Witness Protection

Chapter Four

Ellie gratefully accepted the cup of tea that Jackie had made for her, sitting across from Rose's parents. "Thank you." She said, taking a sip. "I know you're not the biggest fans of DI Hardy. Trust me, I'm not either. He can be an arrogant sod at the best of times. I've seen the effect that the Sandbrook case has had on him, physically and emotionally. It was a pure coincidence that your daughter turned up in Broadchurch, and I assure you, she is fine. She's safe."

"Has Hardy been to see Rose?" Pete wanted to know, cutting to the chase.

"Yes, the following evening. He was hoping with her cooperation, there's a chance he could get the case reopened. Even just a witness statement."

Pete exchanged a look with his wife, and shook his head. "No." He said without hesitation. "She's not getting dragged into this, not after what it did to her last time."

"With all due respect Sir, Rose isn't underage anymore. In the court of law she'd be classed as an adult, which means legally she can make those decisions herself." Ellie pointed out, without sounding rude.

"What would she have to do?" Jackie asked, wanting to help her daughter move on from the past.

"For the time being it would just be a witness statement, until we gather more evidence." Ellie explained. "Encouragement from the both of you would mean a lot, as I believe Rose is reluctant right now to get involved."

"I don't blame here." Pete muttered. "It nearly killed her." He cleared his throat. "So once this witness statement is done, is that it?"

"As far as I know." Ellie confirmed. "Whilst I'm here with you, I would like to ask you both some questions, if that's alright?"

Jackie nodded before her husband could interject. "Yes, that's fine. What sort of questions?"

"I want to know more about Rose and Pippa as kids, what their personalities were like." Ellie explained, pulling out her notebook. "About their friendship. I would also like to touch on what happened the night Pippa went missing." Ellie brought out her pen, jotting down the date of the informal questioning. "What was Rose like, as a child?"

"Stubborn, like her mother." Pete snorted, ignoring the playful smack from his wife on his arm. "Sassy. She could stand her ground if she needed too, and defend somebody at the same time."

"It's not all on me though." Jackie said with a smile. "She has your brains. Rose was artistic, and always had a crayon or a paintbrush in her hand. I gave up cleaning the drawings off the wall by the time she was two. When she was five we bought her her first easel, and the rest is history. That's what she's studying at college."

"What about Pippa? What was she like? How did she and Rose get to know one another?"

"They met at primary school, in year three." Pete explained, smiling fondly at the memory. "Some of the other girls were bullying Pippa on the playground, and Rose couldn't stand bullies. She shouted at them to back off, and when they didn't, she punched the ring leader in the face, giving them a bloody lip." He snorted. "I certainly wasn't expecting to get a phone call from the headmaster within the first week."

"It's not her finest moment." Jackie reminded him firmly. "We never taught her to resort to finance, but can understand why she did it. Since then, Rose and Pippa became inseparable. Pippa was a sweet girl, quieter than Rose, and a little shy with people she wasn't familiar with. But when she was with Rose, she was able to open up more."

"What happened, the night that Pippa went missing?"

"My wife and I were going to a wedding." Pete recalled. "Rose and Pippa had planned a sleepover, and they were going to come to Pippa's house, but then we'd asked if Rose could babysit Tony for us. We said Pippa was welcome to come to ours instead so they still have their sleepover, even with Lisa watching them, but for whatever reason, Rose declined. She was happy to babysit. She was good like that."

"So, Rose never saw Pippa or Lisa that night?"

"Not as far as we know." Jackie said. "Rose would never lie about something as serious as this. If she was involved in anyway, she would've come forwards a long time ago, especially concerning her best friend."

Ellie nodded, smiling in reassurance. "Thank you. This will be a big help for the case. Hopefully Rose will find the courage to write a witness statement and we can get things moving." Ellie made to get up, and then paused. "How well did you know the Gillespie's neighbours, the Ashworth's?"

"All three of the girls knew them better than we did." Pete confessed. "Pippa liked to go next door a lot, and spend time with Lee and Claire, according to Rose. Rose only went a handful of times, but she stated that Lee was creepy and Claire was friendly enough."

"How do you mean creepy?"

"He liked to hug them a lot." Pete clarified, feeling his blood boil at the memory. "But Rose said the hugs felt overwhelming, and one time she had to push him off. One time he tried kissing her, so I forbade her from going over there if it was just her and Pippa."

"Did Lee Ashworth ever assault Rose?" Ellie asked, dreading the answer. "Sexually, I mean?"

"Not to our knowledge." Jackie said. "Rose never really opened up to us about whatever happened. She always kept a journal during that time though." She glanced at Pete before deciding what to do. "I can try and find it for you if it would help?"

"Jacks, really?" Pete said in astonishment. "You'd really hand over your own daughters private journal to a detective?"

"Yes Pete, I would. If it means moving on for everybody's sake, then yes, I would." Jackie confirmed, much to Ellie's surprise. "If you give me a few minutes, I'll try and find it."

Meanwhile, Rose's first morning with Fred had been successful. She had given him a snack of fruit and yogurt, and after a messing painting activity, she took him in the stroller and set off for a walk. By the time they'd reached the clifftop, Fred had fallen asleep.

Rose took the opportunity to sit on the bench at the top of the cliff, with Fred sat in the stroller beside her. She'd pulled out her sketchbook and started drawing the scene in front of her when she was aware of somebody's presence.

"Is this seat taken?"

Recognising the voice, Rose froze, her blood going cold and shivers going up her back. "No." She stammered, making sure that Fred was still asleep.

Claire Ashworth sat beside her, admiring the view. "I thought I'd seen a ghost when I saw you taking this little one for a walk." She glanced at Rose, who kept her head down, focused on her drawing. Claire offered her a smile. "You're looking good though, how have you been?"

