Chapter 11

Janet and Rachel are in the car on the way to Rachel's. The inside of the car is silent. Not an awkward silence, if anything he complete opposite. They are just enjoying each other's company as good friends do; there is no need for speaking to each other. There is never any tension between each other. Both of them know each other well enough to say anything and know that it will never be repeated but also they won't be thought of any differently. 'Jan?' Rachel says whilst glancing at her. Janet is keeping focus on the road, it's raining and her windscreen wipers are going off like mad. 'Yes Rach?' She is still looking out of the screen window. 'You know when you talk to Gill, how does it come so easily to you?' Janet laughs 'What do you mean?' Janet asks, she quickly looks at Rachel and frowns. 'Well you know you both get on really well. You talk to her effortlessly and she really likes you. How do you do it?' Rachel is looking serious. 'I guess because I've known her for so long it's just easier. You wouldn't talk to Gill like you talk to me. I don't talk to her like I do to you. It's just a different relationship. Why are you asking?' Janet looks at Rachel and slows the car down as she pulls up outside of Rachel's. 'Oh I don't know. I know Gill doesn't like me that much. I think I just want to be able to talk to her more without her passing a comment or thinking I'm some stupid young police woman.' Janet parks up and stops the car. She smiles towards Rachel 'Rach don't be daft. Of course she likes you. If she didn't like you then why would she even talk to you? I've known Gill my whole professional career; I can tell you that she really does like you. You have nothing to worry about. Just let her warm up to you and she will let you show her what you can really do. You need to stop being so silly sometimes.' Rachel smiles and says 'Thanks Jan. This is why I love ya.' Janet laughs 'you silly bugger.'
They both get out of the car. Janet goes to the boot of the car to get her bags whilst Rachel runs to the front door to open it. With the door open she runs back to the car to help Janet get her bags and to stop her from getting so wet. Both Janet and Rachel walk into the hall way, put Janet's bags down and walk into the kitchen. 'Wine?' Rachel asks. Janet nods and grabs two glasses. She walks up to the side of the kitchen and stands next to Rachel. 'So, you said you were an amazing cook. What are you going to cook me?' Rachel completely forgot she said that and puts her head down. 'I'm so tired Jan, can we just order something? We could always go out if you want to; we've got an Italian in walking distance?' Janet takes a drink of her wine. 'I guess we could, although I was really looking forward to you cooking. You are going to cook for me tomorrow right? Otherwise I may as well go home. That reminds me, I need to see how Gill is holding up with the girls. Just let me get my phone' Janet goes to get her phone. Rachel is left standing in the kitchen; she takes a drink of her wine and checks her phone. Janet comes back in empty handed. 'Rach, I think I left my phone at work. Can I please borrow yours?' Rachel hands her phone to Janet.
Janet takes the phone and begins to dial Gills number. She holds the phone to her ear. Gill picks up 'Gill, it's not Rachel...Its Janet...I've had to use Rachel's phone...yeah we are both fine, are you and the girls alright? ...oh right I'm glad to hear it...has mum rang? ...she has? What did she say? ...right okay, well thank you for looking after the girls for me, it's been really helpful...yeah, go home and enjoy yourself...good, ignore him, he doesn't have any respect for anyone...oh Gill we both know that's not true...yeah, I will talk to you tomorrow...I can hear her, tell her the girls have been great and that I will ring her sometime tomorrow as well...Goodnight Gill, thanks again. I really appreciate it...Bye...Bye, bye.' Janet hangs up and looks over to Rachel. 'Let's go then'
What Janet didn't know is that as soon as Gill leaves the Scott household she is again alone, like she has been many nights in the past. Sammy goes out a lot and also stays at his dads. When he is out Gill has the house to herself. This gives her time to think about her day and everything that has happened in it. One thing that Gill hates to think about but it always comes up is her ex husband Dave Murray. When Gill is alone her son is spending time with a man she can't stand. Dave was never really nice to Gill, it wasn't that he was violent or anything like that. He would just abuse the power he had over her in the hierarchy at work. And in the end he ran off with someone younger than Gill.
When Gill arrived home she got herself a big glass of wine. She sat on the sofa in her living room, placed her glass on the floor and got some papers out of her bag. These were the papers to arrange the interview Janet is going to have with Geoff Hastings, the man that tried to kill her. Gill didn't get any pleasure of having to do this but it was work and therefore it had to be done. As Gill was looking through the case file that Janet had written out flash backs of the events were popping into Gills head. The details Janet gave were so precise that it sent shivers down her back. Gill continued to read over the report until late into the night.