| |
Viv gently rests her hand on Polly's shoulder. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Sure you can tell me, sweetie. Whatever you want to say, I'm here to listen. |
| |
Polly looks blankly across the room, her sobbing increases without a reply. Viv places her other hand on Polly's other shoulder and softly pulls her towards her. Polly resists at first, then sighs and lets Viv give her a warm hug. |
|
WPC Martella: |
It's okay Polly, no one's going to hurt you. What were you about to say? |
|
Polly Page: |
But he said, he said I can't ever tell anyone. He said he'd kill me if I did. |
| |
Polly looks back over at Viv, her eyes filled with pure terror. Viv continues to pat Polly on the back. |
|
WPC Martella: |
He won't be able to hurt you Polly. I'll make sure he never comes near you again. What didn't he want you to tell me? |
|
Polly Page: |
But you can't, he said he could always find me. That I can't tell anyone, ever. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Polly, who said? Who told you all these lies? |
| |
Viv's face is wet with her own tears. Polly takes a deep breath, the single word slipping from her mouth as she exhales. |
|
Polly Page: |
Beech. |
| |
Viv and Polly stand there in silence for a few moments, Viv's hands running down Polly's back as the young girl sobs into her shoulder. |
|
WPC Martella: |
I see. Now what didn't he want you to tell me? |
| |
Viv's voice is firm and clear. |
|
Polly Page: |
But then I'd be telling you. And I can't. |
| |
Viv releases Polly and stares at her. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Polly, I'm asking you to tell me. Please? As your friend? If you don't tell me then I'll think that you think more highly on this Beech character than you do of me. |
| |
Polly looks back at Viv with a frown. |
|
Polly Page: |
You're only saying that so I'll tell you. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Well yes, I want you to tell me. Please Polly? |
| |
Viv gives Polly a friendly look. |
|
Polly Page: |
But what if he finds out I've told you? |
|
WPC Martella: |
If he finds out, we'll deal with him. Trust me Polly. |
| |
Viv's voice is steady. Polly looks pleadingly over at her. |
|
Polly Page: |
But he's a copper, like you. He'll know I told. He said he'd always be able to find me, no matter what. |
|
WPC Martella: |
If he's a copper like me then it'll be twice as easy for me to track him down, yeah? |
|
Polly Page: |
No way. That's what I mean, don't track him down! Just leave it. Please? |
| |
Viv shakes her head. Polly shakes her head nervously. |
|
Polly Page: |
He'll come after me, he'll kill me or something! Both of 'em will! |
|
WPC Martella: |
No he won't Polly, you'll be safe now. |
| |
Viv thinks carefully. |
|
WPC Martella: |
They? |
| |
Polly nods miserably. |
|
Polly Page: |
The other one. |
|
WPC Martella: |
There was another man present? |
| |
Sweat begins to trickle down Viv's neck. Polly nods slowly. |
|
Polly Page: |
He was meant to be the client but then Beech was there too. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Do you know his name, Polly? |
| |
Polly shakes her head. |
|
Polly Page: |
I didn't remember. It was John something. He said he was a policeman too. |
| |
Viv gulps. |
|
WPC Martella: |
And what did he do to you? |
| |
Polly looks back down at her hands. |
|
Polly Page: |
He was okay, I guess. It was only Beech who really hurt me. |
|
WPC Martella: |
How did Beech hurt you? |
| |
Viv's face is drawn. Polly shrugs. |
|
Polly Page: |
Just like he always does. And then he told me that I can't ever tell anyone. That's when he burnt me. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Is that when he burnt your arms and other places? |
| |
Polly cups her chin in her hands. |
|
Polly Page: |
Yeah. |
|
WPC Martella: |
How did he burn you, Polly? |
| |
Polly cringes, pulling up her sleeve slightly. |
|
WPC Martella: |
I've already seen the burns on your arm. Are there any on your chest? |
|
Polly Page: |
He burnt my wrist, where you saw before. |
| |
Polly shakes her head. |
|
Polly Page: |
No. |
|
WPC Martella: |
You mentioned other burns. Where then? |
| |
Viv's voice is gentle. Polly looks away, chewing on her bottom lip. |
|
Polly Page: |
... Down... there.... |
| |
Viv pauses. |
|
WPC Martella: |
You mean...? |
| |
Polly nods, sniffling lightly. |
|
Polly Page: |
I didn't tell Greg about that, coz of what Mr Beech and the other one said. I didn't wanna tell anyone. |
|
WPC Martella: |
About how long ago was this, Polly? Those burns on your arm look pretty fresh. |
| |
Polly thinks for a moment. |
|
Polly Page: |
About two weeks I fink. |
| |
Viv asks a delicate question. |
|
WPC Martella: |
And were they... careful? Did they use protection? |
