Hi, so here is another chapter and I am so glad to be able to get it to you! I really hope you enjoy this chapter and I will do all that I can to bring you the next one sooner rather than later.

Disclaimer-Nothing here is mine, just the character of Isla.

Please Read and Review and let me know what you think.

Also TRIGGER WARNINGS for the drugging and the custodial kidnapping of a minor.

Glory Days

Chapter 12-Moments Later

Isla falls into Roxy's trap. Alexandra keeps a secret though she feels as if she shouldn't and Joey deals with his father and brother and then without warning falls into his worst nightmare.

The day Freddie Boswell was to go on trial 'for stealing a yellow bus cart and leaving the police station with a tart' according to her grandmother dawned bright and early three weeks later. It was also the day Isla was going to America—though to Isla's credit she did not know that. But to Isla it was also the day she was going to tell her Dad that her Mum was back. One way or the other they were going to court and while Isla was going to school she was also going to come home and tell the truth. This secret had been weighing on her mind for so long that she wanted answers and she thought that out of everyone involved in the situation it was her Dad that would give her the best answers—and maybe Uncle Jack.

But first of course they had to make sure that Grandad Freddie wasn't thrown in the clink.

The mood of the household was sombre. Well…as sombre as the Boswell's ever got which was to say not much. Uncle Adrian wafted (that was a new word she had learnt and it described Uncle Adrian perfectly) around the house muttering about how first it was the DHSS and now it was the courts, Aunt Aveline picked the shortest skirt in the human history, Uncle Jack couldn't do his tie threw the thing across the room and said loudly, "Sod this, I need a drink" and her Dad decked himself out in his best leather with the air of one going to the hangman and not for a fun time.

"You need to stop watching late night TV" he said when Isla had pointed that out.

"Dad…when this is all over…can we go for a ride in the JAG?"

"Why?"

The JAG Isla supposed was the safest place to drop the Roxy bombshell. Also it had been their thing, their own father-daughter thing, go in the JAG somewhere and spend time together. Isla supposed it would be nice to do it again—course there was a very good chance that her father might not want anything to do with her once he knew that her mother was back in town and Isla had kept it a secret but Isla had enough confidence to conclude that she was probably wrong about that.

"Cause…cause I want to tell you something and I don't think your going to like it. But I have to tell you all the same"

Her Dad sat on the carpet of the living room. Isla had been colouring at the small table—well—not really colouring more like doodling on a small bit of paper as she thought of what to say.

"Is this about what's been bothering you recently?"

Isla nodded.

"Anything I could do or say that would make you tell me now?"

She thought about it—it was so tempting to just say it now and get it over with but before she could there was the sound of stomping down the stairs and then one by one the Boswell's descended all of them various shades of nervous, irritated, riddled with despair (Uncle Adrian's words) and fed up with the world (Nan) and one man in particular (Nan again) and the moment was ruined.

"Nah" she said shaking her head. "It can wait until later"

There was no point in doing it now. Better to get Dad alone…Isla might be unsure of what his reaction was going to be but she was hedging her bets on being pretty sure that she knew what the rest of the families reaction was going to be.

Her Dad smoothed her hair down for a second and then bopped a kiss on the top of her head and Isla grabbed her bookbag. They were all getting a taxi into town but she was walking to school. She thought about a detour and going to see Martina—who might have some insight into what she was feeling but before she could even think about it and how she might put such a plan into action, her Dad pointed one finger at her and his face was stern.

"Listen you. I expect you to go to school. If I hear you've been at the DHSS again then there'll be hell to pay"

Isla nodded. Considering what she was going to tell him later she supposed the less she did to annoy him the better.

No point shoving the cattle prod up the bear's backside when he was already mad.

Maybe Dad was right—maybe she should stop watching late night TV—but then again this whole secret keeping thing was messing up her sleeping pattern, another very important reason to be honest with herself and her family.

Who knew perhaps it would all work out?

Eventually.

