"Katy?"
"Yeah? What's up, Uncle Max?" From the expression on his face, Katy could tell that there was something seriously angering her uncle. "You alright?"
"You'll never guess who's back in Walford."
"Uhhh…" Katy frowned, trying to work out who could possibly be putting him in such a bad mood. "Who?"
"Bobby Beale."
The blonde almost dropped her coffee in shock. "You what?"
"Yeah… three years he got and he's back here. He killed his sister and he's walking about like he ain't got a care in the world."
"Max…" Katy reached out and laid a hand on his arm. "You cannot do summit stupid."
"My kids thought I was guilty, Katy!" He reminded her. "Everyone thought you'd killed Lucy for a while."
"Yeah, but now everyone knows it weren't either of us, right?" She pointed out as gently as she could. "Everyone knows he murdered his own sister, Max. Everyone knows. He ain't gonna have it easy."
"That ain't the point."
"I dunno what you want me to say." She admitted with a shrug. "I don't… I ain't in the habit of threatening kids or setting up vendettas against them, Uncle Max. As long as he stays away from me and my family then I don't want nothing to do with him." She sighed, shaking her head. "You should stay away an' all."
Katy sent him a weak smile and turned, walking away in the direction of the bar. She'd had an inkling that something was going on at the Beales', considering that she now worked so closely with Kathy and the older blonde had been a little cagey about things recently. As she'd said to Max, though, she didn't have the time or the inclination to get involved with Bobby Beale or his return to the Square.
With the lure of paperwork, the young woman was less than eager to enter her office, but there was nothing pressing to distract her. Smiling at Tina and several customers at a table in the corner, she climbed the stairs with her attention fixed on the screen of her phone. Ritchie had yet to get back to her about anything interesting and Jeff had been irritatingly quiet recently as well.
She had just about forced herself to concentrate on something when there was a bang on the door and Katy looked up just in time to see Ben crashing into the office, brandishing a newspaper at his cousin. His face was twisted into a furious expression, his eyes narrowed at the blonde behind the desk.
"Have you seen this?"
"What?"
He shoved the newspaper under her nose. Katy's eyebrows furrowed as she read the article about human body parts being discovered at a crusher yard. She swallowed thickly, reading the whole story, before schooling her features into a nonchalant expression, looking up at the young man and shrugging.
"So what?"
"How many people d'you reckon took a body to be crushed?"
"How should I know?"
"Katy, seriously, we need to think of a plan."
"Why?" She leant back in her chair. "You getting all stressed out about it is just going to make you look suspicious. I mean; storming in here brandishing a newspaper article… it looks a bit odd, Ben."
"Why aren't you stressed about this?" He demanded, leaning heavily on the desk, glaring at her. "If they dig into it, they'll link it back to us."
"No, they won't."
"Your name is all over it, Katy!" Ben shouted as though she was particularly slow. "You had to give a name to get into the crusher yard. You had to sign the release paperwork."
"You actually think I'd be stupid enough to give my real name?" Katy shook her head. "Of course I didn't. I said we were from Williams and Sons. I knew Phil had been having a bit of bother with them, so I used their name. Anything comes of it and it'll be traced back to them, not us."
"My car!"
"Yeah, you parked off the estate… no CCTV back there. Come on, Ben, don't be an idiot and lose your head."
A tentative knock on the door broke through the tension, but not nearly enough that Tina didn't look nervous as she poked her head around the door and looked between the Mitchells. She hesitated, clearly wondering whether to interrupt or not.
"What's up?"
"Just… is everything OK? I mean, we can hear the shouting from out here."
Katy sighed, standing up and making her way over to the brunette with a smile. "We're fine, T. Thanks, though. Ben's just having a moment."
"Oi!"
"It's nothing." The blonde said firmly. "I'll be out in a bit, OK?" As soon as the door was closed, Katy rounded on her cousin again. "See? You're attracting too much attention."
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Ben, seriously, leave it, yeah? No one knows anything and they won't be able to prove anything even if they think it."
"Jesus, you're cold."
"Oh, shut up, Ben." Katy rolled her eyes. "I'm nothing compared to you. I wouldn't trust you to get me a drink without spitting in it."
"You think I'm bad?" Ben laughed mirthlessly. "Oh, that's rich coming from you. You think I can't be trusted, that I'm dangerous… take a look in the mirror, Katy. You're the one who killed a man and sent him to the crusher yard without a second thought. You stood there and watched that car being turned into a cube without blinking. You ain't right in the head!"
"I might be dangerous, but you're something else." Katy hissed at him, advancing slowly across the bar. "You know what makes you a monster? The fact that there's nothing and no one that you really care about. The things you do? You do them for what you can get out of it."
"Yeah? And what's so different about you?"
"I did what I did for my daughter. Family, Ben. D'you remember what it's like to have a family that you want to protect and who want to protect you? I know what you're doing here… I know exactly why you came back."
"You know nothing."
