all."
"So I can make a statement over the phone? There's no problem with me being in London?"
"Not initially. From this we will decide whether charges are applicable and then we'll need a more official sworn statement but we can get around that as well if we have to. When are you back here?"
"A bit over 2 months."
"OK then yes over the phone will be fine. When you're ready, just tell me what happened and when, if you can remember. Take your time."
Kate recounted the story of their relationship, how he had always been controlling and emotionally abusive but had turned physical in the final years. She told him of each incident by month, where he had pushed her so hard in to the bannister, the wall, the kitchen bench that her ribs were black. And then the final time when he had thrown her in to a door frame, in to the stair railing and then down the stairs, breaking her wrist, collarbone and more ribs. She relayed the questions the doctors had asked after her horseriding accident, when they had found at least a dozen previous fractures in her ribs at various stages of healing, and how she had begged them not to make a report.
"I'm so sorry I didn't report him. If I'd known he would do it to someone else..." she trailed off as tears spilled down her cheeks, and Luke put his hand on her shoulder.
"You weren't to know. So the hospital still have those x rays?"
"I have them here. The wrist ones are at my local hospital at home. The others were never x rayed. The last time I said I'd fallen and hurt my wrist, I didn't mention the rest."
"OK. And are you prepared to testify in court?"
Kate hesitated. "Yes," she said finally.
"OK we're going to go forward with your statement t and Naomi's and I'll let you know as soon as there's a decision. Hopefully next week."
Luke spoke before he could hang up. "We have a bit of a sensitive situation here and we don't want the media getting hold of this, as I'm sure you don't. At least until charges are laid. Is there any way to keep this confidential?"
"We don't make anything public until there are charges filed. But I will also handle this as discreetly as possible and do whatever I can. Kate, I'll be in touch. And please don't blame yourself. You weren't to know. I hope we can give him what he deserves."
"Thank you Inspector."
Kate immediately sent a message to Naomi and put down the phone. Luke poured her a scotch and she laughed when he handed it to her. "You certainly look like you need it."
"Thank you. You can go if you like, I have to pack my things. And call my mum. Thanks again for everything Luke." He pulled her in to a hug and she kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"Let me know when you're at the hotel, will you?"
"I will."

Kate kept the phone conversation with her mum short, and asked her to call Lizzie for her. She started out by telling her not to worry, she was safe now, and warning her not to do anything stupid. And then she told her that everything Naomi said about Dean was true, he had done the same to Kate. She could hear Nerida holding back tears and she made sure her father, Jeremy, was home before she hung up.
Then she went upstairs, took down her suitcase, and started with her things in the bathroom. There was no way she would take everything tonight, but she could take all of her clothes at least, and she needed to be done before Tom could come home and change her mind.