Bab’s New Year’s Resolution 19

Severe heroin addiction. She started experimenting at eleven years of age. Her story is on the website below
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8890217/woman-who-began-inject...

List of Characters.

Barbara. Chief Protagonist AKA Bab’s.
Lola. (Seventeen) Transgendered girl rescued by Bab’s from an attempted murder.
Olivia. (Fifteen) Barbara’s second adopted daughter: Black lesbian girl fostered out of care then adopted. (With Olivia’s consent!)
Joyce Banks. Bristol Social worker.
Aaron Talbot Surgical registrar – married to -
Shirley Talbot Lecturer at Local university.
They are a married couple who own a narrow-boat on the canal. Friends of Lola
Mickey Talbot (Twelve) Aaron and Shirley’s oldest child.
Jessica Talbot (Eleven) Aaron & Shirley’s middle child.
Bianca Talbot (Nine) Aaron & Shirley’s Youngest child.
Billy Medical colleague of Aaron’s – he also owns a narrow boat in Bristol.
Sandra Her parents also own another Narrowboat in Gloucester.
Jackie Sandra’s friend (a bit headstrong and ‘adventurous’)
Julie Third member of the threesome, (more level-headed and sensible than Jackie).
Jason. (Black) London Gang member deals in drugs at the children’s homes
Tyrone (Black) Also a gang member, friend of Jason. Also a dealer.
Tyson (White) Also a gang member into drugs and trafficking young girls.
Angela (Angie), Olivia’s trafficked, drug-addicted friend (Rape-gang Victim and important witness)
Sergeant Davis, (Bridie) female police bodyguard for Angela.
Detective Sergeant Davies. (Brian) Bridie’s twin brother.
Inspector John, Heading up the anti-rape-gang operation in Birmingham.
Erica. Another girl victim thought to have been killed by the gang.

Chapter 19.

To avoid creating any identifiable patterns of behaviour and possibly enabling any rape-gang members to determine any potential kidnap or ambush opportunities, Bridie and the girls staggered their visiting plans. They avoided visiting Erica for fully two weeks but they did send snail-mail letters from various locations periodically to reassure her that they had not forgotten her. This plan also enabled the girls to more easily recognise any improvements in Erica.

During their first visit since restarting school, they clearly noticed the increase in security surrounding Erica’s hospital bed. There was an armed guard at the door outside her private ward and two armed guards patrolling the immediate building. On noticing these developments Lola, Olivia and Angela asked for a full and frank appraisal by Inspector John about the heightened concerns.

“You asked for it girls, so here it is. The two main dangers are that two high-ranking members of the Saudi Royal family were involved with Erica’s Rape on two occasions; that's why the Iranians were so keen to return Erica to our investigation. The Iranians will do anything to discredit the Saudi's!

Also a member of the Mexican government who has got ties to the Mexican drug gangs is deeply involved.
They have been secretly identified and are being watched by several security organisations belonging to several different European and trans-Atlantic governments. At the present rate of information gathering, we and our foreign colleagues will have sufficient evidence to nail these animals. I sincerely hope that by next summer, these vermin will be behind bars.

“I’d love to catch the bloody vermin who gave Erica AIDS!” Olivia cursed.

Inspector John wagged his head.

“She hasn’t got Aids yet Olivia. She’s just HIV positive. With every passing week, we have hopes of new drugs to defeat HIV. As long as Erica does not develop AIDS, we live in hope.”

“Yeah. Well I’d still love to kill the bastard who infected her.”

“We live in hope girls, -of curing HIV that is-. We’re already on the road to capturing these bastards. Another year of diligence should open the floodgates of justice and drown these rats.” Bridie added.

It was during the third visit that Olivia and Angela were eventually to officially learn that sadly, Erica was indeed HIV positive. At first the girls were devastated but the medical team were able to reassure them that with advances in medicine and modern drugs, Erica would be able to lead a reasonably normal life. The down-side being that she would have to take medicines continually for the rest of her life unless or until, a proper, permanent cure was eventually developed.

