“Don’t damage my library,” Marjorie shouted from somewhere behind them.
The officers positioned themselves by the door. “Right, I’ll unlock it and we all push,” one of them said.
June looked at Stanley through the window. He was standing very tall, his head in the air, staring back at her. He gave her a small nod and she nodded back.
“Right, three, two, one... go!”
There was a sudden surge by the door as the police pushed forward. June waited for the crash as the doors flew open, but to her amazement the old trolley held its own and was still standing, blocking the door.
“Come on, push harder,” an officer shouted, and there was a grunt as they increased their exertion. The trolley swayed and June willed it to remain upright, but the force was too much. It gave afinal, belligerent wobble, then crashed onto its side. The doors swung open and within seconds the police were inside the library and surrounding Stanley. One of them stepped toward him and pulled Stanley’s arms behind his back with what looked like a lot of force. June let out a cry as she lost sight of him in the mass of bodies. For a few moments she could only see the backs of police officers, and then Stanley emerged again, an officer holding him on either side, his hands in cuffs.
“Save Chalcot Library!” he shouted as Cleo rushed forward with her camera. “This library is a lifeline to hundreds of people.”
“Get him in the van,” one of the officers said.
“Don’t let the government destroy our libraries!” Stanley shouted even louder as they bundled him through the crowd.
“Go, Stanley!” Mrs.B called, punching the air. “Down with library cuts!”
The two officers on either side of Stanley half lifted, half pushed him into the van, and the back doors slammed shut as it pulled away. June watched it speed down the Parade. Everything had gone very quiet.
“Let’s get this library secured,” Richard said, and two men in overalls stepped forward with a tool kit.
“What will happen to the library now?” June said, but Richard ignored her.
“Bloody hell,” Mrs.B said as the police van disappeared round the corner. “Yet again Stanley Phelps surprises us all.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The nearest police station was in New Cowley. It was a half-hour bus journey, which June spent imagining Stanley trapped in a small cell, surrounded by hardened criminals. He’d be dragged into an interrogation room, where a handsome but bad-tempered officer would interrogate him, slamming his fist on the desk and knocking over a cup of water. Stanley would refuse to give up the names or details of his fellow protesters, enraging the officer until he stood up and shouted—
“Next stop is New Cowley town center.”
June jumped off the bus and hurried across the road to the police station. There was no one in the waiting room, just a few blue plastic chairs and a large hatch in the wall, behind which sat a middle-aged police officer reading a Dan Brown book.
June approached the window. “Excuse me?”
The officer didn’t look up from his book. “Yes?”
“I’m here to see Stanley Phelps.”
“Your name?”
“June Jones. Can I see him, please?”
He glanced up at her. “Are you his solicitor?”
“No. I’m his friend.”
“Only solicitors are allowed to see people in custody.”
“Has he got a solicitor?”
“I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to discuss this with you.”
June read his name badge and gave her most charming smile. “Please, Officer Riley. He’s an elderly gentleman and he has no family here. I just want to make sure he’s okay.”
Officer Riley stared back at her, unsmiling. “As I said, only solicitors are allowed to visit a client in custody.” His eyes returned to the dog-eared book.
