Sorry this has taken so long! School got in the way, stupid essays! Anyway, here it is for your reading pleasure. Thanks as always to Hollie, Aileen, Krissie and Kat. Enjoy!
Will was woken to a ringing sound be the edge of the bed. He looked at his clock, groaning as he registered that it was only 5 in the morning and he had slept for three hours. He looked at the caller ID, seeing it was Jess.
"Why the hell are you ringing me this early?" he grumbled, lying on his back.
"Oh and morning to you too!" Jess said sarcastically on the other end.
"So?" Will questioned.
"So what?" Jess said with a smile at Callum, knowing she was winding him up.
"Why are you ringing me?" he growled at her.
"Because me and Callum are awake and going to work soon so thought we would wake you up as well." Jess said, and Will could hear the smile in her voice as she said it.
"So help me Jess if that's the only reason you've called me." Will threatened.
"Ok ok, I rung to tell you that Sally and Nate are now proud parents!" Jess squealed down the phone at him.
"Wow! When did she have the baby? Did it all go ok?" Will asked, propping himself up.
"Yeah, Nate rang about half an hour ago. Sally was only in labour for three hours, and he said the whole thing went really well." Jess replied.
"So what is it?" Will asked.
"A baby, Will. Cor, I thought even you knew basic biology!" Jess teased.
"Jess!" Will said.
"Ok, it was a little boy called Oliver. He weighed 8lb 3oz and has dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. Nate is going to drop by on the way back to the hospital with some pictures. So I'll take them to work to show everyone then swing by on my way home and show you as well." Jess replied.
"Yeah, I'd like that. Say congrats to Nate from me when he pops in then." Will said, turning onto his side. "I'll ring Emma as well, let her know."
"Ok then, that's good cause she was the next person on my list to ring. Do you fancy chipping in some money to buy the baby a gift?" Jess asked.
"Yeah sure, I'll give you whatever I have. Can I go back to sleep now?" Will asked.
Jess sighed but then laughed, "Of course. I'll see you later. Bye!" Jess rang off, and Will leant back into the pillows, falling asleep instantly.
*
Jess and Callum trooped into the station in the early hours, almost walking into Smithy who had a strained look on his face.
"You alright Smithy?" Callum asked.
"Ah, just the people. I need you to get round to Jenny Archer's flat. She's claimed that she's been raped." Smithy said, his face drawn.
"Yes sarge." Jess said, and she followed Callum back out the station to the squad car. As Callum pulled out of the station, Jess turned to him, "Do you think she's telling the truth?"
"I don't know, we won't know until we get there and see what she has to say." Callum said grimly.
*
Callum rapped on the door. There was no answer, so he bent down and lifted the flap of the mailbox.
"Jenny? It's Sergeant Stone, can you open up?" he called into the hall.
"Callum, she's in the living room, look." Jess said, looking over to Callum. He moved and stood next to her, looking into the living room where Jenny was huddled in a corner. "I'll go and try round the back."
Callum walked back to the door and started knocking again. "Jenny? PC Stone is coming round the back, then she's going to let me in, ok?" There was no answer from the living room, but after a minute the front door was opened by Jess.
"Maybe I should go in first." Jess said, walking to the living room.
"Yeah ok." Callum agreed, hanging back a bit.
"Hi Jenny. You remember me from last night don't you? My name is Jess, I'm a friend of Will's." Jess said quietly, slowly moving towards Jenny. Jenny recoiled slightly, but Jess carried on until she was in front of her. She got down onto the floor so she was level with Jenny.
"He raped me." Jenny said, her face crumbling as she buried her face in her hands.
"Who?" Jess asked softly, placing a comforting hand on Jenny's arm.
"Will." came Jenny's reply, muffled slightly.
Jess's mouth gaped open, her eyebrows furrowed in shock. She shot a quick disbelieving look at Callum, then turned back to Jenny, "Will? PC Fletcher?"
Jenny nodded and looked up at Jess, who gasped at her injuries. Jenny's left eye was purple and black, swollen up. There were bruises on her wrists, suggesting someone had held her there, and Jess could just make out bruises on her thighs. But she had the bruises on her wrists and thighs before when she claimed she had been sexually assaulted, when really she hadn't. This had to be a mistake, Will was not a rapist.
*
Callum was stood in the hallway, listening to what Jenny had told Jess. He picked up his radio, "Sierra Oscar 30 to Sierra Oscar 1."
"Yes Sergeant Stone?" Gina said.
"We're at Jenny Archer's place, she said she's been raped. But when Jess asked who her attacker was, she said it was Will, over." Callum said, leaning back against the wall.
"Will as in Will Fletcher, over?" Gina asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes ma'am. Jenny has a bruise to her left eye, and bruises round her thighs and wrists, over." Callum said, peeking back into the living room where Jenny was crying.
