**For authors notes, disclaimer etc see chapter 1**

Seven Days and Counting 15

I'm standing in front of the mirror in the ladies trying to apply enough make up to cover the angry cut still on my lip and the bruising on my forehead. I got Gerry to get me some stuff from home so I at least looked more like a police officer with twenty years' experience instead of a victim but still not sure it's right. The again I'm not even sure how I should look for this particular interview. What do you wear to face up to someone who stalked and abducted you because you turned them down after they interfered with a police investigation just to meet you? It's not an experience I've ever had before and I'm pretty sure no one else has either.

"Come on Sandra you can do this, pull yourself together!" I've given myself little pep talks like this 100's time in the past but I've never needed one to work as much as I need this one to. "You just walk in there like it's any other interview, you get the information we need and get out of there and prove to him he's got no control over you anymore."

"Are you ok? Are you sure you want to do this?" Jesus I've not even made it out the door properly and he nearly gave me a heart attack. Now he's holding my hand trying to pull me into his arms as I glance around before leading him into one of the empty interview rooms. Jack and Brian may know about us but Strickland still doesn't and the last thing we need right now is for him to walk around the corner and see us.

"I'm fine, well ok I'm not fine I'm terrified but I need to do this baby, you realise that don't you?" Now I'm letting him wrap me in his arms soothing my fears in a way I longed for him to do when I was locked in that room. I missed this so much, missed him so much I really need this to be over so we can get back to our lives together.

"I know sweetheart I just wish I could be in there with you, I feel so useless. I let Christie hurt you in the first place now I have to stand back and let him try to control you again. If I'd just insisted on going home with you that…"

"No Gerry don't do that to yourself. You didn't "let" Christie do anything he did it because he's a twisted bastard. He was in the house waiting for me if you'd been with me god knows what would have happened. You were with me both times we interviewed him, he would have known you could identify him so he would still have taken me but he'd have seriously injured you, or worse." I won't let him start to beat himself up about this. Christie was determined to take me and if it hadn't been that night it would have been another.

"I was so scared I'd lost you Sandra." He's told me already and he knows I know that but he needs to say it again because here and now he doesn't have the freedom to say anything else or tell me how much he loves me. Well I'm sorry but after everything that's happened in the last week I think I'm entitled to a little deviation from my own self-inflicted rules.

"Gerry I love you and you could never be useless. The thought of you was the only thing that kept me going when I was there all I could focus on was praying that I would get home to you. Right now just knowing you will be watching the interview and be there if I need you will give me the strength to do this. The tonight when we get home I think Jack is right we should talk about the next step for us. Let me do this and draw a line under this hell then we can move on together."

"Ok, you're quite a woman Sandra you realise that don't you?" He's kissing me now and in spite of the fact it's a little uncomfortable because of the swelling on my lip it feels amazing.

"So you're always telling me but then you love me so you're biased. Now let's get this over with."

We're back out in the hallway and Jack, Brian and Strickland are standing outside one of the other interview rooms.

"Are you sure about this Sandra?" God the next person who says that to me I'm going to punch them! I know he is just doing his duty as my boss by asking but I know he wants me to do it even more than I want to so it just makes it more annoying.

"Yes I'm sure is he in there?"

"Yeah he's refused legal representation, claims he doesn't need it. Smug Bastard." There's complete contempt in Jack's tone and I know right now the three of them wish more than anything it was still the 1970's when they could go in there mob handed and get the information we need the old fashioned way. They'd take great pleasure in beating seven bells out of Christie for ever having laid a finger on me and right now I'm not sure I'd want to stop them.

"He claims that he has no need for a solicitor because he'll tell you all we want to know so it's him and one uniformed officer in the room you ok with that?" Now Brian is getting in on the "are you sure" debate and I've had enough.

"Yes we knew he was going to do this so can we just get in there and get it over with?" They've all nodded as they disappear into the viewing room and Gerry throws me a final reassuring wink as I reach for the handle of the door.

"This is it Sandra you can do this," I've taken a deep breath and opened the door my heart is pounding so loud I can hear it in my head as I see him sitting behind the desk and he turned to look at me. I know he's trying to throw me but the smug smile on his face is all it takes to convince me I can do this, by the time I'm finished with him I'll have wiped that smile off his face for good.