Chapter 24 –

"I need to speak to Rachel."

Alice bowed her head slightly as she spoke, resting her body weight on her crutches she could already feel the anger bubbling from Zoe and she couldn't really blame to doctor but the facts remained clear, she had to speak to Rachel.

"She's not well enough."

Zoe spoke firmly as she kept her hand on the door, refusing to budge and allow Alice any access to Rachel.

"Please Doctor Hanna I wouldn't ask if I had any other options open to me."

Alice sighed as she spoke, she could feel more eyes falling on her as the conversation carried on but Zoe stayed firm and shook her head, out of the corner of her eye she could see Sam quickly approaching and was glad that someone else would back her up.

"What's going on?"

Sam looked at Alice and then Zoe who was standing protectively in front of the door before she glanced in and saw Rachel sitting up in the bed, Zoe gave her a warm smile before she turned and looked at Alice.

"They aren't saying anything, except for Dominic's earlier statement, now they are all keeping quiet, not even speaking to their solicitors. I need Sam's statement and Rachel's to be able to formally charge them."

Alice's voice was exasperated as she spoke, quickly moving her glance from Sam and Zoe in desperate search of a modicum of cooperation from either woman.

"I'll speak to you if you'll leave Rachel alone."

"I'll still need to speak to her."

"Ok but speak to me first and then let Zoe and I talk to her."

Alice nodded her head as Sam looked at Zoe who nodded her head in approval before she handed a key to Sam.

"Use my office and don't worry I'll stay here with Rachel."

"Thanks Zoe, if she asks..."

"I'll be fine Sam just get it over and done with."

Zoe waited until Alice and Sam had left before she leant briefly against the door and took a breath, composing herself before she opened the door and prepared herself for the barrage of questions that Rachel was sure to bombard her with.

Sam sat in Zoe's chair, quickly placing herself in the position of authority as she watched Alice balance her crutches against the desk before she brought out a digital recording device.

"Do you mind if I record this?"

"No."

"Thank you Doctor Nicholls."

Sam nodded her head as Alice began the interview, instantly recognising the formality that it had taken.

"So two nights ago you followed Doctor Carter from Holby city hospital to a house on Albany Avenue is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Why did you follow Doctor Carter?"

"Because I believed that he was responsible for sexually assaulting Rachel Carden."

"Who is a patient of yours?"

"Yes and who was also missing at the time, I was hoping that Dominic, Doctor Carter would lead me to her."

"And then you entered the property?"

"Yes, Sergeant Emmerson tried to stop me but I was determined to find Rachel."

"You were concerned for her safety?"

"Of course, she had been badly beaten up and she had obvious signs of sexual assault the last time I had examined her."

"When you entered the property what did you find?"

"Doctor Carter and Rachel."

Sam closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she opened them and looked at Alice who just nodded her head in support.

"What happened next?"

"Doctor Carter set light to a piece of furniture, Rachel told us that there was another girl in the property, Sergeant Emmerson went to find her while I helped Rachel to get out of the burning room."

"Thank you Doctor Nicholls, that is all the information that I need for the moment."

Alison clicked off the recording device and looked at Sam who nodded her head before she poured herself a glass of water and quickly drunk it, allowing herself a moment to compose the emotions that were tumbling around her stomach.

"What happened to the other girl?"

"She was a runaway they found on the streets, luckily for her nobody assaulted her, she's with foster parent's at the moment but is too traumatised to give us any meaningful statement."

Sam nodded her head as she remembered how quiet and withdrawn Rachel had been and the time it had taken her to gain the girl's trust.

"I really don't want to put Rachel through any more trauma Sam but I do need to speak to her."

"I know, can you just let me speak to her first?"

"Of course."

Sam nodded her head as she stood up and walked out of Zoe's office, leaving Alice sitting there and contemplating what her next move would be.

Zoe smiled as she walked back into the room, closing the door behind her as she looked at Rachel who was staring anxiously at her.

"What's going on?"

"Relax Rachel please. Sam has just gone to speak to Detective Parker in my office, don't worry I'm going to stay right here with you."

Zoe watched as she moved closer to the bed, Rachel laid back down resting her head on the pillow as she closed her eyes. Zoe edged closer and gently rested her hand on Rachel's shoulder, she could see the tears beginning to escape from behind Rachel's closed eyes and her heart panged at the hurt the young girl was suffering from. Without saying a word Zoe perched on the edge of the bed and softly helped Rachel to sit up, holding the girl tightly against her as Rachel buried her head into the crook of Zoe's neck allowing the tears to fall while Zoe rubbed her back soothingly. A few minutes later Rachel heard the door click, slowly she lifted her head as Sam walked back into the room, the young girl looked at Sam and then Zoe who still had a reassuring hold of her. Sam's pace quickened as she saw Rachel's tear stained face and Zoe embracing her, Sam waited until she was beside the bed before her soft quiet voice spoke.

"Rachel, sweetie, what's wrong?"

Sam frowned as she looked at Zoe who quietly mouthed 'police' at her and Sam took a deep breath and nodded her head.

"I'll do it."

Rachel's voice was a whisper as she spoke, reaching up as she wiped the tears away from her face before she looked at Sam and then Zoe.

"Tell Detective Parker that I'll speak to her."