HALLS OF ACADEMIA BY JONAH
This is a work of fiction so be aware that every character herein is also fictitious. If you think you recognise yourself, or somebody else in here - you don't. Some places, and some institutions in here are real, but the people attached to those institutions in the story are not. At least one character is the creation of another author, Jacob Lion, in the USA. My thanks to Jacob for his permission to use his characters in my story.
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Chapter five
The outcome was messy. Marion didn't calm down but attempted to assault a police officer. They took her away and, while a female officer went with Adam to hospital, Peter stayed. The police offered to take him to hospital to collect Adam but advised him not to take him back to Colchester since, if she wasn't remanded in custody, that's where she would be released to.
Adam, meanwhile, patched up and generally mended, had a bed made up for him on the floor in Lloyd's room. At six, Adam was, in fact, a year younger than Lloyd but he looked older. He was naturally distressed at what had occurred and, at first, was inclined to blame Pete that his mother had turned on him, given that she had never hit him before. Pete revealed that her violent tendencies had always been directed towards him and that he had always been able to shield Adam. That all changed when Pete's elder brother was present.
" Is Auntie Marion going to be reprimanded in custard?" Lloyd wanted to know.
You have to keep a straight face when that happens - even though a vision flashed through my mind that made me want to break out in giggles.
"That's only a posh way of saying that they might lock her up in a cell at the police station," I told him, "and I don't suppose they'll tell us if they're going to do that."
"Oh, OK," was all I got back. "I'm going to go and draw a picture of Adam."
Since Adam was upstairs in his room, that was where he headed. He had never asked anything about Adam, just accepting that he was a boy of roughly his own age with whom he could play. Apparently race and colour don't exist to a seven year old. He and Adam could have been brothers, though Adam's hair was jet black while Lloyd's was lighter when freshly washed. His father was almost as dark-skinned as I, though we were both half-Scottish, but there was no trace of it in Adam. His skin was almost as pale as his mother's though he hadn't, thank God, developed her determined set of jaw, or her suspicious, steely eyes.
Since Garret and I were both school teachers, and the Summer holidays were in full swing, it occurred to me that there might be some virtue in not being around when they let her out, but did I need to consult the police about that? Luke would know but, if I wanted to contact Luke, it would need to be soon as he would be going on night-shift.
"Luke Cummings."
"Hi Luke, it's Simon."
"Oh hi mate! Nothing wrong I hope?"
"Well, yes, in a way. We've got Pete and Adam staying with us. Marion came too but she got violent and the police have taken her away. I reckon it might be a good idea to come down to Jonah's so that she won't be able to find us if they let her out. Do I need to tell the police about that?"
"You just have but it'd still be a good idea to have a word with your local nick. Look - two things. First, you want them to keep an eye on your property if it's going to be empty. Second, if there's a court-case coming up, they might need to know where to contact the witnesses. Are you sure you want to be running away from her?"
"Oh, if I meet her again, she's a dead woman, but we definitely need to protect Pete and Adam from her," I told him.
"Simon, mate, I know you're my brother and all that, but you really need to be careful the sort of things you confess to policemen."
"Sorry Luke - joke."
"About murder? There's no such thing mate, believe me. Look, you're not going anywhere tonight, and they'll certainly be keeping her until morning. There'll be a magistrate's hearing in the morning to fix bail. which they'll probably refuse anyway as there's a child involved. I'll make a few phone calls when I get in to work and then give you a ring. It won't be too late, I promise you."
"It's OK. I'll stop up anyway. There'll be some packing to do."
It was just gone eleven when Luke rang.
"Hi Simon. I've just been on the phone with Sergeant Robins of the Norfolk Constabulary. He says she's being held at Sprowston Police Station. She has a hearing at nine o' clock, but the police aren't opposing bail. It's almost as though they're hoping she'll try something so that they can nab her for it."
"I've no intention of keeping two small children here, waiting for that to happen," I told him.
