Chapter 4

That night Kate heard more arguing between Roy and her mum. The next thing she knew Roy was in her room telling her to get dressed.

Kate did so quickly noticing it was really early the sun hadn't even risen! They drove to the port, and boarded the boat. Roy ushering her on quickly telling her to stay below deck, Kate did sitting in the galley area until they were out of the harbour. In the open seas she felt free standing on the deck the wind blowing her hair, it was the best feeling in the world. Entering the wheel house she heard the radio talking. Roy wasn't there but Kate remembered how to work it she lifted it off its rest.

"Hello" she spoke nothing happened, she looked at it remembering to press the button down.

"Hello" she repeated

"Hello is that Kate McGregor?" the voice asked, Kate nodded before remembering that they couldn't see her.

"Yes, who are you?" she asked

"Were the Navy, Kate is Roy Taggert there too?" the voice asked

"Uh huh we are going sailing"

"Wow that sounds like fun, Kate can you see some numbers on a screen, it's called the radar."

"Yeah" Kate said lifting herself onto the chair looking at the screen like Roy had taught her to

"Good can you read out the numbers for us" the voice asked

"Yes I'm not a baby" Kate replied looking at the number "471, 565, 987" she read slowly.

"Great and which direction are you heading?" it asked Kate looked again at the screen and the compass

"NW" Kate recited

"Brilliant, Kate we have your mum Marie on shore she is worried Roy is going to hurt you can you be a brave girl and hide somewhere on the boat for us?" Kate let the radio go, she knew the best place to hide. She climbed in the life raft pretend she was a stowaway and Roy was the evil pirate. The boat stopped Roy began shouting for her sounding really mad. Kate stayed hidden until he found her dragging her out of the life raft.

"You brat you led the police to me, they're going to arrest me now take me and your mum away unless the evidence disappears" Kate didn't understand what he was saying but knew he was dragging her to the edge of the boat. Kate held onto him as much as she could but he shook her off. She landed into the water with a splash kicking her legs are hard as she could she fought to stay afloat her clothes dragging her down, the boat began to drive away. She screamed begging him to come back promising to be good or to be better.

She began sinking, struggling to surface, when from nowhere someone was next to her holding her above the water.

"It's okay relax, I got you" he said, Kate relaxed into his grip, confused where he came from, until the huge ship pulled into view. "Lift your arms up" he ordered Kate did slipping under the water a little. He attached a harness to her. "Ok take us up" he yelled to the ship. They were heaved out of the water flying through the air. Arriving on deck a man was waiting with blankets there were lots of people gathered round. Suddenly someone lifted her out of the crowd

"Give her some space, X get the boarding party ready." The man carrying her ordered taking her inside the warm cabin. They were joined in the ward room by a woman who smile reassuringly

"Hey there Kate, I'm the on board medic you can call me Kirsty, this is my CO, err commanding officer" she added with a stage whisper "He is the boss, but you can call him Steve" Kate nodded fearfully wrapping the blanket tightly around herself. "I need to take a quick look at you make sure you're not hurt is that ok?" she asked, Kate shook her head not wanting anyone to see the bruises last time it had got her into trouble.

"I don't want to" she muttered hiding slightly under the blanket

"You don't have to nobody is going to make you, but we saw what Roy did, and we are going to make sure he doesn't hurt you or your mum again" Steve promised

"He said he would kill her if I told" Kate told them peeking out from under her blanket

"He won't be allowed to, he won't hurt anyone anymore" Kirsty swore.

"I'm cold" Kate moaned.

"Let's get you change, Sir if you'll excuse us, and can you get someone to bring in some dry clothes" Kirsty asked politely. Steve stood up and left quickly. Kirsty began the long process of cataloguing bruises and injuries whilst getting Kate warm and dry. After they went for a hot chocolate and cookies in the kitchen, before heading up to the steer, whilst Kirsty reported quietly Kate's injuries to Steve Kate amused herself with the binoculars.

Kirsty left and tried to take Kate with her but Kate begged to stay and Steve let her choosing to teach her about the sea.

"So if that way is port and that way starboard and we need to head east to port we should go…." Steve trailed off

"That way" Kate pointed, enjoying the view from his knee it was really high up.

"Well done, you should be Captain here try it" Steve said placing his hat onto her head. Kate giggled with delight, peeking out from under it.

"Sir I caught these 2 fighting in the galley" A man reported followed sheepishly by 2 bloody men. Kate feeling more confident now she was Captain jumped from Steve's knee

"That's not very nice" she told them sternly waggling her finger

"No ma'am" they both replied straightening up.

"You should both say sorry to each other, then kiss and make up" Kate ordered remembering what her mum always told her. Both men looked pleadingly at the Captain who laughed with the rest of the crew.

"Ma'am isn't there another way we can be punished?" the younger of the lads asked. Kate thought about it.

"Uh huh, you have to clean the all the toilets with your toothbrush" she stuck her tongue out thinking how icky that was. Both men nodded relieved

"Yes ma'am" they agreed

"Dismissed" Steve ordered hiding his grin, "I think we have a future officer in our ranks" he noted admitting to himself that the punishments were creative and hopefully effective.

Arriving in port the police were waiting with Marie. Kate ran off the ship into her mums arms, Kirsty and Steve just behind her both expected to give statements to the police.