‘No, I’m fine. He scared me more than anything. Although...’ She paused. ‘I bit his lip, which was enough to make my escape. He’s the one who’s injured.’
‘So he attacked you?’
‘He wouldn’t let me past, pinned me against the wall, put his hands where I didn’t want them to go.’ He glanced over and sawher shudder. ‘If I hadn’t managed to fight back, I don’t like to think about what might have happened.’
Neither did he.
‘So, tell me what you want to do?’
In almost a whisper she said. ‘I want to report him to the police. I suspect this isn’t the first time he’s tried something like this and I doubt it will be the last.’
‘Okay, that’s fine. And if I’m being honest, I think that’s the right thing to do. I’ll drive you.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Do you want me to come in with you, or would you rather do this on your own?’
‘I’d like you to come with me, Jay, if you don’t mind?’
‘Of course I don’t mind, and I’ll wait for you until it’s all over.’
‘Thanks, Jay.’
* * *
An hour later, Jay’s backside was numb from sitting on the hard plastic chair while he waited for Emma. He wished he could have been by her side during her interview. She’d been through enough tonight. He was so angry with Nick that he wanted to go round and smash his face in. But he knew he had to leave it to the police and hope that they would be able to do their job properly.
The sound of a door opening and footsteps approaching alerted him to Emma’s return. His instinct was to hug her, but he stopped himself just in time as he realised she might not welcome physical contact right now. Instead he smiled at her.
‘You okay?’
She nodded, but her face was pale. ‘They’re going to bring him in for questioning. Oh, Jay!’ She slumped into one of the plastic chairs and he sat down next to her, resisting the urge toput his arm around her. ‘I don’t know what to do. I can’t go back there and I’ve nowhere else to go.’
‘Of course you do. You can stay with me. In the spare bedroom, of course, or if you’re not comfortable with that I’m sure my nan will put you up. She thinks the world of you, you know.’
‘No, I’d rather stay with you.’
‘Then you shall. Are you okay to leave?’
Emma stood up. ‘Yes. Let’s get out of here before they bring him in.’
* * *
Emma sat on the sofa, her legs curled up to the side of her, the gas-flame fire flickering and lulling her into sleepiness. She knew she would have to get up and go to bed soon, but the thought of sleeping and possibly reliving tonight in her dreams put her off.
‘Do you want another cup of tea?’
Emma shook her head. ‘No, thanks. I suppose I should try to get some sleep. If I can sleep that is.’ She paused. ‘I’m supposed to be in the office tomorrow, but I’m not sure if I can face it.’
‘I doubt they’ll expect you to come in when they find out what’s happened.’
She nodded. ‘All my stuff’s there. I’ve got nothing with me. Not even my phone. He swiped it from my hand when I tried to answer your call, and I didn’t get a chance to pick it up. I just ran.’
‘Speak to work in the morning and, if they can make sure he isn’t around, I’ll go and get your things. Hopefully I’ll find your phone, too.’
‘You’d do that?’
‘Of course I will. But I’d prefer it if he wasn’t there. I don’t think I could be responsible for my actions if he was.’
