*** CID OFFICE - 2:30 PM ***

Kim walks into the office, nodding briefly at Ted and Alistair sitting in their chairs.

DCI Reid:

Is the DI in his office?

Viv looks up from a stack of paperwork.

WDC Martella:

Yeah but he's in a foul mood. I'd be careful.

Kim nods grimly and walks into Frank's office.

DCI Reid:

Frank? Are you busy?

Frank grunts and looks up.

DI Burnside:

What does it look like? Make it quick.

Kim gazes at her nemesis with badly-disguised hatred.

DCI Reid:

I have a rather unusual case here. I would appreciate your co-operation. It involves an allegation of sexual assault between two police officers.

Frank rolls his eyes, looking out into the CID office.

DI Burnside:

Is this some kind of birthday prank Reid? I'm not in the mood.

Kim speaks slowly and calmly.

DCI Reid:

I didn't know that it was your birthday Frank! Congratulations. Shall I buy you a retirement present? Maybe a nice mug with an inscription saying 'For your 60th birthday'?

Kim looks pointedly at Frank.

DI Burnside:

What's this all about then?

DCI Reid:

The new plonk on B relief is alleging that she was raped in this station by PC Ben Prior. I think she's telling the truth.

Frank looks up at her wearily, running his hands down his face and sitting back in his chair.

DI Burnside:

And just when was this supposed to happen?

Kim sighs.

DCI Reid:

A couple of weeks ago. Look Frank, I haven't got the time to muck about here. I'm asking you if you'd like to sit in on the interview as a courtesy.

Frank considers her offer.

DI Burnside:

I'm tempted, only out of curiosity but I haven't got the time. Ask one of the senior officers, Greig or Roach should have some free time.

Kim nods, irritated by Frank's blasé treatment of a serious matter.

DCI Reid:

You might think that sexual assault is a bit of a joke, Frank but I doubt whether you'd feel the same way if it'd happened to your daughter.

Kim strides out of the room, leaving a slightly stunned Frank behind. She emerges into the CID office and heads over towards the sergeants.

DCI Reid:

Ted, Alistair. I need someone to help me with a case.

Viv looks up slowly from her paperwork, muttering under her breath.

WDC Martella:

That'd be right, see if the male officers have the time, then it's 'Oh Viv, be a darling'. We'll just wait and see.

DS Roach:

Sorry, I haven't got time enough for a coffee break, let alone another case.

Ted busies his head in another file.

DCI Reid:

Well I'll just have to leave the Polly Page case to Alistair then.

Alistair looks up.

DS Greig:

What's this all about?

DCI Reid:

WPC Page. She's made an allegation of sexual assault and rape.

DS Greig:

You mean that new officer. The young blonde one?

Alistair sits up in his chair, looking interested. Kim nods.

DS Greig:

When did this happen? Who's the allegation against?

DCI Reid:

PC Ben Prior. This is a delicate case and it needs careful handling. Are you willing to help, Alistair?

Alistair nods seriously.

DS Greig:

Of course Ma'am.

Kim looks around the CID office threateningly.

DCI Reid:

And I expect complete discretion as far as this case is concerned. No gossiping about it in the canteen.

Alistair nods on behalf on himself and his colleagues.

DCI Reid:

Let's get to it then. I'll fill you in on the details as we go.

Kim smiles curtly and leaves the room with a slightly confused Alistair in tow. Ted shakes his head and looks across the room at Viv.

DS Roach:

It's a bad business, Viv. Plods and plonks. It's a lot safer up her in CID.

Viv looks up slowly from her desk.

WDC Martella:

You just might have a point there.

Ted continues to ramble, his eyes on Viv.

DS Roach:

I mean, what one man sees as being friendly, a woman might call it 'sexual assault'.

Ted walks over to Viv's desk and rests his arm on her shoulder.

DS Roach:

We really should discuss it sometime, Viv. I've got a lot to say on the matter. What are you doing after work tonight?

Viv stands, sliding the chair under her desk, heading briskly towards the office doorway.

WDC Martella:

Washing my hair, Sarge.

Ted frowns.

DS Roach:

Do you need some help washing it?

Viv calls out as she heads towards the stairs.

WDC Martella:

Afraid not!

*** CAD ROOM - 2:35 PM ***

Tony angrily pushes open the door and walks into the room. Ben Prior is idly lounging at his computer terminal, chatting softly to a small frail WPC next to him. Ben is laughing uproariously as Tony walks grimly towards him.

PC Stamp:

We need to speak.

Ben chuckles lightly, getting to his feet.

PC Prior:

You all right Tones?

Tony doesn't reply immediately but simply points towards the door.

PC Stamp:

We need to speak, Ben. In private.

Ben shakes his head with a confused expression but nevertheless follows Tony out into the corridor. Tony escorts him to the nearest Interview Room. Ben hesitates outside then follows Tony inside, shutting the door behind him.

PC Stamp:

I've got a couple of questions for you.

Ben looks mildly surprised.

PC Prior:

Tony, you wanna tell me what's going on?

Tony shakes his head.

PC Stamp:

What have you been doing to Polly Page, Ben? Honestly?

Ben grins cheekily.

PC Prior:

Why Tones, you almost make that sound kinky.

PC Stamp:

Come on Ben, spit it out. Was what you told me the other day true? About the WPC's locker room?

Ben leans against the desk, folding his arms triumphantly across his chest.

PC Prior:

I'm afraid so Tones. But don't worry, she's not really into all that stuff. I'm sure she'd be just as happy with dinner and a box of chocolates.

Tony frowns.

PC Stamp:

You had sex with her? In the station, in her locker room?

Ben looks slightly suspicious.

PC Prior:

Yeah? So what?

Tony shakes his head.

