Thanks for all the reviews so far becky7654, hollielove7170 and steviesmithy4ever. Hope you like this chapter please review. Thanks Jodie :-) xxx
Chapter Eight
"Where is Carly now?" Smithy asked after sarah had explained the story. "She is with her dad... I have to pick her up in half hour". Smithy nodded "Ok.. well I wouldnt suggest taking her back to your dads tonight.. have you got somewhere else you can stay?". She shook her head slightly "I can book into a hotel I supose". Stevie gestured to her sofa "That pulls out.. you can stay here". Sarah smiled slightly "You wouldnt mind... I mean you dont even know me". Stevie nodded "You are still my sister" Smithy smiled "There is a woman me and Stevie work with.. she is trained in interviewing kids so we will take you to the nick tomorrow and I will get her to talk to Carly". Stevie smiled "I will do everything I can do to help you". Sarah nodded "So will dad be arrested?". Smithy nodded "What he has done to Carly is wrong... he has to be punished". Sarah glanced at Stevie "I wont have any where to live..". Stevie smiled slightly "sarah... you cant let him continue to abuse Carly.. it will mess up her life believe me I have been there". She nodded "I know.. but he is my dad". Smithy nodded "And Carly is your daughter.. where do your priorties lay?". She glanced down "Nat will never talk to me again". Stevie smiled weakly "I am your sister too I will help you". Sarah stood up "I need to go and pick up Carly.. I will be back soon".
Smithy showed Sarah out before walking back to where Stevie sat in a ball on the sofa, he sat down and wrapped his arms round her pulling her tight into his arms. He could see tears forming in her eyes. "Its gunna be all round the nick by tomorrow lunch time". Smithy kissed her head "I will do everything I can to stop that from happening.. Grace is a proffessional she wont be gossiping about you". Stevie smiled slightly "Everyone will know what my dad is... what he did me". Smithy took hold of her hand "What is the alternative Stevie.. let him abuse your niece". Stevie smiled "I have to do this dont I?". Smithy stared deep into her eyes "Stevie I will stand by you whatever your desiscion... but you have to think about Carly.. she is eight.. younger than you were when he started abusing you". Stevie nodded snuggling into his chest "I dont no what I would do without you". He grinned "Well... I can think of a few things you can do to say thank you". She smiled at him, pushing her lips to his "Later Smithy".
The two sat huddled together on the sofa until the knock on the door caused Smithy to pull away he smiled to Stevie "You sure you can handle this?". She nodded "I have too". He entered the room again after a few seconds, followed by Sarah and a young girl, she had long fair hair and blue eyes, she clung tightly onto her Mums hands as Sarah lent down into her ear "This is Stevie and Smithy". Carly smiled shyly. "Hello.." Stevie smiled standing from the sofa. Carly just smiled between the two. Smithy grinned "I bet I can find you some sweets... Stevie always has chocolate hidden.. do you want some?". Once in the kitchen Smithy smiled to the young child "What school do you go to Carly?". She grinned "I go to the one on my road... I like it there.. my best friend is called Helen". He smiled "Is Helen in your class?". Carly nodded "It was her birthday". He nodded "Did she have a party?". Carly nodded "She went bowling". He smiled "Did you go?". Carly shook her head "I was ill". Smithy smiled pulling a bag of malteasers from the fridge. "I want to go bowling... will you take me?". He laughed "Maybe.. we could take Stevie as well". She nodded before running back towards the living room.
Waking on the sofa the next morning, she smiled to Smithy as he layed fast asleep. Rubing her eyes she stood up and made her way into the kitchen, she flicked the kettle on and grabbing a cup she placed it down on the side. "Are you my Auntie?". She turned and smiled to the young girl "Yeah.. I am". Carly moved into the kitchen "Why have I never met you then?". Stevie moved to the table and pulled a chair out for Carly to sit on. "I... I dont get on very well with your Grandad". Carly smiled slightly "He used to say I was his princess... but he doesnt like me anymore". Stevie watched as Carly figited in the chair. "Is that man my uncle?" she gestured through to the living room. Stevie grinned at the youn girl "Sort of". Carly nodded "Why does he have a funny name?". Stevie couldnt help but laugh, Carly was so innocent she couldnt bear to think of what she was going through at the hands of that monster. "Do you want to know a secret?" Carly nodded pushing from the chair and walking round to where Stevie sat. "His name is Dale.. you can call him that". Carly nodded "I prefer you to my other auntie". Stevie grinned "Do you not like Auntie Nat?". Carly shook her head "She said Mummy should never of had me". Stevie smiled "Well I no your Mummy is glad she has you". Carly grinned "Why havent you got any children?". Hearing the footsteps pad into the kitchen Stevie grinned to him "Why dont you ask Dale that?". Smithy smiled to Stevie "Ask me what?". She grinned "Why we dont have a baby?". Smithy glanced awkwardly to the young girl "Why dont you go and wake your Mummy up?".
