TITLE: Behind This Façade – Chapter 18
AUTHOR: Kerry
RATING: PG-17
CONTENT: Attempted rape in later chapters
CATEGORY: Angst/Adult
SPOILERS: None
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, no one.
DISTRIBUTION: yahoo groups. Please ask

CHARACTERS: Vince, Linda, Shane, Stephanie, Paul, Marissa, Declan. David is my own creation.

Chapter 18

After Vince had phoned the police, they came and arrested David. They took Vince and Linda to the police station and questioned both of them, Linda was distraught and it was hard for them to get a statement from her but eventually they managed it. They had a police doctor examine Linda thoroughly and take forensic evidence.

Vince was also questioned and he was impatient, he just wanted to be with Linda and make sure she was okay. Vince admitted he had beaten David and he was formally charged with actual bodily harm and he was kept in custody for a while. He used his one phone call to phone Shane, he told him what had happened and Shane said he would come and post bail for him.

David was charged with attempted rape and was remanded in custody.

From the moment Linda had come out of the interview room she hadn't said a word to anybody. The police were still keeping Vince locked up until Shane arrived with the bail money, so Linda had only a police officer for company. She wasn't even crying anymore, she was just looking at everything and everybody around her while they hustled and bustled.

She looked up as she heard her son's voice. "Mom!" Shane said rushing over to her. "Are you okay?"

Linda didn't respond, she just averted her gaze back down to the floor and Shane looked at the police officer.

"She hasn't said anything since she came out of the interview room, she's still in shock." The police officer informed Shane gently. "A lot of women are like this after they've been through… well, been through what your mom's been through today."

Shane looked back at his mother, "It's gonna be okay now mom," he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. Linda's frame stiffened and Shane was shocked. "Mom, I'm not going to hurt you, it's me – Shane."

Linda slowly looked at him and her eyes brimmed with tears, but she didn't let them out, she just nodded at him then took to looking back at the floor.

"Mom, I'll be back in five minutes yeah, I just have to go and see about getting Dad out of here. Then we can all go home."

Linda didn't say anything and Shane slowly got up and went out of the room to see about getting his father out.

Fifteen minutes later Shane walked back in the room with Vince and Vince immediately rushed over to Linda, she jumped as he sat down next to her and tried to hug her, he put his arms around her but she didn't respond to him, like she did with Shane her frame just stiffened. Vince looked at Shane questioningly and Shane just shrugged.

"They think she's still in shock Dad, she's been like this ever since she came out of the interview room."

Vince let her go and gently took hold of her hand. "Linda, it's me." Linda looked at him. "Shall we go home?" he asked gently.

Linda just stood up and Vince took that to mean yes. He held her hand all the way to Shane's car and sat in the back seat with her.

"Dad, Mom's going to need some clothes?" Shane said looking in his rear-view mirror at his father.

Vince nodded. "I think it's best if we go back to mine first though, I'll call Stephanie and tell her what's happened and she can stay with your Mom while we go and get some clothes from her apartment."

Shane nodded. "Is that okay with you Mom?" Shane asked, hoping to get a response from her, but she didn't say anything, she just continued to stare out of the car window at the passing scenery.