"Ok, get her to the hospital, get the doctors to do a rape kit. I'll send Jo and Stevie to go and get a statement off her, then I want you back at the station. I'll send Millie and Tony to go and arrest him, over." Gina said sadly.
"You're going to arrest him, over?!" Callum asked, his voice rising.
"Callum, there is nothing else I can do. She has identified Will as he attacker, we have to respect that and arrest him, over." Gina replied heatedly.
Callum sighed, not believing this was happening, "Ma'am, over." Callum attached his radio back to his vest, and waited for Jess to come out.
*
"Ok Jenny, we're going to take you to the hospital so they can examine you, and then two other officers will come and get a statement off you ok? You might have to come into the station later though." Jess said gently.
"I don't want to go there if he's there." Jenny said sharply, startling Jess.
"It's ok, he won't be there, don't worry. Come on, lets get you up and out to the car. I'll sit in the back with you." Jess said, helping Jenny to standing position. She led Jenny out the living room, past Callum in the hall and out to the car. Jess climbed into the back seat with her as Callum locked up the house, got in the car and headed towards the hospital.
*
Will had just got up. He stretched and stumbled through to the kitchen, flicking the kettle on. As he was about to make his way to the bathroom for a shower, the doorbell to his flat rang. He walked round to and checked through the peep hole, seeing Tony and Millie stood there. He opened the door with a confused look on his face.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked, an feeling of worry starting to form in his stomach.
"Can we come in?" Millie said with what looked like an apologetic look on her face.
"Sure, do you want a tea or coffee?" he asked them, shutting the door behind them.
"No, it's ok thanks Will. Come sit down." Tony said with a small smile, leading them over to the sofa. Will plopped down, looking from Millie to Tony.
"Well are you going to tell me what's going on?" he asked them with a laugh.
Millie and Tony exchanged an uncomfortable look, before Tony said, "Will Fletcher, you are under arrest on suspicion of rape. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?"
Will just looked at his two friends as they stood up, Millie with her handcuffs out, "Are you serious? Is this some kind of joke? Has Nate set you up for this?" Will asked looking quickly from Millie to Tony.
"I'm really sorry Will, but it's no joke. If you go and get a top and shoes on, then we have to handcuff you and take you to the station." Millie said quietly, following Will as he walked to his bedroom in a daze, pulling on a t-shirt and some socks and shoes.
"This is a mistake! I haven't raped anyone!" Will cried as Millie cuffed him.
"Come on." Millie said, leading him out the flat with Tony behind them.
*
Jess and Callum were sat in the waiting room, waiting for the doctor to come out and give them the results of the rape kit. They were sat with cups of coffee which was now cold.
"There is no way he would do that." Jess said adamantly.
"I know, I know. But if she's accused him, there must be a reason. Ok?" Callum said softly, placing his hand on her thigh and rubbing it comfortingly.
"I can't stand this, I'm going to ring Smithy to see what's going on." Jess said distractedly, getting up. Her coffee fell to the floor and spilled everywhere. She just looked at it and shut her eyes, taking a deep breath. A cleaner came over and started to wipe it up, "I'm really sorry."
"It's ok, don't worry." the cleaner said, offering Jess a smile.
"Jess, it's the doctor, look." Callum said, pointing to the approaching doctor.
"Are you the police officers who brought in Miss Archer?" the doctor asked.
"Yes, we're Sergeant and PC Stone." Jess said, coming forward.
"Hi, I'm Dr Selena Donovan, I'm Jenny's doctor. If you'd like to follow me and I can tell you what's happening." Selena said, leading them through a ward round to a side room. She sat down outside the room, indicating that Jess and Callum should do the same.
"So what have you found out?" Jess asked quickly.
"There are definite signs of rape, or if not rape, extremely rough sex." Selena said.
"So there's a chance she might not have been raped?" Callum asked, pulling out his pad of paper and a pen.
"Correct, but I'm inclined to think she has been. From what all the evidence is showing us, and how she's conducting herself, it appears that she's been raped. You saw the state of her face, where she had been punched, maybe to keep her quiet or to scare her. The bruises around her wrists suggest that she's been held down, to stop her hitting out. There are also scratch marks and faint bruises around the top of her thighs as well, suggesting unwanted attention." Selena said, saying it slowly so that Callum could jot down what she was saying.
"How about internal trauma?" Jess asked.
"Well, there did seem to be some internal trauma which could signify rape, but as I said earlier it could also be a produce of extremely rough sex." Selena said.
"What about any traces of sperm?" Callum asked, glancing up at Selena.
"No, there wasn't any, I think a condom was worn, and that's what Jenny said as well. If you're going to interview her, you need to tread carefully." Selena warned.
"We know how to do our job, thank you." Jess snapped, then immediately apologised, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap." Jess stood up, running her hands through her blonde hair, "I'll be back in a minute."
