Turned (12 page)

Vicky nodded. She hugged her back, then slowly left the room.

Amy looked at Mr. Tovey. “You'll put a stop to this?”

“I'll certainly speak to the girls responsible. Bullying isn't acceptable in any shape or form. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. May I have a copy of the photos?”

“I'll be glad to forward them,” Amy said. “I'll be speaking to her father tonight. He'll be glad to know it's dealt with. Thank you.”

 

 

 

 

7

 

Dane changed gear and glanced at Nate. The morning had been a total waste of time. What they thought had been a lead had turned into a dead end. “Now what?”

Nate shook his head. “I have no idea. I wish I did.” He leaned back in his seat, looking out the window. “Hey, isn't that your nanny sitting over there opposite the school?”

“Yeah—wonder what's up. I won't be a sec.” Dane pulled over and parked the car. He got out and walked across the pavement to Amy. He took a seat on the bench next to her. “You can take watching the girls too far,” he joked.

Amy glanced at him. “Hi, Dane.”

His heart warmed at her use of his name. There was something about the way she said it, that was different from everyone else. “Aren't you meant to be resting? How's your wrist?”

“Sore.” Her gaze darted back to the playground. “But I'll live.”

“Did you get to the doctor's, to have the dressing changed?”

“No, something more important cropped up. Dane, I had something to tell you last night, but I wanted to wait for a good time, then I cut my wrist and...” She peeked around him, trying to keep her eyes on the playground.

He touched her arm, concerned. “Are you really OK? You seem distracted.”

“Not really. Watching Vicky.”

Dane looked over at the playground. It was heaving with children running here and there, the screams and laughter reaching them from across the road. “Where is she?”

“She's under the tree on the left.” She handed him her phone. “Yesterday, as I was walking back to your house from the church, I saw her under the tree crying. It looked like the one from her drawings. It could simply be like her teacher said and the kids were trying to get her to play.”

Dane looked at the photos and beckoned Nate over. “But?”

“Something didn't seem right. I spoke to the head teacher this morning, and he called Vicky in. She has bruises on her arms. The head said he'd deal with it. I wanted to sit here and make sure it was sorted.” She glanced up as Nate stood behind them, looking at the photos over Dane's shoulder.

His fingers clenched into fists as he struggled with the rage filling him. How could he not have known something was wrong? How did he miss something as important as this? He shrugged off Nate's calming hand, knowing Nate would react the same way if it were Vianne that was being hurt. As he watched the playground, four girls went over to Vicky and surrounded her. He scowled. “Sorted it, right…”

Then he leapt to his feet as they laid into her. “Nate…” He checked the road before launching across it, with Nate and Amy close behind him.

“Leave her alone!” he roared.

Amy rang the bell on the gate.

Dane watched in despair. The girls kept laying into Vicky, seemingly oblivious to everything around them. He looked for the adult on duty, but there was no one in sight.

“Hello?” A voice crackled through the speaker on the gate.

Amy leaned into it. “This is—”

Dane shook his head. He didn't have time for niceties. “This is DS Philips and DS Holmes. There's an assault in progress on the playground. I need you to let us in now.”

Nothing happened. “Amy, stay here and keep trying. Nate, with me.”

“Where are you…?” Amy began then turned back to the intercom.

Dane scaled the fence and vaulted over it quickly; knowing Nate would be right behind him. Landing on his feet, he charged toward the tree. “Get away from her!” he yelled.

Vicky cowered, with her arms over her head.

The children around her scattered, but Nate set off in pursuit, catching them.

Dane reached Vicky and crouched beside his distraught daughter. He wrapped his arms tightly around her. “It's OK, honey. Daddy's here, now.”

Vicky sobbed, her whole body shaking uncontrollably, as she clung to him.

Three teachers, Mr. Tovey, and Amy converged on the scene. Another teacher blew the whistle three times and got all the other children to line up in classes.

Talk about shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted.

Dane's anger flowed from him without restraint. “I was told this had been sorted,” he said furiously. “I did not expect to see it happening again. Why wasn't anyone out here on playground duty?”