And with that though she started to walk to school as the Boswell's went to court and Uncle Billy watched from the window trying to hide the fact that he was going to do something that had never before been done in Boswell history.

But Isla didn't know that until later.

Much, much later.

"I don't think this is a good idea" Alexandra Yizzel said dropping down next to Isla Boswell as they found themselves walking to school—as her father said if Prince Andrew could get married then stranger things could happen—though she didn't quite understand what that meant…

"What?"

"Your Mum…going away with her."

"Dad will be there too" Isla said. There was something about her that made Alexandra feel…odd…it was unnerving to see Isla looking like that. She was used to the situation evolving time by time and she was sure that she was going to pay for that in some way.

"And he's said that?"

"No but…tonight I'm going to tell him. I'm going to tell her that I'm going to tell him…and then I think it will be alright, not perfect but alright"

Alexandra thought it was not going to be alright.

But the little red car had already stopped in front of them.

"Does she follow you?" she asked. Isla shrugged. She didn't seem to understand that it filled Alexandra with dread. To be fair she did not understand it either but she knew that there was something about the red car and the woman inside it that filled her with dread and without warning—as if she had never done it before—indeed she had never done it before—she reached out and grabbed Isla's hand.

"Don't go" she said quietly.

"Why?"

"Because…because…there is something about her that doesn't sit right."

"Like?"

"Isla can't you feel it?"

Isla paused and there was something that told Alexandra that her friend…and they were friends weren't they? Her friend understood and she knew. And yet the part of her that wanted the happy family, that wanted it to come home too was overriding her and Alexandra had never felt as shit as she had done right now for all the little cracks and jokes and comment she had made over the years.

"It will be fine" Isla said. "If she tries anything then I'll get out. I just…I just have to understand her side of the story. And this…this might be good for us. She wants to go to America. And maybe…maybe there's a reason why she didn't want me and we can fix it and we can be together again"

She pulled her hand out of Alexandra's with a grin and Alexandra was forced to watch as she got into the car and drove off. Perhaps…perhaps it was just her instincts in free fall. For all she knew Isla was right…besides…how much damage could a Mum do to her child? She was six and Alexandra loved her mother. Perhaps it would all work out.

She walked into school and sat down at the desk and rested her head on the desk and wondered if she was overreacting, if Isla would be back tomorrow with stories of how the big family reunion had been and it would all be ok.

It didn't stop the swooping in her stomach that made her feel like something terrible was going to happen.

Isla was taken to what looked like a hotel room.

Her Mum wouldn't hold her hand. Dad would have. Even if Isla didn't want him to.

"Where's your husband and your son?" she asked quietly.

"They've gone to get plane tickets. We have to get the plane from London you see"

"I didn't come here to go on holiday"

"I know you didn't."

"Look Mum—"

"Isla you are being very tiring, sit down and I will make you a drink"

Isla sat down feeling hurt. Her Dad would have never have spoken to her like that.

"Dad doesn't know does he?"

"No"

"I have to tell him"

"No" Roxy said quietly. "No you don't. Drink this and I will explain"

Isla took a sip of water. She was thirsty so she drank again and then put the glass down on the table. She watched it thinking that something might be wrong here but before she could say such a thing out loud, the glass was spinning and then the table and then the room and then before she knew it she was face down in the sofa cushions passed straight out cold.

And she didn't remember much after that.

Well all in all it was not what one might call a good day.

Of course his Dad wasn't in the back of a police holding cell which was a good thing all things considered—though Joey suspected that if he had been his Mam might sleep well at least knowing where he was. The trial had gone better than expected but all of the Boswell's minus Billy and Aveline (who was such a Daddy's girl at times it was annoying) had rolled their eyes heavenwards when their Dad's solicitor had proclaimed that their Dad was going "Over the hills and far, far away"

But it had been shaping up to a good day until Billy had come home and said that he was married.

And then that had been just the icing on top of a cake that Joey didn't need or want.

