Millie
Today I was going to be working on a serious assault case with Max in CID. The reason I was chosen was because when the call came in of the assault I was first on scene and built up a rapport with the victim, Charlotte Daniels, she was only 19 years old and had beaten up by her boyfriend, Josh McKenna. Violently. She was still in hospital recovering from her injuries, she had her head slammed multiple times into a wall, Josh jumped on her stomach whilst she was on the floor, he tried to strangle her and he broke her wrist. It was shocking to know that there are people in the world that would do that to another human being… let alone your own partner. It was a horrible thing and Charlotte wasn't sure if she wanted to pursue it, she didn't want Josh coming back to hurt her more because she had given a statement and because I had built a rapport with her Max wanted me to try and get her to pursue it. It would be a tough thing to do but hopefully I can show her the light and prove to her that there are many amazing men out there that would die to have a girl like her.

Max had been working hard at the station to try and track Josh down, he tried to visit Charlotte in hospital but he ran when he spotted me. I tried going after him but I lost him and Max has been throwing everything we have into finding Josh and arresting him for Charlotte's assault. CID don't normally get involved with domestic disputes but after seeing what Josh did to Charlotte, Max said he wouldn't mind mucking in and getting Josh of the streets. I think everyone was shocked that he had an interest as he isn't the warmest of people or the most approachable person. Mel calls him the 'Ice Man' but I don't think that's very fare. He is a good copper and he is proving it by spending so many hours on Charlotte's case, I think maybe explaining to her that CID don't normally get involved but have on this occasion might help convince her to make a statement.

I arrived at the hospital and went to Charlotte's room. She was just sitting in her bed staring at the white wall opposite her, I cleared my throat to let her know that I was there. She jolted back to reality and I greeted her with a warm smile, she smiled softly back at me and I took a seat in the chair next to her bed "How are you feeling today?" I asked her.

"I feel worse today then yesterday… I feel more achy. How is that possible?" She questioned.

"Normally when something like this happens it hurts more the day after. Its when all the bruises are visible and the aches and pains set in" I told her.

"Are you here to get me to make a statement?" She asked.

"If you don't want to make a statement then I can't force you but I want you to understand how much better your life would be if you did. Josh would be in jail, he wouldn't be able to contact you at all… he wouldn't even be able to send you a letter. He will be off the streets so that he cannot do this to you or anyone else ever again and hopefully if you make a statement to send him to prison, he will get help there for his anger" I explained to her "You are a very beautiful and intelligent woman. You have your life ahead of you and there are so many men that would die to have you on their arm… don't let this one person ruin everything for you" I added.

"What if he comes looking for me before you can arrest him?" She asked.

"You will have round the clock protection until he is caught and believe me when I tell you he will be caught" I told her "CID don't normally get involved with cases like these because it's classed as a domestic. They go chasing killers, drug dealers and warlords but one of the detective sergeants… Max… he is on your side and throwing a lot into your case. He wants to get Josh for what he did to you" I told her.

"Why does he care so much? What makes my case so unique that CID got involved?" She questioned looking confused.

"Max saw what Josh did to you and he doesn't want that to happen to you or anyone else, he wants to put Josh away for a very long time for this and I do too. We can't do that without you. I know it is a lot to do but I think you are strong enough to do it, Josh is a nasty piece of work and there is nothing to say he wouldn't do this again" I explained "Max has a lot of people out there looking for Josh so it is just a matter of time before he is caught and arrested" I added.

"Can you promise me he will get sent down for a long time?" She asked.

"I can't promise you a ten year sentence but I cannot see any judge in this country letting someone like Josh back out on the streets. He is a dangerous and violent criminal, we will do everything we can to get him the biggest sentence for what he did to you" I answered.

"Ok… I'll make the statement" She told me.

"You will?" I questioned and she nodded "You are amazing. Ok what I will do is call DS Carter… Max… explain what happened here today and he will come down and the two of us will get a full statement off you. As this is a traumatic event I suspect the your statement will be recorded and then we will get it typed up, bring you a copy, you read through it and make sure everything is right then sign it. That's it" I said to her.

I excused myself from Charlotte's room and made the call to Max "DS Carter" He said as he answered.

"Max it's Millie… Charlotte has agreed to give a statement" I told him.

"That's great" He replied.

"I think it maybe better for her if we do a recorded statement. I think she is still a little hesitant about giving this first statement, I can't see her going through this over and over again" I explained to him.

"Ok that's fine. I'll grab a recorder and make my way down there" He said.

When Max arrived at the hospital I took him to Charlotte's room and the two of them met. It was the first time Max had seen Charlotte's injuries in the flesh and I think he was a little taken back at how bad they were, pictures can be deceiving. I explained to Charlotte again about the recorded statement and asked her again if she was up to giving it, she agreed she wanted to help put him away. We got started.

"Ok Charlotte, can you tell us what happened two nights ago?" I asked her.

"Me and my boyfriend Josh McKenna were at his flat. We had gotten a takeaway at my favourite Chinese place and Josh had brought some vodka for us to have a night in. I'm not a big drinker and only had two drinks and then some water, Josh kept drinking and drinking. A friend of mine called Michael text me to see if I wanted to meet him and some of our other friends out at a club. Josh saw the text and thought I was cheating on him" She explained and she started to get choked up. I got her some water and she took a sip before carrying on "We argued and I tried telling him over and over that I Michael was just a friend, we had been friends since Junior school but he didn't believe me. He called me a dirty little whore and slapped me round the face" She said and there were tears streaming down her face.

"Just take your time" Max said.

"He pushed me and I fell to the floor. He got on top of me and slapped me some more and punched me. He called me all sorts of names and I begged him to get off but he wouldn't. He stood up and jumped on my back as I tried to crawl away from him, I managed to get to the wall and I pulled myself up so I was sitting up and he slammed my head into the wall a few times" She explained.

It was heartbreaking to see her so distressed and to hear from her own lips what had happened to her. I wouldn't be surprised if she stayed off men for the rest of her life, I probably would. Charlotte explained after her head was smashed into the wall she passed out and doesn't know what happened but she woke up in hospital. We asked her a few questions about Josh, where he might go to hide, who his friends and family were, if he had ever done it before or shown signs of aggression before.

"Ok Charlotte what will happen now is me and Millie are going to go back to the station and get this typed up. I will get officers to go speak to his friends and family as well as check his local haunts. When the statement is typed up Millie will come back for you to sign it… is that ok?" Max asked.

"Yeah" She replied.

"You did really good… you should be proud of yourself" I told her "A friend of mine, PC Ben Gayle, he is on your door. No one is allowed in or out without his permission. If you need anything then you let him know" I told her and she agreed.

Me and Max went out to his car to go back to the station "You did really well with her, well done" Max commented as we go into the car.

"Thanks Sarge" I replied happily.