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Polly Page: |
Well it was all my fault he found out, really. I should've been more careful, you know. There was this cow called Shell, she hated me the moment I stepped into the place. Anyway, she was always teasing me about how big my stomach was and they thought it was a terrific joke making comments about my weight and dropping hints that I needed to exercise more... |
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Polly takes a deep breath and continues. |
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Polly Page: |
Well a few nights ago they were teasing me as usual and my best friend there, Randy, she was out on the streets. So I had no one to protect me or look out for me. Anyway, Shell knew this so she was being especially nasty that evening, poking me in the stomach, that sort of thing. The other girls went along with it a bit too, though they weren't as nasty as Shell was. |
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Polly trembles, her hands shaking slightly. Viv glances down at Polly's obviously pregnant state and nods for her to go on. |
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WPC Martella: |
What were they saying? |
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Polly Page: |
It doesn't matter. I didn't try to speak back at them, I let them have their fun. But that really got to Shell. She couldn't stand being ignored, so she decided that she'd weigh me in front of all the others, the ultimate humiliation really. So she got the scales and two of her mates held my arms as she lifted me onto them. I hated it but I let them get way with it because I didn't care anymore. But Shell wanted to take things one step further, she wanted to humiliate me completely so she suggested to the others that I should be weighed naked to make sure the reading was accurate. I struggled and scratched them but they started taking off my clothes. Two of the girls held me there as Shell ripped my clothes from my body. |
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Polly sobs, close to tears. |
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Polly Page: |
Anyway, she tore them all off and I was left standing there naked. I was really angry by then but there was nothing I could do about it. It was pretty obvious that I was pregnant and that my stomach was there because of the baby, not because of fat. One of the girls whispered to Shell that she thought I must be "up the spout". I made a grab for my clothes but Shell hid them behind her and wouldn't let me at them. She still hadn't had enough. She ordered her friends to hold me still... Then she... Then she... |
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Polly's voice is choked with emotion. |
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Polly Page: |
Then she whispered into my ear that she'd never done it with a pregnant girl before... And she slowly licked her way down my stomach... And she started licking me out. There, in the room, in front of the other girls. I hated it but I couldn't get away. Some of the girls were leaving in disgust but Shell just kept licking away between my legs, not caring. |
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Polly suppresses a shudder. |
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Polly Page: |
And that's when Tom walked back in. He saw Shell licking me out and yelled at her to get upstairs and told the other girls to let me go. They did, but then he saw me... |
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Viv takes a deep breath, her voice hoarse. |
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WPC Martella: |
He saw that you were pregnant. |
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Polly's voice drops to a whisper. |
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Polly Page: |
He was furious. He asked how I'd got into that condition but I was too upset to reply. So while I was getting dressed, he kept yelling at me and it grew louder and louder until he told me that he couldn't support a "slut who doesn't know the basics". I yelled back that he was a bastard and that's when he hit me. It was a slap across the cheek at first but soon he was kicking and punching me for all he was worth. He kept kicking me in the chest and he landed a couple of blows on my stomach... It would have been a lot worse if Randy hadn't come home then. She pulled him off me and knocked him over, yelling at me to run. I somehow managed to get to my feet and I crawled out of the kitchen and out the door, but when I turned round to look I couldn't see Randy behind me. |
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Polly's voice wavers for a moment. |
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Polly Page: |
I kept shuffling down the street but after a minute or so I turned around at the sound of a scream. I recognised the voice, it was Randy. She screamed for about a minute then she was suddenly cut off. I dunno, I guess I would have preferred it if she'd kept on screaming. I don't know what happened back there but something tells me that she got hurt. Tom always used to keep a pocket-knife on him, just in case, he said. I ran away as fast as I could until I was out of breath and completely lost. |
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Polly shrugs her shoulders wearily. |
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Polly Page: |
I wandered around the streets for a while until I found a place where they were handing out food and drink so I hung around there until I spotted Tom one evening and I had to run away again. I ended up in that park where that Welsh bloke picked me up. I thought he was a punter but it turns out he was a police officer. So it seems I'm back in here. What's gonna happen to me Viv? |
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Viv shakes her head for several moments. |
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WPC Martella: |
