Page 126 of Tears of Gold
“A witness is a witness I can assure you.”
“Maybe.” I glare at the ceiling.
“I believe your attacker is already under police investigation for an historical abuse case?”
“Yes.”
“Did he say why he was outside your apartment last night?”
“Not exactly.”
“But he attacked you?”
“Yes."
"Did he touch you inappropriately?”
"He touched my face and pulled me down to the ground. It happened so fast.”
“And you were screaming? Did you think he was going to hurt you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s done it before.”
“Did he know you were pregnant?”
“No.” I shake my head. Hardly anyone knows.
“But he kicked you in the stomach?”
“Yes. The first time was just a wild attack, but then he saw me trying to protect my tummy.” I pull in a deep lungful of air. “And he kicked harder.” I shake my head. “No one will believe me though. They already don’t believe what I’ve said about him in the past.”
“This time you have a witness. I believe your fiancé was running towards you when you were kicked and on the floor.”
“I don’t know. I heard footsteps and someone calling out, but I didn’t know it was Eli. I couldn’t really concentrate on anything and I guess I wasn’t expecting him to be there.”
Her hand pats my arm, such a simple and comforting act. “Did your attacker say anything to you?”
“He said he would always be after me, that he would always be there.” I shiver uncontrollably. “It’s what he always used to say when I was young. That I had nowhere else to go, that it was just him who understood my dark needs.”
“That’s not true though, is it?”
“No. But no one will believe that Elijah isn’t just protecting me, trying to right the wrongs that I can’t get justice for on my own.”
“Just as well we have CCTV footage then.”
I look at her closely. Her words don’t make any sense. “You have?”
“Yes, your apartment block has a camera at the main door and on every corner. We have everything.”
“You do?”
“Faith. Relax. Aiden Jones has been arrested for grievous bodily harm. Intent to maim. And before I came in here, I spoke to the detective on your case in Brighton. It has been reopened. He will be going to jail, and I know I for one will be clapping my hands when he does. Animals like him shouldn’t be let out on the streets.”
“No, they shouldn’t.” Tears slip down my face. He’s going to go to prison. He’s sent himself to prison and it doesn’t matter what anyone else says or believes. What my father might do, or not do. Aiden is going to prison, and he is going to pay.
