** AUGUST 1ST **

*** CANLEY COMMON - 4:40 PM ***

Greg crushes a cigarette under his foot, as Ian kicks a football around the pavement. Polly wanders out of the building with her sports bag slung over her shoulder. Greg grunts under his breath as she approaches him.

Greg Matthews:

You took your time.

Polly Page:

Yeah, so what?

Greg Matthews:

You think I've got nothing better to do all day then wait around for you?

Polly looks daggers at Greg.

Polly Page:

Well if you hadn't kept me up so late last night...

Polly trails off. Greg wraps an arm around her shoulders and lowers his voice to a gravelly tone.

Greg Matthews:

Get into the car.

Polly meekly obeys. Greg leans against the door as Ian collects his football.

Ian Page:

Did you see me today Greggy? Did you? Did you see me score the goal?

Greg chuckles.

Greg Matthews:

You bet I did. You really nailed that wimpy goalie! He was a real woman.

Ian Page:

Did you see me Polly? Did you, huh? Did you see me kick the ball through his legs?

Polly Page:

No, Ian.

Ian pouts.

Ian Page:

Why not?

Polly Page:

Because I was having my head kicked in at hockey at the time.

Greg Matthews:

Let ya guard down, did ya? You deserved it then.

Ian Page:

Yeah, serves you right, you silly girl!

Polly is close to tears.

Greg Matthews:

I really don't know why you bother. I've seen you play. Even that pathetic little Jenny girl is better than you!

Polly bites back her tears. Greg snorts, starts up the car and turns around to check the rear mirror.

Ian Page:

Yeah, she's way prettier than you too! All the boys want to kiss her.

Polly snaps, bolting out of the car door and running down the street.

Greg Matthews:

Polly!

Greg turns off the engine and chases after her, getting caught up in a crowd of kids. However, Polly manages to escape. She vanishes into an alleyway.

*** SUN HILL POLICE STATION - 5:05 PM ***

Polly hesitates before pushing open the door, nervously entering the foyer. Reg looks up as she enters.

PC Hollis:

How may I help you, little miss?

Polly catches her breath slowly as she steps up to the desk.

Polly Page:

I wanna talk to Viv.

PC Hollis:

I assume you mean WPC Martella. What's it in connection with?

Polly sighs. Reg looks down tolerantly at the small girl.

Polly Page:

Thhe thaid... Thhe thaid I could talk wiv her.

PC Hollis:

Okay and what's your name, my little friend?

Polly looks away from him, having second thoughts.

Polly Page:

Forget it, it doethn't matter.

Polly heads back out of the station.

PC Hollis:

What's the matter love? Don't just walk off.

Polly runs away quickly.

PC Hollis:

Hey, wait!

Reg leaves the front desk and pursues the little hockey star.

PC Hollis:

Wait a minute, what's your name?

Reg stops outside the station then shakes his head.

PC Hollis:

Kids.

Reg returns to his position.

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

Viv is coming through the door into the front foyer, accompanied by June.

PC Hollis:

Hello ladies. Would either of you wonderful WPCs care for a drink after work?

Viv looks over at Reg and grins toothily.

WPC Martella:

Sorry, but I'm beat. I think it must be the baby wearing me out. I'm going home for a take-out, a movie and a night of passion with Jim.

Reg goggles then turns hopefully to June.

PC Hollis:

June?

WPC Ackland:

No way Reg.

June suppresses a chuckles as he buzzes them through.

PC Hollis:

Oh, there was a girl asking for you at the front desk, Viv.

Viv is still laughing at June's comment.

WPC Martella:

What you on about Reg?

PC Hollis:

A little girl. So little that she would have only come up to your knee. She was asking after you...

Viv isn't really paying attention.

WPC Martella:

Well, where did she go?

Reg shrugs.

PC Hollis:

She just ran off. I tend to have that effect on kids.

Viv follows June back into the station, shrugging her shoulders.

WPC Martella:

Oh well, she'll come back if it's serious.

