Chapter 29
Filming had finished for the day when Emma took an important telephone call from the police. They wanted to call and speak to her and Felix later in the afternoon. As soon as everyone had left the house, Emma told Felix to expect a visit.
‘What news do you think they have for us?’ she asked, beginning to feel a little on edge.
‘Obviously information about Anika,’ replied Felix, knowing it was only a matter of time before the story hit the press. He knew she’d been charged with breaking and entry, as for the violence against Emma, that was undetermined. He assumed that was what the call from the police was about.
They both sat waiting on tenterhooks for the knock on the door. Eventually it came and two officers – who introduced themselves as Detective Inspector Mason and Detective Sergeant Jones – were shown inside. After sitting them in the drawing room, Detective Inspector Mason cleared his throat and began.
‘We have come to inform you that Anika Genness has been charged with stalking, breaking and entry and also attempted grievous bodily harm.’
Emma’s eyes slid towards Felix, who was staring at the DI motionless. He was busy speculating how all this was going to pan out. He could see it now, Anika arriving at court looking stunning and perfectly composed with a trail of paparazzi behind her, cameras flashing, microphones pushed into her beautiful face. She was used to this kind of attention, but poor Emma, or his mother for that matter, were not – and they’d have to give evidence. A dread filled him.
‘When’s the trial?’ he dully asked.
‘There won’t be one,’ Detective Sergeant Jones replied, her tone and manner straightforward and no-nonsense.
Felix’s head shot up abruptly.
‘What do you mean?’ he asked.
‘Anika has pleaded guilty to all charges,’ she answered.
‘She’s pleaded guilty? You mean—’
‘Anika has representation and taken the advice given to her,’ interrupted DI Mason.
Felix blinked, not quite believing what was being said. Anika had actually taken advice and admittedeverything?
He frowned. ‘But I thought she’d denied harming Emma?’ he questioned. Emma too looked gobsmacked at hearing all this. She’d been psyching herself up for the witness box in a packed court room.
‘Ms Genness has obviously given the whole incident a great deal of thought and decided this is the best option for her,’ said DI Mason.
‘You mean for damage limitation,’ retorted Felix, resenting the reference of the nightmare they’d had to endure as an ‘incident’. But of course, why hadn’t he guessed this? Anika was hardly likely to want a trial, with maximum publicity tainting her image. She was the dazzling model who’d been wronged by her ex-boyfriend. Standing trial as a mad stalker, who had broken into his house and attacked his girlfriend with a broken glass bottle, was most definitely not the kind of profile-raising she’d want. So, Anika had done the sensible thing for once in her life and taken the only advice which had been offered to her, to own up and try to keep as tight a lid as possible on it. Still, word was bound to get out but, he acknowledged, nothing like the level of attention a very public trial would bring. He gave a large sigh.
‘Does this mean I won’t be required to give evidence?’ asked Emma, anxious to have it confirmed.
‘Yes, you won’t be needed in court,’ replied DS Jones with a tight smile.
‘Oh, good.’ Emma sat back with relief.
‘And neither will Madam Sinclair,’ said DI Mason.
‘Right, I’ll let my mother know,’ Felix replied. There was a slight pause before he spoke again. ‘So, what happens next?’
‘A plea hearing will be set, followed by the sentence Anika will be given,’ DS Jones said.
‘She’ll still end up behind bars though, right?’ asked Emma urgently. The very notion of the crazy bunny boiler coming for her again filled her with terror.
‘Undoubtedly,’ assured DS Jones, ‘especially with her track record.’
‘Thank God for that,’ said Emma looking at Felix. He gave a shaky smile and reached for her hand.
‘It’s OK, Emma, she’s not going to harm you ever again,’ he said gruffly. Nobody would. Not while he had breath in his body, he thought fiercely.
‘Well, we’ll be off now.’ DI Mason stood up. ‘Any more developments and we’ll be in touch.’
Felix showed the officers out and returned to find Emma still sat stock-still in the drawing room. Once more guilt seeped into him, hating what she’d been subject to. He went over and put his arms round her.