"I don't want to talk to you." Rose said firmly, standing up suddenly and dropping her sketchbook in her haste to get Fred away from the awful woman. "Leave me alone."

"Still into your drawing, then?" Claire smiled, handing Rose the sketchbook, unfazed as Rose snatched it out of her hands. "That's good. You were always good at art." She looked in Fred's direction. "Oh, this is Ellie's little boy, isn't it?"

"How do you know?"

"Did Ellie not tell you?" Claire smirked with a knowing smile, folding her arms across her chest. "Lee's back in the country, and because of this Alec is protecting me by hiding me away in a cottage. Nobody else accept me or Ellie knows about this."

"Why are you telling me? Why should I care?"

"Just a friendly reminder, in case Alec comes sniffing." Claire warned, the underlying threat in her voice. "I was able to stop Lee from hurting you that night with some persuasion, but I could easily tell him to do otherwise if we find out you've been talking to the detective. Keep your mouth shut, understand?"

"Perfectly." Rose confirmed, ignoring the tremor in her voice.

"Good. Glad we could settle that." Claire said with a nod. "I'll be in touch. You'd best get wee Fred home, it looks like it's going to rain."

Alec's meeting with Cate Gillespie did not go as well, and he went into his 'brooding mode' - or sulk as Ellie often referred it to - as she drove them back to Broadchurch.

"Oh cheer up." Ellie pleaded, unable to take the silence much longer. "Just because Cate doesn't want to talk, it doesn't mean that she won't. This might help though. Speaking to Rose's parents was a bit more productive. Pete was reluctant to talk, but you could tell that Jackie wanted to speak. They both confirmed that Rose was supposed to have a sleepover at Pippa's, but it was cancelled because Rose needed to babysit Tony, so her alibi checks out. Jackie also mentioned of Rose's struggles following Pippa's death, and that Rose kept a journal during that time."

"What good is that going to do?"

"If you get your head out of your backside, then you might be happy to know that Jackie Tyler gave me the said journal to use as evidence."

Alec sat up straighter, suddenly more alert. "Really? Rose's own mother gave you her daughters journal?"

"It's in my bag." Ellie confirmed, a smile on her face. "The question now is, what do we do about Rose? Do we tell her that we have her journal? It might make her panic, give some more information?"

"I'll think about it."

Before Ellie could respond, her mobile started to ring from her bag. "Could you get that for me?" She saw the called ID as Alec reached in to get it. "Put it on speaker, please. Rose, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, no it's all good." Rose's voice said back, and Alec could hear the tremble in her voice. Like she was shaken up. "Fred's fine, we've been for a walk, he's had a nap and some lunch, and now we're having a play. I was wondering, do you know when you're coming back?"

Ellie glanced at Alec, suspicious. "Rose, what's happened?"

"Honestly, we're both fine." Rose tried reassuring her. "I wanted to speak to DI Hardy."

"He's with me right now. Can't you discuss it on the phone?"

"I'd rather it be in person."

Alec nodded his encouragement to Ellie. "We're on our way back, we'll be in Broadchurch in about half an hour. Just hang tight and I'll see you then." The call ended, and Alec stowed the phone back into Ellie's bag. "I wonder what that was about?"

"Could you not hear it? The tremble in her voice? She's scared, worrying about something." Alec tried not to sound too excited. "Put your foot down, Miller."

Rose was pacing.

The interaction with Claire had shaken her to the core. She never thought she'd see her again, and now she had, right here in Broadchurch. She'd hoped that this part of her life had been buried long ago, and the plan was to move on. But each time she did, something would draw her back, entice her back in.

Not only had she run into Claire Ashworth, but the woman made sure to tell Rose that Alec was helping to hide her. Did he not realise how dangerous the woman was?

Rose jumped when the door opened, and was partly relieved to see Ellie, who went to give her son a cuddle, but then the relief turned to anger when she cast eyes on Alec.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Is there somewhere we can talk in private?" Rose asked Ellie.

"The conservatory. I'll take over from here. Hello Mister, shall we go and give you a bath?"

"This must be serious." Alec murmured, half sarcastically as he followed Rose into the conservatory. "What did you want to talk about?" He asked, closing the door.

"You know what, I was ready to move on." Rose stated, gazing out of the window into the garden. "I was ready to move on and get on with my life. I didn't want to be known as the girl who's best friend was murdered, it made me stand out at school, drew attention to me. I didn't like it." She turned to face him, hands on her hips as she watched Alec's expression. "I moved here for a fresh start, but then I saw you, and I knew that couldn't happen. I was taking Fred for a walk this morning, and guess who I bumped into?" She paused. "Claire Ashworth."

"I thought you said you weren't sure who Lee and Claire were?"

"I did, and I don't. Not really. Not on the scale that Lisa and Pippa were familiar with them. Anyway, that's not the point. She told me something interesting you see, and I just thought you should be aware, that you shouldn't trust her. Either of them."

"What did she tell you?"

"That you're hiding her nearby, to protect her from Lee." Alec remained silent, but didn't deny the allegation. "Is that true?"

"I don't see how that's any of your business."

"It does when it involves my best friend!" Rose snapped, the anger getting to her. "You have no idea what those two are capable of! They're dangerous!"

"How would you know that, eh?" Alec questioned, taking several steps towards her. "You told us you don't really know them. But from what you're saying now, that says otherwise. You're scared of them, aren't you?"

"Alright, you know what? I lied when you initially asked me about the Ashworth's. I'm scared because they're dangerous people, that's it. That's all there is to it. Just watch your back with Claire, that's all I'm saying. She can't be trusted."