A few hours later, Amanda sat in an interview room, having told the police everything that had happened to her since she went to the docks. At the mention of her friend, one of the officers had left the room, only to return a few minutes later with a sad expression on his face. He had told her that they had found her friend’s body the very night Amanda had gone to find her. Although Amanda had been told at the docks that her friend had been killed, hearing it being confirmed just knocked the wind out of her. She had cried again, the same officer who had helped her earlier again letting her use her shoulder. They had brought in a doctor before they had interviewed her, to check her wounds. The doctor had given her more painkillers and applied more ointment where needed, but didn’t think there was anything that wouldn’t heal in time.



Now she was sitting and waiting to see if they would believe her story and let her go. The time she had spent by herself had only given her more time to relive the horrors, so she was pleased when the door opened and the same female officer who had helped her so much already, entered the room. Amanda, we have done some checking and we are satisfied you are telling the truth, not that I had any doubts. Now, here is my private number, you just ring me if you need to talk. When you are ready, you are free to go. We will properly get you back in a few days, but until then you need to rest. Thank you Mary, if I didn’t know it was true, I would have had trouble believing me. I just never knew there was so much evil in this world.



Amanda walked out of the police station, free to go where she wanted for the first time in days. She hurried to catch a cab, just wanting to get back to her home and sleep. She didn’t see the man watching her, a smile on his face.



Vince saw Amanda emerging from the police station and was relieved to see that she seemed to be ok. He had been the one to call the police to raid Joey’s warehouse, after overhearing his boss talking about what Joey had in mind for Amanda. He had not been able to stop Joey from taking her, but he was sure not going to let her remain with him. He knew that he could have just stepped out and talked to her, but he had made up his mind that he would just have to forget her. He felt much better knowing that she was safe, and he knew that if anyone found out it was him who had rung the police, he would not only have to worry about loosing his job but also his life. He watched until she entered the cab, until he turned and headed back to the only life he knew.



Amanda caught sight of the man just as he walked away and thought he looked familiar. No, she thought, I must just be tired. However as the cab drove her towards her home, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was indeed Vince who had been outside the station. The voice of the driver telling her she was home, raised her from her thoughts and she paid him with the money Mary had given her. She knew that she would have to come to terms with what had happened to her in time, but for now she was safe, she was free, she was home.



The End