Ren slowed the 4WD vehicle and eased it into a park by the curb outside the police station. Turning the vehicle off he glanced at Brad, who sat in the passenger seat, then in the rear-view mirror at 'Tanaya.
"Ready to do this?" Ren asked Brad quietly.
"The lawyers are meeting us here, that right?" Brad asked.
"Yeah. But we're an hour early because I forgot Queensland doesn't have daylight savings," Ren announced.
"It would be best if we just walked in and handed ourselves in and not chance waiting around, getting recognised and arrested. We can remain quiet until the lawyers arrive," Ren continued on.
"Well let's go then," Brad said soberly.
The three got out of the vehicle and Ren handed 'Tanaya the keys. They had already made prior arrangements that if they ended up having to wait in jail until a trial 'Tanaya would take the vehicle back to the restaurant where they had been staying and leave it parked in the garage.
"You guys sure you don't want to wait for the lawyers?" 'Tanaya asked in concern.
"Ren's right. We need to hand ourselves in so we don't get arrested," Brad said flatly then led the way towards the front entrance of the building.
Inside the building they took the lift to the third floor and Ren led the way to the front desk.
"I'm here to see Senior Detective Blake," Ren said asking for the officer they had been told would be waiting to speak to them.
"Down to the end of the hall on the right and ask for him at the desk in the large squad room on the left," the officer said.
Ren headed down the hallway towards the door of the squad room. He felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end and he figured it was because he was just about to turn himself in to the police. He glanced behind him to make sure Brad and 'Tanaya were following then pushed the door open and walked into the squad room to the front desk.
Feeling eyes on him he turned his head only to find himself looking into Sky's face across the room. Recognition lit her eyes and her lips parted softly, excitement shining in her eyes as she trembled. Ren turned from the desk, a smile curving his lips as he started towards her.
It was so good to see her; he had missed her so much. Missed holding her in his arms of a night, missed waking up next to her of a morning. Not knowing how she was had been like a white-hot knife in his guts, cutting, burning, tearing something vital from his body.
"Saunders! Saunders get the hell out here now! Ashton! Blake! Franks! Jacobson! Here now!" Ren heard an authoritative voice shout and he heard a rush of movement towards him.
"Holy fucking shit!" Ren heard Brad swearing behind him as a figure emerged from the doorway behind Sky and grabbed her roughly from behind.
A scream of terror burst from her as she began struggling as she was dragged backwards and eye contact was broken between them. "Let me go! Let me go! I don't want this! I don't want this! Let me go, just please let me go!" Sky screamed in terror as she reached one hand towards Ren.
The guy who held her was talking to her as she struggled against him but she didn't seem to be responding to him and he picked her up bodily to turn her towards the doorway.
"Get the fuck off her you mongrel!" Ren yelled as he saw Sky being manhandled.
Sky was sobbing almost hysterically as she turned towards Ren's voice. "Please let me go; why can't you just let me go?" she sobbed as she struggled against the arms holding her.
In that instant Ren realised that Sky was lost somewhere in her mind - somewhere where reality and memories merged into one nightmarish time.
"Sky! It's all right! I'm here to turn myself in. It'll be alright!" Ren yelled as he realised in her fear she was turning to him for protection like before.
A heavy weight hit him in the back and he found the floor rushing up to meet him as he began struggling to free himself. The urge to protect Sky stirred strongly. His arms were pulled back behind his back roughly and a knee pressed into his back between his shoulder blades cruelly.
"Get off them you bastards! Get off them!" 'Tanaya was screaming behind Ren.
He managed to lift his head momentarily; one glance showed him Sky was no longer in the room and he suddenly stopped struggling as he realised he was doing himself no favours.
"Relax, relax. Stop fighting," Someone was saying behind his head as he felt handcuffs click into place.
"Get off them! You bastards! Leave them be!" 'Tanaya was still screaming.
"Shantanaya! Stop it!" Brad yelled at her and she was instantly quieted.
"If we help you onto your feet will you remain calm and co-operate?" The voice behind Ren asked him.
"Yes," Ren replied, resigned to the fact he could not reach Sky.
"Okay, on the count of two. One, two..."
Ren was lifted by strong grips on his elbows until he could regain his feet. Steadying himself he glanced over his shoulder to see the two police officers that held his arms at his elbows. Beyond them he could see Brad prone on the floor, four officers around his large body, his hands cuffed behind his back.
"We'll take this one into interview room one," The officer to Ren's right said.
Ren found himself marched forcefully from the room to a secure room where a table had several chairs either side of it.
"Sit down," he was ordered as he was all but pushed into a chair.
Ren settled himself into the chair and waited for the next move. One officer left the room while the other moved to stand by the now closed door. Ren rolled his shoulders as he tried to ease the pain between his shoulder blades from the knee that had been planted in his back. After a few minutes the other officer returned with pen and paper and sat down opposite Ren.
"Which one are you? Renford or Stanton?" The officer asked.
"Gabriel Renford and I have a lawyer coming in to be here, so if you don't mind I will just wait until he gets here before I say anything further," Ren said evenly then asked, "How's Sky? Is she okay?"
"Sky?" The officer asked puzzled.
"Yeah, the blonde that your colleague manhandled out of the room," Ren answered tightly.
The two officers exchanged glances but didn't reply.
Ren bit back a curse and counselled himself to remain patient. Not ten minutes later the door opened and Graeme Walsh walked into the room. He moved to the table, placed his briefcase on the table and opened it before glancing towards Ren and then turning towards the officers.
"I require a moment alone with my client, thank you," Graeme said forcefully. "And kindly remove the handcuffs."
Ren was motionless while his handcuffs were removed and then he rubbed his wrists to remove the feel of the cold steel. He watched as the police left the room and then turned towards his lawyer.