“There should have been,” Mr. Tovey said. “I spoke to the girls this morning, but that obviously wasn't enough.”

“Obviously,” Dane muttered, not hiding the sarcasm.

Nate put a hand on his shoulder. “Can we take this inside?” he said. “Away from all the other kids?”

Mr. Tovey nodded. He turned to a tall blonde woman. “Emma, take those four inside and sit them outside my office and ring their parents please. I need them all to come in—drag them out of work if need be. I'll take Vicky to the school nurse to check her over.”

“That's not necessary,” Dane said sharply. At this point he didn't trust anyone from the school with his daughter. “I'll arrange a medical checkup myself.” He stood with Vicky still in his arms, following the head teacher inside the school building. They all headed down to the head teacher's office. “Amy will take her home.”

Vicky shook, still clinging to him, as he sat on one of the chairs around the large oval table.

Dane kissed her forehead. “Honey, Daddy is going to stay here and make sure this doesn't happen again. I want you somewhere safe and right now that's at home with Amy.” He glanced at Nate, who nodded. “Uncle Nate agrees. Actually…” He pulled out his phone and hit speed dial. It answered on the second ring. “Guv, its Dane. I need two patrol cars to Headley Cross Primary, now.”

“What's up?”

“Assault. Four kids attacked Vicky, and it's not the first time from what I understand.”

“You want to arrest a bunch of six-year-olds?” DI Welsh sounded incredulous.

“These kids aren't six, but I have something else in mind. And I know better than to talk to the kids involved myself.”

“Is Vicky OK?”

“She's shaken, scared, and it's hard to tell if she's injured or not here. I just want her home. Amy doesn't drive, and Nate and I only have the pool car here.”

“Sure. Two cars on the way. Come and see me when you get back. I'll need you both to bring me up to speed and fill out a report.”

“Thanks, Guv. Will do.” He hung up. “Vicky, honey, a uniformed officer is going to come and take you and Amy home. You'll be safe there.”

She didn't let go.

“I promise.” He hugged her. “And it won't be long before I'm home. And don't forget Uncle Nate, Auntie Adeline, and Vianne are coming for dinner tonight.”

She looked up slowly.

“Bringing chips,” Nate added.

“I need your help to make a pudding,” Amy said. She had as little color in her cheeks as Vicky did. “Maybe we make a chocolate one.”

Dane hugged her. “She said the C word,” he whispered, finally getting a slight smile from his daughter. “But I'll pretend I didn't hear that.”

Two police cars with blue lights flashing pulled up outside the windows.

Mr. Tovey looked at him. “Isn't that a little overkill?”

Dane stiffened. “What would you do if it were your daughter?” he asked. “And I have no intentions of speaking to those girls myself. That is what the uniformed officers are for. Besides, you had two police officers witness the assault, from outside the school this time. There is no way this is now an in-house problem.”

He looked at Vicky. “Let's get you and Amy out of here and then Daddy can sort things out here.” He glanced up. “I'll be right back.” He stood and took Vicky's hand, leading her out to reception.

Four tall uniformed officers stood there. He nodded to them. “Ben, can you take Vicky and Amy home and then come back here and help me?”

The officer nodded. “Sure, Sarge.” He winked at Vicky. “Would you like the flashing lights on all the way to your house?” he asked in a stage whisper. “Just don't tell the Sarge.”

Vicky nodded shyly, taking hold of Amy's hand.

Dane looked at Amy. “I won't be late tonight. Just keep an eye on her, make sure she's not hurt in anyway. If she is, text me, and I'll get Janice over to check her out.”

“OK.” Amy nodded, her voice wobbling slightly.

Dane studied her and caught hold of her arm. He didn't like how pale she was. “Are you all right? Is the cut aching? You seem a little out of sorts.”

“I'm fine. You see to things here.”

