Moving on (Waterloo Road)

Chapter 5

Authors note: just for clarification the Tom in this is not Tom Clarkson. Just a random name I chose as an original story character.

At the police station, an officer showed them through to a soft interview room before leaving as Nikki and Rachel sat on the sofa. Rachel held Nikki's hand as Nikki looked at her, gratefully; they looked up as a middle aged blonde haired man came in and sat opposite them.

"Miss Mason, I presume?"

"Yes, DI Ross?" She asked as she shook his hand.

"That's me; first off, can I get either of you a drink? Coffee, tea, soda, water?"

"No thank you"

"Okay"

"Nikki, would you like one?" Rachel asked.

"I just wanna get this over with"

"I'll try and make this as quick as possible; firstly, your dad has been arrested for breaking his bail conditions. He won't be released for a long time; how was the relationship between him and your mom?"

"Strained; he..was always belittling her like he was picking away at her confidence so she'd be completely in his control."

"Okay, go on..."

She looked at Rachel who smiled and nodded as she held her hand; she took a deep breath before looking back at DI Ross.

"He was always telling her what to do and where to go, who she could talk to and what to say; she didn't have her own life anymore. It was like, she was only one step away from been locked in the house; he's never laid a finger on her before but when he was angry, it was..."

"Did he ever hurt you?"

"No"

"What happened? Yesterday morning before you left?"

"My mom said we were finally gonna get away from him; she told me to go to school and she'd let me know what was happening but she didn't."

"Why didnt you tell anyone? Did he threaten you in someway?"

"Not as such; I just, got the feeling that if I went against him, he'd do the same to me"

"There's no danger of that happening now; what you're doing is really brave"

"Will my statement help to get a conviction?"

"Absolutely; we'll do everything we can to put him away for a long time."

Nikki nodddd as she looked down.

"What happens now?" Rachel asked as DI Ross showed them out.

"We'll reinterview him and charge him with attempted murder unless there's any change"

"Right."

"We'll keep you informed."

"Thanks."

As DI Ross headed back into the station, Rachel and Nikki got back into the car; outside the hospital, they looked at each other as Nikki sighed.

"You did brilliantly today; really brave."

"Don't feel like it."

"I know; go and see your mom."

"Are you coming?"

"Do you want me to?"

Nikki nodded before she and Rachel got out of the car; they went into the hospital and into the Intensive Care Unit where Nikki's nan was sat at her daughter's bedside, holding her hand.