It was after the girls third visit since starting school again and just before Lola started up at Cambridge that the medical team finally concluded that Erica was fit to be questioned. This time they did not sit Erica before a raft of inquisitors but instead, they ensconced her on a settee between her friends Olivia and Angela while a trio of experienced investigators sat in arm-chairs around a large low coffee table. To emphasise the casual, friendly circumstance, Lola and Bridie pottered about making tea and serving food.

The idea was to make the interview as much like a casual friendly house-party as possible while in another room, invisible to Erica, a veritable crowd of investigators listened in then presented their questions via Inspector John who along with one of the clinic psychiatrist and the ward sister, made up the socialising trio. These three had won Erica's trust again.

The questions were however quite open yet sometimes distressing for Erica as facts, circumstances and painful events were revisited.
Several times, Erica broke down in tears and it took all of Olivia’s resolve to hug her tight in desperate endeavours to reassure her. For Angela, her part was doubly difficult for she had personal experience of so many similar yet brutally painful events. However, she struggled manfully to support her friend Erica while simultaneously trying to hide her distress.

Towards the end, all the girls were aghast at some of the names revealed as definite perpetrators of known atrocities but, despite the shocks, it mainly served to cast a firm resolve to see the case through.

With the revelations of the interview made known to Lola, Olivia and Angela, it reinforced their caution and it also served to boost the police protection shield to two officers personally protecting Erica at the clinic plus two armed patrols discreetly operating around the clinic environs. Additionally, a second police officer was added to the team guarding the canal cottage.

The extra officer was quietly checking the area on his first watch at exactly the time Olivia and Angela were coming home from school and for some minutes it terrified the girls until Bab’s laughingly reassured them. The officer was introduced to them in the cottage and a wave of relief washed over the girls.

“We thought you were a gang-member sizing up the joint.”

“What, while wearing a water authority jacket with the company motif?” The officer grinned.

“Exactly because you were wearing the jacket!" The pair chorused. "Bridie and Brian only wear theirs if they are supposedly doing some official work like replacing or readjusting the fish counters or current meters. There’s such a thing as overkill.”

“Okay. In future I’ll tone it down a bit. But I have to wear a bulky coat for other reasons. Fortunately the colder weather justifies a larger, heavier coat.”

There was a silent, meaningful pause before Angela whispered incredulously.

“Are you armed? Under that coat I mean!"

He nodded while shrugging apologetically to hide his embarrassment.

“F’raid so. This case is getting messy.”

“So it’s going to be a twenty-four hour guard.” Angela continued.

“Until we’re more certain of the risk level, yes.” The officer confirmed.

“Will all the officers be armed?” Olivia asked.

“Yes, so please; mum’s the word.”

“Oh you can bet your bottom dollar,” Olivia affirmed. “This whole thing is turning to rat-shit.”

“Will you be staying on the boat or in the caravan?” Angie asked.

“We’re moving to the boat, it's nearer to the cottage. That’ll be our base, while Bridie and Brian continue at the caravan.

“What about when we’re travelling to school and stuff?” Olivia wondered.

“If necessary, we will be driving the bus. It’s the best disguise we can come up with.”

“And in school?” Angie pressed.

“If the risk escalates to that level, we take you out of school and you move away from here altogether. Your evidence is too valuable and there are some high profile people already on remand.”

Both girls sighed despondently and looked at Bab’s with disappointment writ large across their faces. The older lady did her best to calm their fears.

“I don’t think it’ll come to that girls, so far nobody has come near the cottage. Well, nobody that I don’t know. Keep your chins up girls. Now get on and do your homework. Oh, and by the way, Angie, I received a letter this morning after you left for school, they’re moving you up out of the numpty class, so well done my girl!”

Angie frowned suspiciously as Olivia took the hint and retired to the living-room while Bab’s and Angela talked.

