Thank you for the reviews, this chapter's quite long so I hope you enjoy something a bit longer. I'm trying to get my passion back as I seemed to have lost it over the last few days...
Got a bit of an obsession with one-word sentences as well for some reason...
Mediation. It was always a drag and the third session in Carla was dreading this session, each one etching closer to a custody battle in court, she knew that since Nick's passing Gail would be hell-bent on getting custody of Emma. The police were still sniffing around and Carla was starting to get anxious as they had a lot of their attention focussed on Peter which made her agitated but she had to put it out of her mind and focus on the task at hand; keeping Emma in the home where she had been growing up.
"Are you going to be ok?" Peter questions kissing Carla on the forehead as she sighs running a hand through her hair and yawning
"I'll be fine, it's just mediation" Carla whispers as Peter smiles at her strength "I don't know how it's going to go…it's the first one since…well, you know…"
"I know" Peter smiles "It'll be ok though, you can meet me in the bookies after and tell me all about it"
"Yeah, I think I'll do that" Carla smiles packing Emma's changing bag as well as Hayley's "Are you dropping Hayley off at Michelle's or am I?"
"I'll do it as I'm going that way," Peter says taking the changing bag off Carla as she smiles kissing him gently on the lips "What stage are you at?"
"Ug hi don't even remember three I think, it's about discussing what each party wants to find an arrangement" Carla mumbles lifting Emma's bag onto her shoulder "Anyway I must dash"
"Ok then" Peter sighs wishing he could be there for her as well as attend with her so he could put his views across and fight Carla's needs but he knew Gail would have a fit
"Bye, baby" Carla whispers holding Emma in her sling as leaves the house
Awkward, that was definitely what the waiting room was like, Gail and Audrey glaring at Carla with their eyes as she holds Emma against her chest secretly wishing Peter was here to help her. Carla could see the doubt in Audrey's eyes whether it was worth it, she would never admit it though, Audrey that was. Carla knew that she would fight for this if it was what Gail wanted all she could do was pray for some sort of miracle that Audrey or someone out their will side with her. They were called in, Carla sitting on one of the armchairs whilst Gail sucks up to the mediator in a bid to get what she wanted leaving Carla to sit awkwardly and try not to cringe over the gushing.
"Carla, nice to see you again" Anne, the mediator, smiles as Carla nods holding Emma in her arms "As you know today's session is about coming to an arrangement over Emma's care and to discuss any concerns you may have over her care in a calm and controlled manner"
"As if that's going to happen with her" Gail scoffs gesturing to Carla who was rocking Emma gently
"Oh please" Carla cries exasperatedly
"Let's all just calm down" Anne suggests as Carla nods slowly her attention remained on Emma "Gail, what do you want to gain out of these sessions?"
"To gain full custody of my granddaughter" Gail states as if it was obvious "Nick would want her to be safe, she's not safe under Carla's care"
"And what makes you believe this?"
"Her husband, Peter, beat Nick half to death, I do not want my granddaughter raised in that environment," Gail says as Carla sighs in response knowing she was most likely going to bring that up
"Carla, what do you want out of these sessions?" Anne questions gently knowing that Carla was probably quite anxious and agitated by the whole situation
"To come to a suitable arrangement over Emma's care whilst she lives with me and my husband" Carla replies somewhat bewildered over the situation
"Have you thought about childcare arrangements?"
"Well-" Gail starts but Carla soon cuts her off
"When Nick was alive, he and his partner had Emma for the weekends whilst my husband and I had her on the weekdays, I would be more than welcoming if Gail wanted Emma the same days as Nick but she seems to want more"
"Why do you want more Gail?" Anne interrogates as Gail sighs in response; she felt as if this whole situation was going around in circles
"Her husband is a liability, threw punches at my Nick, she's not much better either, endless suicide attempts, binge drinker" Gail snarls as Carla fights back the tears in response "Incestuous relationships"
"Um excuse me? I didn't even know I was married to my...third cousin!" Carla defends herself "I always put my children first!"
"You have another child?" Anne asks as Carla nods slowly
"Yes, a daughter, she turned one four months ago" Carla informs Anna as she nods "And before you ask, we have a perfectly stable household, Peter does his share and we are very happy together"
"I understand" Anne flashes her a smile
"Oh, you act as like butter wouldn't melt!" Gail shrieks launching herself up and out of her seat to glare at Carla who just chuckles slightly at her audacity
"You know what, Anne, this was a mistake" Carla mutters grabbing Emma's changing bag and preparing to leave the room "Ring me if you need to speak to me, I'm not going through another hour and half of her slagging me off"
And that was that Carla was gone.
Peter was watching the race at Lingfield until Carla came in with tears streaming down her face causing him to sigh; it was obvious mediation didn't go to plan. He got someone to cover so he could take her home for a coffee, collecting Hayley on the way. Michelle saw how distraught she was and decided they would just think of a plan together to help Carla out as having mediation every week was taking its toll on everyone's relationship.
