Girl Alone: Part 3 of 3: Joss came home from school to discover her father’s suicide. Angry and hurting, she’s out of control.

‘Will I have to talk to the police again?’ she asked. ‘I’m so tired. I just want to go to bed.’

‘You will have to talk to them at some point, but I don’t think it has to be tonight.’

‘Can I go to bed?’

I nodded and helped her stand – she was exhausted and drained from the emotion of crying and reliving the abuse. She leant heavily against me and we went upstairs. I saw her to her bedroom and left her to change while I went to my bedroom. I wanted to telephone Homefinders for confirmation that Joss wouldn’t have to talk to the police straight away. I explained what had happened to the member of staff on duty, and she said she’d speak to the duty social worker at the social services and then call me back. I went to Joss’s room to tell her, but she was already in bed asleep, her clothes in a tumbled pile by her bed, left where they’d fallen as she’d taken them off. I tucked her in, came out and went downstairs to wait for the telephone call from Homefinders. It was nearly 1 a.m. by the time they phoned and said the social worker had confirmed that, as Joss wasn’t in any immediate danger, the social services would initiate action the following morning, so there was no need to go to the police station tonight. I thanked her and went to bed.

The next day would be Monday, and it was the last day of the summer holidays before school returned for the autumn term. Normally, I would do something a little special with the family for the last day – lunch out, swimming or a similar activity – but I knew that was out of the question now. Tomorrow would be given over to supporting Joss as the social services and police began their investigations into her new claim of abuse. As I lay in the dark, tired but unable to sleep, I wondered how Linda would react now that it was out in the open. Would she still refuse to believe Joss? Or would doubt start to creep in to her previously unshakeable belief in her husband? Or – the worst-case scenario – had she known all along? Certainly she had failed to protect Joss, and questions would be asked.

Chapter Twenty

Monday (#u60316be2-a3e5-5c2c-b39c-4cd2e6f48d77)

Having had little sleep, I was up but not dressed at 7.30 the following morning when the doorbell rang. Surprised and apprehensive at an early morning visitor, I checked the security spyhole first. To my horror, two uniformed police officers stood at my door. Oh, hell! I thought. I was in my dressing gown and Joss wasn’t even awake yet. I unlocked and opened the door.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said, embarrassed. ‘I wasn’t expecting you so early. Joss isn’t up. Come in.’

‘Early morning is usually a good time to catch young people, before they head off out,’ one of the officers said with a smile as they came in. ‘We made this our first call of the shift. Looks like we’ve been lucky again.’

I thought his smile and casual approach was inappropriate considering they were here to take a statement from a victim of sexual abuse. Linda had said that Ann had been lovely at the station. It was a pity she hadn’t come.

‘This is PC Mike Salmon and I’m Joe Davies,’ he said.

‘Come and have a seat in the living room,’ I said, leading the way down the hall. ‘I’ll wake Joss now.’ I thought that, while I was upstairs, I’d also quickly put on some clothes.

‘Has she been behaving herself, then?’ Joe Davies asked. Both officers stood with their feet apart in the centre of the living room, looking around. I nodded. ‘You’re Joss’s foster carer, aren’t you?’ he said. ‘Linda told us we’d find her here.’

‘That’s right. But I don’t understand. You’ve been there? We gave this address at the station.’

‘It’s possible they have it, but Mike and I were given it by her mother a while back. We weren’t busy this morning, so we thought we’d follow it up. Do you want to fetch Joss now and get it over and done with?’

I took a step towards the living-room door and then stopped. ‘Sorry. Why have you come to see Joss?’ I asked.

It was their turn to look confused. ‘Apologies, I thought you knew. She was in the vicinity of a car that was set on fire a few weeks back. I’ve got the exact date here.’ He took out his notepad.

‘It’s OK,’ I said. I understood now. I returned to the centre of the room. ‘You obviously aren’t aware that Joss reported a serious sexual assault at the weekend. I thought you were here to interview her about that.’

Their expressions immediately changed and grew serious.

‘We didn’t know,’ Mike said. ‘That’s a separate unit. This weekend?’

‘Yes.’

