*** SUN HILL POLICE STATION - 11:05 AM ***

Viv and Polly walk into the front office at Sun Hill.

WPC Martella:

Reg. Door.

Viv looks ahead blankly as Reg presses the buzzer that opens the door into the station. Viv and Polly walk through the corridors into the soft interview room.

WPC Martella:

Just sit there, Polly. I'll only be gone for a minute.

Polly nods and begins to play with some of the soft toys in the room as Viv leaves. Viv walks into the Custody Area looking for a pen and paper. She bumps into June and they exchange brief smiles.

WPC Ackland:

What's up Viv? You're looking pale. What did the doctor say?

WPC Martella:

Well, he plastered Polly's arm and we found out a bit more about the abuse that she's been subjected to. I've put Polly into the soft interview room for now. Want to help with the interview?

WPC Ackland:

Sure. I'll just clear it with the Sarge.

June walks over and whispers into Sergeant Cryer's ear. After a few moments he nods and June promptly returns to Viv's side.

WPC Ackland:

Sorted. Shall we go?

WPC Martella:

Yeah. You want to lead?

WPC Ackland:

Well, I don't know that much about the family situation. Why, are you finding it difficult?

Viv shakes her head.

WPC Martella:

No, I just don't want to get too involved in the case. But I suppose Polly's used to me asking difficult questions by now so I'd better lead.

Viv and June walk into the soft interview room. Polly looks up as Viv sits down and smiles wearily at her.

WPC Martella:

Okay Polly. We've already talked about what Greg does to you but we need to make a formal record of it. Is that all right with you?

Polly Page:

I guess so.

WPC Martella:

If you want to stop at any time, you only have to say so.

Polly Page:

Okay.

Polly looks questioningly towards June.

WPC Martella:

June's just here to make a record of what you say. That's why she's got the pen and paper. I just need to ask you a couple more questions. Are you comfortable there Polly?

Polly Page:

Yeah.

WPC Martella:

Okay. You live with your Mum, your stepfather and your little brother?

Polly Page:

Yup. I told you about Ian back at the hospital.

WPC Martella:

I know. But you didn't tell me much about your Mum. Do you like your Mum, Polly?

Polly Page:

Course I do. Why?

WPC Martella:

Could you tell me a bit about her. For instance, where does she work?

Polly Page:

She'th an air hostess coz she's heaps pwetty.

WPC Martella:

So she is away from home a lot. How does that make you feel, Polly?

Polly Page:

I dunno. I mith her heaps coz I never thee her.

WPC Martella:

So it's just you, Greg and Ian in the house for most of the time?

Polly Page:

Yeah. Thhe comes home on weekends mothtly but not usually during the week.

WPC Martella:

Do you spend much time with her when she is home?

Polly Page:

Depends. Sometimeth. She thaid she wath gonna take me to the movies tomorrow, though. She promised me coz she mithed me birthday.

WPC Martella:

She obviously misses you a great deal when she's away. What about Greg?

Polly Page:

I fink he mithes her too.

WPC Martella:

And where does he work?

Polly Page:

He's a teacher. But he only works sometimeth, if another teacher is sick or somefink.

WPC Martella:

Ahhh, so he's a relief teacher. What does he teach?

Polly Page:

I dunno, whatever they want 'im to.

WPC Martella:

Do you like Greg, Polly?

Polly shakes her head.

WPC Martella:

Why don't you like him, Polly?

Polly bites her bottom lip before she replies softly.

Polly Page:

He doesn't like me.

WPC Martella:

How can you tell?

Polly Page:

Coth he alwayth picks on me. He never tells Ian off, only me!

WPC Martella:

He tells you off, Polly? What does he do?

Polly shrugs.

Polly Page:

It depends. I already told ya all this!

WPC Martella:

I know that Polly but we really need a record of what happened. You're doing a great job. Just be a good girl and tell June here what you told me before.

Polly cringes slightly.

Polly Page:

About my arm?

WPC Martella:

That's right. Could you run though what happened to your arm again for June's sake ? She'd really like to know how you got that pretty pink cast.

Polly Page:

Well, it was Greg's fault. I told him I needed more time to do my homework and that I would tell you about him if he didn't leave me alone.

Viv takes a deep breath.

WPC Martella:

And what did he do to you after you told him that, Polly?

Polly Page:

He grabbed me by my arm and twisted it behind my back. He said that I had better not talk to you again.

WPC Martella:

Did he threaten you in any way?

Polly shakes her head.

WPC Martella:

Did he know you were hurt?

Polly Page:

I didn't stick around long enough for him to find out. I just ran away.

WPC Martella:

Are you afraid of Greg, Polly?

Polly nods slowly as she whispers her reply.

Polly Page:

He hurtth me.

WPC Martella:

How does he hurt you, Polly?

Polly Page:

I dunno, in lotth of ways. My arm� The burns� Other stuff.

WPC Martella:

You mean the burns on your arms? How did you get them?

Polly Page:

Greg did them wiv his cigarette.

WPC Martella:

And your eye?

Polly Page:

Well I didn't get home from school on time so he was mad.

WPC Martella:

He hit you because you were late? Does he hit you often, Polly?

Polly shrugs.

Polly Page:

Now and then.

WPC Martella:

Do you think it's right for an adult to hit a child like that?

Polly Page:

I dunno. He's been doing it for as long as I can remember. But it doesn't happen to Laura and Jane. Their Dads don't hit them.

Polly bows her head sadly.

WPC Martella:

Laura and Jane? Are they your friends at school?

Polly Page:

Laura is. Jane went off with Jenny after she dumped my schoolbag in the river. I'm not her friend any more.

WPC Martella:

Have you told Laura about what Greg does to you?