"Come on then, what did she have to say this time?" Michelle questions bringing a tray of coffees out as Carla sighs rubbing her forehead, everything was such a blur
"Well it started with her sucking up to the mediator," Carla says quietly as Peter groans and Michelle rolling her eyes "Exactly my thoughts, anyway I just sat there and internally cringed at the sickly sweet attitude she was using"
"Then what?"
"Well Anne, she suggested we talked about what we wanted from these sessions. I said that I wanted Gail to have contact with her granddaughter but she wanted more. Gail was bringing up all my flaws…the drinking…suicide attempt…Peter bashing Nick around"
"I'll swing for her" Peter replies angrily as Carla places her hand on his "Sorry"
"Anyway she started calling up on all the other relationships I had and how they were incestuous probably in a bid to show how much of a slag I was"
"That's hardly your fault though" Peter scoffs "That's Johnny's for not owning up"
"I know that" Carla snaps "Sorry…it's just...it didn't look particularly good"
"Um…guys I'm sorry to interrupt…" Liz says hovering in the doorway as an officer and a detective step into the room, Detective Green, to be precise
"Carla Barlow?"
"Yes?" Carla questions in somewhat annoyance thinking her day possibly couldn't get any worse "Have you found new evidence or something?"
"We're arresting you for the murder of Nick Tilsley, you do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention now something which you later rely on in court and anything you do say may be given in evidence"
"On what grounds?" Peter questions incredulously as Carla hands Emma to him "Baby?"
"Peter, just look after my girls," Carla says quietly as Peter nods kissing her gently on the lips as the officers walk her through the pub, Michelle following and seeing Gail's smirk from the outside of the Rovers and that was when it became apparent that she would do anything to get custody of her granddaughter
"You!" Michelle shouts as Peter appears with Emma in her arms watching Michelle glare at Gail; how did he not see that she and Carla were slightly related?
"Oh, here we go, blame me?" Gail groans as Michelle rolls her eyes "She deserves it, she murdered my Nick!"
"Oh please!" Peter cries "Carla wouldn't harm anyone, she's a loving, caring person!"
"That's not what happened the night Nick was murdered"
"What?" Peter scoffs wondering what on earth she was on about as Gail smiles sarcastically
"She was arguing with him in the lobby of Victoria Court, CCTV to prove it and all" Gail snidely remarks as Peter narrows his eyes but decided to play along anyway "Now can I look after my granddaughter?"
"Don't let her Peter!" Carla shouts as Peter nods running back into the bar with Michelle as they go into the backroom
"I'll ring her solicitor" Michelle mumbles grabbing her phone and finding the number for the solicitor both Peter and Michelle hoping that it was lies tumbling out of Gail's gob…
The starkness of the interview room sent a chill down her spine. She hated being interviews it always put her on edge and the fact that it was over one of her lover's murders it all seemed so bitter and twisted yet somewhat familiar but with those thoughts aside, Carla fiddled with the plastic cup of water they gave her until she was interrupted by none other than Detective Green and her colleague, both looking rather smug which irritated her.
"We meet again" Detective Green smiles sarcastically as Carla raises her eyebrows
"So we do, I'm surprised you haven't brought out the biscuits or a cake even" Carla smirks as Detective green starts the interview tape
"We wanted to talk to you about the events which happened on the night of Nick Tilsley's murder"
"Right" Carla nods as Detective Green grabs an iPad and plays the CCTV tape which was in Victoria Court "Are you kidding me?"
"Why would we be joking over something so serious, Mrs Barlow?" Detective Green shrugs as Carla rolls her eyes "Can you clarify that this is you in the tape?"
"Of course it's me" Carla chuckles exasperatedly "Let me guess you want to know why we were arguing?"
"Please inform us"
"Well, if you must know…which you probably won't believe anyway…I was having a go at Nick because his partner, Leanne, was treating Emma as if she was her own"
"So you were jealous?"
"Yes…it's sounds pathetic but yes I was" Carla smiles sarcastically as the detective narrows her eyes "Leanne acting all motherly to my child, it knocked me sick"
"Right, I thought you were happy in a relationship with your husband?"
"I am very happy"
"So why would you be jealous of Leanne Battersby? From our previous discussion, it was made clear that you have a lot of hate for the woman"
"I do," Carla says "I don't get what you're aiming at?"
"It's just rather coincidental that's all, you and the victim arguing on the night he was murdered over his ex-wife?"
"I guess it is" Carla hums closing her eyes "But I can assure you that I did not kill Nick Tilsley"
"Right" Detective Green nods "So if you didn't kill Nick Tilsley, then who did?"
"Let me just grab my Ouija board and summon his ghost, maybe he can tell you?" Carla retorts sarcastically as the detective rolls her eyes knowing Carla had a tendency to be rather snappy and sarcastic
"What time did this argument occur?"
"Umm when I dropped Emma off…around seven maybe? It must have been then because I drop Emma off at that time as Nick had her on the weekends" Carla mumbles as the Detective smiles skimming through more videos on the iPad
"We also looked at the CCTV outside Victoria Court on the night of the murder just to clarify that nothing else went on-" the detective hands the iPad over to Carla "Can you clarify that this is your vehicle?"
