"Becca, I've got some bad news," Joe began, approaching his wife in the kitchen.
"What is it?" Rebecca's face paled. "Is it one of the—"
"No, the kids are fine," he assured her. "It's Robert."
"What about him?"
"He's been arrested," Joe said heavily. "For killing Victoria's rapist."
"What?" Rebecca gaped at him. "Lee?"
Joe nodded grimly. "Robert beat him up. It looked like it was just going to be GBH but..."
"How do you know?"
"He called me." Joe rubbed his head. "He thought it would be better if I told you. I'm sending my solicitor to Hotten Police Station."
"Joe, what's going to happen?" Rebecca clutched at him. "Murder... that's life imprisonment. I don't want Seb to grow up without his dad."
"Hey, that won't happen," Joe soothed her, taking her by the shoulders. "My lawyer's fantastic. It'll be a manslaughter charge. Provocation. He'll get a suspended sentence."
"A man is dead, Joe!"
"And he deserved it," said Joe firmly. "You should go and see Victoria. She'll need you."
"Victoria... I hadn't even thought..." Rebecca sunk down onto a chair. Joe sat beside her.
"We'll deal with this," he said finally. "As a family."
"You think you can buy Robert out of prison," Rebecca said bluntly. Joe winced.
"I'll do what I can," he said.
"Sorry." She reached for his hand. "That sounded ungrateful."
"It's fine."
"This is such a mess. I can't believe Robert would kill someone."
"Not like it's the first time." Joe shrugged.
"Joe, don't."
"Sorry."
They sat in silence, absorbing the news, then Joe went to make some hot sweet tea. "Bloody Sugden," he muttered to himself as the kettle boiled.