| |
Polly starts crying softly, her hands clutched around her knees. She shakes her head. |
|
Polly Page: |
I woulda made John but then Beech was there and I didn't know he'd be there. Then they put the thing over my mouth and tied up my hands so I couldn't do nuffink! |
|
WPC Martella: |
Polly, this is an important question. Did they use a condom? |
| |
Viv's voice is deep and husky. |
|
Polly Page: |
No, I know I'm meant to make 'em but I couldn't. That's why I couldn't tell Greg. Because of what happened with Russell. I knew how mad he'd be. And Beech said I couldn't tell anyone either. |
| |
Viv bites her lip. |
|
WPC Martella: |
So you think there's a possibility that you might be pregnant? |
|
Polly Page: |
I dunno, maybe. I started getting sick again, so probably. What's gonna happen this time? |
| |
Viv sighs. |
|
WPC Martella: |
I honestly don't know Polly. If you're pregnant then you'll probably have to have another abortion. I'm really sorry but there is no other way. |
|
Polly Page: |
You mean like what the doctor did? The operation? |
| |
Viv nods her head slowly. |
|
WPC Martella: |
If there was an alternative, I'd suggest it. But there isn't. |
| |
Viv pauses. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Polly, which one of them do you think was... responsible... for the baby? |
| |
Polly looks perplexed. |
|
Polly Page: |
How do you mean? |
|
WPC Martella: |
Well, did both of them go the whole way with you? |
| |
Viv sighs at the blank expression on Polly's face. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Polly, did both men have sexual intercourse with you? |
|
Polly Page: |
Well sorta, I guess so. |
| |
Viv is insistent. |
|
WPC Martella: |
They both had vaginal intercourse with you? And they both were... satisfied? |
| |
Viv cringes slightly. Polly frowns, her head dropping. |
|
Polly Page: |
Not Beech. |
|
WPC Martella: |
But I thought you said he was the worst? Don't tell me he just stood back and watched? |
|
Polly Page: |
He was. He doesn't do it like the others. |
|
WPC Martella: |
What do you mean? |
| |
Viv is confused. |
| |
Polly shrugs, looking ill at the memory. |
|
Polly Page: |
He does it from behind, that's his favourite. Because he knows nobody else does. That's why he's the worst, coz it really, really hurts. Not just like normal. |
| |
Viv is momentarily speechless. After a little while, she recovers. |
|
WPC Martella: |
You mean he has sex with you, but instead of using your vagina he uses your bottom? |
| |
Polly nods slowly, not moving an inch. |
|
Polly Page: |
That's why it was really bad. And Greg made it so I didn't have to see him anymore. |
| |
Viv takes a deep breath. |
|
WPC Martella: |
So in a way, Greg was protecting you? He was your pimp in every sense of the word. |
|
Polly Page: |
Yeah, he didn't want me to get really hurt. I fought it was okay, with John and he made Greg leave. Then he took me upstairs and Beech was there. I fink they were mates. |
|
WPC Martella: |
So they tricked you into coming over? Greg didn't know that Beech was there? |
|
Polly Page: |
No. And Beech said I'd better not tell anyone, so I couldn't tell Greg. |
| |
Viv sighs. |
|
WPC Martella: |
You must be really terrified of Beech. I think I can understand why you didn't want me to go after him before. |
|
Polly Page: |
But you still can't! Please, it's really okay, I just wanna forget about him! |
| |
Viv speaks softly. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Polly, we can't let him get away with this. Especially if it's as bad as you say it is. |
|
Polly Page: |
But I don't care! He meant what he said, so I just wanna forget about him. Can't you understand that? |
| |
Viv shakes her head. |
|
WPC Martella: |
If we let him get away with it this time, what's to stop him doing it to other kids? If you won't do it for yourself, Polly, do it for them! |
| |
Polly sighs. |
|
Polly Page: |
That's not my fault! I just don't want him knowing I told! You promised you'd forget it, please! |
|
WPC Martella: |
I can't forget about it. We've taken it this far, Polly, and we'll see it through to the end. |
|
Polly Page: |
No! I mean it, he's a copper and he said they'd always find me! I don't care about what he did, just leave it! |
| |
Polly looks over at Viv desperately. Viv pushes her hair back and looks at the child. |
|
WPC Martella: |
He raped you. And he's going to pay for it. End of story. |
|
Polly Page: |
Don't you care? Don't you believe what he said? |
|
WPC Martella: |
No, only a frightened child would believe that. He lied to you, Polly, there's no way that he can get to you. |
| |
Polly shakes her head. |
|
Polly Page: |
He's a copper, he's got mates. If I start talking then he'll get someone to find me! You don't know him, he's evil! |
