Read Online A Family Divided (Dividing Line #3) by Heather Atkinson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Heather Atkinson
Ads: Link
they aren’t the type of people to do something like this. Could you see his face on the CCTV footage?”
“ No, sorry. He was either wearing his hood or keeping his head down. So you haven’t upset anyone recently?”
Rachel thought of Alex then immediately dismissed the idea. “No, not that I’m aware of.”
“ Perhaps you’re right and it was just a copycat, but this attack did seem focused on you.”
“ Or maybe I was just unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
Taylor gave another perhaps , which seemed to be his favourite word.
“ Tell me straight, am I in trouble for the stampede in the club?”
“ No. There was nothing you could have done to prevent it. People can be silly panicky creatures. You and your staff are to be commended on your actions. No one died, which is a miracle in itself. You’ve got proof on the security footage that you did everything right so if anyone tries suing, which they might, you can tell them to get stuffed.”
Rachel nodded, relief washing over her.
“Well, I think I’ve got everything I need for now,” he said, getting to his feet, the DS who had remained silent for the entire interview following suit.
“ Oh, before I go, have you watched the news this morning?” said Taylor.
“ No, we’ve had the kids’ stuff on.”
“ Maybe you should take a look? It seems you’re quite the heroine,” he smiled.
“ I am?”
“ James Ford has been singing your praises from his hospital bed, telling anyone who’ll listen how you saved his life, as has Carrie Jones.”
“ Who?”
“ The man who was crushed and the woman who got slashed and you pulled into the cloakroom. No doubt you’ll be all over the papers too tomorrow. The press got hold of it too late to go to print this morning.”
“ How are James and Carrie?”
“ They’ll be fine and in no small part that’s down to you. Thank you for your time Rachel. We’ll be in touch.”
She closed the front door behind them, noting the pack of journalists clustered outside the gate, who frantically started snapping when they saw her. She knew she ’d have to face them eventually, they wouldn’t give up until she’d given them something but she wasn’t up for it right then, especially not in her pyjamas.
“ How did it go?” Ryan asked her when she padded into the kitchen, the children seated at the table tucking into Cheerios.
“ Fine, there’ll be no comeback,” she said, accepting a mug of coffee from him. “Everything was caught by the CCTV cameras and Taylor said we did everything right. No one was badly hurt either. It could have been a lot worse.”
“ Yes it could,” he said meaningfully.
Rachel thought of what Taylor had said about her being deliberately targeted, but there was no way she could tell him that in front of the children.
“I’m going to have my coffee followed by a hot bath then I’ll face that lot out there,” she said.
“ Are you sure you’re up to it?”
“ Yes. It might make them go away.”
The hot water soothed away the majority of Rachel ’s aches and pains, only her back still ached slightly when she’d jarred it after trying to get out of The Slasher’s reach. She dressed carefully in light blue jeans and a long sleeved black jumper before applying just a light touch of make-up, so she appeared presentable but a little vulnerable, just the image she wanted.
As she strolled down the drive to the gates Ryan watched from the window with Leah, explaining to her what was going on and Rachel was glad she didn ’t have to have that conversation. They didn’t want her hearing it from someone else or seeing it on the television.
Rachel pressed the button on the inside of the gates, which swung open and the cameras started snapping, journalists calling out their questions.
“Rachel, how does it feel to be the hero for once?” asked a reporter with a cheeky grin. He was a seasoned journalist with a big mouth but in a funny way,
“ No, sorry. He was either wearing his hood or keeping his head down. So you haven’t upset anyone recently?”
Rachel thought of Alex then immediately dismissed the idea. “No, not that I’m aware of.”
“ Perhaps you’re right and it was just a copycat, but this attack did seem focused on you.”
“ Or maybe I was just unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
Taylor gave another perhaps , which seemed to be his favourite word.
“ Tell me straight, am I in trouble for the stampede in the club?”
“ No. There was nothing you could have done to prevent it. People can be silly panicky creatures. You and your staff are to be commended on your actions. No one died, which is a miracle in itself. You’ve got proof on the security footage that you did everything right so if anyone tries suing, which they might, you can tell them to get stuffed.”
Rachel nodded, relief washing over her.
“Well, I think I’ve got everything I need for now,” he said, getting to his feet, the DS who had remained silent for the entire interview following suit.
“ Oh, before I go, have you watched the news this morning?” said Taylor.
“ No, we’ve had the kids’ stuff on.”
“ Maybe you should take a look? It seems you’re quite the heroine,” he smiled.
“ I am?”
“ James Ford has been singing your praises from his hospital bed, telling anyone who’ll listen how you saved his life, as has Carrie Jones.”
“ Who?”
“ The man who was crushed and the woman who got slashed and you pulled into the cloakroom. No doubt you’ll be all over the papers too tomorrow. The press got hold of it too late to go to print this morning.”
“ How are James and Carrie?”
“ They’ll be fine and in no small part that’s down to you. Thank you for your time Rachel. We’ll be in touch.”
She closed the front door behind them, noting the pack of journalists clustered outside the gate, who frantically started snapping when they saw her. She knew she ’d have to face them eventually, they wouldn’t give up until she’d given them something but she wasn’t up for it right then, especially not in her pyjamas.
“ How did it go?” Ryan asked her when she padded into the kitchen, the children seated at the table tucking into Cheerios.
“ Fine, there’ll be no comeback,” she said, accepting a mug of coffee from him. “Everything was caught by the CCTV cameras and Taylor said we did everything right. No one was badly hurt either. It could have been a lot worse.”
“ Yes it could,” he said meaningfully.
Rachel thought of what Taylor had said about her being deliberately targeted, but there was no way she could tell him that in front of the children.
“I’m going to have my coffee followed by a hot bath then I’ll face that lot out there,” she said.
“ Are you sure you’re up to it?”
“ Yes. It might make them go away.”
The hot water soothed away the majority of Rachel ’s aches and pains, only her back still ached slightly when she’d jarred it after trying to get out of The Slasher’s reach. She dressed carefully in light blue jeans and a long sleeved black jumper before applying just a light touch of make-up, so she appeared presentable but a little vulnerable, just the image she wanted.
As she strolled down the drive to the gates Ryan watched from the window with Leah, explaining to her what was going on and Rachel was glad she didn ’t have to have that conversation. They didn’t want her hearing it from someone else or seeing it on the television.
Rachel pressed the button on the inside of the gates, which swung open and the cameras started snapping, journalists calling out their questions.
“Rachel, how does it feel to be the hero for once?” asked a reporter with a cheeky grin. He was a seasoned journalist with a big mouth but in a funny way,
Similar Books
