Jo walked into CID, sipping from her coffee cup and dropping her jacket onto her desk. Her girlfriend hadn't turned up at the house, so she had sorted the children out and dropped them off on her way into work. Theo had narrowed his eyes suspiciously when, instead of his mother, the brunette had appeared in his bedroom to threaten him into getting ready for school, but the girls had obviously thought nothing of it.
Instinctively the brunette DC's eyes flickered towards Hannah's desk and, seeing that it was empty and there was no sign that she had arrived yet, she pulled out her mobile. The call went straight to Hannah's answerphone message and Jo frowned, instantly concerned. Before she could do anything about it, however, Sam appeared and beckoned her over to her office.
"Sam?"
"Hannah's in custody." The petite blonde informed her; her face and tone completely devoid of emotion.
Jo felt her knees buckle and at once Sam's arms were around her, guiding her gently into the chair in front of her desk. "What? Why?"
"Stella Webster was found battered to death in her flat in Atwell House on the Larkmead Estate at five o'clock this morning." The DI explained, reverting to her most professional to prevent her personal feelings taking over. "Uniform received an anonymous call to say there was a disturbance and when they arrived they discovered Hannah covered in blood beside the body. She was in shock, but Sergeant Stone and PC Armstrong had no choice but to bring her in."
"Stella phoned her at about four demanding she came over. Hannah said she sounded terrified."
"And Hannah left straight away?"
Jo nodded. "Yeah, she did."
"Well Uniform didn't turn up until just after five." Sam reminded her, folding her arms. "So what happened in that hour and why didn't Hannah call it in?"
"I don't know!" The brunette insisted, although she knew her friend hadn't been insinuating anything different. "But you know Hannah, Sam. She wouldn't… couldn't… kill anyone."
"But she has got a temper. I've spoken to Eddie at the scene and he said that Stella was battered with a blunt object. They've found a possible weapon covered in fingerprints; a large vase. Is there anything that could have caused Han to lose it with Stella?"
Horrified that their friend seemed to have decided that Hannah had killed someone, Jo blinked at her, open-mouthed. "Sam? Hannah would never…"
"Just think, Jo. If we're going to prove she's innocent we need to know what we're dealing with so there are no surprises."
"I told her about Ellie last night."
Sam nodded, knowing what the brunette meant. Ellie had told Abi about the baby and the younger Nixon had told her mother. "How did she take it?"
Jo arched an eyebrow. "How d'you think?" She sighed. "Stormed out, had a cigarette, told me to get out."
"Did you?"
"No… not this time, not again." The brunette DC told her firmly. "She calmed down quickly and she was fine when she went to sleep. She woke me up after Stella rang and she was really worried. I offered to go with her, but I had to stay with the kids. Hannah was genuinely concerned about Stella… for Ellie's sake, more than anything. She would never do this." Jo had stood up half way through and was pacing around the office, unable to settle. "Who's doing her interview? Has she been charged or just cautioned?"
"You're not going anywhere near, Jo." Sam warned. "She's not been charged with anything, yet."
"Yet?"
Sam sighed. "Yes, yet. The DCI doesn't want me involved either, darling. Stuart and Kezia are going to interview Hannah and get her side of the story."
x-x
"So Stella Webster rang you at approximately four am?" Stuart asked once Hannah had given the two detectives her version of that morning's events.
She sighed deeply. "Yes, I told you. You can check my call history if you want; although you probably already have."
"Why did you park so far away from Atwell House?" Kezia asked. "Your car was on Ottaker Road leading into the Estate. That's the opposite side of the Larkmead; it's a… what... ten minute walk from the block where Stella lived?"
"That's the quickest route onto the Estate from my house. I parked there because there was a white van blocking the road and I just needed to get to Stella to make sure she was OK. I parked up and basically ran to the flat."
"And when you got to the flat…"
Hannah leant back in her chair and ran her hands distractedly through her hair. "I've told you all this, Stu! The door was open, but there were no signs of forced entry. There was no one else in the flat, but Stella was lying on the floor. I tried to resuscitate her, but she was already dead. There was nothing I could do."
As tears appeared in her eyes, something that made both her colleagues uncomfortable, there was a knock on the door and Kezia left the room for a couple of moments, returning with a sheet of paper in her hand. Her expression was grave and she sighed as she settled herself back in her seat. For a moment, she just watched Hannah, both her hands on the table as though she was steadying herself before speaking.
"The finger prints on the murder weapon were yours, Hannah." Kezia said at last. Both Hannah and Stuart looked surprised by her words.