Polly Page:

I had a sleepover at her place a few weeks ago. We were watching videos and mucking around. I told her about some of the stuff that Greg does to me but she didn't believe me.

WPC Martella:

Didn't she notice your bruises then? Or didn't you want to show her?

Polly Page:

I only told her about it. She said that I was lying.

Polly starts to gently sob into her hands. Viv and June exchange shocked glances as the young girl continues.

Polly Page:

She said I was just doing it to sound good. She called me a thilly tart.

WPC Martella:

But you did tell her about it� Would she remember you saying that?

Polly Page:

I dunno. Maybe.

WPC Martella:

Right, do you feel like continuing Polly? We can have a break if you like. It's completely up to you.

Polly Page:

I don't care.

WPC Martella:

Well would you like something to eat? June here can take you to the canteen for some food if you're hungry. If you don't mind chips and a Coke that is.

Polly Page:

Okay, but I'm really not hungry.

WPC Martella:

I think we need a break. Will you be okay with June, Polly? Don't worry, she's not as scary as she looks.

Polly nods as June stands and leads the girl out of the interview room. They head towards the canteen. Viv leans back in her chair and sighs.

*** CUSTODY SUITE - SUN HILL POLICE STATION - 11:30 AM ***

Bob is shuffling through the custody records in the custody office. Viv approaches him and knocks softly on the door.

WPC Martella:

Sarge, can I talk to you for a minute? In private?

Sgt. Cryer:

That's what I'm here for Viv. What's it about?

Viv hesitates then walks inside, closing the door on her way.

WPC Martella:

Sarge, I've got a bit of a situation and I'm really not sure how to handle it.

Sgt. Cryer:

Is it personal or something to do with a case you're working on?

WPC Martella:

A case. It's this twelve year old girl that I've just been interviewing. Her name's Polly Page. It all started when June and I were dropping a kid back at Cheetham Road Girls' school a few months back and we noticed a scuffle taking place between Polly and another girl. We stopped it before things got out of hand but I noticed that Polly had a nasty cheek laceration. Anyway, several days after that Jim and I almost ran her over in the panda. I got out and had a chat with her. Then I went to pat her on the shoulder but she flinched with pain.

Bob nods thoughtfully.

WPC Martella:

She said she had hurt it playing hockey but I wasn't convinced. A couple of weeks later June and I had to call into the school and on our way out I found Polly crying in the toilets. I tried to get more out of her but she told me she was skipping classes because she hadn't been getting all her homework done. She became very edgy when I suggested that I talk to her stepfather about it. Anyway, she became pretty upset and stormed out of the ladies. I left it at that. Then today June and I found her under the railway bridge on Canley Road. She was a right mess. Her arm was badly broken and the doctor who bandaged it up at the hospital this afternoon noticed a number of cigarette burns near her wrists. June and I were just talking to her and we suspect that there's something seriously wrong going on here. I just don't know how I should play this.

Sgt. Cryer:

Do you think she's being abused by her stepfather?

WPC Martella:

Yeah. I mean, she said as much.

Sgt. Cryer:

Sexually abused?

WPC Martella:

I don't know yet. We didn't get past the physical stuff.

Sgt. Cryer:

So this man has been beating her and stubbing out cigarettes on her arm� Does the girl have a mother?

WPC Martella:

Yeah. Apparently she's a flight attendant so she's not home much. There's a nine year old brother in the house too.

Sgt. Cryer:

Well the first thing you have to do is find out the background to the case. Talk to her friends, her Mum, that sort of thing. Build up an idea of whether or not there is some substance behind the allegations.

Viv stares at Bob incredulously.

WPC Martella:

What? You think she'd make something like this up?

Sgt. Cryer:

It happens. The main problem is that you're inexperienced with this sort of case. I'll see if I can get someone from the CID to give you a hand.

WPC Martella:

Is that really necessary Sarge? I mean I've built up quite a good relationship with the girl. She trusts me. With all due respect, I'd like to see this through.

Sgt. Cryer:

I know that CID have an overblown opinion of themselves but on a case like this I think they might come in handy for once. I'll talk to DI Galloway about it later.

Viv grimaces at the mention of the DI.

WPC Martella:

Do we really have to get CID in on this? I mean, the kid was terrified enough when June came into the room. What's she gonna be like when a crowd of strange men descend on her suddenly?

Sgt. Cryer:

Well I'll try to get DC Baker onto the case. He's not as stuck up as the rest of the superstars.

WPC Martella:

Sarge, June and I were doing fine back there. By ourselves.

Viv gives Bob a pointed look.

Sgt. Cryer:

I know that Viv but you've never done this before. I don't want to see you building up a big case for child abuse and then have it collapse in court because you've done something wrong.

WPC Martella:

Oh cheers Sarge! Thanks for the vote of confidence. Look, I'm not asking to do all the heavy stuff, just finish off the interview with the girl. CID are more than welcome to take over the case after that.

Sgt. Cryer:

So you're prepared to abandon this little girl after you've done one more interview? Just sweep it all under the carpet and forget about it? Look, I know emotions run high when it comes to child abuse cases but if that's your attitude then the sooner you're taken off the case the better!

WPC Martella:

So that's it? I'm off the case?

Sgt. Cryer:

Not yet. You can run with it but only under the supervision of a CID officer. Now I suggest you get out there on the street and start building up a picture of this girl's life instead of wasting both my time and yours standing around in here.

WPC Martella:

Right Sarge.

Bob shakes his head and gets back to his work. Viv makes her way out of the custody suite and heads for the nearest available car. Jim is slightly surprised at having his car commandeered like this but decides not to make an issue of it after one look at the expression on Viv's face.

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