Katy laughed. "I know everything, Ben. Lola told me about you wanting to take everything from Phil ages ago."
His face contorted with anger. "She did what?"
"Your secret's safe with me." She assured him. "I want nothing to do with any of it. You stay out of my business and I'll stay out of yours."
"Some Mitchell loyalty that is." He snorted, shaking his head at her. "You're full of shit, Katy."
"No, Ben, I'm not. Your secret's safe with me because I know that you're going to fail. You have never succeeded at anything in your life, have you? If I thought there was even the remotest chance that you'd manage to destroy Phil I'd tell him everything. But you won't because you're just a scared little boy who wants to prove that he can be as big and bad as his daddy."
There was a split second of silence, before Ben lashed out. His fist connected with the underside of Katy's jaw, taking her by surprise. She stumbled backwards a few steps, bringing her hand up to cup the spot, moving her jaw slowly to check there was no damage. It was a little sore, but there would be no lasting effects.
She laughed. "You do that again and see what happens."
"Yeah?"
"Get out." She ordered in a low voice as he stopped towards her, the laughter dropping from her tone in an instant. "Get out of my bar. Now!"
Ben stared at her for a couple of seconds, before turning and slamming his way out of the office. Katy paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes at the empty doorway, before snatching up the newspaper off the surface of the desk and staring at it thoughtfully. Ben was just panicking unnecessarily, she told herself, dropping the paper into the bin.
"Tina!"
The brunette was in the office in a matter of seconds, looking warily at her boss. She could see the anger on the younger woman's face, hoping that it wasn't going to be directed at her again.
"You alright?"
"Fine. Is Kathy in?"
"She should be here in half an hour or so."
"Great, can you–?" She broke off, frowning at the screen of her mobile, wondering whether her father was calling about the kids. "I've gotta answer this… I'll be out in a bit." She smiled and waited for Tina to leave the office and close the door, before holding the phone to her ear. "Dad? What's up? I can't have the kids tonight if–"
"I've done something… I think I've done something I shouldn't have."
"Where are you?"
"Your flat." He told her. "Glenda and the kids aren't here."
"I'll be home now."
Ending the call, she grabbed her things and rushed out of the room and down the stairs, not taking any notice of anyone who tried to get her attention. She was along Bridge Street and in the flat before she really knew what was going on, finding a shirtless Jack in her kitchen, rummaging through the cupboards.
"What the hell are you doing?"
As he turned, Katy noticed the wound on his shoulder and started forward worriedly. She grasped his bicep, spinning him slightly so that she could see better. With a sigh, the young woman pushed Jack into a chair and moved around to grab a box of plasters and a dishcloth from beside the sink.
"What happened?" She asked gently, dabbing gently at the cut with the damp cloth.
Jack barely reacted. "I just wanted to help."
"You went after that guy… Fraser. Dad…"
"He needed teaching a lesson."
"Yeah?" Katy shook her head. "And you taught him, did you? Showed him who's boss? For god's sake, Dad, you shouldn't have gone after him. The last thing Tiff needs is you starting a feud with them!"
"I know I've messed up." He muttered, shaking his head. "I was just trying to stand up for Tiff…"
"I know." Katy stopped, standing behind him and resting her head on his. "But what's going to happen if this goes further, Dad? Amy and Ricky need you… Tiff needs you. Hell, I need you!"
"You think I don't know that?" Jack snapped, pushing her away and standing up. He pulled his shirt back on and buttoned it up quickly. "I know, Katy, alright? I shouldn't have done it. Besides, what makes you think you can tell me about how I should or shouldn't deal with situations?"
"Nice, Dad, thanks."
"Yeah, well…"
"I'm glad you're OK. I've gotta get back to work. Let yourself out."
Turning, she stalked out of the room and out of the flat, slamming the door behind her. She knew that Jack was right, that she had absolutely no moral high ground to claim, but she was worried. Her father couldn't afford to get into trouble for losing his temper and Katy had no doubts that Fraser would do whatever it took to get revenge.
"Katy!"
Wondering whether she'd ever get any peace and quiet, the blonde turned at the sound of her name. She couldn't help a smile twisting her lips at the infectious enthusiasm that was radiating off Tina in waves. Laughing softly, she accepted the flower garland that the older woman was brandishing in her direction, looking at it in bemusement.
"What's this for?"
"We've got everything sorted for Walford Pride; decorations are being delivered tomorrow first thing and I've been practising the new cocktails. Callum's gonna help out behind the bar as well."
"Amazing. I knew hiring you was an excellent idea."
Tina beamed. "Of course! Also, it can't hurt my chances of getting lucky, can it?"
"I shouldn't think so. You'll have to point them out to me, though… gotta make sure they're good enough."
"You're so sweet." The brunette laughed, wrapping an arm around Katy's shoulders. "I'll keep my eye open for you and all. It's about time you found someone."
"Thanks, T… I'll keep it in mind."