*** INTERVIEW ROOM - SUN HILL POLICE STATION - 4:30 PM ***

Alistair leads the confused PC Prior into the room, gesturing to the chairs.

DS Greig:

Take a seat.

Kim is sitting at the table in the interview room looking both calm and composed.

PC Prior:

You wanna tell me what's going on?

Kim stares coldly at the young officer.

DCI Reid:

Please sit down PC Prior. I would like to put some questions to you.

Ben does as he's asked, somewhat reluctantly. Kim watches as Alistair sits down next to her and they commence the interview.

DCI Reid:

Now, PC Prior. I have asked you here for an informal chat concerning some allegations that have been made by one of your fellow officers.

Ben shrugs slightly, concealing his nervousness extremely well.

PC Prior:

What allegations?

Kim coughs and clears her throat.

DCI Reid:

They concern the new probationer on your relief, Polly Page. Can you remember your movements on the night of the thirteenth of April?

Ben looks from each officer carefully, before replying.

PC Prior:

You mean during the shift?

Kim shakes her head.

DCI Reid:

Straight after the shift. When most of the lads were heading down to the Pike's Head before closing time, where were you?

Ben looks slightly confused.

PC Prior:

I went home. Look, is there something I should know here?

Kim looks pointedly at Ben.

DCI Reid:

Before you went home, PC Prior. Describe to me exactly what you did after coming off watch that night.

Ben sighs awkwardly.

PC Prior:

Understandably, this isn't something I want getting about, for Polly's sake but she'd been bothering me, pestering me all shift. She really fancied me. I wasn't interested, so I decided enough was enough. At the end of the shift that night, as we were leaving, I told her as much.

DCI Reid:

You told her that you weren't interested in her? Where exactly did this take place?

PC Prior:

In the WPC's locker room. I popped by on my way out, just to set her straight.

Kim makes a note on the pad in front of her.

DCI Reid:

Let's be clear about this. You went into the WPC's locker room after you came off shift and Polly was in there too?

PC Prior:

Yeah, that's right.

Kim smiles briefly.

DCI Reid:

What did she say to you? Can you recall her exact words?

Ben looks doubtful.

PC Prior:

It was several weeks ago, Ma'am. She didn't really say much, to my recollection.

Kim nods slowly.

DCI Reid:

I bet she didn't.

Kim returns her steady gaze to Ben's face.

DCI Reid:

Well can you recall the gist of the conversation, PC Prior? How did she react when you told her that you weren't interested in her?

PC Prior:

To be honest, she was none pleased about it. But, I'm a happily married man. I wasn't interested.

DCI Reid:

Are you sure that's all that occurred on that night, PC Prior? Think carefully, did anything else occur between you and Polly Page? Anything... sexual?

Ben rolls his eyes, folding his arms tightly across his chest.

PC Prior:

I kissed her. Said I was sorry and left.

DCI Reid:

You kissed her? Why would you kiss her if you weren't interested in her in a sexual way, PC Prior?

Ben shrugs.

PC Prior:

I dunno, I just, well felt sorry for her. It probably wasn't a great idea but you can't turn back the clock.

DCI Reid:

So that's your story is it? You came off shift, went into the WPC's locker room and told Polly Page that you weren't interested in her. You then kissed her and went home. Why the WPC's locker room, PC Prior?

Kim turns her steely blue eyes towards Ben. He is sweating slightly.

PC Prior:

'Cause that's where she was! For heaven's sake, it's hardly something I wanted the entire relief to know, now is it.

DCI Reid:

Well you certainly haven't tried to hide it, have you? I have a statement here from PC Stamp...

Kim pulls out a few sheets of loose-leaf paper and pushes them towards Ben.

DCI Reid:

Telling me that you boasted to him about having sex with Polly Page in the locker room that night. How can you explain this in the light of your claims that all you did was kiss her?

PC Prior:

You know what it's like, with the lads. Make it sound better than it really was. Okay, so I over-exaggerated with the boys a bit. So what?

Kim shakes her head.

DCI Reid:

PC Stamp says he asked you again this afternoon and you confirmed his version of events. Is this true?

Ben suddenly realises just where all this is leading. He coughs lightly, needing some time to think.

DCI Reid:

Well PC Prior? Why would you claim on two separate occasions to have had sex with Polly Page if nothing happened?

PC Prior:

Ok, so it wasn't that great an idea, bragging to Stamp. I probably shouldn't have. But it's no crime.

DCI Reid:

So now you're saying that you did have sex with Polly Page on the night of April the Thirteenth? Why have you changed your story, PC Prior?

PC Prior:

I never admitted to that! Just because I told Stamp I did, doesn't mean nothing.

Kim raises her eyebrow curiously.

DCI Reid:

Calm down PC Prior, it was only a simple question. Well we'll leave that to the side for now.

Kim takes Tony's statement off the desk and replaces it with another statement. Ben draws a breath, feeling slightly uneasy about where this is all leading.

DCI Reid:

By the way, the formal allegation is one of rape.

Kim speaks lightly, almost flippantly but keeps a careful eye on Ben's face. He begins to sweat profusely. Ben scoffs unintentionally.

PC Prior:

Oh, come off it, this is getting ridiculous! Just where did this all come from?

Kim doesn't answer Ben's question but instead begins to leaf through the pages of Norika's statement.

DCI Reid:

I also have here a statement from WPC Datta claiming that she witnessed Polly returning to the section house on the night of the thirteenth bruised, battered and in tears. If all you did was kiss her then how can you explain the bruises?

Ben looks up blankly, not answering. Kim takes Norika's statement away and looks him directly in the eye.

