The three of them often joked about Hannah running their day-to-day lives and home in the same way a company director ran a firm. The one thing they’d never done was complain about it. “Has someone put you up to this?” Hannah asked. Carl had always been a more relaxed parent and often thought Hannah over the top. “Has your dad said something? Has Monica?”
“No, Mum,” Beth said. “This is coming from us.”
“It’s not as if we’re babies anymore,” Archie said. “It’s time we started doing stuff for ourselves.”
“And it’s time you started doing things foryourself,” Beth added.
Hannah knew they had a point. Admittedly, similar thoughtshadbeen running through her own head of late.
Archie took a deep breath and exhaled. “I’m sorry to say this, Mum, but as of today you’re no longer the family CEO.”
Hannah felt proud of her children for having the maturity to recognise she needed a life separate to them. “You’re making me redundant?”
“See it more as going part-time,” Beth said.
It might’ve felt like Beth and Archie had been gone forever, but it had only been three weeks. In that short time, however, they seemed to have grown not just physically, but emotionally too. Taking in their earnestness, as much as she wanted to Hannah couldn’t deny they were right. The fact that they were even having that conversation with her proved Beth and Archie were ready for more responsibility.
Hannah smiled to herself, knowing they’d probably been ready for a while. She just hadn’t wanted to admit it.
CHAPTER36
“What do you mean, you’ve been arrested?” Although it wasn’t the first time Liv had surprised her of late, that was the last thing Hannah expected to hear.
Hannah didn’t usually answer calls from withheld numbers, but on that occasion something in her gut had told her she needed to. Hearing Liv’s panic, Hannah was glad she’d listened to her intuition.
“A fight broke out at the rally,” Liv said. “It was nothing to do with us but the police wouldn’t listen, and they rounded us up anyway. We’ve been searched and they’ve taken all our belongings.”
Hannah turned to Dorothy, who clearly wondered what was going on. “It’s Liv,” Hannah whispered. “There’s been some trouble at the rally.”
Dorothy immediately crossed her chest and headed straight for the kettle. “I’ll make some tea.”
Hannah returned her full attention to Liv. “Is Quentin with you?”
“He’s here at the station. But not with me, with me. I think they’ve put him in a cell.” Liv sounded on the verge of tears. “Oh, Hannah, after I’ve spoken to you, they’re going to lock me up too.”
Flashes of Liv hugging her knees in the corner of a dark dank, confined space flitted through Hannah’s head. “Don’t worry. It’ll all get sorted. Once they realise whatever happened isn’t your fault, they’ll have no choice but to let you both go.”
“But what if it doesn’t get sorted? And we have to go to court? For something we didn’t do?”
“Listen to me, Liv.” Hannah spoke in a firm yet caring manner. “I promise you, that’s not going to happen.” Despite her calm exterior, Hannah’s mind raced as she questioned what to do next. “Have you been charged with anything yet?”
“No. Apparently they’re still investigating. But we could be here for up to twenty-four hours. You have to believe me, Hannah, we’re innocent. We didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Of course, I believe you.” Hannah was surprised her friend might think otherwise. “We just need to focus right now.”Think, think, think…Hannah told herself. “Did the custody sergeant offer you any legal representation?”
“He said I was entitled to a solicitor when he read me my rights.” Liv whimpered. “I can’t believe I’m having to say that.”
“Hold off on talking to a duty solicitor for now. I’ll ring Carl.”
“What can he do? He’s in the South of France.”
It was a fair enough question, but not only was Carl the best in the business, he was the only option Hannah could think of. She certainly couldn’t sit around and do nothing when her friend needed help. “I don’t know. But he’ll think of something. Which police station are you at?”
“Leeds Central.”
“Right. If the rally’s still taking place, I’m guessing they’ll be busy with that for now. Whatever investigations they talked about probably won’t be done for a while. In the meantime, hold tight and don’t say anything to the police until we’ve got you a proper advocate.”
“I’m scared, Hannah.”
