Casey slowly climbed down the stairs after seeing her mother in the garden. Anger coursed through her, how dare he hurt her again, never mind starting on Jack as well? She felt a little bit of hope from the situation; maybe her mom would have a good enough reason to leave him now. She knew she couldn't ask her to, her mom didn't like her to get involved or try and get between them. She realised she wasn't calm enough to face her mother right now and quickly re-climbed the steps and closed the door behind her, she wouldn't allow herself to be seen so worked up.
She realised she had been crying tears of frustration and quickly wiped them away with the sleeves of her long sleeved tee. She had to be brave now, her mom would only be even more hurt if she knew her daughter was upset. Keep it together, she told herself sternly before she began to pace the room slowly, willing herself to be calm and stop shivering.
She could hear voices downstairs after the few minutes of silence. Police, she assumed, probably wanting a statement. She felt herself scowl at the thought, she wasn't a fan of the police. Not for any reason in general, but she saw them as unnecessary when there were people like Jack there to protect them. What was the point in employing police as well if they never did anything?
She herd steps coming up the stairs and took a deep breath, if this was her mother she had to be calm and cool. Unfazed, even though her insides were churning. To act casual she grabbed her phone from her desk and almost jumped when it began to vibrate in her hand. She glanced at the screen and saw she had a message from Stacey. "What the hells going on over there somebody die or something LOL" was written across the screen in large capital letters. She felt herself smile despite her mood, Stacey was probably worried but had her unique way of putting her thoughts across. Casey didn't text back though, there was a knock on her door before a small bald headed man entered her room, wearing all black with a radio fastened onto his trousers.
"Casey?" He asked, his voice was warm and somehow made her feel better. She still had to hold it in though, she wouldn't cry in front of a stranger.
"Yeah?" She replied casually, trying to look unconcerned with the situation, even though she couldn't stop the shaking in her hands.
"Can you tell me what happened here?"
Casey sighed as she gave a very brief explanation of how the events unfolded, trying to pain neither Jack or Mark in a bad light.
"How did the argument start?" The man probed.
"I don't know," she said, reluctant to give him any information.
"Your mom said something about stress of this house and the move you guys recently took?"
"Yeah that was it."
The police man could tell she didn't want to talk to him.
"After we sort out the two men, Mark will be allowed to return here. Are you okay with this, do you feel safe with him here?" It was a domestic violence case after all, he had to ask these things.
"Sure," she muttered, trying to smile confidently. It didn't work.
"Does he often get angry like this?"
"No," she said, almost laughing at her answer. He was more angry than he was nice.
"What about Jack, do they often fight?"
"No. Mark doesn't like Jack but Jack never had a problem with him. Mark was bad mouthing him and didn't realise Jack was there and so they offered each other outside."
"Okay, I'm going to have to ask you to sign this to verify that you are satisfied with Mark returning here. I also have to check that you were not hurt in any way during this incident."
"Nope I'm fine," she muttered as she signed the sheet, she could barely hold the pen, her hands hadn't stopped shaking.
The man smiled before telling her he'd need another chat with her mom before they'd all leave. True to his word he the men had left within the next ten minutes. She tiptoed downstairs before finding her mom sat in the living room she hated so much using a tea towel to wipe her tears. They hugged tightly as soon as Casey entered the room, Carol squeezing her tightly never wanting to let go. She whispered to her daughter that it would all be okay, but Casey wasn't convinced.
After a while Carol got herself together and went to wash her face before getting changed. She had to go to the police station to get Jack; Mark could sort himself out. Casey pestered to be allowed to come with her, Carol knew Jack wouldn't appreciate it but she also knew she didn't want her to be alone if Mark somehow got home, tonight, before them. She sighed as they climbed into Marks company car, when did life get so messed up?