Trust In Love

Charged

Jennie looked up from the latest chapter of her book.  Richard the Third had just offered his kingdom in exchange for a horse... or so a certain Mr Shakespeare would have her believe. The author? Not so much.

Before she got a chance to greet the smartly dressed woman who walked in accompanied by a police officer in uniform, the newcomer spoke.

'DC Wallender. Can I have a word with Susie Warrender, please?" She didn't smile as she spoke, discretely eyeing Jennie up as she spoke.  She didn't SEEM like the kind of woman that would have anything to do with the Terry Andersons of this world, but who knew?

"Sure, could you hang on. I'll just get her." Jennie's usual welcoming smile went solemnly unreturned. Frowning slightly, Jennie walked through to the stockroom.

"Susie? Police are here to see you. Have you been stalking Tom behind my back?" She grinned, and Susie shrugged.

"Didn't think I'd be caught! Must be losing my touch.  I'll be right out."  She turned and finished emptying the delivery box that had arrived that morning.  There seemed no hurry, all this over a parking ticket?  Seemed a tad excessive!

Jennie retreated and went back to the counter. DC Wallander was flicking through the dull architecture book while her companion grinned his way through Room on the Broom. She smiled inwardly. You could NEVER tell who'd be reluctant to leave their childhood behind.

"She'll be right out. "  Jennie paused, a sudden bad feeling engulfing her.  "Is... is there anything I can do for you?"

DC Wallander looked at her properly for the first time, a slight smile on her face. It did little to thaw the chill gripping Jennie's insides. "No, not yet, thanks. We will want to speak to you,  but not quite yet, so please don't go anywhere. "

As she spoke, Jennie became aware of two more officers in uniform standing outside the shop.

"It's... it's not Tom, is it? Has something happened to him? Please, tell me it's not Tom!" She said quietly, elliciting a raised eyebrow from both officers.

"Now, why would you say that?" Rachel paused. Was she about to give herself away without any prompting.

Before they could say any more, Susie appeared, and DC Wallender held up her warrant card.

"DC Wallander. Could I have a moment of your time? It's urgent..."  she looked around. "Is there somewhere we can talk in private?"

Susie glanced at Jennie, who was white as a sheet. "Yes, please come  through to our staff room."

Rachel followed her, but the other officer stayed put.  He just stood, looking into the middle distance, all thoughts of Room on the Broom abandoned.

"Is there something up? Has Susie... done something? She's a good person, wouldn't ever break the law!" Jennie instantly defended her boss - and friend. The officer looked at her, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry Miss Gardiner, I'm not at liberty to say anything at the moment." 

All Jennie could think of was how did he know who she was?

In the staffroom, the conversation was not too dissimilar.

"But Jennie is a good person.  She wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone,let alone Tom Hiddleston. She worships the man for God's sake!" Susie struggled to keep her voice composed - and down.

"Ms Warrender, look. You'll have to come to the station and make a statement, but..." and Rachel now sighed. She shouldn't do this, but... "If you have CCTV, I suggest you check it.  You'll see Terry in the shop, not just handing back Mr Hiddleston's bag. He was in before. It was all a setup. She arranged to meet him, give him the opportunity. Seems they go way back."

"Yes. I know that. She went to school with him." Susie shrugged. "So what? I went to school with some dodgy people. Does that mean I'm a suspect, too?"

Rachel shook her head. "No, of course not. But saying the only way she knew him is as passing acquaintances at school isn't entirely accurate."

Rachel stood at the stockroom door, looking at Jennie's back as she stood at the till. "They were sweethearts. For three years. Did you know that?Then, when she worked in the bank, she foreclosed on her father's business." She turned to face Susie again. "This was her way of making it up to him."

"No. I don't believe you. She told me... no. I just don't. Who told you all this?"

Rachel withdrew her handcuffs from her pocket. "Terry. And until we can prove otherwise? His word, I'm afraid to say, is as good as anyone elses. Now, this isn't going to be pretty. I suggest you stay here."

Susie was convinced she was being hoaxed. Jennie? Set her one true crush - she had no idea it was love yet - up, just to make it up to some two-bit crook? No. Couldn't be true. Could it?

Jennie was aware of Rachel before she saw her. As she turned, she saw the handcuffs, and she almost collapsed. Gripping the counter, she watched as DC Wallander stopped and looked at her.

"Jennifer Alison Gardiner, I'm arresting you on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary. You do not have to say anything....."

Her rights were read out to her, and the cuffs slapped on her like it was happening to someone else. She nodded, nauseated and sweating, when she was asked if she understood.

Turning to Susie as they led her away, she found her voice. "It's not true, Susie. It's not true. I don't understand. I don't."

Susie put a hand up. "Please, Jennie. Just tell me this. How well did you know Terry. And this time, the truth. "

Rachel intervened "please Ms Warrender, anything Jennie says now is under caution and can be used."

Jennie shook her head. "It's ok. I have nothing to hide. I knew him at school... and in the bank... we were, we were close once. Before he became who he is now."

Susie felt her heart sink. "So you lied to me. Before. You lied..." Tears pricked her eyes.

Jennie was openly crying now. "I was ashamed, Susie. I mean Terry Anderson? Hardly Tom, is he? I was afraid if you knew, you'd sack me. Because of who he is."

Susie shook her head. "No, Jennie, I wouldn't. But for this? For lying to me? Yes. You know how much I value trust. You broke mine. You broke Tom's. You broke both our hearts the minute you decided to betray us."

As Jennie was put into the police car, hands firmly secured, Susie delivered the killer blow.  "You're fired, Jennie. I never want to see you in my shop again." She turned, pushed her way through the gaggle of phone wielding onlookers and shut the shop door, putting up the closed sign.

As the policecar left, Jennie sat back, sobbing. It wasn't real. It was a nightmare. It had to be....

Across town, someone else was in the middle of a situation he would never have believed. He put the phone down and turned to Luke. His face was white, his breathing shallow, his legs like jelly.

"That was the police. They've got the burglar and now his accomplice... Arrested her this morning, apparently. Just wanted me to know."

"Her?" Luke; friend, PR man and now clean-up squad, was surprised, and it reflected in his voice. He stopped glueing the vase together and looked up. Tom was a picture of devastation. He sat down heavily at the table.

"Yeah." His voice was faint, his vision darkening, his head swimming. He knew he was going to be sick.  As he got up and bolted for the bathroom, all Luke heard was anguished sobs. 

"Jennie. They've arrested Jennie."