*** MATTHEWS' RESIDENCE - 10:05 PM ***

Polly timidly approaches the front door, knocking softly. She bites her bottom lip and sniffles tears back as she knocks again, more loudly this time. Greg opens the door and glares down at Polly.

Greg Matthews:

So you've finally returned?

Polly pulls herself together and begins to plead under her breath.

Polly Page:

I'm thorry.

Greg Matthews:

That's not good enough. Come in.

Polly lowers her head, slipping through into the hallway.

Greg Matthews:

Where have you been?

Polly Page:

Nowhere.

Greg Matthews:

You've been a bad girl again, Polly.

Greg clenches his fists and walks towards his stepdaughter.

Greg Matthews:

Tell me how much you love me.

Polly looks away and starts towards the stairs.

Greg Matthews:

Polly!

Greg grabs Polly, twirls her around and grabs her by her chin. He forces her to look into his eyes.

Greg Matthews:

Tell me how much you love me.

Polly pulls her chin out of his hands and makes a dash for the stairs.

Greg Matthews:

Get back here, you little slut! You can't get away from me that easily!

Greg grabs Polly's shirt and drags her back down. Polly starts to cry.

Polly Page:

Pith off!

Greg slaps Polly across the face then punches her in the stomach hard. Polly doubles over, trying to drag herself to the stairs.

Greg Matthews:

I am in control of you. I control your body. You do not move except when I tell you to!

Greg wraps his arm around Polly's chest and crushes her ribcage. She gasps for breath between screams. Greg pushes Polly face down against the stairs and pulls her skirt off.

Greg Matthews:

Playschool's over, Polwy!

Greg unzips his trousers as Polly struggles and pulls herself awkwardly over onto her back.

Polly Page:

I said leave me alone!

Polly punches him hard in the face and makes a dash for her bedroom.

Greg Matthews:

You little bitch!

Greg bolts up the stairs after her as blood streams from his nose. Polly falls in a heap on her bed, sobbing and drawing her knees to her chest. Greg enters the room and jumps onto the bed, pinning Polly down.

Polly Page:

Thtop it, you're hurting me!

Greg punches Polly in the mouth. She feebly shields her face with her hands and the warm, wet taste of blood fills her mouth. Greg is panting roughly as he slaps his stepdaughter.

Greg Matthews:

You're gonna regret talking back to me, you slut!

Greg rips Polly's knickers off and starts lowering himself on top of her. Polly lets her arms fall weakly from her chest and stares glassy-eyed across the room at the neatly lined up Care Bears along the windowsill.

** AUGUST 10TH **

*** HOXTON ROAD - 11:10 AM ***

Viv and Jim are casually walking down their beat when a panda draws up to the side of the road. A window winds down to reveal the grinning faces of Reg and Taffy.

PC Hollis:

Keep your minds on the job, officers! No hanky-panky during working hours.

WPC Martella:

Put a sock in it Reg!

PC Edwards:

Now, now Vivian, be a good sport. Just you two mind you don't get lost. When two officers are paired together and they 'accidentally' get lost, it almost always ends in a passionate kiss.

PC Carver:

Well you two had better not get lost. I've had my suspicions about you and Reg for a while now!

Viv grins over at Jim. Taffy looks mortified.

PC Edwards:

Oh, cheers Jim!

Taffy puts his foot to the floor and drives off very quickly.

PC Carver:

Prats.

Viv and Jim continue walking down the road.

PC Carver:

You'd think they would have given up by now! They're like a pair of parrots.

WPC Martella:

I know. What's it been now? Three months?

PC Carver:

At least they're still not harping on about babies. I'm fed up to the back teeth with jokes about nappy rash. But you'd think they would have given up teasing us by now.

WPC Martella:

Tell me about it. It's doing my head in. I'm tempted to actually get pregnant just to see the look on Reg's face.

PC Carver:

Y'know, it'd make their heads spin if they knew how close they were to the truth.

Viv chuckles lightly.

PC Carver:

How long have we been together now, Viv?

WPC Martella:

Ten weeks.

