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Mr Lucas: Fine. (pause) I attended the ball with my girlfriend Gemma Marshall.
DI Clark: This is a relatively new relationship?
Mr Lucas: Yes. A few weeks. I was aware that Gemma, Miss Marshall had been threatened by an ex-boyfriend of hers. I had a security detail with her at all times. (pause) I thought she was safe at the ball.
DI Clark: An unforeseen development with Miss Turvington.
Mr Lucas: I knew nothing about the situation with Libby Turvington; her relationship with him. So when Gemma commented on her presence, I saw nothing malicious about it. It was only when I glimpsed Gemma coming out of the ladies with Libby that I became concerned.
DI Clark: You could tell this from across the room?
Mr Lucas: She didn’t like Libby and to be in such close proximity to her.... She had told me she didn’t want to be anywhere near her that night. Gemma looked tense. She’s my girlfriend, I know her well enough to recognise her unease. I indicated to Mr Martinson, my personal protection officer, that something was amiss. But when I turned back, Gemma and Libby were gone.
DI Clark: Please go on, Mr Lucas, this is very helpful to our enquiries.
Mr Lucas: Martinson and I headed to where we had last seen them. I was suspicious. There was no sign of them. The obvious route out of the building was down some adjoining corridors. There were two choices; one went out on to the terrace, the other a side exit. We were about to split up when I thought I heard a cry. I followed the direction of the cry coming from outside, by the emergency exit. Then we heard the scream. I recognised Gemma's cry (pause) it was muffled but distinct. We reached the door as quick as we could. You know what we found on the other side of the door.
DI Clark: Yes. Libby Turvington has been charged with murder. However, given her mental status she is currently confined to a secure psychiatric unit. Whatever happens in the criminal court, she’s not going anywhere for a long time. Well thank you for coming in.
Mr Lucas: Will you require any further information?
DI Clark: It can wait a few days. We’re following up the forensic scene and there have been developments in the assault on Trudy Belling.
(Recording stopped.)
***
The fear had gone now. The screaming had left me too. The gurgling noise he made when she had stabbed him in the throat was still lingering somewhere, as was the memory of the handcuffs clattering on the concrete ground as he dropped them. Her frenzy of blood lust I had not witnessed. I had kept my eyes tightly shut while she had gone crazy throwing herself at him. At least I would not have to see the blood in my dreams.
Jason had gone to the police station to give his statement. I was lying in bed, resting, my eyes shut.
I did remember Jason taking me in his arms, letting me bury my face in his chest as I shook violently and painful, like a cramp all over my body. I had to stop the screaming with my fingers, shoving them in my mouth. Jason had held me tight, his breath was so rapid and I could hear his heart pounding like mine.
~
“Oh God, Gemma! I thought... I never want to lose you... I need you. I need you forever, Gemma. I love you so much, so much.” His voice broke through to me and I clutched him tightly, not daring to open my eyes.
“I’ve always loved you, Jason,” I rasped at him, my voice barely audible.
I could hear Martinson’s voice, gently speaking. “Just give me the knife, Libby. It’s over.”
“Keep your eyes shut, baby. I’m going carry you back indoors.” He lifted me gently and I hooked my arms around his neck.
I sat for a while in a small side room. There were police officers and hotel staff coming and going around me and I ignored them. I had a ringing in my face from Libby’s slaps and there was a pain in my side. Even with a blanket around me, I could not stop shivering. My right hip was stinging and there was a wetness to my side. I recollected Jason touching down there and his fingers had blood on them, not much. He wiped it off quickly.
One of the hotel first aiders took a look. “Not deep, I think she’s been nicked.”
“I don’t want to go to hospital.” I looked up Jason’s concerned face. I had never seen such worries etched on to his handsome features before now. With his lion mask gone, his emotions were fully exposed to me.
“Take me home, please,” I whispered.
He did, ignoring the commotion at the entrance to the hotel we went out another back exit. Johnson had arrived to take us home as Martinson was helping the police make sense of what had happened. I lay in the back of the car, a cotton wad taped to my side. Jas
on stroked my hair. I could not stop the sense of fear. The screaming in my mind was deafening and refused to cease.
He carried me in and Brooks held the door open for Jason. “The doctor is on her way as you requested, Mr Lucas.”
I lay on the bed. I was so cold and the duvet was not helping. I sipped a mouthful of water, but I was left with a need to vomit. I could hear voices outside the room.