Her appearance belied her words, but now wasn't the time to call her on it. He'd do that later, once the girls were in bed. She must really have come to care for his children if the assault had affected her this much. He nodded, his anger dissipating as his cop side kicked in. Vicky was safe, now he could deal with this. “OK.”

He walked them to the door, then turned to look at Nate.

Nate held his gaze. “You can't arrest a bunch of seven–year-olds. Even if it was full blown assault, in front of police officers. Never mind the photographic evidence of a prior.”

“That's what the Guv said, but I don't intend to arrest them.”

“What are you planning then?”

Dane looked at him, Mr. Tovey, and the uniformed officers. “I figured let Steve and Marcus deal with the kids and their parents, just point out that bullying and assaulting someone isn't acceptable under any circumstances. I'm not pressing charges. It's up to the school to deal out whatever punishment it sees fit. And if Mr. Tovey could call a whole school assembly, I figured you, Jem, Ben when he gets back, and I could do an anti-bullying talk.”

Nate laughed. “I love it.”

Mr. Tovey nodded. “I'll organize that now. I really am very sorry. I'll make sure all the lunchtime controllers and teaching and support staff sit in on it as well.”

Dane smiled for the first time. “Thank you.”

 



 

Amy walked slowly out to the police car. Her heart pounded. She struggled for every breath she took, and her stomach twisted to the point of throwing up, even though she hadn't eaten for hours.

Dane's a cop? How could I have not known? The signs were there, if only I'd worked it out. Why didn't he tell me?

The uniformed officer, whose name she didn't remember, opened the door. Her throat closed on her, making breathing now nigh on impossible. Memories of the last time she was in the back of a police car assailed her. The car door thudded shut, and she jumped.

Vicky held her hand tightly as the car started.

Amy closed her eyes. Why had Dane put her in this position? Of course he didn't know. He was just trying to do what he thought best for his daughter as she'd failed in her duty of care to her. She'd trusted the teachers to deal with it and they hadn't and now Dane was mad at her for not telling him. And rightly so. He should be mad at her.

The car stopped, and she opened her eyes. They were back at the house. The police officer let them out, and she managed a small smile. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

Amy led Vicky up the path and unlocked the front door. As Vicky ran inside, Amy deactivated the burglar alarm and then hung up her coat. She sucked in a deep breath and followed Vicky into the kitchen.

Vicky looked at her.

“Well, now you have the afternoon off, what shall we do?”

Vicky shrugged.

“You know you're not in trouble, right?” Amy got down next to her. “Daddy wasn't cross with you. He jumped over the school fence to get to you and save you. So did Uncle Nate.”

Vicky raised an eyebrow and moved her hands slowly. Was she using sign language? The gestures were slow to be sure, but very deliberate.

“Seriously, he did. You should have seen him. It was just like on those TV shows about the police, and he did it just to get to you. I got the teachers out there, but your dad had sorted it when we got there.”

Vicky moved her hands again. It had to be sign language. She knew Dane and Jodie used it at times and with Nate's wife being deaf, it made sense they all knew it.

“I wish I could understand you. But I sat outside the school watching the playground to make sure you were safe.”

Vicky shook her head.

“I know you weren't, sweetie, but you are now. Daddy and I will make sure of it.”

Vicky hugged her.

Amy hugged her back. “Now I don't know about you, but I'm thirsty. So, why don't we have a drink before we make the pudding? Would you like juice or milk?” The doorbell rang. “Tell you what, I'll see who that is, while you decide what to drink.” She got up and headed into the hall. She opened the door.

Nate's car was parked on the drive.

Adeline stood there, her dog Ben at her heels. She looked worried. “Hi. Nate rang and told me what happened. He asked if I'd come over and make sure you and Vicky are all right.”

“Come in. We're both a bit shaken.” She shut the front door. She had to remember to face Adeline whenever she spoke so Adeline could read her lips. Vicky ran into the hall and got down next to Ben, petting him.

Amy looked at her, then back at Adeline. “Wait a minute. Nate
rang
you? How does that work?”

Adeline grinned. “I have special software on my phone. He speaks, I get a text message, and he hears my reply.”