Disbelief and fear course through her body as she watches her son-in-law’s head ooze with blood, her daughter forced to her knees in front of him. Kate Watson, standing in the corner of the pool room, fury burning in her eyes.
‘I thought you were dead,’ she says.
‘So did your daughter,’ Kate replies. ‘Look how that turned out.’
Brenda goes to take a step closer and Anika’s hand shoots out in front of her. ‘I wouldn’t.’ Stopping, Brenda remains where she is. She feels for the phone in her pocket and relief fills her when she realises it’s there. She only needs a moment to dial and the police will be here. The panic alarm for this side of the building is in the flat upstairs and there’s no way she will be able to get to it without being noticed. The only choice she has now is to sit and watch.
Confusion takes over as she lets the scene sink in and then decides it’s time to ask questions. ‘Can someone please tell me what is going on here?’
‘Your son-in-law is a rapist, that’s what’s going on here,’ Kate says.
‘But this, why the violence?’
No one speaks as Rebecca takes a step forward and crouches down next to Stevie. She looks up at his face, searching. ‘Go on, why don’t you tell us the truth about what happened that night?’
Stevie doesn’t reply and Rebecca rises. ‘Okay, shall I get Carla to come over? See if she can get you to talk?’
Eva tries to get to her feet but Rebecca holds her down.
‘Leave Carla out of this,’ Stevie says, his head still bowed.
‘Why should she? You didn’t think of the consequences of your actions back then, did you? You don’t have just one daughter to explain yourself to, Stevie. You have three,’ Kate says, her words echoing across the room.
Stevie lifts his head and stares at Rebecca, and Brenda chooses to look away.