“I don’t get it." Angela observed. "It’s only been a few weeks and I haven’t even sat any exams yet.”

“You’ve done tests though I believe. You know after the end of lessons and stuff.”

“Well – yeah. But they were just; you know mostly maths stuff. Ten simple problems at the end of each chapter. I’ve only written two short essays for English and some comprehension tests; plus all the stuff about verbs and nouns and adjectives and stuff.”

“What about science?”

“What about it?”

“Well what have you done so far?”

“Mostly biology. They won’t let the stupid kids near the laboratories nor the badly behaved kids so I don’t get to do chemistry or much physics. Any way most of the time, our teacher spends just keeping control. That’s why they have two classroom assistants.”

“Well apparently, you’ve done enough to convince the head of year that you’re worth a chance. Here, read the letter.”

Angela took the letter and read it before letting out a little gasp.

“Fuck me! She actually says something nice!”

“Who?”

“The numpty class mistress. Most of the time she just shouts at the class, mind you they are a bloody noisy, stupid bunch. She’s hardly spoken to me except to hand back my work and let me get on with it.”

“Exactly!” Bab’s replied. “You’re ‘getting on with it’ and that’s the crux of the matter. Well she’s obviously seen something worth saving in you and she’s recommended you to the head of year. Well done darling, keep it up.”
Having praised Angela for her work, Bab’s turned back to the stove to continue preparing dinner. A couple of minutes later she turned around and was surprised to see Angela still sitting holding the letter. She was wiping her eyes.

“What’s wrong darling, why are you crying?”

Angela held up the tear-stained letter.

“She’s said something nice. Nobody’s ever said something nice about me. I had her down for just another – you know; another bitch, another critic! Why didn’t she say this to me in class?”

“Perhaps she couldn’t darling.” Bab’s explained as she came around the kitchen table and hugged the girl. “If she drew attention to you in class, it might attract the bullies or it might demotivate the less able kids. In that remedial class, the teacher is always walking a tight-rope.”

As she accepted the proffered paper Kitchen towel to dry her eyes, Angie fell into a thoughtful silence. Bab’s waited knowingly for the anticipated insight and it wasn’t long coming.

“Yeah. When you think of it she’s got a shit job. She’s always trying to hold the line, always having to raise her voice and a couple of days ago she had to break up a fight. It’s a good job one of the classroom assistants is a man. Yeah – I see it now; and at the same time she’s expected to teach thicko’s how to read, let alone write. That class is like a holding pen at a zoo, a cesspit!”

“Well just be thankful that she’s given you a life-line to escape. Grab it with both hands girl and hold on tight.”

After another brief silence Angie looked up.

“Shall I buy her a thankyou card or present or something?”

“Now that’s a wonderful thought darling. Have a think, what does she like?”

“I dunno’. Aah! Wait! In the fight she got her blouse torn and she seemed very upset about that. I swear I thought I saw a tear in her eye as she fingered the ripped sleeve. What if I got her a new blouse?”

“Can you remember the style, the brand?”

“Yes. Ollie says I’ve got an eye for fashion. I’m sure I’ve seen her blouse in Debenham’s in Bristol.”

“Good girl! Bristol it is then, Saturday morning. When do they move you up?”

“Tomorrow I suppose, I don’ know really, it doesn’t say.”

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll phone the school tomorrow and say you’ve got to attend a police hearing. The headmaster knows a bit about yours and Ollie’s case. Then we can pop into Bristol in the morning, and you can present the blouse to her with a box of chocolates perhaps, before you finish and move up.”

Angie’s eyes brightened and she gave Bab’s a teary hug.

“Thanks Nina, can I call you Nina now, like Ollie and Lola do?”

“I’ve been waiting for that day since you came here! Of course! I’d be honoured and delighted to have you call me Nina. Now get on and do your homework, I’ll call you when food is ready.”