D Day

Mared walked into the court with her head held high. She took a deep breath, glad that she had spoken with Joanne before she had been called. Resting one hand on the Bible she promised to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. She felt Prosser glaring at her. His eyes boring into her as she listened to the Prosecution ask her to confirm her details. The butterflies in her stomach began dancing as she looked up. Prosser smirked as Mared tried to keep her voice level.

"DI Rhys?" She snapped her attention towards the Judge. The older woman looked concerned.

"Your Honour?"

"Are you well? Would you like an adjournment?"

"Thank you but I'm fine." Mared paused. The Judge raised an eyebrow. She could see that the detective was far from fine but she knew that the sooner the woman gave her evidence and was cross examined then the sooner she could be back with family and friends. The Judge nodded for the prosecution barrister to continue.

Xxxxx

Siân watched as Ieuan folded his arms. The Aberystwyth sunshine faded as drizzle descended on them.

"Coffee?" Ieuan asked. Siân raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't think this was a social call."

"Look Siân, stay out yer. Get soaked to the bloody skin and die oh pneumonia - I'm not that bothered. But I am getting inside." He turned storming off to the small cafe at the end of the pier. Siân swore under her breath, knowing there was no way she was going to get any more details if she didn't follow him.

Xxxxx

Tom rested his head back against the cool concrete wall of the police waiting room. He knew Mared was on the stand. That she was in the court with Prosser. The thought made his blood boil. Every instinct he had was to march back into the courtroom and get her as far away from the man as he could.

"She's in there now." The court officer he knew as Joanne smiled. "She'll be ok."

"Hope so." Tom paused. "I really hope so."

Joanne smiled kindly as other officers entered and left the room. She liked the scruffy looking detective - the man that had returned from the Met in disgrace seemed to really care for his team.

"DC Ellis has gone back to the station as has DS Owen."

"Lloyd and Siân. Probably plotting something." He smiled slightly, sitting in the plastic chair as he waited. He knew there was nothing else he could do.

Xxxxx

Mared shook her head, instantly regretting it. The room spun as she gripped the edges of the witness box. She forced herself to focus on the question from the defence barrister, knowing that the woman was trying to trip her up. She felt sick, her knees buckling as she fought to get her thoughts in order - to push the dark edges away from her vision. A court usher ran towards her calling her name as the Judge called the court to a close. Mared felt the world slip away as the darkness overcame her.

Xxxxx