Chapter Four

"So you don't call, you don't write," Jack said leaning against the wall "Where've you been?"

Jack had managed to persuade the officers to allow him privacy whilst he took samples from Sinead. They had decanted to the medical room which was roomier than the cells and less full of officers which pleased Sinead greatly.

"The Maldives obviously, can't you tell from my tan?" she said sarcastically

"I gave you my card. I could've helped you,"

"No you couldn't," she said softly "I'm beyond help,"

"No one's beyond help," Jack told her firmly "Sinead, I-"

Their conversation was interrupted by a knocking on the door. A middle-aged man stuck his head around the door and gave the pair a warm smile.

"Jack Hodgson?" he asked and Jack nodded "I'm Doctor Alec Garfield. I'm the pathologist working on this case. You need me to take samples?"

"Yeah. Blood mainly. But I want you to take a look at the cut on Sinead's cheek. It looks deep. It might warrant getting the FME,"

"Consider it done," Alec nodded "And you must be Sinead," he said glancing across at the young woman who was sitting with her knees pulled up to her chin in the corner of the room "God is gracious,"

Jack and Sinead shared a puzzled look.

"That's what Sinead means: God is gracious," he said and Sinead snorted derisively "Pretty name for a pretty girl, but that cut looks nasty. What do you say you allow me and Jack to help you out?"

"Just this once Sinead," jack said "We want to help,"

Sinead slowly nodded and stood up. Jack took a good look at her now she wasn't covered in police officers. She was wearing his hoodie which fell down to her knees and had a dark red stain in the middle. Jack pulled out his camera and directed Sinead to stand with her arms down by her side so that he could take crime-scene photos.

"I'm going to need to take that hoody off you," Jack told her apologetically "It'll be used and tested for evidence but I'm sure we can find you something else to wear. That threadbare dress wasn't great in the carpark and it's not suitable here either,"

Sinead nodded and pulled off the hoodie, passing it to Jack who put it in the brown evidence bag. He grimaced as he saw her shivering in her little dress, bones jutting out underneath her pale skin. Bruises littered her upper arms in angry shades and purple and blue.

"Sinead…" he said instinctively reaching out to protect her

"Don't Jack," she snarled defensively backing away

"Ah!" Alec smiled trying to break the ice "Jack's in good company with that accent. I'm afraid I'm not from anywhere nearly as exotic. You'll have to put up with my estuarine tones. I'm from Swindon,"

Jack snorted with laughter and even Sinead had to crack a smile.

"Well," Alec said looking satisfied he had de-escalated the situation "Let's crack on shall we?"

Sinead looked at Jack who nodded at her as he passed her a white, paper suit.

She sighed and started to strip off her clothes.

"Woah!" Jack stopped her "Let's give you a little privacy shall we? At least wait till our back's are turned,"

"Sorry," she mumbled nonchalantly

The men shot each other a look and turned their backs. They heard clothes drop to the floor and a rustling of the paper before Sinead piped up, telling them she was decent.

"Well it's not the height of fashion but it should be warmer than that wet dress," Alec said as Jack bagged her dress and his hoody "What do you think Sinead?"

"It's okay…" she muttered taking a seat on the floor

"You can sit on the chair," Alec said

"I prefer the floor. It's solid and safe and-"

"-you can't get any lower," Jack finished for her and Sinead nodded

"Fair enough," Alec nodded "Well I'm going to need a blood sample," he said fumbling in his case for a vial

Jack kneeled on the floor next to her so he was on her level "I'm going to need to swab your mouth," he said "Okay?"

She nodded and closed her eyes as she opened her mouth. Jack leant closer into her. He could smell sweat mixed with cheap perfume. He looked closely at her: he could see the remnants of makeup smudged by hot sticky tears which left dirty trails in their wake.

Suddenly she opened her eyes and stared at him. He felt his heart leap in his chest; she had chaotic eyes, mixed with green and blue, swirling in her irises. But in those chaotic eyes was fear. Pure, wild fear.

"it's okay," he whispered to her and squeezed her hand before standing up

"Okay, now Jack's done with you, I'm going to need that blood sample," Alec said taking Jack's position "Sharp scratch Sinead," he warned her as he pressed the needle into her arm

"Ow!" she hissed and grabbed Jack's hand which was hanging limply by his side

The action took him by surprise but when he composed himself a moment later he found himself squeezing her hand back

"Sorry," she said

"It's okay," he repeated, too dumbstruck to say anything else

"All done," Alec said pulling away from her with a vial of blood in his hand "Just press down on it for me," he told her and she nodded

"Sinead, what happ-"

"We done in here?" a voice called and an officer entered the room "Back to the cells," he told Sinead before waiting for a response from the two scientists.

When Sinead failed to move, the officer pulled her up by her arm. She squealed in response and tried to pull away but this just angered the officer who pulled tighter

"Hey!" Jack exclaimed but the officer rounded on him

"Got something to say?"

Alec stepped in between the pair "Let's just calm it down boys," he said, his voice laden with years of experience "Sinead. Will you go back to the cells with this officer?" he asked softly and she nodded, pulling herself up off the floor and following the officer out of the room.

She stopped just before she exited the room "By pizza man," she called softly and gave Jack a small sad smile as she left the room

Jack let out an angry breath as the two scientists were left alone.

"You okay?" Alec asked

"Fine," Jack said defensively

"You know her don't you?" Alec said as they packed up their respective kits. It was a statement, not a question

"I met her once," Jack shrugged

"You shouldn't have been taking samples if you have a personal relationship with her," Alec warned

"I don't know her personally. I met her on the street, she's been sleeping rough," Jack said

"I noticed," Alec said sadly "Poor girl. She's just a kid. What do you think happened?"

"I don't know," Jack said "But I'm going to find out,"