Chapter 23 –

Alice slammed her hands hard on the table as Matt left the interview room and joined her outside, looking through the mirrored glass at the smug looking woman as she sat motionless alongside her solicitor.

"Sorry boss."

"That's ok Matt, you did all that you could, it's not your fault that she is a psychopath."

"You know what this means though?"

Matt frowned as he looked at Alice who was still staring hard at the window before she slowly nodded her head.

"Yeah but let's go and get some sleep first, we can go to the hospital first thing in the morning and break the news to them."

"Ok boss."

Alice nodded her head as she finally took her gaze away from the woman and looked at Matt, apart from Dominic none of the others had said a single word other than to request a solicitor. That left them with no other option than to speak to Sam and more importantly Rachel, if they were going to formally charge the woman and the two men then Rachel needed to tell them exactly what had happened to her and be prepared to do this in a court of law as well. Alice took a breath before Matt smiled and took his keys out of his pocket.

"Come on boss I'll give you a lift home."

Zoe smiled at Noel as she walked in, finally she had spent a night at her home and after several hours sleep, a steaming hot shower and some clean clothes she felt a great deal better. Instinctively she headed straight for her office, stowing her bag into her bottom desk drawer and hung her coat up before her eyes caught sight of Pam Hales' business card that was lying on top of her keyboard. A heavy sigh left Zoe's mouth as she left her office and headed to the quiet side room that she had left Rachel and Sam in late last night, quickly Zoe opened the door and walked in as quietly as possible, noticing that the two females were both sleeping. Zoe pulled her glasses down and checked Rachel's notes that had been updated during the night but everything was progressing well as she lifted Sam's laptop off the edge of the bed and placed it underneath the monitors that were still beside Rachel's bed.

"You're in early."

Zoe jumped at the unexpected quiet voice but smiled as she turned to look at Sam who had one eye open peering quizzically at her colleague.

"I told you that I was going to keep a close eye on you Doctor Nicholls, I do believe that your hands need redressing."

Zoe raised an eyebrow as she watched Sam roll her eyes and puff out her cheeks as she stared at her bandaged hands.

"Come on Sam I'll do it in here so you don't have to leave Rachel."

"No I don't want Rachel to see, she blames herself enough already."

Sam spoke firmly as she looked at Zoe who nodded her head before she looked around and saw Linda walking past.

"Give me a second."

Zoe quickly walked over and knocked on the door, catching Linda's attention before she gestured for the nurse to come in.

"Can you take Sam and redress her hands for me?"

"Of course."

Linda smiled as Sam reluctantly stood up and walked over before Zoe rested her hand on Sam's elbow.

"Don't worry I'll stay here with Rachel."

Sam nodded her head before she wandered off with Linda, neither of them talking as Zoe ambled over and sat down in the chair next to Rachel.

Linda waited until she had retrieved the supplies that she needed and had drawn the curtain across the cubicle before she finally broke the eerie silence that had developed between the two of them.

"So how are you?"

"Fine, sorry you got lumbered with this, I could have done it myself."

"I'm sure that you could Sam but let me."

Linda smiled as Sam nodded her head and held out her hands as Linda slowly started to take the bandages off.

"Sorry I guess I'm just used to thinking that I can do everything myself."

"Sam nobody is going to think any less of you if you ask for help occasionally."

Sam smiled as she looked at Linda who grinned widely back at her.

"Thanks Linda."

"Not a problem. Oh I spoke to a certain DI last night."

"Alice? Where was she?"

Sam tried to move but Linda reached across and put a hand on Sam's shoulder as she checked the burns on Sam's hands.

"She discharged herself yesterday and was hanging around looking to speak to you and Rachel."

"Crap."

The word left Sam's mouth with a tired sense of inevitability.

"I told her to come back later."

Linda didn't lift her head as she spoke, gently she rubbed some cream onto Sam's hands before she concentrated on redressing them properly. Sam stared hard at her friend, unable to find the words or willing to break the woman's concentration until she had finished.

"Thank you Linda, I don't think either Rachel or I could have done that yesterday."

"Not a problem Sam but you know that she'll be back."

"Yes but she can speak to me first, I don't want her upsetting Rachel. I just don't think that she is strong enough at the moment."

Linda just nodded her head as she busied herself tidying up as Sam stood up.

"If I see her and I'll come and find you Sam."

"Thanks Linda."

Sam smiled before she quietly exited the cubicle and headed back to find Zoe and Rachel.

Rachel opened her eyes and was surprised to see Zoe sitting reading in the chair next to her.

"Zoe?"

"Oh hi sweetie."

Zoe smiled as she quickly closed the file that she was reading and concentrated on Rachel.

"Sam?"

"She'll be back in a minute don't worry."

Rachel gave a faint nod of her head as Zoe looked up at the door and saw Alice standing outside. Quickly the expression changed on her face, a motion that was instantly picked up by Rachel as the girl tried to sit up.

"Zoe what's wrong?"

"Nothing sweetie, just relax Rachel, I'm just going outside for a moment but I'll be right outside the door."

Rachel used all of her strength as she lifted her body up and looked at the door as Zoe stood up from the chair.

"The police, they want to speak to me?"

Zoe sighed as she reached across and gently put a hand on Rachel's shoulder.

"Probably but that's not going to happen until you are ready and are strong enough, please relax and let me deal with this."

Rachel nodded her head and swallowed hard but it wasn't enough to stop a stray tear from escaping from her eye, Zoe smiled and reached up, tenderly wiping it away with her thumb before she walked towards the door, knowing that Rachel was watching her move she closed the door and glared hard at DI Parker, not wanting Rachel to hear any of the conversation that was about to occur.