Halley
Part Three
By Claire
cartersgirl@handbag.com

Notes- The parts leading up to this one should be read first or else it will make absolutely no sense. Some readers may find this part of the story disturbing, as it deals with rape and the aftermath of it. This is the most distressing part in my opinion, so I apologise deeply if it upsets anyone.

Carter went back down to the ER. Mark walked up to him and said ‘How’s Halley’ ‘I gave her a sedative to help her sleep.’ Mark nodded and said ‘ There’s a detective in the lounge who needs to speak to you about when Kennedy threatened Halley. You saw that happen, right?’ Carter nodded and walked into the lounge.

The Detective stood up and shook Carter’s hand. ‘Hello Dr Carter, I’m Detective Morris. I believe you witnessed an incident between Dr Freeman and her attacker Mr Kennedy last night. If you could please tell me everything you saw, it would be very helpful.’ ‘ Ok, Dr Freeman, Dr Greene and myself were working on a patient. She was Mr Kennedy’s girlfriend. She died and Dr Freeman went out to tell Kennedy what had happened. He was very angry, and he pushed Dr Freeman against a wall.’ Morris nodded and said ‘Do you remember what was said?’ ‘Yeah, he called her a bitch, accused her of killing his girlfriend and told her that he was going to make her pay.’ ‘Do you remember what time this was?’ ‘It was a little after 11:30 PM’  ‘One last question Dr Carter, would you be willing to testify in court against Kennedy if we needed you to do it?’ ‘Definitely, anything to make sure he goes down.’

Morris nodded and said ‘I’m going to need to talk to Dr Freeman now, could you please show me where her room is.’ Carter shook his head and said ‘You can’t talk to her right now, she’s asleep and she needs to rest.’ ‘I understand that Dr Carter but I need to talk to her while the incident is still fresh in her mind.’ ‘I don’t think that she is going to forget that she was badly beaten and raped anytime soon do you?’ Carter said, realising that he was talking in a raised voice. Morris raised her eyebrows at him and Carter said ‘I’m sorry, its just that Halley, I mean Dr Freeman, is a good friend of mine and I don’t want to see her even more upset than she already is.’ Morris nodded and said ‘I understand, but the quicker I ask her a few questions, the quicker we can find Kennedy.’ Carter sighed and they both stood up and went upstairs to Halley’s room.

They both walked in the door, and Halley was still asleep. Carter looked down at her and said ‘Halley, wake up’ Carter didn’t want to wake her up; she seemed to be resting peacefully after he had given her the sedative. She opened her eyes and Carter said ‘Sorry I had to wake up Halley, but there’s a Detective who needs to talk to you.’

Halley looked at Carter and then the Detective, the fear and apprehension evident in her eyes. ‘Its ok Halley. If you want I can stay here with you, or if you’d prefer I could cal a counsellor from Psyche to stay here with you.’ Halley shook her head and said to Carter ‘Can you stay here with me please John.’ Carter nodded and said ‘Of course I will.’ He sat down next to her and said ‘Detective Morris is going to ask you some questions about what happened last night. You need to tell her everything that you can, and if you need to take a break then just say.’

Halley felt sick with nerves and she started to feel faint. Carter took her hand and Morris sat down. ‘Dr Freeman,’ Halley interrupted and said wearily, ‘Please, call me Halley’ ‘Halley. Dr Carter has told me what happened earlier at the hospital. Can you verify some facts for me?’ Halley nodded. ‘You told Kennedy that his girlfriend was dead and he threatened you. Can you tell me what he said?’ Halley replied quietly ‘He blamed me for his girlfriend’s death, and he called me a bitch and said that he would make me pay.’

Morris nodded and said ‘Ok, you are doing great so far Halley. I need you to tell me what happened after you left the hospital. Just take your time, and say if you want to take a break.’ Carter looked at Halley, and he also felt sick at the thought of what she was going to say next.

‘I.I went in the lounge and got my coat. It was really cold. I started walking down an alleyway and I heard someone walking behind me.’ Halley stopped, trying to regain her composure and trying to force down the sick feeling that was rising in her throat. ‘Kennedy jumped out in front of me.’

Morris said ‘Did he say anything to you?’ ‘Yes, he said ‘Hello Dr Freeman’’ ‘So he definitely knew it was you.’ Halley nodded. She fell silent, feeling tears well up in her eyes. ‘I asked him what he wanted and he started to push me up against a wall.’ Halley felt her chest tighten and she jumped when she felt something touch her arm. It was Carter and he said ‘Do you want to take a break?’ ‘No, I just want to get through this as quickly as I can.’ Carter nodded and squeezed her hand.

Halley looked down as she said ‘He started trying to kiss me, and I kneed him in the groin. I tried to run, but he hit so much that I fell down.’ Halley again fought the urge to throw up, and tears were rolling down her face. Carter was himself near tears. ‘I tried to scream but he kicked me again and again and I felt my ribs break. And, and I couldn’t fight back my ribs hurt so much, I could hardly breathe.’ Halley was now sobbing and urging at the same time and Carter was worried that she was going to be sick.

‘He wouldn’t stop touching me, he wouldn’t stop, I begged, I begged for him too stop but he wouldn’t, he just kept going, and it hurt so much.’ Carter realised that Halley was going to throw up, and he grabbed and emesis basin and put it under her mouth as she threw up. Carter rubbed her back and Morris said ‘It’s ok Halley, its over now. You did such a good job. I’ll leave you alone now.’

Halley continued to be sick and then she finished, raising her head slowly and looking at Carter, tears still rolling down her face. She let out a loud sob, and Carter got some tissues and wiped her mouth and some of her tears away, before she leant her head on his shoulder and wept until there were no more tears left to cry.

TO BE CONTINUED