"I agree," said Luke. "In fact, the sooner you're away from there the better. I've given him Jonah's address and Jonah's expecting you."
"Thanks Luke. We'll catch the first available train up."
"I'd be happier if you did. One more thing - catch the train from Diss - not Norwich. We don't want Garret's car on show in Norwich Station car park. You'll be taking Garret's car won't you?"
"It'd be better to take both cars"
"No way," he said, for some reason alarmed. "Lock your garage but leave your car on the driveway. If she's bent on revenge, she might just take it out on the car. In any case, she won't know you've left if she can't be sure there's a car missing. You'll have plenty of time because, even if she raises bail, she'll be released in Colchester, not Norwich, so she'll have to make her way back to Newton to do anything."
Well THAT was reassuring.
"Let me get this straight Luke," I said. "You mean she might try to burn us out but, if I leave my car on the driveway, she might just torch that instead?"
"I wouldn't have put it like that but it's possible."
"Sounds kind of expensive."
"You're right. Cars are valuable."
I took his point.
"We'll be on that train in the morning," I told him.
Pete had listened to all this with mounting alarm. I hadn't said anything to him about my call to Luke so it came as a surprise to him.
He didn't have time to say anything because the phone rang again.
"Mr. Khan?"
"Yes."
"It's Sergeant Robins at Sprowston Police Station. I've just been speaking to PC Cummings of the Met."
"Yes, so have I."
"Good! "Well I've spoken to my Super about what you intend to do and he agrees that it's the best thing. He's given some more instructions, if you're prepared to go along with them."
"We'll do what we can," I promised.
"Yes, well we've reserved seats for all five of you on the 0930 from Norwich to Liverpool Street. Every car that is outside your house now stays there. We'll give you a lift to the station. Before you leave, pop the bonnet on each car so that one of our techs can disable them. If the subject does try anything, we don't want her driving off afterwards. We'll look after everything at this end and we'll let PC Cummings know when it's safe for you to come back. Oh, and by the way, I've also had a Mrs. Treadwell, from Social Services, on the phone. She wants me to allocate somebody to come and help her remove a Lloyd Pearson from your care. Apparently she believes you put the child in danger. I told her that, if she attempts to do any such thing, she'll be arrested for obstructing a police officer - namely me. She's bubbling and frothing so you'd best have a good story for her when you get back. She won't give you any trouble till then.
"Thanks Sergeant. What time do you want us in the morning?"
"Would eight o' clock be too soon for you Sir?"
"Oh, I think we could possibly get a potato clock."
I expected that to go right over the sergeant's head but he chuckled.
"I used to read that to my littl'un, when he WAS little. I don't suppose he remembers it now."
"Well, good night Sergeant, and thank you."
"Good night Sir."
"Are we all packed," I asked the assembled adults.
They assured me that we were.
"That makes it bedtime. The police are calling for us at eight in the morning."
Pete stretched himself out on the sofa. Garret and I headed upstairs.
"I'll be in in a moment," I told him. "I'm just going to have a word with the boys, if they're still awake."
Both boys were still awake. Adam leaned on one elbow on his matress on the floor while Lloyd gazed up at the ceiling.
"It's time you two were asleep," I said. "We're going on a train to see Grandpa in the morning, but first we're going for a ride in a police car."
"Is Mummy coming too?" Adam wanted to know.
"No, Adam. I don't know when we'll see your mummy again but she doesn't want to come and see Grandpa. Did you pack your trainspotting book Lloyd?"
"Uncle Peter told me to pack it. He's given me a notebook too."
"I don't want to see Mummy again."
What could I say to that?
"Adam, one day you might want to but, for now, you don't have to."
Adam seemed to relax at that as he lay back on his pillow. I leaned down to kiss his forehead but he turned quickly away."
"Mummy says I'm not to let you or Uncle Garret kiss me."
"Then we won't," I said, ruffling his hair instead.
I leaned over and kissed Lloyd on the forehead.
"Now sleep, both of you. We've got to be up early in the morning."