|
WPC Martella: |
And if he's evil, he deserves to go to jail. End of story. |
| |
Viv gives Polly a look of finality. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Isn't it about time that you were asleep? |
| |
Polly glares angrily at Viv, slipping the blanket over herself once again and resting her head back down on the pillow. |
|
Polly Page: |
He'll still find me, ya know. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Not while I'm around. Now go back to sleep! |
| |
Viv stands up and walks over to the other chair. She sits down and turns to face Polly, watching as the young girl drifts towards sleep. Viv sighs and leans back in her chair. Minutes pass as the officer listens to the young girl's soft breathing. Viv gets up to stretch her legs and walks around the room. Polly gently snores and Viv smiles at the sound. Taking one last look at the sleeping girl, Viv tiptoes out of the room and starts walking towards the nearby ladies' toilets. Polly opens her eyes slowly, hearing the officer leave. She quickly checks the corridor before slipping out of the room and towards the front office. Viv finishes in the ladies and slowly walks out into the corridor, wiping her hands dry on her skirt. She passes the locker room and is almost knocked from her feet by June walking in the opposite direction. |
|
WPC Martella: |
I'm sorry, June. I didn't see you there. |
| |
June smiles warmly, brushing Viv's shoulder. |
|
WPC Martella: |
June... I need a word. |
| |
Viv looks cautiously at her friend. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
What's up? How's it going anyway, thought you'd have had it long sorted. |
| |
Viv sighs. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Things have become very complicated, June. Do you have a minute? |
| |
June notes the distressed look on Viv's face and ushers her into the WPC's locker room. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
What's going on? |
| |
Viv takes a deep breath. |
|
WPC Martella: |
I've been having some in-depth talks with Polly. There's a lot more to that little girl than you'd see on the surface. |
| |
June folds her eyes, glaring intensely at Viv. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Go on. |
|
WPC Martella: |
June, the stepfather's been abusing her. Physically, emotionally, sexually, you name it. |
| |
Viv's voice is hushed, barely above a whisper. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
You've spoken with her about this? Just calm down and start from the beginning. What has she said? |
|
WPC Martella: |
Well I was putting her to bed and we started talking... She started going on about her family and her stepdad in particular. I asked her if he'd been hitting her and she was cagey at first but eventually she told me that he beat her up tonight, too. She even showed me the bruising. |
| |
Viv looks across at her friend, seemingly reluctant to go on. June nods slowly, leaning up against her locker. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Severe? |
| |
Viv nods her head. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Very much so. Her arm was covered in burns... She must have been severely traumatised by it all. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Poor kid, so what's the dead dog got to do with it all? The final straw? |
| |
Viv gulps. |
|
WPC Martella: |
It's worse than you think, June. He killed the dog because Polly wouldn't do what he wanted... He wanted her to have sex with several other children in front of him and she refused. That's why he killed her pet dog. |
| |
June lowers her voice, staring Viv straight in the eye. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Viv, are you sure about all this? Was the girl sure, I mean, this is a very serious allegation. |
| |
Viv nods again. |
|
WPC Martella: |
And that's not the half of it. Not only has the stepfather been abusing her for the last six years, he's turned her into a little business venture. |
| |
June raises an eyebrow. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
He's been pimping her? |
| |
June drops her voice to a monotone. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
She told you this? When? How? |
|
WPC Martella: |
Just before. She described her clients to me... and what they did to her. It's horrible, June, really horrible. She's only eleven but she's already had to live through an abortion and a miscarriage. |
| |
June nods glumly. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Are you sure you're alright with this? It's not exactly a simple dead pet anymore. |
|
WPC Martella: |