Arriving at the station Stevie accompined Sarah and Carly to the soft interview room, while Smithy made his way to see Grace.
"I have a favour to ask" he smiled leaning on her desk. She nodded "Of corse Gov.. what is it?". He shook his head "Not here can you come to my office". She nodded rising from her seat she followed him. Walking down the corridor he smiled as he past Callum "Stevie aint here yet Gov..". Smithy nodded "She is already working on a case... can you handle uniform for a couple of hours". Callum nodded watching as Smithy and Grace carried on into his office. Once inside Grace smiled to him "How can I help?". Smithy gestured for her to sit down "I have a child abuse case.. I was wondering if you could interview the child?". She nodded "Of corse". Smithy nodded "It is Stevies niece". Grace smiled slightly "I didnt know Stevie had a niece". Smithy shook his head "Nor did she until a few days ago". He lent against his desk "I want this kept on a need to know basis at the moment". Grace nodded "I will do everything I can to keep it quiet... the DI will want to know what I am working on though". Smithy nodded "Ok I will have a word..." he paused running his hand over his mop of dark hair "The suspect is Stevies dad". Grace didnt really respond it was more of an exhale as she struggled to find words "And there is a history of abuse". Grace nodded "Ok... do we have a statement from the original victim". Smithy shook his head "We will... its Stevie". Grace sat in silence for a few moments "I had no idea". Smithy smiled "Stevie has kept it well hidden... she doesnt want to become station gossip". Grace nodded "Of corse".
As Smithy entered the room with Grace he smiled around the three staring at him. Stevie stood up and smiled to Grace she gestured to Sarah. "This is my sister Sarah... this is DC Grace Dasari". Sarah held her hand out shaking Graces. Stevie moved to where Carly sat "This is my niece Carly". Grace smiled "Hello... Im Grace". Carly smiled taking hold of Stevies hand "Its ok darling.. she just wants to ask you a couple of questions". Carly lent up into Stevies ear and whispeared, Stevie laughed before smiling to her "Im sure that can be arranged.. why dont you ask him". She grinned as Carly peered past Grace to Smithy "Can you take me bowling tonight.. like you said". Smithy smiled "I think I can manage that... can you answer a few of Graces questions for me". She nodded sitting back down. Sarah smiled sitting down next to her. Smithy made his way to the door. He held it open for Stevie and the two left the room. Grace smiled to Carly "So Smithy is going to take you bowling tonight... that sounds fun?". Carly smiled "Im aloud to call him Dale... he is my uncle". Grace smiled slightly "He is your uncle?". Carly nodded.
She sat down in his chair and placed her elbows to his desk. "I cant believe this" she sighed resting her head in her hands. He smiled "She is gunna be ok... he cant hurt her know more". Stevie nodded "She likes you". He sat on the desk and smiled at her "She is a lovely kid.. Sarah should be proud". Stevie nodded. He placed his hand to hers "You need to make a statement Stevie". She sighed glancing up at him "I know". He placed his hand onto her face "Im gunna be here.. whatever you need, no matter what". Stevie smiled "Thank you". He pushed his lips gently onto hers, she stood up moving into his arms. He held her close as he continued to kiss her. When he pulled away he smiled "Grace is going to take your statement when she has finished with Carly.. but you do know Im gunna have to inform Manson and Meadows". Stevie took a deep breath "Yeah... it is going to come out eventually anyway". He kissed her lips once again and smiled as she pulled away "So you gunna come bowling tonight then?". She nodded "Im gunna kick your arse". He laughed "Is that right?". He watched the grin grow on her face "Maybe we should have a bet?". She grinned "Im listening".
Thanks again xxx
