"I've just had a phone call from the coroner; why wasn't I in his office at 11.30 this morning?" Gill asked angrily, frustrated that her own officers had let her down. Janet was learning not to question Andy or answer him back, but she couldn't not; Gill would suspect something, and besides, Janet knew he was in the wrong.
"You said tomorrow" Janet stated.
"I said today" Andy replied, giving her a look that meant she was going to get another beating and she would have to take it. Janet felt sick to her stomach, but she had no choice, if she didn't go home with him, he would hurt her children.
_X_
The day was over and Gill had told the team to go home, there was nothing more to be done for that day. Janet felt another little part of her die inside. He waited on the other side of the office for her as she put on her coat. She tried making for the door, but he was all of a sudden next to her, having hold of her arm. 'Better luck next time' she thought.
That night was a repeat of the evening before. The punches were harder, in her ribs, her stomach and her face. He pulled her hair so hard, handfuls were missing. She was already on the floor, winded. He took the opportunity of her being down low and vulnerable to hurt her again, knowing she wouldn't be able to fight back. His big black boot went towards her head, knocking her backwards. Her head smashed on the floor, blood pouring instantly. His foot raised again, this time kicking her ribs, her stomach, over and over again.
Andy raced outside lighting a cigarette. Janet knew it was wiser not to try to run; she also knew she wasn't physically able to walk, let alone run. She scrambled to a sitting position, in more pain than she was in giving birth to her girls. Her phone was in her pocket; she figured someone might realise something was wrong if she were to ring them and then not speak, or hear Andy shouting if he came back in.
She dialled Gill's number, it was highest on her contacts list; she didn't have time to scroll down to her mother or Rachel. Andy entered the room at the moment and saw her trying to hide the mobile; she couldn't do anything quickly, the pain was too intense. He had a cigarette in his mouth; Janet didn't even know he smoked. He grabbed her phone and smashed it on the floor, stamping on it after. Janet let tears escape her eyes; this angered the chilling man even further.
He looked at the cigarette between his fingers. He stepped forward towards the quivering woman. The cigarette touched against her skin; the heat growing. He pressed it in, harder and harder; the pain mounting. At that point the lit end went out, ash dropping onto her arm, causing further burns.
Andy left her to cry in pain on the cold wooden floor.
_X_
Janet couldn't face work the next morning, but it was safer than being alone in his house. At least at work he couldn't hurt her, she just had to make sure she was never alone. She decided to be brave, and from who knows where, found the courage to walk into her office.
"What the bloody hell had happened Janet?" Gill asked, more concerned than she had ever been about anyone. "You need to get to hospital, now"
"No" Janet shouted, she couldn't. "I was mugged that's all". Gill took hold of Janet's arm, causing her to cry in pain. The burns began to weep through her sleeve. Janet couldn't explain further.
"That's not a mugging, Janet" Gill observed. "That is a viscous, brutal attack"
"Leave it" Janet warned, leaving the office.
Andy was waiting for her, watching her every movement, trying to lip read every word.
"What did you tell her?" he asked.
"Nothing, I said I was mugged, I didn't mention you alright?" she said sarcastically. "Not that she believes me"
"Make her" he snapped back. Gill walked out of her office and saw the tension between them. "Oh, Janet" Andy called and she was about to walk off, "Disclosure; that's what I want you to do", trying to make it look as though they were talking about work.
She didn't dare argue back, although she did not want to do filing, in a cupboard, for a whole investigation.
_X_
It had just gone nine-thirty and Janet was still in her cupboard. The majority of the team were out talking to witnesses, and the rest had booked off. A call came through and naturally, Janet went out to deal with it.
The next morning she paid for it.
"You should have told me, chain of command. You made me look like an idiot" Andy shot at her, for going out of the office to talk to a witness.
Their arguing continued back upstairs in the office. Gill had warned them both. Andy confessed about his past relationship breakdown and his own nervous breakdown, but still he took it out on her. He pulled the blinds to as Gill shut the door, leaving them to talk. Janet looked at Gill desperately, begging her through her eyes, not to leave her alone with him. He held his hand over her mouth so no one would hear her scream. He bit her neck. Kicked her shins. Told her she was going to die.
Janet ran out of the office, leaving Andy looking on. Gill tried to follow but he persuaded her to leave her alone.
She kept running, right out of the building. And running, and running, and running.