Nate ran through the station until he reached the soft interview room. He stopped before the door and took a couple of deep breaths. He knocked on the door. Leon opened the door and let him come in. Nate entered the room and saw Lucy sitting on a sofa, Callum sitting on the nearby armchair.
'Nate.' Callum stood up.
Lucy looked up and saw Nate. Nate's shoulders sagged. He walked to Lucy and sat next to her.
'You alright?' Nate hoped.
'I'll get back to you on that.' Lucy shrugged.
Nate held Lucy close, neither of them wanting to let go. Nate gently and slowly released her, taking in her appearance.
'I thought you had left London.' Nate was worried.
'Came back after Dad lost his rag. Auntie Meg took me in and let me stay in her house whilst she's in Majorca on holiday.' Lucy looked down at her lap.
'You think I'm mad for you not telling me?' Nate asked.
'You're not?' Lucy was shocked.
'Lucy, you're my sister. I'm just glad you're okay.' Nate tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
'I should've told you about all this, shouldn't I?' Lucy felt bad.
'You have now. I know it'll be hard, but we'd like you try and identify him if you can. We'll look after you.' Nate promised.
'He said he'd hurt you, even kill you if I did.' Lucy warned.
'Lucy, right now, you're the only way we can stop him from doing any more damage or hurting anyone else.' Callum intervened.
'Sarge is right, Lucy. I'll be here for you every step of the way, okay?' Nate hoped.
'It won't keep you safe though, will it?' Lucy locked eyes with Nate.
'I'm meant to be keeping you safe as your older sibling, not the other way round.' Nate pointed out.
Nate caught sight of Lucy's pocket bulging in an odd shape.
'What's in your pocket?' Nate asked.
Lucy stared at her pocket and looked up at Nate. Nate pulled on evidence gloves and pulled out a scrunched up bit of paper from Lucy's pocket. He opened it on the table and found a typed message for Lucy.
'"Tell anyone and PC Nate Roberts will die."' Nate was shaken.
'We need to get Smithy on this.' Callum knew.
'I'll go get him.' Leon dashed out the room.
'Lucy, you're gonna need to work with us on this. I know you're scared of what's gonna happen, but we need to work together on this. It's the best way to keep you both safe.' Callum sat on the sofa opposite them.
Leon returned with Inspector Dale 'Smithy' Smith in tow, looking worried.
'Stone.' Smithy gestured for Callum to join him by the door.
Callum got up and stood with Smithy by the door.
'What is this? Leon said you had a situation.' Smithy asked quietly.
'The girl is Lucy Roberts, Nate's sister. She was found at 40 Rector Street this morning tied to the bed. She wouldn't identify the guy who did this because they threatened Nate. We're trying to get her to trust us and identify the guy.' Callum explained.
'Right. Any sudden issues?'
'Nate just pulled a threat out of Lucy's pocket, warning if she told anyone they would kill Nate.'
'We need to do something.'
Smithy led Callum back to the chairs. Smithy and Callum sat on the sofa opposite Lucy.
'Lucy, I'm Inspector Smith. We want to help you, so why don't you start with what happened?' Smithy tried to tread gently.
Lucy looked to Nate, who nodded his head for her to do so. Lucy's shoulders sagged a little, her gaze still fixed on Nate.
'You can trust him, Lucy. Just tell him the truth.' Nate tried to be the supportive brother.
'I was tidying the house when the door got kicked in. I was upstairs when I heard it. I thought I was hearing things. Then I heard someone running up the stairs. I ran to my room and picked up my baseball bat.' Lucy started.
'You have a baseball bat?' Nate was confused.
'Well, funnily enough, I have had a life after you left, Nate. Not had to keep you in line from chasing the fit female neighbours.' Lucy raised an eyebrow at Nate.
Leon tried to stifle his chuckle. Nate glared at him and Leon tried to compose himself.
'What happened next, Lucy?' Smithy tried to get Lucy's attention back.
'He came up to the hallway on the first floor. He clocked me and grinned, like he found what he was looking for.' Lucy shrugged.
'What did he look like?' Callum asked.
'IC4 male, a little taller than me, had a red bandana tied round his neck.' Lucy closed her eyes and tried to focus.
'Lucy?' Nate noticed Lucy's phrasing.
'You really think it's just you being a copper? Our parents hated it. That's why I ended up in London.' Lucy looked down.
'Did our parents turn their back on you?' Nate was horrified.
'They didn't want me joining the police like my big brother. So Auntie Meg took me in and I was staying in her house whilst I was getting sorted into joining Hendon. I'm sorry, Nate. I should've told you.' Lucy looked up at Nate.
Nate gently held one of Lucy's hands, trying to support her.
'Are you alright to continue?' Callum asked.
'Uh, yeah. He told me PC Roberts won't be able to save me this time. He pounced at me, but I clipped him in the shoulder with the bat. He went down and I tried to run for the stairs. He grabbed me from behind and flung me back down the hallway. I lost my grip on the bat. I tried to grab it, but he got hold of me first. He shoved me into my room and I collided into the bed. He pinned me to the bed and then he tied my wrists to the bed. He gagged me and tried to take my clothes off. I got him in the crotch and he fell off the bed. I tried to scream as loud as I could to get attention of the neighbours. He came back with the bat, threatened if I said who had attacked me he would slice Nate to pieces, and then knocked me out. When I came round I was alone, still in my clothes and I was found by you.' Lucy gestured to Leon.
'Did you see his face clearly for an ID?' Smithy hoped.
Lucy looked to Nate.
'We can get this guy, but only if you give us an ID. If he's in a cell, he can't hurt you.' Nate said.
'You're not going to let me drop it, are you?' Lucy asked Nate.
'Your safety comes first, Lucy.' Nate tried to be stern.
'I think so, but I'm not entirely sure.' Lucy shrugged.
'We'll get the ball rolling on it. Leon?' Smithy looked to his officer.
Leon nodded and pegged it out the room.
'Lucy, the house will now be a crime scene. Is there somewhere you can stay?' Smithy asked.
'She can stay with me.' Nate chipped in.
Lucy stared at him in shock. Nate shrugged.
'You're my sister, aren't you? I'll make sure you're safe.' Nate smiled weakly.
'Are you getting soppy?' Lucy joked.
Leon returned with a laptop. He gave it to Smithy, who opened it in front of Lucy. Nate stood up and stopped moving behind the armchair Smithy sat in. She looked at the first page of possible suspects, but shook her head. Smithy clicked a button and the page changed. Lucy checked the faces and pointed straight at the face next to the letter V.
'You sure?' Smithy checked.
'100 per cent. That's who broke in.' Lucy nodded.
Smithy turned the laptop round and showed the other officers.
'Raheem Woods.' Nate was shocked, looking up at his sister's petrified expression what her brother was going to do.