Saved By The Firefighter
Chapter 126

Josie's Point of View.

s**t, the last thing I expected on the day of Wayne's funeral was to end up in a jail cell at the local station. However, I really did not expect to find the two arsonists either. Why the hell would Twinkle's b***h want to set fire's to kill him? Just f*****g divorce him. Anger is flowing through my veins like lava, as I sit in disbelief that someone, who, despite her being a total b***h, was part of the fire service family. She had done this, she had killed Wayne, she could have killed all of us. Her pathetic apologies did not wash with me, she was planning on doing it again with Anders' father.

"Josie." I hear Anders' voice echo into my cell.

"Anders, are you okay?" I ask him. His father laid a heavy punch on his handsome face, just before I kicked the s**t out of that b***h.

"Yes, listen. Get a solicitor, but you MUST tell them you gave her three warnings, and that she hit you first. I am telling them that. Okay, it is important baby." He pleads with me.

"She did hit me first when I rushed at her." I shrugged, although I did not give three warnings, I did shout that I had heard her and she was going to pay...does that count as a warning? Not sure. Hell, Anders is right, I need my own solicitor. I know one thing, his cannot represent us both. Who the hell do I call?

The only person I can think of is Kathline.

"I will call Kathline." I tell him.

"Remember, she hit you first." Anders' voice echoes again, he sounds worried.

"She did hit me first, Anders." I tell him.

He must not have seen, probably due to fighting his father.

I mean, how the hell does Anders' s***m doner know who Edith Oliver is? I mean, could it be a coincidence? And why the hell did they set fire to a school? A f*****g school full of kids.

The pieces just don't add up in my mind. What the hell is going on?

I snap my head up, as I hear a key unlock my cell door. Smithy is standing, looking at me. He places a paper cup full of tea down onto the floor, with a sandwich in a packet.

"It's egg and cress. All we have left, I am afraid." He nodded at the sandwich.

Smithy is a good guy, although he did once ask me out, I said no. After all, he is known for loving and leaving ladies, and using his handcuffs for more than just arresting people. Not that I mind that sort of thing, quite the opposite, but he was not for me. I never saw him in that way. However, that was ages ago, long before I met Anders. I had heard he was a little hurt, but I am sure he is over it by now.

"Do you want your phone call now?" he asks me.

"Yes please." I nod my head at him.

Smithy walks forward, and gently takes me by the arm, leading me to the area for my call.

"Erm, I don't know the number off by heart, but it is in my mobile, under Kathline. Can you get me it please?" I ask him, hoping he will be allowed to get me the number.

"What is the passcode for your phone?" Smithy asks.

"123456" I tell him.

Smithy shakes his head and rolls his eyes at me.

"That is not a safe number Josie." He sighs, then leads me back to my cell.

"Eat your sandwich and drink your tea and I will get you the number." He sighs, then shuts and locks the door again.

I sip at the tea, it tastes like dishwater, worse than what Wayne and Twinkle make. My heart constricts in my chest, as I think of Wayne, the sudden realisation that he is gone forever hits me like a tidal wave. Then there is Twinkle. Hell, he has to live with the knowledge his wife killed so many people, trying to kill him. I mean, how does anyone even begin to deal with that?

Hot tears fall onto my cheeks. Only a few hours ago, I was happy that Anders and I were planning our quick wedding in Vegas, the beginning of a new start for us, moving forwards from this tragedy. But now, I am sitting in a cell, waiting to call the only Solicitor I know, in the hope that she can help me, so that I do not lose my job. Hell, I will take a fine or something else, but I want to keep my job, go into fire investigation, but that will come to nothing with a criminal record.

I hear Smithy walking up the corridor, but it is not my cell he unlocks.

"Your solicitor is here, Mr Maxwell." He tells Anders.

"I LOVE YOU ANDERS." I shouted, hoping he could hear me.

"I LOVE YOU TO BABE." Anders' voice echoes around me.

I let out a sigh. Normally, his voice brings me comfort, but right at this moment, it reminds me that we could be up s**t creek without a paddle, if these interviews don't go well.

