Patty gently set the still emotionally wrecked Holtzmann against the wall and grabbed Pete by the scruff of his shirt. Pete fought against her but Patty was stronger, she had no trouble pulling him away from Tom. She hauled him up into the air. She pinned him against a wall and forced her to look at him. Pete struggled for breath, he shut his mouth and his nostrils flared. He continued to fight against Patty, Tom lay on the floor-winded from the attack. Erin helped him to his feet and sat him back down on the chair. Abby stood there completely gobsmacked.
"Don't help him." Pete hissed though gritted teeth. Patty loosened her grip as she turned to face Erin, Pete wriggled out from beneath her grip. Patty thought he was going to go back for more. He walked straight past Tom and went over to Holtzmann. He scooped her up, one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back. She clung to him- still crying. He carried her up one flight of sides- no one followed them. He set her down on a sofa, she grappled at him not wanting to be left on her own for a second, Pete sat beside her. Holtz still clung at him- he rubbed circles around her back.
"Did he hurt you?" Pete asked- his voice cutting into the silence. His voice wavered, he couldn't face it if he had hurt her again. Holtzmann shook her head. Pete sighed.
"I hurt him...I don't know what happened- I saw red and then my hands were around his neck." Pete stifled a laugh back- for a second Holtzmann smiled.
"It's okay you can say it." Pete whispered.
"I enjoyed it. Maybe too much." Pete shook his head.
"Of course you did- he deserved it."
The silence lasted longer than the previous one.
"He came to apologise." Pete`s fists clenched.
"I would have throttled him too."
After a while Abby popped her head upstairs. Tom had left.
An hour later Holtzmann and Pete were in her apartment. Holtzmann had ordered in Chinese, too much of it. Most of it now lay as leftovers in the fridge. It was getting late when the doorbell rang. Pete answered it. Two coppers. They flashed their ID at Pete and stepped inside. They wandered into the living room. Holtzmann was only clad in her vest top and shorts. It was a hot evening. She instantly felt exposed- she grabbed her maroon over jacket and slipped it over her shoulders.
"Jillian and Pete Holtzmann were arresting you under suspicion of attacking Pete James you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have an attorney present during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you." Holtzmann stood up and only struggled slightly.
It wasn't the first time Holtzmann had been arrested, not by a long shot. She had been in this position many a time before- however not for attacking someone. She was once arrested for stealing potential nuclear weapons from a supposedly air tight vault. She was arrested at the ripe old age of fifteen for stealing chemicals from school.
The Holtzmann`s were lead to separate cells. It was cold- Holtzmann was glad she had put on a jacket. Then the lights were turned out.
