Chapter 14 #2
‘Get away from her, you coward. Evil bastard. Get out of here.’
She must have lost consciousness for when she came around, she found herself lying on Sylvia’s sofa with a blanket over her. Sylvia was holding her hand and speaking to her.
‘There, there, my dear. You’re all right now. You’re safe,’ Sylvia said, her voice calming and soothing.
‘Anthony?’ Sarah whispered.
‘Anthony’s here. He’s safe too. He’s a brave boy, your son.’
Sarah turned her head. It was John Hastings’ voice. The kindly neighbour from the upstairs flat.
‘Anthony kept knocking until I answered,’ Sylvia said.
‘It was a good thing for you that John came in from work just at the time that I found Anthony standing outside my door and an awful noise coming from across in your flat. I heard shouting and you were crying out. Poor Anthony was in tears. I took him in and John dealt with that wicked man who calls himself your husband. Any man who attacks a woman like that doesn’t deserve to have a lovely wife like you. ’
‘Mummy,’ Anthony said and came to throw his arms around Sarah.
‘My brave boy,’ Sarah said and held him close.
* * *
Ronnie arrived at Sarah’s rooms later than usual the next day, Saturday.
There was a biting wind and the sun was hidden from view, quite different to the previous day.
The long, cold cycle ride from Whippingham had left him chilled through.
Ronnie pushed his bicycle inside the main entrance and knocked on Sarah’s door.
No answer. He knocked again, harder this time.
Still no answer. Where could she have gone in this weather?
A door opened behind him and Sylvia’s voice made him turn around.
‘They’re in here. Come and see what he’s done to her now,’ Sylvia said.
Ronnie saw Sarah, sitting in an armchair with Anthony on her knee. The boy wriggled away from his mother and rushed towards Ronnie. Ronnie lifted him up, and the boy threw his arms around Ronnie’s neck and sobbed.
He hugged the child to his chest and looked across at Sarah, whose head was still bowed down. He placed Anthony gently beside Sylvia, who took the little boy’s hand and guided him towards the kitchen with the promise of a biscuit. Ronnie moved cautiously towards Sarah.
He knelt down beside her and took both her hands in his. They stayed in that position for a while, without speaking. Eventually, he withdrew one hand, put the other under her chin and lifted her head very gently. He had to restrain the gasp that threatened to erupt from his lips.
Sarah had a deep cut across her eyebrow and although the blood had been stemmed, he could see that she had been hit with some force. There was redness around her right eye, which was partially closed. There were red marks on her neck. She didn’t say a word.
‘When did he do this?’ Ronnie asked.
‘Yesterday,’ Sylvia answered as she returned from the kitchen, where she had left Anthony with some warm milk and a plate of biscuits.
‘I heard a man’s voice shouting,’ Sylvia went on.
‘I knew it couldn’t be you. I guessed it was him.
So, I opened my door to see what was going on.
I could see Anthony standing there, completely frozen to the spot.
She shouted to him to run to me. I got him safely inside and shut the door.
I listened. I didn’t know what to do. Thank God John Hastings came in the front door just at the right time.
I heard him tell Jones to leave her alone.
Then there was a lot of banging and crashing, and suddenly everything went quiet.
John shouted for him to clear off and there was a deal of language that I can’t repeat.
Then the front door slammed. He saved Sarah from certain . . .’
‘Thank you. I’ve heard enough, Sylvia,’ Ronnie said, looking towards Sarah.
‘Now, are you all right to keep Anthony here for a while, please? Sarah and I need to go and speak to John Hastings, and then we need him to accompany us to the police station. He’s a witness to an assault.
Jones can’t go on getting away with this and the police have to do something now. ’
‘Happy to,’ Sylvia replied. ‘You make sure they nail him this time.’
‘I certainly will,’ Ronnie replied. Ronnie returned to Sarah’s side, holding out her coat for her.
‘Come, Sarah. Let’s go and get this done.
They can’t ignore how you look and they have to listen to an independent witness.
You certainly have grounds for divorce now, but we still need to get you out of here, somewhere he can’t find you.
Let’s get to the police station first, then we’ll find a way to keep you and Anthony safe. ’
John Hastings accompanied them to the station and together the three of them informed the police of events and gave their statements. When they returned to Sarah’s flat and picked up Anthony, Ronnie stayed with them for a while until Sarah felt safe enough to be left.
On the way home, Ronnie went through the recent events in his head.
Amelia had mentioned a witness — they now had one.
The police had believed Sarah and Ronnie’s account of her attack, and said that they would find David Jones and arrest him for assault.
That might be more difficult than they thought.
They had to find him first. Ronnie knew that something more had to be done to keep Sarah and Anthony safe.
He decided to talk to Dot and Amelia, and see if they could do anything more to help.
When Dot and Amelia heard of the violent assault on Sarah, they were shocked and said that they would do all they could, if a way could be found to protect her.
Ronnie didn’t know what more could be done — they were doing as much as they could already.
Amelia was looking for a solicitor who would take on Sarah’s case and Dot had explained the problem to William who said that he would contribute to the costs.
They discussed the financial costs and calculated that between the four of them, they could find the money to pay for her legal help.
They remained silent for a while, all lost in their own thoughts. Dot was the first to break the silence.
‘How would she feel about leaving the Isle?’ Dot asked.
‘She has a job. She has her aunts. She needs to provide for her son,’ Ronnie replied.
‘But she also needs to protect herself,’ Dot said.
‘What are you thinking, Dot?’ Amelia asked.
‘I’m thinking that if her husband couldn’t find her, then he would have to give up his pursuit of her. She needs a safe place while we employ a solicitor to obtain a divorce,’ Dot replied.
‘Like where?’ Ronnie asked.
‘Like Micklewell,’ Dot replied.
Ronnie felt a glimmer of hope, like sunbeams through a cloud.
Had Dot hit upon an idea that might possibly work?
It wouldn’t be easy convincing Sarah, and then there was the matter of whether his mother and father could or would be willing to help.
It was such a small house, 2 Mead Cottages.
They hadn’t even met her yet. It wasn’t going to exactly be a gentle introduction to ask if she and Anthony could stay on a long-term basis.
‘Let’s think about this,’ Ronnie said. ‘It’s easy enough to say it, but it’s a big imposition upon the family. What about the question of money? They’re not exactly well off.’
‘When did a few challenges get in the way of the Truscott family, Ronnie? One thing at a time. If you want something badly enough, you’re prepared to fight for it, aren’t you? You do your part and talk to Sarah. I will write to Kate right away,’ Dot said.
‘I can’t let you do that,’ Ronnie replied, standing his ground. ‘I will write to her myself and explain the situation.’
‘I can’t see your mother and Albert turning you down,’ Dot said. ‘They would do anything for you, you know that, Ronnie.’
‘And I will instruct a solicitor to act for Sarah,’ Amelia said.