Great Expectations. - Now Complete

Chapter 48

Alice looked at the detective in disbelief. "You're really going to charge me? After what he did to me?"

"Is that a confession Mrs Harrison?"

"I think I need to find my wife some legal support." said George solemly. "Alice, don't say anything else. No matter how annoyed you feel! OK!"

Alice was taken to the station next door and placed in a small room by herself. She couldn't take in what was happening to herself. This was UNREAL! What was Tom playing at? After an eternity the door opened. An efficient looking woman came in.

"Mrs Harrison? Alice Harrison?"

Alice nodded.

"My name is Gwynneth Williams. I am a solicitor. Your husband contacted me and asked to represent you."

"I don't need representing. I haven't done anything!" To her horror, Alice began to cry.

The solicitor sat down opposite her. "Mrs Harrison, your husband has filled me in on the details of what you are possibly being charged with. And on the recent events surrounding yourself and your son. You and I need to discuss exactly what happened to try to understand why the police feel you have a part in Mr Donovan's injuries."

Alice wiped her eyes and fixed her attention on the solicitor. She began to tell her what had happened in the days leading up to when she and Alex were taken and held as well as the what happened at the house.

"I didn't touch the gun!" She looked at the woman facing her. "My whole focus was Alex. He was bleeding really badly. I tried to stem the bleeding using the dust sheets in the room. But he was bleeding so badly that they were totally soaked in no time at all! Nothing seemed to help. I was terrified he was going to die. I didn't care what Tom was doing!"

"So how did Mr Donovan get hurt?"

"When the paramedics arrived, I told Tom to open the door. He went into the hall then I heard a bang. I went to see what it was. Tom was in the hallway on the floor, bleeding. I stepped over him to let the paramedics in. As I've said, all I was bothered about was Alex!"

"You didn't touch the gun?"

"NO!"

"Alice, did you shot Thomas Donovan because of what he did to you and Alex?"

"NO! Please believe me! All I was concerned about was Alex!"

"Alice, I do believe you. Now, Thomas Donovan. Why would he claim you shot him?"

"Revenge. Spite." Alice shrugged. "I don't know. Seriously I don't! We had a relationship many many years ago. Then when I fell pregnant with Alex, he dropped me like a stone. Apart from when Alex was a few months old, there was never any dealings with him. It wasn't until Alex wanted to contact him, about 4 years ago, that there was any contact between us."

"And how would you describe your relationship with him now?"

"I still dislike him intently for what he did to me and Alex before he was born and when he was a few months old but..."

"A few months old? What happened when your son was a baby?"

Alice quickly described the nightmare period when Tom had taken Alex.

"...but I put that behind me a long time ago. I knew that I had to support Alex in what he wanted to do, which was to get to know his biological father. I had to support this no matter how I felt about Tom."

"How did you feel about Alex wanted contact with him?"

"It worried me. Both of us. George and I, but we tried to understand his need to do it. I was supportive of Alex and made the effort to be polite and friendly towards Tom."

"And how was Tom with you."

"Mostly OK...once ground rules had been established."

"Ground rules?"

"Yes...at first he tried turning up at my house unannounced. Then, making decisions about Alex without running things past George and I. After that, things were fine."

"What about your husband? How was he when Alex wanted to contact his real father?"

Alice smiled for the first time. "George took it better than me. He helped Alex at first. I found it too distressing. Then, when things got better, he and George got on quite well. George made the effort for Alex. He loves him very much. He always has."

"Right, in a few minutes, you will be formally interviewed by the police. You will be required to make a statement. I want you to tell them exactly what you have told me. Try to keep personal feelings out of what you are saying. The police like to twist things. OK?"

Alice nodded. "Thank you. Have I been arrested? I don't really understand what has happened?"

"No. At this moment you're not arrested but you are under caution."

Alice waited until the detective came back into the room, accompanied by another officer. She could feel the panic rising as she was read her rights. She fought back tears as the interview began. As calmly as possible, she described the events leading upto Alex being shot and then what had happened immediately afterwards.

"So you are certain at no time did you pick the gun up Mrs Harrison?"

"Certain. I don't even think I touched it when there was the struggle bewtween Alex and Tom. I been knocked onto the floor by then."

"Thank you Mrs Harrison. Interveiw suspended at 1.47pm."

"So what happens now?" Alice looked from the officers to her solicitor.

"Under the circumstances Mrs Harrison, and the concerns about your son's condition, we intend to let you go. For now. You will need to be available should we need to speak to you again."

"Thank you."

The police officers left the room, leaving Alice with her solicitor.

"Go and see your son Mrs Harrison. I will make what enquiries I can into the type of injuries Donovan has to see if we can shed any light on what happened that could help you. Your husband is waiting just outside the room for you. I'll be intouch as soon as I can."

After thnking her, Alice stood up. She felt unsteady, such was the adrenaline she had experienced. She went through the door and was immediately enveloped into a hug by George. She sobbed in relief at being with him again.

"I've never been so scared George!" she told him, "I thought that was it! That I'd never see you or the children ever again!"

George led her from the station. They stopped briefly for a cup of tea and a quick bite of lunch then headed up to the hospital. To Alex.

Once at Alex's bedside Alice was pleased to see a marked improvement in his pallour. His skin no longer looked transparent and now had some hint of a pink tinge to it. George spoke to the doctor whilst Alice stayed with Alex. Once more she held his hand and talked to him. George returned, a huge grin on his face.

"The doctor said he's doing really well." he explained, giving her a hug. "Something about blood  oxygen saturation levels are now almost normal."

"What does that mean though? Did you ask?" Alice was afraid to feel excited.

"I certainly did!" he continued, "It means my love, that Alex has inherited his mother's fighting streak! it means that he has almost perfect levels of oxygen in his blood. It means his organs should be recovering from the stress they were under after the blood loss. But best of all Alice, it means that the doctor reckons he could look at reducing Alex's sedation from tomorrow. Alex will wake up and we can all go home!"

Alice found she couldn't share George's excitement and joy. Going home to her family? Because of Tom, would she ever be able to do that again?