“Jesus. Get help,” the other officer said.
In my weakened state, they realised I wasn’t much of a threat and placed me in a wheelchair they had from inside the station. They wheeled me in, and I got checked over by their first-aid trained officer. They checked everything they could, and according to them, I was fine. But I was still going through the most intense panic attack since I’d been at Harry’s grave. My heart felt like it was beating in my throat, but apparently, all my vitals were normal. The officer actually told me it was ‘all in my head’, and as soon as he said so, the attack miraculously started to fade.
I was placed into a cell where I was constantly observed to ensure my condition didn’t worsen. A female officer was sitting on a foldaway chair in the doorway, watching my every move. My prediction was correct; both Yvonne and Poppy were at the station and agreed not to press charges if I gave a heartfelt apology. If not, I would be looking at a night in the cells and possibly a community service order for criminal damage.
After an hour or so, when I’d calmed down, I was taken to a room, and Yvonne and Poppy were already sat down inside it. Poppy had clearly been crying, and Yvonne had her arm around her, trying to comfort her. A detective joined us, and I recognised her, she was called Angela, the same detective that had looked into Harry’s death.
“Okay, Amelia. If you apologise for the damage you’ve done, Penelope is happy to drop the charges. Is that still the case, Penelope?” Angela said.
“Yes,” Poppy whispered.
I began to mouth the words before I could utter them. It took every last ounce of energy just to produce the sound, but I swallowed my pride out came the words.
“I’m sorry,” I said as sincerely as I could manage.
“I accept your apology,” Poppy uttered.
“So, you aren’t behind the texts?” I asked.
“Of course she bloody isn’t,” Yvonne interrupted.
“If you are happy with that, you two can leave now,” Angela said to Yvonne and Poppy, “but I’d like to speak to Amelia if I can.”
Poppy stood up, and she could barely make eye contact with me. Whatever courage she felt at her front door an hour before had faded. Yvonne, on the other hand, stared at me intensely and with venom as they left.
“How are you doing, Amelia?” Angela asked.
“What do you think?” I said.
“I think that you are going through a tough time.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“You should speak to someone. You can’t deal with something like that on your own. It’s just not possible.”
“With all due respect, Angela, you don’t know what I am dealing with.
“True. But I spent some time with you and Harry’s family. I know you all loved him very much.”
“I did.”
“I’ve heard about the allegations that Poppy made on her doorstep,” Angela said, leaning back in her chair, “Is there any truth to them?”
“No.”
“She was pretty specific about the types of injuries that Harry allegedly sustained. Would we be able to verify those if we looked at his medical records?”
“No, because it isn’t true,” I insisted.
“Amelia?” Angela said with a sigh.
“Is the baby Harry’s?”
“Of course it’s his.”
“Well, you need to smooth things over with his family. They are going to want to be involved in the baby’s life.”
“They aren’t getting anywhere near this baby,” I said, clasping my stomach.
“Fine, but regardless, you should stay away for a while.”
“Did you tell them to stay away from me?”
“I did.”
“Good.”
“Listen, I’ll get your things, and you will be free to leave. But consider this an official warning. If there are any more arguments or plant pots being thrown, charges will be pressed. Do you hear me?”
“I hear you.”
Angela led me out of the room and got my things. I had to sign a document explaining that I understood that I’d received a caution and that if I repeated the offence, it could lead to prosecution. I had no intention of going near Harry’s awful family ever again. No wonder he was so keen to leave Filey in the first place. They were all insane. I know I apologised to Poppy, but I didn’t mean it. Not one bit. I did what I did for the wrong reasons, but she deserved it. They all deserved everything that was coming to them. When I went outside the police station, Kim was waiting for me outside with my phone. Ironically, she had become the only person I could even remotely trust now.
“That was one hell of a throw,” Kim joked.
“I know,” I smiled.
“Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