"Yes, that's my car…why?"
"Well Mrs Barlow, if you say that Nick had Emma for the weekend, why did your car pull up outside his flat at eleven that evening after you dropped your daughter off?"
"What?" Carla scoffs "I only took my car out to drop Emma off at seven, Nick and I argued about Leanne but he reassured me that he would speak to her so we left it like that, I then drove off home to spend time with my husband and daughter"
"Right, so you're saying you didn't take your car out after?"
"No, I didn't"
"Ok, so either the CCTV is wrong or you're lying or someone else took your car. Your husband maybe?"
"You've spoken to Peter" Carla sighs exasperatedly, this really was doing her head in "He's told you everything he knows"
"Or not? Maybe he's covering for someone…maybe he's covering for you…he didn't do a good job mind you with what was revealed on the CCTV"
"Oh please," Carla rolls her eyes "You really think I would risk murdering someone when I have two little girls at home dependent on me?"
"I don't know…crazy things go through people's minds when they want something-"
"What on earth could I want by doing away with the father of my child? Which I didn't do might I add…"
"For Mr Barlow to be her father, must've been a shock when Emma turned out to be Nick's, his arch-enemy?"
"It was" Carla confirms this "I still wouldn't bump him off, would I? We came to an arrangement all of us it was working rather well until his mother started to stick her nose in"
"In what way?"
"She wants custody of Emma"
"Why?"
"She thinks she's unsafe whilst in the care of Peter and me"
"Why does she think that?"
"Well I don't know do I?" Carla decides to play dumb causing the detective to narrow her eyes in suspicion
"Let me guess because Peter throws punches at her son because he's an alcoholic and can be unpredictable when intoxicated?"
"Yes. Your point is?"
"Nothing" the detective smiles "Let's return our attention back to the car," she says as Carla frowns in confusion before nodding knowing she had no choice "Who has access to your car, Mrs Barlow?"
"Me and my husband…Peter and I did not take that car out after seven though, I swear"
"Do you have an alibi?"
"What? No…not unless a newborn baby and a one-year-old count" Carla scoffs before her eyes lit up in remembrance, Simon was there that evening "There was Peter's son Simon, we were all watching a movie until the early hours of the morning as Emma wouldn't settle"
"So Simon would be able to vouch for both you and Mr Barlow's whereabouts when the murder took place?"
"Yes" Carla nods confidently
"We will have to speak to Mr Barlow's son. I think we're done with the questions now, how about I drop you off home and then I can speak to Mr Barlow's son?"
"Sounds good to me" Carla sighs as the officer leads her out of the room and suspending the interview for now…
Carla arrived home and was immediately wrapped into a warm embrace by Peter who kissed her on the side of her head thankful that she was home. The officers made their presence known and it caused Peter to get rather defensive over his wife but Carla gently reassured him that it was ok and that they wanted to speak to Simon. This led Simon to confirm that Carla and Peter were indeed watching a movie whilst trying to settle Emma until the early hours of the morning which meant that Carla and Peter were virtually off the hook and that Gail's efforts of trying to get Emma away from them both failed miserably. It left a lot of questions for both Carla and Peter such as how did Gail know that Nick and Carla argued that evening leaving Carla to assume Nick must've rung Gail to confide in her about their argument. The second question being who was driving Carla's car that evening.
"So it's over?" Peter questions as Carla nods kissing him gently on the lips
"It is," Carla says as Peter wraps her up in a hug "I still don't understand though"
"Understand what?" Peter asks as Carla sighs rubbing her forehead in exasperation "Baby?"
"Well, who was driving my car?" Carla bites her lip in thought "Especially if my keys were in here…did we have a break in and not notice?"
"Your spare keys?"
"The factory…I keep them in the factory!" Carla exclaims as Peter frowns in response "I need to tell the coppers don't I?"
"You do" Peter nods as Carla grabs her phone to ring the police as Peter watches her pace the room on the phone as Emma's cries erupt from the Moses basket beside him causing him to shush her as Carla finished the phone call
"They're going to interview my employees as well as Aidan, Johnny and Kate as they have access to the office…and Michelle because she has keys to the place"
"Right" Peter nods as Carla scoops Emma up from his arms and sits down on the rocking chair to feed her "Are you ok?"
"Yeah I just can't believe we're no longer suspects" Peter chuckles, "I thought they were going to pin it on one of us, to be honest with you"
"Me too I was getting rather anxious in that interview room" Carla smirks as Peter sits on the arm of the rocking chair stroking Emma's cheek gently as she feeds
"Hopefully now we can start looking to the future?"
"Maybe but there is one thing I want to know…who was driving my car?"
"Well I'm sure we'll find out soon, they're going to run some DNA tests on it tomorrow aren't they to see if they find anything, it'll probably be a longshot but they might pick something up"
"I guess the next fight on our hands is Emma's custody"
"It is, but we'll get through it," Peter says confidently as Carla sighs winding her daughter as she looks up into his eyes
"I hope so"
I'm really bad with police stuff so i hope that what I've written was ok :)