DCI Reid:

When DS Greig and myself went to the WPC's locker room earlier today we found a locker with a dent in it. The dent corresponds to a bruise on Polly's forehead and there were traces of blood on the locker. We have sent the samples away for analysis and if they show a match between the blood on the locker and Polly's then things don't look too good for you, do they PC Prior? Why don't you save us all a lot of trouble and tell me exactly what really happened on that night?

Kim's eyes are glinting triumphantly as Ben recoils from her words. He clears his throat nervously, his reply brief and stern.

PC Prior:

Nothing happened.

DCI Reid:

I don't believe you PC Prior. I think you went into that locker room when you realised that no one was around and you saw Polly Page there. I believe you forced her to have sex against her will and hurt her when she tried to scream. You're nothing more or less than a rapist, PC Prior. You're on the other side now.

Kim rises from her chair as her voice grows more and more intense with each word. Ben stands quickly from the chair also, turning towards the door.

PC Prior:

This is complete and utter crap and I don't have to sit here and answer to you!

DCI Reid:

Sit down PC Prior. I haven't finished with you yet.

Ben looks furiously at the DCI.

PC Prior:

Oh yes you have! I didn't rape that stupid cow and if she says so, she's a lying little slut!

DCI Reid:

Sit down, PC Prior!

Ben grunts under his breath and reaches the door, opening it quickly and heading out into the corridor. Kim nods at Alistair. He walks over and takes Ben's arm.

DCI Reid:

Ben Prior, I'm arresting you on suspicion of serious sexual assault. You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something that you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.

Kim nods at Alistair again.

DCI Reid:

Take him through to custody.

Kim folds her arms as Alistair escorts Ben towards the custody suite. Ben struggles against Alistair's grip.

PC Prior:

This is complete rubbish, you'll see. It's nonsense!

*** CANTEEN - SUN HILL POLICE STATION - 5:30 PM ***

Rosie sits in the corner sipping a cup of tea with Cindy.

WPC Lang:

Well I'm glad he's finally got his just desserts.

Cindy slurps her tea a little too loudly.

WPC Craine:

You're joking ain't ya? The little cow's gone and stitched him up. It's obvious!

Rosie shakes her head and whispers under her breath.

WPC Lang:

I wouldn't bet on that. He's had this coming for a long time if you ask me.

WPC Craine:

Oh leave the poor guy alone, will ya! The probate's just trying to get some attention.

Rosie shrugs.

WPC Lang:

I guess. She does seem a bit weird.

Stuart walks into the room looking very tired. He goes up to the counter, places his order and sits at a table over at the far side of the room. The two WPCs look towards him curiously.

WPC Lang:

Well why don't we ask the Sarge if it's true? He's been in custody all day so if anyone would know it's him.

Rosie and Cindy stand up and sidle over to Stuart's table. He looks up wearily at their approach.

Sgt. Lamont:

Hello ladies. What have I done to deserve this much attention?

WPC Craine:

Oh, nothing special, we just wanna know if it's true? About Ben?

Stuart sighs.

Sgt. Lamont:

What have you heard?

WPC Craine:

That the new probate has got him locked up for assault? Is it true?

Stuart nods his head slowly as he stirs his cup of coffee.

Sgt. Lamont:

Well I booked him in for it. The DCI seemed right pleased about it, too.

Stuart returns his attention to his cup of coffee.

WPC Lang:

Is it true that it was... sexual, Sarge?

Stuart nods reluctantly.

Sgt. Lamont:

That is the allegation that has been made, yes. But it's not the sort of thing that I like to turn into canteen gossip.

Stuart gives the WPC's an especially pointed look. Rosie cringes slightly but Cindy remains unfazed.

WPC Craine:

Is she gonna pursue it? I mean, it all seems a bit out of the blue and all.

Sgt. Lamont:

Well it must be pretty serious for the DCI to get involved. I think it's a pretty safe bet that this will go all the way. But why are you interested?

Cindy shrugs slightly.

WPC Craine:

Well, it's not the sort of thing that happens everyday, now is it. Besides, she seemed like such a, I dunno, spineless little thing. Having him arrested for touching her up, I dunno why she's complaining.

WPC Lang:

Well not all women enjoy being felt up, Cindy. Especially not by someone like Ben Prior.

Stuart raises his hand and the two WPCs fall silent.

Sgt. Lamont:

Look, this is my refs break. My ten minutes of enjoyment before I return to a custody suite full of drunks and police officers in cells. Let me enjoy it in peace, yeah?

Cindy stands from the table, slightly put out.

WPC Craine:

We're sorry Sarge, I just wanted to get my facts straight, that's all. To try to help Ben out of this mess!

Sgt. Lamont:

Well I'm sure he'll be touched by your concern but how about you put yourself into Polly's shoes for once? For all we know, she could be telling the truth. Don't judge too quickly, that's all I ask.

Cindy sits back down next to him, very quickly.

WPC Craine:

What, don't tell me you're backing her? After working with Ben for all these years?

Rosie looks down at her friend angrily.

WPC Lang:

Think about what you're saying, Cindy. You know what Ben's like. Sure, Polly is a bit screwed up but I can't help feeling sorry for the poor cow!

Stuart groans.

Sgt. Lamont:

Look, I don't know what to think. I'm just the custody Sergeant so I don't really care either way. Care and control of prisoners, that's my job. I leave the touchy-feely stuff up to the WPCs.

Cindy grunts under her breath and storms out of the canteen. Stuart shakes his head and returns his attention to his coffee as Rosie follows her friend out of the canteen.

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