angel. h.s ✔️

forty two.

The ticking of the radiator echoed through the quiet room, almost matching the ticking of my heart as I swallowed my mouthful of water. The sound of the empty glass being placed down drowned out the sound of the radiator briefly and I was glad.

"Ms Tate would you like to press charges?" The woman sat opposite me asked. I watched her carefully as she stared at me with her lips pursed.

I could hear my heart thudding inside my chest and feel it tightening with each breath I took. I really did not enjoy being in situations like this one.

I had no idea how I'd even gotten into this one, there was only ever one outcome with authority like this.

And my fear of authority figures and need to please never really helped.

I couldn't press charges, not for Tommy's sake but it would open up so many other avenues for prying questions. Prying questions that would implicate Harry and the rest of his friends and I couldn't do that.

I didn't want Harry getting in trouble even though I knew he probably had once or twice; I imagined being in a semi well known and quite illegal gang did that for you.

The idea of anything happening to Harry and him being taken away from me was enough to almost induce a panic attack. Nothing was clear with us now and I had found myself almost regretting that we'd kissed.

"No." I finally answered her.

I needed to stay focused right now, letting my mind wander to Harry and all our what ifs was stupid and would get me in trouble.

"I'm sorry, you don't want to press charges against Thomas Scott?" The woman clarified and I swallowed tightly as I nodded.

"Sorry, what was your name again?" I asked, they'd both told me when they'd approached me as I was locking up the cafe. I'd forgotten.

"I'm Detective Inspector Rebecca Miles and this is my colleague D.I James Hutton. We're both from the Criminal Investigative Devision." D.I Miles spoke slowly making me grit my teeth as I nodded curtly.

"Criminal Investigative Devision?" I questioned watching as they both nodded. "I don't understand what that has to do with me?"

I watched them share a look and I wished I had more water.

"Thomas Scott has been on our radar for a while as he seems to be a key player within a much larger organisation and although we can't tell you much, the Met currently have a much larger ongoing investigation into criminal activity within the local area."

I licked my lips as I listened to D.I Hutton, they were obviously referring to the Diamond Snakes which only reinforced my decision to not get involved with the police knowing it would put Harry at risk.

The brief and sudden realisation struck me as I realised that I was protecting a criminal, more so concerned about a criminal being caught. I shook my head at myself, this was Harry. My Harry. He was hardly a criminal, sure I didn't know exactly what he did but I doubted he was someone with a long list of crimes.

"I don't know why I'm here." I admitted shrugging trying to keep my eyes on the two adults in front of me. Both Harry and Mum had warned me that the police wanted to talk to me, I should have known this would happen sooner or later.

"May, is it alright if I call you May?" D.I Hutton asked and I shrugged half heartedly, "May if you don't press charges then Thomas walks away with no consequences, as it was we had to release him twelve hours after the attack."

"Why?" I asked stupidly, I had no idea how the police or criminal justice system worked.

"Because we couldn't get in contact with you." D.I Miles explained. "You left the hospital before we were able to get an officer to take a statement."