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Chapter 38: Light at the End of the Tunnel

Philip's hand hovered on the door. He knew that Joyce was looking at him strangely. He would have to knock otherwise she would question it and then he would most definitely lose his nerve.

Philip almost turned and ran when he heard a male voice sound out to say 'come in.' And it most certainly wasn't Eddie's. It had to be Max. Philip just had to keep reminding himself that this was for Bolton and the implications for him could go as far as life changing if he didn't do this.

Awkwardly smiling at Joyce, Philip pushed the door open. He didn't quite know what to expect. Did Max know who he was or not?

"What do you want Ryan, people more important than you are arriving soon."

Oh yes, Max definitely knew who he was.

And those more important people had to be the police. So everything being said was true. Despite the way his pulse was currently racing, Philip was glad that he was here to tell the truth. Especially when the police were definitely getting involved.

For some reason the fact that he'd done the right thing, and hadn't lost his courage, gave Philip the confidence to step further forward into the office.

"So erm.. you do know who I am then?"

"Yes," Max stood as he buttoned his blazer, "not quite the doting little boy now are we?"

Philip gulped as Max rounded the desk. He really wished the man hadn't stood up. It had instantly shattered any confidence he had just gained.

"Look erm… I'm here about what's going on with Bolton. Not… not that."

"Ah. And what have Smilie's wrongdoings got to do with you?"

"I heard… Amy," Philip didn't make eye contact with Max at all, avoiding his gaze at all costs, "and Siobhan and all them. They stitched him up."

"I find it hard to believe Ryan, that the girls from John Fosters would do such a thing. It's far more likely that your cronie Bolton Smilie, is guilty. Now if you don't mind, I want you to leave."

"You… you don't understand."

"And what makes you think that?"

Philip knew his eyes were darting all over the place now. And his mind was too, searching for something to say. Max was close to him, too close. All of a sudden Philip did feel like a vulnerable five year old again.

"And don't even think about running to your auntie. Because she will be out of a job before you can say another word."

Max's face was inches away from his now. Philip was dying to turn and run but he had an awful feeling that Max was about to grab hold of him either way.

"And I will ensure that you have absolutely nothing to do with Mollie Ryan. Do I make myself clear?"

Philip was about to respond when Max bunched up his shirt in his fist. It was expected but still caused Philip's heart to leap. It really was all too familiar to when he was a five year old. Philip just hoped that his mum was right to some extent. Maybe Max wouldn't go as far to hit him now.

"Do I make myself clear?" Max repeated, raising his voice slightly now.

"Yes sir. Yes."

"Good. Now get out of my sight Ryan. I do not want to see you here again."

Max let go of him with an audible thud, and Philip finally allowed himself to breath again. He turned and practically ran out of the room as soon as Max said his last sentence.

Philip didn't know whether it was a good or bad thing that he ran straight into Eddie and Rachel as he emerged from the antechamber. He hadn't really thought about what he was going to do yet. Despite what Max was saying, should he tell them?

The reminder of the police and how against Bolton Max seemed to be popped into Philip's mind. Along with a little bit of reality. Surely Max couldn't just fire Rachel for no apparent reason? And they could stop him from taking Mollie, couldn't they?

"Philip?" Rachel asked, concern colouring her tone, "what on earth's happened?"

He didn't answer, instead awkwardly shuffled on the spot, glancing from the floor to the window and back.

"You look really pale mate. Let's get you some water."

As Eddie walked past him towards the office, Philip acted on impulse.

"No!" Eddie and Rachel turned around to face him, confused at his sudden outburst, "I mean… I'm fine."

Rachel stepped forwards now, placing a hand on his arm, "you do know that you can talk to us about absolutely anything? And I mean that."

"It's just that…" Philip gestured towards the office, but the words couldn't quite emerge from his mouth. He could see a vision of Max in front of him, telling him to keep his mouth shut.

"Has this got something to do with Mr Tyler?" Eddie questioned, instantly picking up on Philip's movements.

"No…" Philip spoke warily, and Rachel tilted her head at him, looking a mixture of confused and concerned, "can we just… go somewhere else?"

Philip watched as they exchanged a glance before Eddie agreed to going to his empty classroom. They obviously knew that something was going on. Philip would just have to be completely honest with them, and hope that they would have some hard evidence against Max soon. Rather than their word against his.

"So what's going on Phil?" Eddie asked as soon as they were all perched on desks in his classroom.

Weirdly, he was taken back to the day when his mum left him. When Rachel, him and Melissa had an argument. They had all been sat on desks then and it kind of solidified for Philip, just how far he'd come. It made him realise that he owed this to a lot of people. He owed it to Rachel for being there twenty four seven like his mum never was. He owed it to Eddie for always sticking by him too. And most significantly right now, he owed it to Bolton for eventually becoming one of the better friends he'd had.

"All this stuff with Bolton. He didn't… he didn't do it."

"Okay… and how do you know that?" It was Rachel asking now, glancing at him expectantly. Philip couldn't hold anything back, he had to finish what he had started now.

"I heard Amy and some of her friends, planning to drop Bolton in it."

He watched as the two adults exchanged another glance and Rachel huffed out a breath. Philip knew what they were going to ask next and he wasn't sure if he was ready for that. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to remember that he had to be completely honest with Rachel and Eddie, because they would help. They always did.

"And has something else happened?"

"I went to see… Tyler…"

Philip stopped. He couldn't go any further with the vision of Max reappearing before his very eyes. He knew that Rachel and Eddie would be even more concerned now. But at least Bolton wouldn't be getting into trouble for something he didn't do. Philip just had to hope that he was right to question how easily Max could really get rid of his auntie, and right to question if he could really just take Mollie away in the blink of an eye. Because the alternative wasn't worth thinking about.