He exchanged a glance with his colleague. ‘We’ll confirm it with the station, but I think we should probably leave this enquiry for now.’ Joe nodded. ‘We’ll call them from the car and let you know what’s decided.’

‘Thank you,’ I said. I followed them down the hall and saw them out.

As soon as I’d closed the front door I quickly ran upstairs and put on some clothes. My bedroom is at the front of the house and, once dressed, I discreetly looked out through my bedroom window. The police car was parked on the opposite side of the road and I could see the officers in the front talking on their radio, presumably to someone at the police station. The children hadn’t woken, so I returned downstairs where I made a quick coffee, which I took into the front room. I could see the police car from behind the net curtains, and a few minutes later I saw Mike get out, leaving Joe in the car. I left my coffee mug in the front room and went to answer the doorbell.

‘We’ve decided to leave this enquiry for now,’ Mike said. ‘Joss has enough to cope with.’ Which I thought was a kind and sensible decision. ‘Hope she’s OK.’

I thanked him, we said goodbye and I closed the front door. I didn’t know if their decision was based solely on the allegation Joss had made against Zach or if they were aware of the new one too, and it didn’t matter. It was the right decision. Joss didn’t need any more stress right now, and neither did I.

Joss woke just after 8.30 and came downstairs in her dressing gown. I asked her how she was and she said she felt a bit better and had slept well. I told her of the police visit and she too was relieved that she didn’t have to answer questions about setting the car on fire now. ‘I was very angry then,’ she said pensively. ‘I wouldn’t do that now.’

‘I’m pleased to hear it, Joss, and when the police come back you must tell them that.’

‘I will.’

In my experience, once a child starts to disclose the abuse they’ve suffered their anger begins to leave them almost immediately, as a huge burden has been lifted. I could already see a lighter, more open and responsive side to Joss, and she wasn’t always on the defensive now. She poured herself a juice and then went upstairs to shower and dress. Adrian was up and dressed next, and appeared in the kitchen, hungry as usual, just before nine o’clock. I scrambled his eggs while he toasted bread and I explained that I was expecting to spend most of the day dealing with something Joss had told me late last night. From being in a family that had fostered for many years, he understood the implications and didn’t press me for details. He said that once he had his school things sorted and ready for tomorrow, he’d probably see a friend in the afternoon. We ate breakfast together and then he went up to his room.

Jill telephoned about twenty minutes later, having been updated about Joss’s disclosure in respect of her stepfather by the team member on duty the night before. She began with a heartfelt sigh. ‘Dear me, it never rains but it pours. Do you believe her?’

‘Yes.’

‘And Joss said she’d told her mother but wasn’t believed?’ This was significant, as Linda could be accused of covering up the abuse and failing to protect her daughter.

‘That’s what Joss said,’ I confirmed.

‘You know what her mother will say, don’t you?’ Jill said. ‘That Joss has never liked Eric, resented him for trying to be her father, and has made this up to get rid of him.’

‘I know, but I’m sure Joss is telling the truth.’

‘And Joss is prepared to make a statement to the police?’ Jill asked. This could be another indicator of the sincerity of a young person; if they were lying, they were likely to back down and withdraw the allegations at the mention of making a statement to the police.

‘Yes, she is,’ I said.

‘OK. I’ll telephone Amelia when she’s had a chance to speak to the duty social worker. She’ll want to talk to Joss as soon as possible. There will be concerns about her brother too, although Joss is saying she doesn’t think he touched Kevin. Is Joss with you now?’

‘She’s upstairs.’

‘How is she?’

‘Relieved that it’s finally out in the open, I think. She looks less anxious. She did say she should have told me sooner.’

‘And the reason she didn’t is because she thought you wouldn’t believe her?’ Jill asked.

‘Yes. That’s what she said.’

‘I guess it makes sense.’

I then told Jill about the visit we’d had that morning from the police officers about the burning car.

‘I’m glad common sense prevailed,’ Jill said. ‘I’ll let Amelia know when I phone her. And when you have a moment, Cathy, can you write up your notes while it’s still fresh in your mind? Then we’ll have a copy ready on file if it’s needed.’

‘I will,’ I said.

‘And keep Joss with you today. I can’t imagine she wants to go out, but Amelia will want to talk to her at some point.’