Well, we have to take it one step at a time, Polly. There are lots of things that have to happen. We have to investigate the situation before, when you were at home and then these things that you have told me about now. You'll have to go back over all of this many times, so that the people at fault can be brought to justice. We'll need to find your friend Randy, make sure that she's okay. We'll need to track this 'Tom' guy down too. |
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Polly looks up, the pain of betrayal evident on her face. |
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Polly Page: |
I didn't tell you all that just so you could go out and arrest people! |
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Viv nods reassuringly and continues. |
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WPC Martella: |
But the main thing is, we'll make sure you're safe. We'll need to have a doctor examine you, make sure the baby's okay and that you're healthy. And the most important thing we'll do, is find you somewhere to stay. Somewhere safe, where you won't be in danger. You did the right thing, telling me the truth. |
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Polly shakes her head stubbornly. |
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Polly Page: |
You don't change, do you? All you care about is locking people up! I ain't gonna be examined just so you can collect evidence to put Tom away. He might have hit me but I don't wanna press charges so you can't go after him! Just leave it alone and leave me alone! |
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Polly's anger is evident. |
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WPC Martella: |
Polly, don't you understand? All these people have hurt you. They've all broken the law in what they've forced you to do. Even Tom. And if he's hurt your friend, don't you want to see him punished? |
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Polly Page: |
No! Randy can look after herself, I just wanna forget about it all. Forget about Tom, forget about Greg and most of all forget about you! |
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Polly bangs loudly on the detention room door. |
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Polly Page: |
Oi! Beaky! I've had enough, I don't want to see her anymore! |
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Polly calls out to Sergeant Cryer, who comes to the door at a measured pace. |
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Sgt. Cryer: |
What's going on? |
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Polly Page: |
Tell her to leave. I don't have to see her if I don't want to, do I? |
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Sgt. Cryer: |
What's going on? |
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Bob looks curiously at the officer, before glancing back down at the young girl. |
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Polly Page: |
It's simple. Either she goes or I go. I don't care which, it's bad enough you locking me up and throwing away the key without making me listen to her dribble as punishment. |
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Polly glares coldly at Viv. Bob raises an eyebrow at the officer. |
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Sgt. Cryer: |
Well you're not leaving until we've established that you're not at risk. So either you start co-operating, or you'll be in here until your twenty-first birthday. |
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Polly speaks slowly and deliberately. |
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Polly Page: |
Either you get her to leave now or I start screaming my head off. I'm hurt, I'm tired and I don't want to talk with her. Send me anyone else and I'll talk with them but not her. I can't trust her with anything. |
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Bob shrugs and gestures for Viv to leave the detention room. Polly breathes a sigh of relief as the door is locked. |
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Polly Page: |
And don't come back, you grass! |
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Sgt. Cryer: |
If that's the way you want it. I'll send another officer to talk with you shortly. |
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Bob closes the viewing window and makes his way back to the reception area. |
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Sgt. Cryer: |
So what was all that about, Viv? Why's she got it in for you? |
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WPC Martella: |
It's nothing Sarge. I know her, alright? Her name is Polly Page and she's about eleven years old if I remember correctly. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. |
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Bob nods thoughtfully. |
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Sgt. Cryer: |
She that miss. per. you had a few months back? |
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WPC Martella: |
Yeah. June and I dealt with it. Someone will have to inform the mother. |
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Sgt. Cryer: |
Right. Look, seeing as you know the girl, are you alright to run with it? Although, maybe get June to try talking with her. |
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WPC Martella: |
I'd really rather keep my distance Sarge. Let June deal with it, she knows the case almost as well as I do. |
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Viv's voice is dull. Bob nods with a shrug. |
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Sgt. Cryer: |
Whatever you think will do the trick. That girl's obviously hiding something. |
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WPC Martella: |
Isn't she just. I'll tell June everything I know and she can take it from here. Have fun looking after her, Sarge. |
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Viv walks briskly out of the custody area and heads towards the canteen, hoping to catch up with June. |
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Continue...
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