Rachel had moved from where she was opposite him now, shifting to sit next to Philip and placing an encouraging arm on his shoulder.

Seemingly it worked for Philip, and he drew his head up from his hands, only to be met with a supportive look from Eddie too. Their two demeanours combined told Philip everything he needed to know. He had done the right thing by telling them everything. Because they would be able to help him now like he had thought. And maybe this meant they were one step closer to ridding their lives of Max Tyler.

Philip also thought about the conversation had with his mum that morning. Something she said along with Max's threats stood out in his brain. She's our daughter Phil. All along Rachel had been thinking his mum was back as some form of revenge on her, and Philip had thought that too. But maybe her reasonings for returning were different. They wanted Mollie back.

"He threatened me. Saying he would sack you Rach. And then… Mollie. Said I wouldn't see her again."

"Remind me how this man actually got into teaching again?" That was Eddie talking, sounding extremely angered by it all. Rachel hummed in agreement as Philip ran over what words he was going to say next in his mind.

"I saw mum this morning as well."

Rachel sighed, "you don't seem to be having much luck today then."

"More like this year," he attempted a smile but knew it was half hearted, and Rachel just looked even more worried.

"I don't think… mum's back for revenge on you. I don't think… that's what it is."

Rachel and Eddie remained silent but were obviously listening intently, giving him the opportunity to continue.

"It makes sense now… the threats. They're here to take Mollie away from Julie."

Rachel stood up, followed by Eddie who came forward to place his hands on her shoulders.

"We will deal with it Rach," Philip heard Eddie say.

She nodded slowly but Philip wasn't quite sure if she believed that.

"I need to inform the police about what Philip's told us, regarding Bolton."

"Then I'll come with you," Eddie responded instantly, "do you need to be getting to lessons Phil?"

"Yeah… erm, let me know what happens."

"Of course we will," Rachel responded.

They walked towards the door before Eddie turned and smiled at Philip, "well done lad, you've done the right thing."

Philip hoped that Eddie was right. He hoped that this would go in their favour. He probably wouldn't forgive himself if Max's threats became a reality.

….

"At least Amy came clean," Eddie commented as they arrived home.

"I just dread to think what would have happened if she didn't… or if Philip didn't hear those remarks."

Eddie was about to respond when he noticed the way Rachel was looking at him.

"Do you think if Amy had not confessed, and we had to let them know about what Philip told us… do you think Max would have followed through with his threats?"

Eddie couldn't stop himself from sighing, it was something he had been thinking over himself, and it just made him even more angry. To think that Max had the mindset of removing Rachel as head and stopping them from seeing Mollie.

"It's hard to know. But I don't see what grounds he could have fired you on. It's not as simple as that, try not to worry."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and she rested her chin on his chest, looking at him lovingly. Eddie brushed some hair behind her ear, thinking about what else Philip had said.

"Have you spoken to Julie?"

"Not yet. I'm going to ring her now actually. I just… don't want to panic her. Because I know she will. That girl means the world to her."

"And she knows you're there for her," Eddie spoke, keeping his hand by the side of her face, "we aren't going to let them take Mollie away from her."

"How do you always do that?"

"Do what?"

"Calm my racing thoughts."

"Because I know you."

She hummed, agreeing with him.

"And I'd do anything for you. For the woman I love."

Eddie felt his own grin widening as Rachel's mouth broke out into a genuine smile. He made a vow to himself to try and put some time aside for the two of them in the next week or so. She definitely needed the break and some time to relax. And of course they needed some time to themselves too.

"You caught me off guard there Lawson," she grinned, blushing as she broke away from him slightly and took his hand, "but I'll let you off since I love you too."

Eddie was about to draw Rachel back in towards him when she turned her attention to her mobile, that was ringing. She muttered something about it being Julie and answered it panicked. Eddie guessed that they wouldn't be taking their coat and shoes off anytime soon.

Rachel ended the call about a minute later, telling Julie that they were on their way. Eddie didn't have time to ask what had happened before she was taking the car keys out of her pocket.

"We need to go and see Julie. Max has only been around there asking where Mollie is."

"He's living life dangerously then," Eddie quipped back as they began to make their way out of the door.

Philip's voice had them turning back briefly, explaining the situation to him. He replied with a similar comment to that of earlier in the day, asking them to let him know. It was clear that he was just as concerned about the situation as they were, and Eddie's heart went out to the boy. He just hoped that as with Rachel, he could somehow help him to relax slightly in the coming weeks.

….

"Threatening all sorts he was. I didn't know who he was at first, with never seeing him before."

As Julie began to recall everything that Max had said, Rachel couldn't deny that it did sound like exactly the kind of thing he would do. She could tell that Eddie was having similar thoughts.

"And where's Mollie now?" Eddie questioned.

"She was upstairs when Max came round. Good job as well. He was asking where she was, I had to say she was out with friends. I'm surprised she didn't come down actually…"

"Well you're right," Rachel began, "it's a good thing she didn't."

"It was horrible to spend only five minutes in his presence. He left when I threatened to ring the police. How do you two even cope with him at work all day?"

Rachel raised her eyebrows followed by Eddie saying, "we don't."

Rachel was becoming increasingly irritated that they didn't yet have any concrete evidence against Max. They would have to contact the police about him coming round, surely they would do something. It was just, if they had reason to believe Max, Rachel didn't know what else he was capable of. Because she was certain that Melissa would give him an alibi. Probably the reason she didn't turn up with him.

"Our only option is to contact the police," Rachel sighed, "with hope they'll find something to prove he was here."

The three adults were too distracted to notice the fourth presence that had appeared in the doorway. But as she began to speak, they all looked up and saw Mollie, with a mobile in hand.

"There's no need. We've already got something. Well I do. I recorded everything sitting on the stairs."