Page 67 of Hard Tail

Matt’s gaze met mine over the top of her head, and we stayed like that, just looking into each other’s eyes, for a long moment.

Then Kate stepped back briskly from the embrace and blew her nose, I put my shirt on and we finally got to sit down and drink our coffee, by now rather lukewarm.

Kate had me run through the events of last night, stopping me to ask questions as I went. I was relieved she didn’t see fit to make any comments on my behaviour in front of Matt. Finally, she nodded and stood up. “It’s probably best if we go down to the police station and see if Mr. Pritchard has made a statement yet. The way things are at the moment, it’s going to very much depend on whether he makes a counter-claim to the effect that you were the aggressor. But hopefully, the most you’ll be charged with is battery.”

I winced. It sounded all too much like what Pritchard had been doing to Matt. “And what’s the sentence for that? And what happens ifhopefullydoesn’t pan out?”

Kate took a deep breath. “It’s entirely likely you’ll just be fined. There is the possibility you could go to prison, but for a first offence, even if you’re charged with ABH—that’s assault occasioning actual bodily harm—”

“I know what it means, Kate. I just want to know if I’m going to be charged with it.”

She sighed. “Honestly, until we’ve heard from the police regarding the other party’s statement, we simply can’t speculate.”

Matt’s hand had crept into mine at the wordprison, and now he spoke up. “What if someone told the police Ste—Pritchard has a history of violence?”

“They won’t,” I said firmly. “Not unless they really have to.”

Kate’s eyes had widened, and she leaned forward in her seat. “I really think—ow! Tim, did you just kick me?”

“Sorry—my foot slipped,” I said innocently, wiggling my bare toes at her as if in evidence.

Kate’s gaze tracked suspiciously from me to Matt, but she didn’t ask any more questions.