I take another sip of the dishwater masquerading as tea, then rip open the egg sandwich packet. The smell of egg fills the cell. I will never complain about the food at our station again! This is horrid. If I get out of here okay, with my job intact, I will have to bring some cakes and biscuits in for these guys. They need them!

I force the sandwich down, after all, I don't know how long I am going to be in here, when I hear the key in the lock again.

"Okay Josie, I have the number for you. Let's go." Smithy tells me.

I pick up the phone and dial the number Smithy has written down for me, and hope that Kathline answers my call.

After two rings, she picks up, and I let out the breath I was holding.

"Hello" Before she could say anything else, I interrupted her, not sure if there was a time limit on my single phone call.

"Kathline, its Josie. I need your help. I have been arrested for assault." I quickly informed her.

"What the hell Josie?" Kathline says in shock, she is clearly still in 'The Chester's 'as I can hear the music in the background.

"We went back to the cemetery. Twinkles was there, with Anders' criminal father. I heard them, Kathline, they admitted it was them starting the fires, and a fight ensued." I tell her.

"f**k, okay, it is not my area of Law Josie, but don't worry, I know someone who can help and he is really good. My old boss. I will make the call, hang tight Josie." Kathline tells me. "Someone needs to warn Twinkle," I tell her.

"Okay, don't worry about that for now, let me make my calls and get someone to you. Say nothing until he gets there. NOT A WORD!" Kathline sternly warns me.

"Okay, thanks Kathline." I sigh as more tears break free.

I hand up the phone, then nod to Smithy that I am finished, and he rounds his desk, unlocking the door with long iron bars, then takes my arm and leads me back to my cell. "Is Anders okay?" I ask him before he locks me back inside.

"Sorry Josie, I cannot tell you anything. I gather you are not willing to be interviewed until your solicitor comes?" He asks, and I get the feeling he is telling me to wait. "Erm, yeah, that is the advice I have received." I softly tell him.

"Good. Now, give me a moment to get the other prisoners sorted, and I will get you some custard creams. They are about the only edible things in this place." Smithy smiles, then locks the door.

I have no idea how long I have been sitting in this cell, on the cold hard mat that they give you to sleep on, but it feels like forever. I have heard the officers come and go, taking other prisoners to be questioned, but as of yet, they have not brought Anders back, and my solicitor hasn't arrived.

I find myself biting my fingernails, a bad habit I gave up years ago, but I am so nervous, it cannot be helped. I wonder what time it is? Hell I have to be on shift at 6am, just next door!. Footsteps echo down the corridor, as the key is entered into my lock. Smithy opens the door, and a tall man with salt and pepper hair and a smart suit walks in.

"Hi Josie?" He asks my name as a question.

I nod my head at him hoping this is the guy Kathline has called for me.

"I am Peter Lane, of Lane Law. Kathline called me for you." He tells me with a small reassuring smile.

"Hi, thank you for coming." I said politely. I am not really sure about criminal etiquette when it comes to meeting your solicitor for the first time.

Smithy closes the door behind us, and Peter Lane, takes a seat.

"Now, in your own words, tell me exactly what happened." He smiles.

I do exactly that, not missing anything out.

"So she hit you first." He asks.

I simply nod my head.

"Yes, I shouted over to her, that I had heard, and rushed over so that she could not get away, and she punched me in the stomach. I am sorry, but at that point I lashed out and hit her back." I tell him.

"Okay, I can work with that. However, the police officer I spoke with on the way in said they found you kicking her whilst she was on the floor." He tells me.

I simply nod my head, I had seen red, and lost my restraint, I know. I am going to be in deep s**t for that.

"Are you sure that is what was happening, or were you attempting to help her to her feet?" Peter offers me a small smile.

"I don't want to lie." I tell him.

"Okay, I applaud that, let's hope they don't bother asking you, but if they do, you should know your answer to that question could mean the difference between going home with your fiancé tonight, or spending the night, in here and facing an assault charge. I will, of course, argue extenuating circumstances, given the situation. But, that will be an argument for the court, not the police." Peter tells me.

"Well, we will be going in the interview room shortly. Now, keep quiet, and let me do the talking", Peter tells me.

I simply nod, as he bangs on the cell door, and tells Smithy we are ready for interview.