The funeral for Martha's grandfather went smoothly. Clive and Martha attended and Liv was adamant that she wanted to go as well. Her parents let her and if it became too much for her, Clive had decided he would take her out of the ceremony. Will and Lil would be looked after by a babysitter as they were far too young to understand what was going on and would get a bit restless.
With the ceremony over, Martha helped Clive load up the car with the children before setting off for home. She was going to be staying in Bolton with her mother for another week to help her get a start on tidying up her Grandfathers place so they could sell it, and Martha would also begin all the legal paperwork that had to be sorted out as well.
Clive missed Martha being at home, but knew it was a necessary job that needed to be done and both women would make much better progress without being hampered by tiny people running around. It was still term time as well and Liv needed to be at school, whilst he himself was starting a new case and couldn't be spared from chambers.
Leaving Shoe Lane one evening that week Clive was counting down the days until Martha returned. Two more and she would be home and hopefully they could put the run of bad luck they seemed to be having behind them and concentrate on Christmas which was rapidly approaching. He was hoping the new year would bring some happier times for his family. Unfortunately not everyone thought the same thing.
Making his way from Shoe Lane to the car, Clive became aware someone was following him. Turning around he saw that it was Sean McBride. "Can I help you?" He asked.
"Thought you should know about your wife," Sean replied. "How she's cheating on you,". Sean was angry that Martha had turned his advances down and had decided to pay Martha back by trying to ruin her family's happiness. With her husband out the way, it wouldn't be long before he could try again with his teenage sweetheart.
"Really?" Said Clive over his shoulder. He really couldn't give a damn about this man and kept on walking down the alleyway to his car.
"We kissed the other day!" Sean revealed, expecting some sort of reaction from the male barrister.
Clive stopped walking and turned to face the other man. "I know," he answered. "She told me although it sounded like you pounced on her. Anyway I'm happy to say we've put the whole thing behind us and moved on," Clive continued.
"She's lying, mate," Sean warned. "She kissed me...and then last night she came round to mine and seduced me,". Clive stayed silent, determined this man was not going to get him riled up. "Always spreads her legs easily, does Mar. Always has. Well for me anyway. Apparently I satisfy her, unlike you. You're rather disappointing in that department,".
Clive couldn't help himself. He calmly put his briefcase down before landing a right hook on Sean's jaw unexpectedly. There was a loud smack as Clive made contact with Sean which sent Sean to the floor. "Do not talk about my wife like that!" He warned before picking up his case and continued his walk to the car, shaking his right hand as he did so. It was starting to throb after the punch but he didn't think he'd injured himself.
From the floor, Sean watched Clive leaving. This was not the end. He would teach that dolphin a lesson.
"Um there's two of the Metropolitan's finest detectives wanting a word with you, sir," said Billy the next day. Clive was in his office as his afternoon was free of court.
"Which case is that?" Asked Clive.
"I don't think it's a case, sir. I think it's something else,".
"Ok, well show them in," Clive replied intrigued.
"Do you know a Mr Sean McBride?" One of the detectives asked once they were in the office.
"Unfortunately, yes," Clive replied.
"He was attacked last night. Says it was you who hit him. He wants to press charges for GBH,".
"What?!" Clive exploded.
"Are you denying you hit him?".
"One punch for slandering my wife!" Clive replied.
"I wonder if you could accompany us down to the station and help us with our enquiries, sir?".
"I don't believe this!" Said Clive incredulously. This could not be happening.
"What can I do, sir?" Asked Billy who had remained in the office.
"Better call Marth," Clive answered. "She's going to love this...and call Michael Connelly. I think I'll use his solicitor services and I trust him and so does Marth,".
"Ok sir. I'll get right on it,".
Clive was led out the building and into a waiting car. At the police station he was finger printed and photographed before being put in a cell to await his questioning. Michael arrived very swiftly, Billy had obviously done his job well, and his interview began.
Clive's version of events was very different to Sean's, who had made out the attack was more than one punch, claiming a frenzied attack. Clive was shocked when he was presented with photos of Sean. Bruises and cuts littered his face and abdomen. "I didn't do that!" Clive protested.
"He had just informed you he had slept with your wife. I'd be pretty annoyed after hearing that," one of the policemen mentioned.
"He was lying!" Clive retorted. "My wife has been up in Bolton all week,".
"Are you sure?" The other policeman asked.
"We buried her grandfather on Monday and she stayed up there to help her mother with his estate," Clive answered defiantly.
"We'll have to check with her about that," a policeman warned.