"Wh– What?" The red-head breathed, leaning forward and looking between her colleagues with wide, tear-filled eyes. "What was the weapon? I swear I don't know…"
"A large vase."
Smiling with relief that she could explain how her finger prints were on it, Hannah leant back again. "When I went round to Stella's flat on Monday to ask about the Dockery case I picked up the vase to move it off the table. You can ask Jake if you don't believe me; he watched me do it."
The relief she felt was reflected back at her from the two detectives across the table. Still, though, there was something that needed clearing up. Stuart looked at her curiously. "Why didn't you phone for an ambulance?"
"I honestly don't know." Hannah admitted. "I was numb… I just kept wondering how I was going to tell Jake and Ellie that she was dead… Then Callum and Sally arrived and it was too late to do anything."
"Do you know where Jake might be?"
She shrugged. "No idea. We didn't exactly part on the best of terms the last time I saw him and, to be perfectly honest, I think I've come to my senses."
"Meaning?"
"I've been making excuses for Jake forever. He's not the same guy I loved. Yesterday… he really scared me." Taking a breath, Hannah changed tack quickly. "Have you tracked down whoever made the anonymous phone call yet? They clearly know more about this than I do. What time was the call made?"
"Twenty-five to five."
Rubbing her forehead, Hannah smiled slowly. "I wasn't there then; I wasn't even on the Estate. I left the car on Ottaker Road at twenty to."
"Did anyone see you?"
"No… no." She sighed, feeling as though her hopes were slipping away again. "Although I'll be on the petrol station CCTV at... half past, maybe?"
"Tony and Ben are looking at it now." Stuart assured her.
Hannah rubbed her eyes tiredly. "Look… Stu, Kez… can I go now? Please? I haven't been charged and I've told you everything I know. I need to talk to my daughter and I need… I need Jo."
Kezia nodded and terminated the interview. As the trio stood up she smiled weakly at the older woman, rubbing her arm sympathetically. "I think Jo fetched you some clothes."
"Great…" Hannah smiled, plucking at the suit she'd been given when her clothes had been taken away to forensics. She looked at them carefully, trying to read their expressions. "How bad is this looking for me?"
"Well…" Stuart rubbed his jaw nervously. "So far you're the only suspect, Han, so it's not looking great."
"I didn't kill her."
"We believe you." Kezia assured her quickly.
She opened the interview room door and ushered the younger woman out. As soon as Hannah walked into the corridor, she found herself being pulled into a tight embrace. Clinging onto Jo, she allowed herself to be led through the corridors and up to CID, where she was taken straight to the DI's office. Sam gave her a quick hug, before leaving so that Hannah could change out of the suit and into the clothes Jo had fetched from home.
When the blonde DI returned, she brought Stevie and Kezia with her. Both women gave their friend a hug, before finding perches around the office to listen as they began to discuss the investigation. While it wasn't strictly professional, none of them believed that Hannah was responsible for Stella's death and, as Sam and Jo had been banned from the case, this was the only way they knew what was going on.
"Is it possible the Dockery brothers or their associates could have found out that Stella told you about the deal?" Kezia asked quickly.
Hannah shrugged. "It's possible, but… Why would Stella let them in at four in the morning? Whoever killed her… she must have let them in; there was no sign of forced entry. But she was scared… none of this makes any sense!"
"Calm down." Jo murmured, perching on the arm of Hannah's chair and rubbing her back soothingly.
She leant over and pressed a kiss to the top of her girlfriend's head. At once the fiery red-head quietened, glancing up at the older woman for reassurance. The other women in the room exchanged a look; surprised at how quickly Hannah had responded to Jo's words and actions.
"You said Stella must have let her killer in…" Stevie said thoughtfully after a moment. "What if they let themselves in? What if Stella's killer had a key?"
"I haven't got a key. The only people I know for sure have are Stella and Jake."
Sam and Jo exchanged a look. "Do you think Jake is capable of–"
"No!" Hannah exclaimed before the blonde had even finished her question. "He wouldn't."
"Han, you were convinced he'd never hurt you." Jo replied, stroking her bruised cheek gently. "But, whatever you say, he abused you when you were a child and he did this."
Looking away, Hannah closed her eyes. "That was… I… he…"
Jo moved to kneel in front of her, forgetting all about the other three women in the office. She put her hands on the red-head's face and forced her to look up. "Don't you dare say it was your fault or you provoked him." She ordered angrily. "Don't you even dare, Hannah. You drive me crazy on an hourly basis but I would never, never hurt you. Jake Webster does not deserve your loyalty."