Callum and Selena watcher her retreating back, "Is she ok?" Selena asked, a concerned look on her face.
Callum looked at the doctor, "Yeah, this is a tough case for her, the same sort of thing happened to her."
Selena looked shocked, but maintained her composure, "Poor woman. Is she the best one to take this case then?"
"We're not taking Jenny's statement, two of our officers from CID are going to do it. If you could give the rape kit to me and the clothes that she was brought in with, I can take it back to the station where it can be analysed. Thank you for your time." Callum said with a quick smile as he walked the way his wife had just gone.
*
Will had just been booked in and was led to his small cell by the custody sergeant. He sat on the cot, not quite believing what had happened. Who the hell had accused him of raping someone? And when had this supposed rape taken place? He sat back on the cot, pressing his back against the clod, hard wall. And then it came to him. Jenny Archer.
*
Jess stormed into the locker room, opening her locker door and looking at all the photos on the inside of her, her family, her friends. There was no way Will was a rapist, and she was determined to clear his name. She slammed her locker door shut, the clanging of the metal following her down the corridor to the custody office. Smithy had swapped with the other custody sergeant and he took in Jess storming down the corridor.
"Sarge, can I see Will please?" she asked, leaning against the counter.
Smithy took in her expression, knowing what she was feeling, "No, I don't think that would be for the best." he said gently.
"Sarge come on! He needs us!" she said, her voice rising.
"PC Stone, I said no. Now go and find Callum, he's got a job for you." Smithy said dismissing Jess. Her face became hard and she shook her head in disgust before she made her way back out the custody office.
*
Jo and Stevie had just picked Jenny up from the hospital and were now situated in the soft interview room where they were taking her statement.
"Now Jenny, we need you to tell us everything that happened. You need to tell us the truth ok?" Stevie said, looking encouragingly at Jenny.
Jenny nodded and began, "I went to the pub last night, I don't know what time. I was quite drunk, but I was out to have fun. I stumbled into this pub just round the corner and saw Will and his friends sitting there. I went over and said hello then sat down so I could talk to him. He seemed cold towards me, trying to get rid of me, like he didn't want his girlfriend to see me. I didn't want to go though, I was supposed to be having fun! But when that blonde police woman said that maybe it was time I went home, I got angry, and I accidentally knocked down a pregnant blonde woman who was their friend. Then they all got really mad at me, and the blonde police woman tried to force me to go home. I said that I would if Will took me. He agreed and he drove me home." Jenny paused, remembering what had happened next.
"It's alright poppet, take your time." Jo said comfortingly.
"He took my keys and opened the door for me, putting my bag on the sofa. Then he started pushing me up the stairs. When I tried to push him away, he started scratching me, which is how I got the scratches on the back of my legs. But he was too strong and he forced me upstairs. He pushed me onto the bed and shut my curtains and door, and then he started pulling my clothes off me. I tried to push him away, to stop him, but he grabbed my wrists and forced them above my head. And then...well then...he raped me. After he was done, he kissed me, got up, put his clothes back on, shut my door and left." Jenny said, looking straight ahead, like a robot.
Stevie gave the woman a small smile, "Well done Jenny, good girl. If you just wait here, we'll be back in a minute." Stevie looked at Jo, and they got up and walked outside.
"Millie, keep an eye on her for a minute please?" Jo asked as Millie walked past.
"Sure." she said, walking into the room the two detectives had just vacated.
"What do you think?" Jo asked Stevie.
"Something doesn't add up, but I don't know what it is." Stevie said with a grimace.
"Agreed. I can't believe Will would do something like this, but then we can't just disregard what she says because we work with Will. Of all the rape victims I've seen, she seemed the least genuine. Most of the rape victims I've seen have been wrecks, not really remembering exactly what happened to them. But she seemed in complete control, which to me isn't what normally happens." Jo said, leaning against the wall.
Stevie thought for a moment, "Well we're going to have to believe her until Will is proven either guilty or innocent. We need her to sign the statement, then the Inspector and DI have both said they want to see it. Then the DI want me and Max to interview Will." Stevie said.
"Rather you than me." Jo said, feeling sorry for her colleague.
"Yeah well, I'd rather it was us than someone he didn't know. Right, let's get back in there." Stevie said, walking back into the soft interview room.
*
Smithy opened the door to Will's cell, giving him a tray with some food on.
"Sarge!" Will pleaded as Smithy turned to shut the cell door again, "Please, what's happening?"
Smithy's face fell; he knew deep down that Will was innocent, but he couldn't talk to him about the case, it wasn't right, "You know that I can't tell you anything. I'm sorry Will."
With that the cell door was clanged shut, and Will threw his food across the cell, feeling satisfied as the tray made a big crash against the cell wall. He turned with his back to the cell door and lay down on the thing mat that was supposed to pass as a mattress. He tucked his knees under his chin, and stared blankly at the wall, willing himself not to feel.