"Oh don't worry about that," Clive said. "I think she'll be making damn sure you hear her side of the story as soon as she gets here," Clive warned, looking at Michael who gave a little smile. Martha didn't have a particularly great relationship with the police in her line of work. She was always going toe to toe with them in the courtroom and Clive knew it would be no different once she arrived. He was sort of looking forward to it.
"Fine, so what did you do for the rest of the evening after you left Mr McBride on the floor?" The first policeman asked.
"I went and collected my children from nursery and school and spent the evening with them, being as their mother is away,".
"Can anyone corroborate that?".
"Well the nursery will have the time I collected my youngest, and the school when I collected Olivia. Apart from that it's just the word of my children,".
"We may have to speak to them,".
"No way!" Clive answered angrily. "Besides, the two youngest are only twenty months and have just about mastered mama and dada. You can't ask them anything,".
"And your eldest?".
Clive thought about it, looking at Michael as he did. Was it a good idea to let Liv speak to the police? He asked himself.
Michael was obviously thinking about it as well. "It might be a good idea, Clive," the solicitor advised. He knew Liv fairly well. "Whenever Liv has told me what she has been up to, I usually get a very detailed account!" He said with a smile. "She could be a very good witness...".
"Or bore them to death whilst she talks the hind legs off the proverbial donkey!" Clive finished the solicitors sentence. He turned to his interrogators. "Not without Marth or Michael being present. And not here. At home. And not without Martha's agreement,".
Clive was back in his cell when he heard his wife arrive in the police station. He had been put back in his mini prison whilst the police continued their investigation. At the moment it centred on finding evidence for which person out of Sean and Clive was telling the truth.
The cell door opened shortly after Martha's arrival, and immediately he knew his wife was extremely pissed off. He prepared himself to receive a good telling off.
"Did you hit him?" She asked once the door had closed behind her and they had been left alone.
"Just the once, Marth, I promise," he replied honestly.
"Why Clive? It was an incredibly stupid thing to do,".
"I know," Clive answered. "But he got me all worked up when he started slagging you off. Saying you..,".
"I know what he said, Clive," Martha said, shutting him down. "I've just had to phone mum to provide an alibi for my whereabouts the night in question! I can't believe he's done this!" She spat and Clive realised his wife was more upset with her childhood boyfriend than himself. "Nearly slapped the policeman who asked if I was having an affair," she revealed.
"You didn't though, right?" Clive asked. He wouldn't put it past his wife.
"No but I really wanted to!".
"Has Michael asked you about the police talking to Liv?" He asked.
"Yes. You think it's a good idea? I mean she can't say anything that will land you in it unintentionally is there?".
"No. It was a completely routine evening we all had. Everything went to plan," Clive said.
"Really?" Martha asked. She always struggled when she was in charge of their three children by herself.
"Really," Clive repeated.
"Ok. I'll agree to it," Martha said. "I've also got the police looking at CCTV footage when they mentioned the alleged attack took place outside the wig and gown shop,".
"It has CCTV?" Clive asked a little surprised. It was such a small specialised shop.
"Yes. Remember when there was that incident with Nick?" Martha asked and instantly Clive recalled the time that the shop keeper had come to chambers and accused Nick of stealing a wig and gown. "Billy knew a friend of a friend who could install CCTV for him for free in return of keeping the incident hush hush,".
"Why didn't I remember that?" Clive asked. "Glad I've got you fighting my corner Marth,".
"Mummy, why did Uncle Billy pick us up today?" Liv asked as soon as she saw her mother entering the house. "Where's daddy?" She asked apprehensively when she saw Martha was alone, except for a strange man and woman.
Martha picked her daughter up. "Do you think you can do something for me?" She asked. Liv nodded. "This man and lady want to know all about your evening with daddy yesterday,".
"Why?" Liv asked.
"Because someone has said daddy did something bad yesterday and we need to prove he didn't. Can you remember what you and daddy did,".
"Yes mummy," Liv replied. "I remember everything,".
Whilst Billy looked after the twins, Martha took Liv into the living room with the police officers. Martha sat on the sofa and Liv climbed up next to her and the guests made themselves comfortable on two chairs.
"Hello, Olivia. My name is Sue," said the female officer. "I just want to know what time your daddy picked you up from school yesterday,".
"It was five o'clock," the little girl answered, confirming both her father's story and that of the school.
"Thats a bit late isn't it?" She asked. There would have been plenty of time for the attack to happen between when the barrister had left chambers and picking up his daughter.