After his Mam had screamed herself horse, thrown Billy out of the house and then cried for half an hour lamenting at the fact that there was going to be no wedding between the lot of them the door opened and Grandad came in. It was after three. He had been hoping Isla was with him. Since her little disappearing act a few weeks ago he hated the idea of her leaving school and walking home on her own but she wasn't. Grandad nonetheless was predictable as ever when he went on about his food.

"Oh and the school called for you" he said by way of a parting shot. "Little Isla never turned up, bunked off again no doubt—I'd say get a grip on her but considering your all content to let me die a miserable painful death by starvation I won't hold out much hope"

And then he went.

Joey groaned. He should have known this morning was too good to be true. When Isla got a glint in her eye like that it meant nothing good.

"If she's at the park I am going to kill her" he said with his head in his hands.

"And if she's at the DHSS I might kill her" Jack said grimly. "The money goes in, in a few days and I put in a claim for a new suit for today"

Joey resisted the urge to put in that he had actually issued the claim Jack was just getting the money but his Mam cut through them.

"Alright, Joey check the DHSS woman, Jack the park and Adrian go up to the duck pond you know how she gets when she thinks one of them is underfed."

Martina was just closing up and was on her way towards the nearest bus stop when she saw the JAG pull up.

"Were closed Mr Boswell…and I am not opening up—"

"You seen Isla?"

She stopped surprise flooding her at the question.

"Isla? No should I have?"

Joey Boswell was now beginning to look seriously worried. Actually sod that he was beginning to look panicked.

"She didn't go to school this morning and Jack and Adrian and I have checked all the usual places, her friends all of it. I just…I don't know where she could be. I thought she might have come here with you. She thinks you're a good friend"

Despite the fact that she told herself she wouldn't be Martina couldn't help but be deeply touched—indeed she couldn't help but think of the girl in the same way too.

What that said of her she simply didn't know.

What she felt for Isla's father however was far, far more complicated.

His phone chimed and he took it and placed it to his ear, the conversation was clipped and she saw the worry now etch into his face.

"She's nowhere" he said looking at her and she could see panic in his face now, indeed she felt panic in her system.

"Martina she's…Jack say's he checked everywhere and nobody's seen her since this morning—school don't even have her at the gates I just…I don't know where she could be and…"

She reached out and grabbed his hands and felt his fingers tremble.

"Joey, breathe"

If he noticed her use of his first name then he didn't comment on it. Such was his fear and panic she didn't think he even noticed.

"I don't know what to do"

She nodded. She was not going to let on how scared she was but the reality was that this was Joey Boswell and if Joey Boswell the most confident and cockiest bastard in all of Liverpool was stood here in front of her not knowing what to do, fear and panic and anguish bleeding into his posture and his face and his very soul then she was damn scared too.

Suddenly she was very aware that Isla was only six. For all her confidence and charm she was six and six was a very dangerous age for a child.

"Why the fuck didn't I take her to school" he said.

"Because your Dad was up in court and you had to take care of the family—"

"She is my family"

"Joey"

"No, I am a Dad first, I should have just put them in a taxi and—"

"JOESPH!"

Her shout seemed to snap him out of it.

"What?"

"We need to go home, and then we need a battle plan, we need the police. But before that you've got to breathe ok? Blaming yourself is not going to change anything or fix anything or even do anything. You have done nothing wrong."

He nodded though she could see he didn't believe it.

"Get in the car" she said. "I'll come with you"

He nodded again and she followed him.

It took her a second to realise that she was still holding his hand.

Joey Boswell gripped at it as if he never wanted to let it go.

Martina was never going to admit it but she didn't want him to.

Suddenly, she was very scared too.

And there you go, I hope you like this story and I will do my best to bring you the next chapter sooner rather than later.

Next Chapter-As Isla comes face to face with Roxy's true motives, Martina, Joey and the rest of the Boswells come face to face with their worst nightmare as they contemplate actions few and far between...and Alexandra Yizzel wants to share a secret.