(no subject)
Sep. 26th, 2013 09:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fiery_ringTeja was right. They couldn't let the corrupt police officer blackmail them any longer, and they couldn't get any more money anyway.
It was surprisingly difficult for Will to turn himself in. Each time they went to the station, PC Parsons was there, and they needed someone more senior.
"This is ridiculous." Carlotta says to him, by the campfire that night. "How are we meant to turn Parsons in if we can't even turn you in?"
"Did you say PC Parsons?"
They turn around and see Maggie, with a white frightened look on her face. Carlotta sighs and gestures for the teenager to come and sit next to her.
"Yes. I'm going to tell the rest of the camp tomorrow, after Will hands himself in, but he's blackmailing us." she says quietly. "Do you know him?"
"Yes... He's our dad." Maggie says. "I took Greta and ran away. He mustn't find us."
Carlotta looks at her. She'd always suspected Maggie and Greta were runaways, and had no doubt that they had good reasons.
"He can't get you if he comes here." she says. "I've done the paperwork, you're wards of the circus. I knew you weren't sixteen."
"Yes, but what are you going to do?" Maggie asks. "He's been blackmailing people for years, he embezzles the money, you're in a heap of trouble."
"Don't worry Maggie." Will says, gently. "We'll figure something out."
***
They decide to sleep on it. When Carlotta wakes the next morning, the bed is empty. It's not unexpected; Will often goes out for an early morning smoke, but her hand touches a piece of paper.
She wakes up properly, and looks at the piece of paper.
'My dearest Carlotta,
I'm sorry, I couldn't risk Parsons coming to the camp and finding his daughters. I have gone to the police office in Nottingham to hand myself in properly.
Even though I shouldn't have been arrested this time, I shouldn't have let you be pressured into the bribe in the first place.
I will be well behaved and get out as soon as possible.
Please don't tell Molly I'm in prison, but tell her I love her and will be back soon.
All my love
Will.'
"Matta?" Molly stands in her crib, watching. "Where Will?"
Carlotta folds the letter.
"Daddy's gone back to the stables." she lies, wiping the tear off her cheek. "Just us today."
The toddler stands watching, and sucks her thumb.
It was surprisingly difficult for Will to turn himself in. Each time they went to the station, PC Parsons was there, and they needed someone more senior.
"This is ridiculous." Carlotta says to him, by the campfire that night. "How are we meant to turn Parsons in if we can't even turn you in?"
"Did you say PC Parsons?"
They turn around and see Maggie, with a white frightened look on her face. Carlotta sighs and gestures for the teenager to come and sit next to her.
"Yes. I'm going to tell the rest of the camp tomorrow, after Will hands himself in, but he's blackmailing us." she says quietly. "Do you know him?"
"Yes... He's our dad." Maggie says. "I took Greta and ran away. He mustn't find us."
Carlotta looks at her. She'd always suspected Maggie and Greta were runaways, and had no doubt that they had good reasons.
"He can't get you if he comes here." she says. "I've done the paperwork, you're wards of the circus. I knew you weren't sixteen."
"Yes, but what are you going to do?" Maggie asks. "He's been blackmailing people for years, he embezzles the money, you're in a heap of trouble."
"Don't worry Maggie." Will says, gently. "We'll figure something out."
***
They decide to sleep on it. When Carlotta wakes the next morning, the bed is empty. It's not unexpected; Will often goes out for an early morning smoke, but her hand touches a piece of paper.
She wakes up properly, and looks at the piece of paper.
'My dearest Carlotta,
I'm sorry, I couldn't risk Parsons coming to the camp and finding his daughters. I have gone to the police office in Nottingham to hand myself in properly.
Even though I shouldn't have been arrested this time, I shouldn't have let you be pressured into the bribe in the first place.
I will be well behaved and get out as soon as possible.
Please don't tell Molly I'm in prison, but tell her I love her and will be back soon.
All my love
Will.'
"Matta?" Molly stands in her crib, watching. "Where Will?"
Carlotta folds the letter.
"Daddy's gone back to the stables." she lies, wiping the tear off her cheek. "Just us today."
The toddler stands watching, and sucks her thumb.