"Nu uh," Liv replied. "We was practising our 'tivity play that we are doin' at the weekend," the policeman and woman were informed, "so we finished later than normal. Daddy had picked up my bruvver and sister from nursery before coming to get me," Liv continued. This did cut down the time that the barrister could have attacked Mr McBride.
"Ooh, what part are you?" Sue asked.
"I'm the star," Liv replied.
"Do you mean Mary?" The policewoman asked.
"No. The star. I show the wise men where to go,".
"Oh," replied the woman, having been put in her place.
"Do you need to know my lines? Because I know them,".
"That's ok," Sue replied with a smile, warming immediately to the little girl.
"So then daddy drove you all home?" Sue asked. Having made a connection with the girl she was going to do most of the question asking whilst her colleague took notes. Liv nodded. "You came straight home? No stopping anywhere?".
"We did stop," Liv said a little hesitantly which piqued the Police officers curiosity. "Somebody nearly crashed into us and daddy stopped to shout at 'dem,". This wasn't quite what the police were expecting. It was news to Martha as well. "Daddy said a bad word, the f one, and then Will and Lil started saying it over and over. Daddy tried to get them to stop and I did as well. Then he said that I shouldn't tell mummy about that because he might get in trouble for teaching 'dem naughty words," Liv continued very earnestly. The two law officers hid smiles.
"Was daddy mad about anything else?".
"He wasn't very happy with Bob and Bailey," Liv said.
"Who are Bob and Bailey?" Sue asked. These could potentially be two new witnesses that they could question.
"Our cat and doggy," Liv answered. Maybe not, Sue thought.
"Bob ate his dinner really fast and then was sick on de carpet which daddy wasn't very happy about,".
"I can imagine," Sue agreed.
"And Bailey jumped up and licked all the tomato sauce off Will's face at dinner time," Liv explained. "Daddy wasn't very happy with him either and sent him to his box, but I think it is William's fault as well because he was feeding Bailey bits of his fish fingers from his high chair,". Martha smiled at hearing this. It seemed her husband wasn't so cool and collected as he made out whenever he was in charge at home. "Daddy isn't as good as Mummy at looking after us and I usually have to help him because Will and Lil can be a handful," she added.
"What happened then?" Sue asked.
"Then it was bath time and I got in as well and played with my bruvver and sister. Daddy gave us all Mohicans and took a photo which we showed Mummy. Then we Face timed Mummy and Nanna as we have done everyday because we missed her," Liv said, suddenly remembering something and ran out the room returning with her father's iPad. "We face timed at that time," she told the policeman, showing them the call that had been placed the previous night and all the other nights that week,".
"Thank you," said Sue. The little girl was proving to be a very good witness and was confirming her father's version of events, although he had missed out the bits about teaching his children swear words and misbehaved pets! Despite initially having doubts over Clive's story, she was now fully believing his story.
"That's ok," she said as she sat down next to her mother again. "Then it was Will and Lil's bedtime and after that I spent some time with daddy. We talked about mummy and how we missed her before I went to bed. Daddy read me a story," she said before leaving the room for a bit longer. She returned with her story book. "We read this bit," she informed Sue, pointing out the pages read the previous night.
"Oh I like that story," the policewoman replied.
"Me too," Liv agreed. "Then I fell asleep but I woke up again and went to sleep with Daddy. And then it was the morning,".
Sue looked at her colleague. "I think that's everything," she said and her colleague agreed.
"Can I have my daddy back now, please?" Liv asked.
"I think he'll be back home very soon Olivia," Sue confirmed. "Maybe even in time for your bedtime story. Thank you for talking to us, you did very well. Your Daddy should be very proud of you,".
Clive did make it home quite soon after the police had left his home. Whilst they had been questioning his daughter, someone else had finally tracked down the CCTV footage which confirmed Clive's story. It also happened to show Sean injuring himself. He had been rearrested for wasting police time.
"Where's my star witness?" Clive asked as he entered the house.
"Daddy!" Liv cried happily as she ran to her father. He scooped her up and hugged her as he had done many times before.
"I'm so proud of you. The policewoman who talked to you said what a good job you did remembering what we did yesterday,". Liv beamed with pride.
"Mummy knows about Will and Lil saying bad words though, and about Bob and Bailey bein' naughty,".
"Completely routine evening was it?" Martha asked as she moved to hug her husband and daughter, very happy her husband had been released with no further action to be taken, except for pressing charges against Sean.
"Yeah, well," replied Clive, knowing he had been rumbled.