PC Stamp:

You'll want to be careful in future, mate. Someone from C relief must have heard you 'cause I overheard Inspector Monroe talking about strange noises from locker rooms and the possibility of getting CCTV cameras installed to prevent people mucking around in them.

Tony trails off with a small laugh. Ben is taken off-guard, the smirk dropping from his face quickly.

PC Prior:

You're not... serious?

Tony nods slowly, a grim look settling on his face.

PC Stamp:

Yeah well I don't want you spoiling things for the rest of us. I don't want Monroe peering at me half-naked in the future!

Ben looks slightly more relaxed, a nervous smile appearing over his face.

PC Prior:

Nah, it'll never happen mate. The plonks would start picketing!

Tony chuckles.

PC Stamp:

Yeah, I guess. Just be more careful in future. Imagine your wife if you two had been caught and it all came out.

Tony claps Ben on the shoulder and leaves the room. Ben shrugs and heads back to CAD.

*** CID - 2:45 PM ***

Tony sticks his head around the door of the DCI's office and looks around. There is no-one there. He shrugs and heads towards the main CID office. Viv is working at her desk but apart from her the office is deserted. She looks up slightly flustered.

WDC Martella:

Anything I can help you with Tony?

Tony shakes his head.

PC Stamp:

Is the DCI around?

WDC Martella:

You've just missed her. She's off with Greig. Anything important?

Tony grunts, annoyed by this news.

PC Stamp:

Well it's to do with Polly Page. I wanted to talk to her about her.

Viv pushes her chair back slightly, dropping her pen on the desk.

WDC Martella:

You'll have to get in line for that one Tony. Sure I can't pass on a message?

Tony hesitates.

PC Stamp:

Well it's sort of delicate. Are you in on the case?

WDC Martella:

That's one way of putting it, I guess.

Tony lowers his voice.

PC Stamp:

You know what she's saying about Ben Prior, right?

Viv nods quickly.

WDC Martella:

Yes, I do. Why? Come up here to try and convince the DCI it's rubbish, I suppose?

Tony shakes his head.

PC Stamp:

I've got something that might just swing it for her. Has the DCI talked to Ben about the allegations yet?

Viv looks intrigued.

WDC Martella:

No, not yet I don't think. They've only just started on it. What have you got?

PC Stamp:

Something that Ben told me late one night in a taxi. He admitted to having sex with Polly, though he claimed that she was a willing partner. I'm not sure if I should come forward with it, though. I mean, what if she was willing and she's just trying to get her own back on him for him dumping her?

Viv sighs and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

WDC Martella:

Look, Tony and we're talking off the record here, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't make something like this up. And anyway, from what I've heard, they were never together in the first place.

Tony nods.

PC Stamp:

I guessed as much. I thought he seemed a bit too cocky when he was bragging about it. So do you think I should tell the DCI what he told me? Do you think it would have any bearing on the case?

WDC Martella:

That's for you to decide in the end Tony but yes, I certainly think it'd help Polly's case.

Tony narrows his eyes and looks suspiciously at Viv.

PC Stamp:

You seem to know an awful lot about Polly and the case. Have you met her before, outside the job?

Viv sighs, somewhat awkwardly.

WDC Martella:

Well, no, not outside of the job, as such.

Tony scratches his head.

PC Stamp:

Don't tell me that you've arrested her before? How could she get into the police with a criminal record?

Viv shakes her head quickly.

WDC Martella:

No, nothing like that.

PC Stamp:

Then what? Come on Viv, there's something funny going on here. What is it?

Viv looks slightly annoyed at having to dig up past memories.

WDC Martella:

Look, I can't go into great detail but yes I've dealt with her before and no, she hasn't a criminal record.

Viv stands up and slowly makes her way towards the block of filing cabinets. Tony paces slowly behind her, still thoroughly confused.

WDC Martella:

Back when I was a WPC, just out of probation, June and I became involved in an abuse case.

Viv slowly pulls open the cabinet drawer, sighing as she sorts through past files, until she pulls out the one she wants.

WDC Martella:

The victim, a twelve year old Polly Page.

Viv passes the file to Tony, resting an elbow on the filing cabinet as he studies it, his confusion gradually melting into intrigue.

PC Stamp:

She was abused as a child... sexually?

Viv nods with a low grunt.

WDC Martella:

Sexually, physically, emotionally, you name it.

Tony is finding it difficult to come to grips with everything.

PC Stamp:

And Ben just picked up where her stepfather left off, I guess. No wonder she found it so hard to say anything.

Tony continues to read through the file, wincing at the photographic evidence. Viv tilts her head slightly.

WDC Martella:

That's one way of putting it, I guess. She probably blamed herself. Thought she did something to bring it on, I dunno. I haven't had a chance to talk properly with her about it. It's probably best if I stay out of this one.

Tony nods his head, looking pretty sick as he does so.

PC Stamp:

Does anyone else know about this?

Tony hands the file back to Viv.

WDC Martella:

Myself and June. And it is to stay that way, understood? I only showed you this, so that you decision about whether or not to talk with the DCI might be made easier.

Tony sighs his agreement.

PC Stamp:

You don't need to worry, Viv. She was raped by her stepfather and I'd never turn that into canteen gossip. Thanks for showing me that, it's made my mind up once and for all. I'm behind Polly all the way here.

Viv nods, placing the file back in the drawer and sitting back at her desk.

WDC Martella:

That's what I was hoping for.

Tony clears his throat.

PC Stamp:

So where can I find the DCI, Viv?

Viv thinks for a moment.

WDC Martella:

Well, they headed downstairs about half an hour ago. To check the locker room. They're probably still downstairs.

Tony gives Viv a brief unconvincing smile and heads off downstairs.

Continue...