Peter watched helplessly as Carla flinches as the buzzer rang.
He watched as her face crumpled, her body shifting deeper into the sofa. She was scared.
He wandered if he should sit beside her, but he picked up that she didn't feel comfortable, she knew it was him, she loved him, so deeply, the intensity of her love coursing through her veins, all day every day, but he was a man, he reminded her of Frank in ways she wished he didn't.
'It's the police' Maria said and Peter nodded opening the door.
A female officer came into the flat.
'Carla' she said gently sitting beside her. Carla was still, as though she was dead.
'Carla' she repeated, gently placing her hand on Carla's shoulder. Carla shuddered at her touch.
'It's okay. I'm PC Lynda Heary, I am a nightingale trained officer, I deal specifically with reports of cases of rape and sexual assault' the office said.
The word rape hit Carla like a smack in the face. She twitched uncomfortably as the she processed the word.
'May I?' the office said sitting beside Carla.
Carla nodded, shifting slightly.
The officer turned to Peter.
'Are you sure you should be here' she said.
'I.. I'm her friend' Peter said.
The officer smiled. 'I understand, it's just, this might be difficult for Carla' she said.
Peter looked at Carla. She didn't seem to be aware of anyone. She was sitting there, one hand protectively placed on her chest. She was bitting her lip, her other hand scratching persistently at her thigh.
'Please, I'll just sit here' he said, wanting to be there for Carla, even if it was only silently.
'Carla, is that okay?' she asked Carla.
'Carla' she repeated when she got no answer.
Carla nodded, unaware of the question.
'When did this happen?' she asked.
'Just before you came, tonight' Maria said.
'Please, I need to hear it from Carla' the officer said.
'Tonight.. today' Carla murmured.
'And have you showered, or changed since then?' she asked.
Carla shook her head. She jittered uncomfortably in her seat.
'I know you must feel very uncomfortable right now, but CID are on there way, we need you to stay as you are so we can preserve as much evidence as possible' the officer said.
'Who attacked you Carla?' the officer continued.
'Scum, that's who' Peter said speaking up.
The officer shot him a glance.
'Frank.. my.. business partner.. and fiance.. well, not any more' Carla said trailing off.
The officer nodded.
'Have you known him long?' she asked,
'About a year' Carla said taking a deep breathe.
'Yeah and he tried it on with me too, before.. but I got away' Maria said.
Carla closed her eyes. Wishing she had listened to Maria. She had been the naive one this time.
Peter looked up.
'What? You mean he has form.. how on earth' he said angrily.
'I'm sorry. Maria... I should have listened' Carla said, coming back to reality, the realization of what had just happened to her taking over.
Maria sighed. 'You weren't to know.. not really' she said.
'How could you let her be with him, not tell anyone?' Peter suddenly shouted, aiming his comment at Maria.
Slightly taken back by Peters aggression Maria snapped back 'I did tell her, what could I have done' she said.
Carla sat quivering on the sofa. Peter's bitter tone, although not aimed at her, far from it, it shed light on how much he cared for her, but it reminded her of Frank. Suddenly she could see Frank, his arms around her, holding her, suffocating her.
'No, no, no' she suddenly screamed putting her hands over her ears.
The officer stood up 'I think you two better leave, your not helping her' she said.
'I'm sorry, Carla I'm sorry' Peter said, without thinking rushing up to put his arms around her, to sooth her.
Bad move.
His sudden embrace shocked Carla. She brutally stood up, screaming 'Get away from me, don't touch me' and rushed into a corner of the room.
The officer was used to dealing with frantic victims, but the intensity of the fear in Carla's voice made her shudder. 'Can you wait outside' she said directly to Peter.
He felt awful. It was tearing his heart out to watch Carla so frightened, fragile, scared and in pain. And he felt awful, he had just frightened her.
'I'm sorry' he said, his comment directed to everyone in the room. He moved to stand outside, he knew Carla needed space.
This was mad. Insane. What was happening?
Carla howled in a corner of the room. Her emotions were spinning out of control.
Maria apologized and went to sit beside her. She pulled her in to a tight hug and held her until she ran out of tears.
The CID arrived and questioned Carla. She said what she could, but she was tired and they knew she couldn't go on much longer.
Maria stole a moment and went outside. 'Peter' she said.
'I'm sorry... it's just...' he said, his face pale and drawn.
'I know.. I didn't realize you and her were.. close' she said.
'Yeah, we are good friends.. I can't take this Maria, how could he do it?' Peter said.
'I don't know... I've never seen her.. like this' Maria said.
'It's killing me' Peter said struggling to hide his feelings for her.
Maria frowned a little registering the strength of Peter and Carla's bond, but now wasn't the time to mention it.
'We are taking Carla to the station now' one of the officers said.
Peter nodded. 'I'm coming with her' he said.
'No, I think it is best that you left us. We need to find Frank, don't you go looking for him' she said.
'Please, let me come' Peter said, knowing he would struggle not to go and kill Frank himself.
'No, Carla needs your support. This is tough for her Peter, go home' Maria said, knowing Carla hated Peter seeing her like this.
Peter sighed, but nodded. He desperately wanted to go in and hold her and tell her it would be okay. But he couldn't.
He watched as Carla was taken downstairs to a car. She clung to herself, arms around her chest. Her face so sad. So beautiful.
He followed them down, some police remaining behind to do forensics on the flat.
And then Carla stopped dead in her tracks. A confused looking Frank stood before her.
'Carla? What's going on?' he asked.