Viv smiles over at him.

PC Carver:

So this is our anniversary, sort of?

WPC Martella:

Sort of.

PC Carver:

Would you like to go out and celebrate tonight?

Jim takes Viv's hand.

WPC Martella:

Well, I was actually going to ask you the same thing. Sure.

PC Carver:

Great. Curried rice for two and an early night.

Jim lets go of her hand and the two officers continue to walk down the road together.

** AUGUST 17TH **

*** BEAT THREE - 9:10 AM ***

June and Viv are walking down Canley Road. They are heading towards a large railway bridge. June is munching on a ham sandwich and she mumbles something as they stroll along.

WPC Martella:

What was that?

Viv grins over at her friend.

WPC Ackland:

I said, do you want a bite?

WPC Martella:

Pass.

WPC Ackland:

I know we're not technically supposed to eat on duty but it's not like there's any crime going down round here is there?

WPC Martella:

Point taken. Okay, just park yourself here until you finish.

June sits down on the side of the bridge. Her ears prick up at a faint sound nearby.

WPC Ackland:

What's that?

June looks around, trying to locate the source of the sound.

WPC Martella:

What's what?

WPC Ackland:

I heard something! Sounded like wailing.

June gets to her feet and walks to the end of the bridge. Viv follows her with a puzzled expression on her face.

WPC Ackland:

It's from down there, I think.

June points to the set of railway tracks beneath the bridge. The two women peer down into the gloom.

WPC Martella:

I can't see anything.

WPC Ackland:

Listen! It sounds like a dog yelping or a baby crying.

WPC Martella:

I guess so�

Ignoring the uncertainty in Viv's voice, June runs down the steps. She notices a dishevelled young girl sprawled out on the ground. June turns towards her friend and speaks in a throaty whisper.

WPC Ackland:

I don't believe it. I think Polly's down here.

Viv is visibly shocked.

WPC Martella:

Polly? Quick, let me see.

Viv runs past June and across to the crumpled heap on the ground. Polly looks up tearfully after hearing the familiar voice.

WPC Martella:

Polly? What happened, love?

Polly Page:

My arm. It'th hurt and I can't move it.

Viv checks Polly's right arm with a grave look on her face.

WPC Martella:

I think it's broken. June, could you get an ambulance?

WPC Ackland:

Sure.

June turns away as she radios in for an ambulance. Viv returns her attention to the young girl.

WPC Martella:

Who did this to you, Polly?

Polly sobs but she manages to croak in reply.

Polly Page:

Greg did it.

WPC Martella:

Why did he do it?

Polly Page:

Coth I told him about you.

WPC Martella:

So what did he do? Did he just dump you here and drive off?

Polly shakes her head.

Polly Page:

No, he made me go to thchool but I felt sick and my arm hurt so I came down here. I sometimes come here when I want to fink about fings.

Viv looks concerned as she notices a series of inflamed burn marks on Polly's wrist and lower arm.

WPC Martella:

What's this?

Polly looks down.

Polly Page:

Nuffink. They've been there for ages.

WPC Martella:

But your arm's covered with them! How did you get these?

The young girl shrugs.

Polly Page:

He thometimes does them when he'th in a bad mood.

WPC Martella:

These are deliberate burns! What did he use? A cigarette?

Polly nods slowly.

WPC Martella:

He deliberately burnt you with a cigarette? Why didn't you tell me about this before?

Polly Page:

It'th not like it'th a big deal or anyfink. He always does it when he'th angry.

WPC Martella:

Of course it's a big deal! Why did he do this to you?

Polly Page:

Can't remember, there were lots of reasons.

WPC Martella:

Did he ever do anything else to hurt you?

Polly's voice drops to a low whisper.

Polly Page:

Only when I deserved it.

June shouts down from the top of the bridge.

WPC Ackland:

The ambulance is here!

WPC Martella:

Right, come on Polly, let's get you to hospital. You can tell me about everything later.

Viv and Polly settle into the ambulance as it drives towards St Hugh's.

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