[CW: reference to violence]


Elijah had left him there handcuffed, attended by another constable. This time he wasn't dealing with Elijah. This time he was probably not going to be let go after a warning. 

He hadn't regretted it as Elijah had taken it to the station. He'd beat that bastard's face into a bloody pulp any time he could. What had he done to Alice? Mr. Meijer was it? Yes, he remembered it now. Had he been preying on Rose too? How many of his children had that bastard tried to seduce? God, for all he knew he wats preying on Elijah too! If they hadn't stopped him he'd have knocked the fellow unconscious, then castrated him. Bastard. He was to blame for everything! For everything! So Ben could leave his own guilt safely tucked away and unexamined. 

But as he sat here in the station, cuffed and waiting for the sergeant to charge him, the rage slowly left him and worry started taking it's place. What was going to happen? They needed to let him go tomorrow. If they didn't, he could lose his place on the boat. Then what of his children? Elijah wouldn't let it get that far, surely. 

But Elijah wasn't here.

Bert stared at the prisoner under his charge over the small whiskers of his moustache. He knew of the Wards, by reputation as a fair family beset by bad luck. But their patriarch was on his list of lawbreakers for his sober temper.

Alasdair had been been on duty most of today and he was coming to the end of his shift. He still had a few more jobs to do before the nightshift came in. He was filling out paperwork for a William Blacke who had not long been brought in by his cousin when he was asked to deal with another issue.

Alasdair walked along the corridor. And stopped infront of a gentleman "Benjamin ward....." he helped the man to his feet before looking to his colleagues before speaking to them "can you mark the chalk board. Cell 5, Benjamin ward". He began walking into the cell block before opening the door to cell 5 and walking Benjamin inside.

Alasdair made his way out of the cell before closing the door behind him. Opening the small hatch in the door. "Place your hands through the door"

Bert nodded at his superior and went off to attend to the bureaucracy of law enforcement.

He was actually going to be in a cell? Sure, he was in a police station and he had launched himself at a guy tried to beat him to a bloody pulp, but somehow the possibility of being placed in a cell like a common criminal hadn't seemed real until he heard his cell number. He walked along numbly, then put his hands through the hatch as he was told. "I have bairns at 'ome, officer..." he begged.

Alasdair uncoupled his handcuffs & returned a few minutes later with something to eat. He placed the tray on the slide of the door and spoke through the door to Ben "get something to eat down you"

Alasdair needed some time to think and went to find Elijahs notes

His pleading was ignored. This was a new experience with the police for Ben Ward. He took the food when it was brought to him, but when he sat down on the wooden board that was to serve as his bed, he set it beside himself. He wasn't hungry. He got up began to pace while his heartrate increased. They needed to let him out.

He pulled the lever that corresponded with a lever on the other side of the door carrying his cell number. Assistance needed in cell five.

It wasn't long before Alasdair returned. He opened the door "come on out. Let's go into the interview room and talk." He led the way to the room without handcuffs.

He walked into the room and sat down at the desk "take a seat"

Ben was smart enough to do as he was told. He walked along calmly and took a seat when he was told to. "I was only protecting me bairns, ser."

Alasdair looked at Ben "this isn't being taken down. In your own words tell me what happened"