Smithy's nightly torment continued until his cast came off and he was allowed to go back to work.
Smithy drove into work and was greeted by Gina.
"Hello Smithy how've you been holding up?" she asked.
"Okay, thanks ma'am." said Smithy. Gina noticed that Smithy had a slight black eye.
"How did you do that?" she asked pointing.
Smithy's hand flashed to his eye, "Oh that." he said, unconvincingly offhand. "I hit it on the door."
Gina looked sceptical. "What it's true." said Smithy, and it was. He'd been curled up on the floor while Grace kicked him when she slammed the door into his face.
Gina nodded "Alright, okay. Look after yourself Smithy." she said as he left.
Smithy went home knowing what awaited him there, sure enough as he went through the door Grace came in from the kitchen.
"Go upstairs and get changed." she commanded him. Smithy obediently went up the stairs but instead of his usual subservience he sat down on the bed and thought back to the case that he'd dealt with that day. A man had been abused by his wife for 4 years, it had ended up with the guy coming in and reporting his wife after she cut off his finger with a knife. He had recognised much milder symptoms of the same problem in his own relationship with Grace.
She would come home and take out all her frustration on him, he still couldn't see properly out of his left eye after she'd hit him with the door.
Grace came in and expected him to be lying on the bed in his pyjamas but he wasn't he was sitting their fully clothed.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I've had enough. I'm not going to let you beat me up anymore." said Smithy.
"Oh you aren't?" she said dangerously. "We'll see about that."
She got out her mobile and rang someone, "I need some back up now." she said into the phone. Smithy reached for his own phone and scrolled down until he had the Sun Hill police station number highlighted. Grace sprang forward just as there was a knock on the front door. Grace shouted down to use their own key. Smithy pressed down on the 'call' button on his phone. Grace leapt forwards and snatched his phone out of his hand.
Four men came crashing into the bedroom as Smithy tried to wrestle his phone off Grace again. One of the men slammed Smithy against the wall, Smithy fought back but the man smashed his head against the wall. Smithy shook his head to clear it the man put both of his hands around Smithy's throat. Grace watched from the bed, Smithy desperately tried to get air into his lungs. The man threw him onto the bed next to Grace and went over to stand with the other 'back-ups'.
Smithy resisted strongly as Grace went to remove his shirt, Grace backed off and motioned to one of the men to help. "This is Bill. Bill that's Smithy." she introduced them.
Smithy scrambled away from Bill but Bill caught his legs and pinned him down while another back-up Ben ripped Smithy's shirt off. Then they both back off.
Grace moved forwards again, she stroked his face then moved her hand down to his chest, stroking him. Smithy shrank away, Grace backed off and motioned for Bill to help. Smithy shrank away as Bill caught his arms above his head. Ben moved forward and caressed Smithy's nipple, Smithy recoiled, Ben smiled and bit Smithy gently.
Smithy woke up in the morning hurting all over and with a sharp feeling of shame in the pit of his stomach, knowing that it had happened again.
Smithy was told at work that they'd cracked the case and they were all going out to celebrate. "We're going to the club after work." said Callum, "Why don't you bring Grace?"
"She's busy." said Smithy, grateful for an excuse not to go home.
After the shift all of the police and CID headed for the club. Smithy bought the first round of drinks then everyone headed onto the dance floor.. except Smithy.
He just sat at the bar drowning his sorrows in pints of beer.
Callum came over just as Smithy's phone rang, "Smithy? I'm waiting. I've sent Bill and Bob to fetch you." then Grace rang off. Smithy's face paled, Callum noticed and asked if anything was wrong. Smithy shook his head and swivelled his chair so that he was facing the entrance. Smithy saw Bob and Bill enter the club, they made a beeline for him.
Callum saw the two thugs approach Smithy and escort him from the club. Callum went over to the tables occupied by the Sun Hill police officers.
"I think Smithy's in trouble." he told them.
"Why?" asked Kerry, scanning the club for Smithy.
"He got a call then he went off with two thugs." Callum replied. The police officers were on the feet in a second, they dispersed into their separate cars.
Kerry spotted Smithy being taken down a side alley by the two thugs. Callum and Roger were going to follow them on foot, they got to the alley and saw Smithy on the ground.
Callum sped up slightly but the thugs saw him coming and helped Smithy to his feet. Bill pulled Smithy's arm round his shoulders, Bill put his arm round Smithy's waist.
Callum could hear Bob talking to Smithy, threatening him in a crooning voice. Bob stroked Smithy's stomach possessively, he slid his hand under Smithy's shirt and poked his index finger into Smithy's navel, Smithy squirmed as Bob's finger scraped against the tender skin. Bill had one hand resting over Smithy's nipple, Smithy stumbled and the thugs' hands tightened round his body.
Callum called out to the thugs, "Oi, stop! Where are you going?"
They turned, Smithy still supported between them, Bob's hand still under Smithy's shirt and Bill's hand still resting on Smithy's chest.
Callum double checked where the thugs' hands were, he was disgusted. "Get your hand out!" Callum yelled at Bob, Bob smirked.
"No need to get jealous. There's plenty to go round." he said, lifting Smithy's shirt suggestively. Callum said "I'll give you 10 seconds to get your hand away from Smithy's shirt or I'll report you for indecently assaulting a police officer."
"He's a copper?" asked Bill. Callum nodded.
"Oh, I'll bet he looks gorgeous in a uniform." said Bob smirking, he lifted Smithy's shirt up and pressed a pen knife blade to Smithy's ribs. Callum saw the blade glint silver.