Oh, I still haven't gotten to the best part yet. Her clients' identities. Do you have any idea who's in the frame for this? |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Not but I can imagine. Professionals? Politicians? Status doesn't make any difference, ya know. |
| |
Viv replies quietly. |
|
WPC Martella: |
It's Mr Brownlow, June. She's got the Chief Super up on an allegation of Unlawful Sexual Intercourse. |
| |
June looks away, drawing a breath as she thinks for a few moments. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Lower your voice Viv, this isn't some piece of high school gossip! I'd be very carefully about using those words in the same sentence if I were you. Now just calm down and tell me; What did the girl tell you? |
| |
Viv speaks slowly and firmly. |
|
WPC Martella: |
She told me in no uncertain terms that she had slept with Mr Brownlow. I knew they were connected before this but I thought that she was his niece. I now know different. He's been having sex with her for months now, if not years. Our Chief Super is a child molester! |
| |
Viv's voice reaches a climax. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Vivian, calm down! Right. |
| |
June pauses, pacing around the small locker room thoughtfully before continuing. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
So you're the only one who knows about this? |
| |
Viv nods her head. |
|
WPC Martella: |
As far as I know Polly hasn't told a soul apart from her best friend at school. But I have no idea what to do June, I mean, I can't just walk up to the Chief Super's Office and arrest him, can I? |
| |
June sighs. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
No, not yet anyway. Look, this is serious Viv, how did Polly identify him? She knew his name? What? |
|
WPC Martella: |
She called him her "Uncle Charlie". Need I say more? |
| |
June drops her eyes as she draws a slow breath. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Right. Well we can't do anything about it now. We'll have to take this to Cryer first, he'll handle it from there if it goes the distance. |
| |
June pauses. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Why would she tell you this? You sure she's on the level? It's a pretty serious accusation to make. |
| |
Viv replies in a low, deep voice. |
|
WPC Martella: |
She's on the level. Trust me, June, she's telling the truth. She's given me details, names, times and places. She knows things that no eleven-year-old girl should know. She is telling the truth. |
| |
June nods slowly. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Well there's nothing we can do about it right now. We'll wait 'til tomorrow. Is she alright? Physically? |
|
WPC Martella: |
Physically, she's fine. Mentally... God knows. But what can we do about it? I mean, what possible action can we take? |
| |
June shakes her head reassuringly. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Nothing for now. We'll organise the FME tomorrow, take things from there. You alright to handle tonight though? |
|
WPC Martella: |
Sure, I'll go back and check on her, look after her until she wakes up. Oh, and there was one other thing. |
| |
Viv hesitates. June raises an eyebrow as she heads towards the doorway. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
What? |
|
WPC Martella: |
She thinks she might be pregnant. Again. |
| |
June sighs, placing a hand on Viv's shoulder as they leave the room, walking side-by-side down the corridor. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Sounds as if you've been having a rough time. I can sit with her for awhile if you want? Even if you just wanna get a snack or something? |
| |
Viv looks relieved. |
|
WPC Martella: |
I'd appreciate that. She's no trouble to look after but I feel bad about leaving her alone. I've been away for too long already. |
| |
Viv and June continue to walk towards the recreation room. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Don't worry so much, she probably needs nothing more than a good night's sleep. Everything'll sort itself out tomorrow. |
|
WPC Martella: |
I hope so, I really hope so. For Polly's sake. |
| |
Viv and June reach the recreation room and Viv walks across to turn on the light. Suddenly, June gasps from behind her. |
|
WPC Martella: |
What's the matter? |
|
WPC Ackland: |
I thought you said she was asleep? |
| |
June gestures towards the empty couch. |
|
WPC Martella: |
She's escaped, June. I thought she was acting strangely but I was sure that she was asleep... |
| |
Viv trails off. |
|
WPC Ackland: |
Don't panic, she's probably just gone to the bathroom or something. I'll check it out, okay? |
| |
June heads out of the room and back down the corridor. Viv shakes her head desperately then dashes off towards the canteen, looking for the small girl. |
|
Continue...
|
