The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1669 by Angharad Copyright © 2012 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

Andy and I shook hands, “This is my colleague, Amy Howse.” I nodded and shook her hand as well.

Andy had a good look at my face and winced, “Who hit you?”

“I don’t know his name, we hadn’t been introduced–he simply demanded my handbag and tried to take it. I refused and resisted and he hit me, two or three times. There were two of them, one black the other white, I managed to get a kick at one of them, the white one I think, he came at me with a knife and I screamed.”

“Lady Cameron has been stabbed before,” Andy informed his colleague.

“I saw the notes,” she replied, “So you must have been really frightened?”

“I was terrified, It felt as if I was going to die this time and I was trying to work out which one I’d try to hit before they got me. The group of kids were baying for my blood and preventing my escape, so I’d like to see them all prosecuted.”

“Waste of time, Lady Cameron,” Andy opened the door when Jacquie knocked and brought in the tray of teas and coffee. She asked if there was anything else and I dismissed her. “New help?”

“Yes, although she’s been traumatised, so it’s part mothering and part employer. On a bad day she calls me, Mummy. She’s a good kid though and I hope I can help to heal her pain.”

“You must stop trying to heal the world single handed,” lectured PC Bond, “No one will ever manage that until it wants to be healed.”

“That was profound, Andy,” I commented and don’t really know why I was surprised, he’s shown himself to be quite capable of such ideas before.

“I’m older than you, Cathy, and I couldn’t do with the support of the police force, so I doubt you’re going to do much better, even with your money and resources.” He was well aware of my reputation as a healer so kept things very vague.

We drank our beverages and I ran through what I remembered of the incident, he showed me my statement from the previous day and I signed it as a true account.

“The two louts that Simon sorted out, they’re both still in hospital you know?”

“Andy, if they were in body bags I don’t think I’d do more than celebrate.”

“I can understand your feelings, but remember if one of them were to croak, we’d have to pull Simon on a manslaughter charge.”

“But he was defending me,” I protested, “it honestly felt like they were going to kill me, and that would have been murder. Surely you can do them for attempted murder.”

“The girl you hit, Lady Cameron,” said Amy, “is in hospital too with severe bruising of the larynx.”

“She picked up the knife and was going to stab Simon, I acted on reflex as she came by me.”

“We’ve got the tapes of the incident. It doesn’t show it all but hopefully enough to jail the two main antagonists.”

I glanced at my wrist, it was bruised, presumably where I’d hit the girl or perhaps one of the louts grabbed or hit me.

“What happens next?” I asked.

“The evidence goes to a senior officer who decides if we have enough to take to the CPS, they then review it and decide if there’s enough for a prosecution. Sadly, that could mean you or Simon appear in the dock for excessive use of force.” Andy looked away as he said this.

“That is ridiculous, there were clearly a gang of them, and those that weren’t directly involved were inciting the rest.”

“Can you prove that?”

“Surely the tape suggests that?”

“It’s only pictures, no soundtrack.”

“If they can do kids for looting on flimsier evidence, I’ll be damned if we don’t get at least two of them sent down. It was attempted murder, at least in the intention of one of the two thugs.”

“I’ll try and let you know what’s happening as soon as I can.”

“Andy, I know it might be seen as abuse of power or position, but if the CPS don’t prosecute, I will privately and I’ll sue anyone and everyone until they’re sucked dry, and that would include the police if necessary or the CPS for incompetence.”

“You won’t win many friends like that, Cathy.”

“How many times have you been threatened with a knife, Andy?”

“A few.”

“And how many times did you think you might die?”

“Once or twice.”

“And you, Amy?”

“Once, his mate pulled him away. I still charged him, he got three years.”

“So threatening a police officer is a worse crime than assaulting a member of the public and preparing to kill her?”

“No, but the courts tend to treat it as such.”

“I can see why, but if they don’t do something to these two, then I will.”

“Cathy, don’t do anything stupid, will you?”

“No, it won’t be anything stupid, but it will be as harsh as I can make it.”

“Get some steak on that eye.”

“I’m not wasting good meat, I’ll have an ice pack on it in a while.”

“Make sure you do. Is Simon about?”

“I think he’s gone into his office, this Euro crisis thing is causing him lots of work.”

“I’ll bet. Could you ask him to give me a ring so we can set up an appointment to see him?”

“Of course I will.”

He offered me his card. “I think I’ve got one already, Andy.”

“This one has the incident number on it.”

“Who called the police?”

“The shop owner when it got rowdy and noisy, he switched on his CCTV when he saw the kids massing by his shop.”

“Good job he did.” Hopefully his footage should be good evidence, I almost offered a silent prayer to the universe and whatever god of justice it might hold.

“Anyway, we have to go, I hope the eye goes down–see a doctor, get a medical opinion and some photos–if it goes to court, at least the jury can see what happened to you and how that might have provoked Simon.”

“Stella made me an appointment for the doctor about eleven, so I’ll have to get myself ready.”

“Good, we may need to ask for his notes, so warn him.”

“I think he probably knows.”

They left, the time was nine thirty and I needed to get myself washed and dressed. I showered and after drying my hair pulled it back in a ponytail, then I dressed simply in jeans and a jumper and went to the doctor. Jacquie offered to babysit so Stella drove me. I couldn’t see out of my left eye.

The doctor was suitably horrified and agreed to detail his report in case it was required by the court. He suggested I went to see the hospital but I declined. I explained what was happening and how Simon had broken his hand and could be prosecuted.

“It seems crazy these days, if someone stabs you they seem to want to charge you for getting blood stains on his clothing. The world has gone mad.”

I agreed with him and hoped I wouldn’t have to wind myself up for another tussle with the forces of law and order. Stella then drove us home and I realised not being able to see terribly well might actually have been an advantage for once.