Page 69 of Below the Deck

Officers attended the above residence following reports from neighbours of shouting and sounds of distress. On arrival, Nicholas Michaelides (37) stated he had been assaulted by his wife, Eleni Michaelides (34), during an argument. Victim displayed scratches to the face and neck and identified himself as a serving sergeant with the Metropolitan Police.

The perpetrator appeared visibly distressed but uninjured. Two children also present in the house, sleeping and unharmed. The property showed signs of disturbance but there was no significant damage. Due to the visible injuries on the male and conflicting accounts, officers had reasonable grounds to suspect an offence under Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

Eleni Michaelides was arrested at 00:12 hrs, 15/12/2025, cautioned, and conveyed to Edmonton Police Station custody suite for processing.

LUCY

The scissors clattered to the floor as Lucy backed out of the treatment room.

For seconds that felt suspended in time, she’d wanted tokillRory – or at the very least, hurt him. She’d really thought she might: her rage and frustration … theinjusticeof it all was too overwhelming.

But she’d left him unharmed on the massage bed, except for the cut he already had. With the scissors in her hand, she’d stared at the bandaged wound on Rory’s face – and she’d thought of Alfie, and her Mum, and all the blood ontheirfaces that day.

On some telepathic level, she’d felt – no, more than that; she’d actuallyknown– Alfie was telling her, in a voice she’d never heard anywhere outside of her own mind:Don’t do it, Lucy. I love you, and I need you. And you’re better than this. He’ll get what he deserves – and that’s not violence or death at your hands.

So she’d let the scissors fall to the floor. And as she did,she realized something else. That she didn’t really want Rory dead – or even harmed, at least not physically. She wanted justice and she wanted peace, but hurting him wouldn’t give her either of those things. Inflicting pain was never the answer: it would make her as bad as Rory, or even worse.That’s not who I am.

I can’t keep living like this. I need my life – my happiness– back. I can’t let Rory steal it from me any longer.

Perhaps it really is time to let this go.

It was still gloomy as she headed out into the passageway below deck.How is the power still not back up?It must have been at least half an hour since the lights went out; she was sure Brett said the back-up generator would kick in soon. Maybe there was more damage to the engine than he’d thought.

Lucy hurried along the corridor, guided by the floor panels, keen to get back to Mark. He might have gone to the sky lounge to check on her by now – he would have realized she’d been lying. She’d tell him the truth: that she’d been to see Rory and tried to confront him. That she’d brought it all out in the open and ended up quitting her job; that her one last attempt to get justice for the people her boss had hurt had come to nothing. And that she knew now that Mark was right – itwastime to let this go.

She reached their cabin door, pushed it open and peered inside: there was enough light in the room to see Mark sprawled on the bed, earbuds in, legs akimbo, fast asleep. She smiled at the sight and was about to go in and join him, when hushed voices caught her attention from across the corridor. Something in their tone – an urgent, anxious cadence – made her walk to the door opposite and press her ear against it.

She was right: the voices were coming from the master stateroom. She pushed against the door and it cracked open; it hadn’t been closed properly. She crept into the suite and glanced around – there was no sign of anyone, but the voices were louder now, and Lucy could hear who was speaking: Eleni and Talia.

And what they were saying …

Lucy walked softly towards the bathroom, pausing for a second to allow her eyes to adjust to this shadowy area of the cabin, then pushed open the door to the en-suite – and stopped still in shock.

She stared at the marble floor, and saw the dark, almost black liquid –blood, so much blood – and the man lying in it, with some kind of ornament next to him, then clamped a hand over her mouth to dull the scream in her throat.

‘Oh my God – Nick. What happened? Is he—?’

Both women started at the sound of Lucy’s voice; then there was a heavy silence until Eleni said dully, ‘He’s dead.’

Lucy opened her mouth and closed it again, then managed: ‘How did he … what the fuck happened? Eleni – Talia – tell me!’

There was no reply; it was difficult to see, but Lucy could hear Talia taking fast, laborious breaths.That doesn’t sound right.Lucy switched on her phone’s torch and shone it in Talia’s direction – then gasped. There were reddish-purple marks criss-crossing her neck and throat.

‘Talia – how did you … what happened?’

‘Nick … did this to me,’ said Talia.

What?‘I – I’m sorry,’ Lucy stuttered, ‘I don’t understand.’

There was a pause, and then: ‘Nick wasn’t who you – everyone – thought he was,’ Eleni said quietly. ‘I mean, he wasloving and generous and kind a lot of the time. But he could be cruel and controlling too – sometimes violent.’

No – Nick – police sergeant Nick? And Eleni – perfect, shiny Eleni – married to someone violent? I can’t be hearing this.

‘I thought … Nick … was going to kill me. She protected me,’ croaked Talia. ‘She stabbed him … with the statue. She … saved me from him – he was … a monster.’

Eleni’s eyes flooded with tears. ‘He wasn’t always like that,’ she whispered. ‘It’s hard to explain. He’s the only man I’ve ever loved – the only man who’s ever lovedme.’

Talia shook her head. ‘People who … love you … don’t …’