(AN) Hello and welcome to the next chapter of Straw Dogs: Reimagined; hope you all enjoy.
This chapter will focus on the aftermath of Amy's assault at the hands of Charlie and Scutt and the reactions as news spreads.
Disclaimer: I don't own Straw Dogs; all characters and locations are owned by their respective owners.
Chapter Four
Charlie looked up as the noises stopped. The middle-aged man quickly let go of Karen, got to his feet and ran out of the yard. A sobbing and trembling Karen sat up and watched as Scutt exited the house. Scutt grinned with pride and chuckled before exiting the yard.
Karen slowly pushed the front door open and entered the living room. Amy was sitting against the couch, sobbing loudly. Her clothes were torn.
M-Mum?" muttered Karen in a concerned voice.
The young girl ran over to her mum, who wrapped her arms around her precious daughter in a hug. After a minute, Amy slowly got to her feet, picked up the phone next to the couch and dialled 999.
"999, please state the nature of your emergency." came a male voice on the other end of the line.
"I've just been raped by two men that were working on the roof of my garage," said Amy in a terrified manner. "I-I live up at Trencher's Farm."
"Okay, ma'm, help is on the way." said the operator on the other end of the line."
Amy ended the call and sat on the couch.
David was currently feeling less humiliated as Sergeant Scott continued to drive back towards Trencher's Farm.
"Don't let them get to you, David," said Scott in a comforting manner. "Those idiots aren't worth it."
"Thank you," said David quietly. "I'm more worried about Amy roasting me."
"I'm sure Amy will be more happy that you're safe and haven't been hurt." assured the sergeant.
Scott's walkie talkie suddenly beeped. "Sergeant Scott speaking; over." he said.
"Sergeant, there's been a report of a sexual assault up at Trencher's Farm; over." came a voice over the walkie talkie.
David felt a sense of panic fill him.
"Can you please repeat that; over." said Sergeant Scott.
"We've had reports of a sexual assault up at Trencher's Farm; over." replied the voice.
All feelings of humiliation that David had felt were now replaced with fear: how badly hurt was Amy? Had whoever done this hurt Karen? The maths teacher felt sick at the thought of somebody hurting his wife and daughter.
Sergeant Scott rolled up outside Trencher's Farm. There was already another police car and an ambulance parked in the farmyard. Scott and David hopped out of the car and began running towards the house.
Amy was currently sitting on the couch with her arm wrapped around Karen. Th blonde looked up as the front door opened and David ran in, followed by Sergeant Scott.
"David, thank God!" cried Amy as she got to her feet before allowing her husband to wrap his arms around her in a hug.
David looked at his wife and saw that her clothes were torn, he then looked at Karen. The young girl looked unharmed, but she was shaking like a leaf. "Who did this?" he asked quietly.
"C-Charlie and Scutt!" answered Amy in a horrified whisper.
David felt as if he'd just been struck in the face. "Oh Ames, I'm so sorry." he whispered in a sympathetic manner.
The young man gently led his wife back to the couch and kept his arm wrapped around her shoulder, he then turned to look at Karen. "Did they hurt you?" he asked Karen.
"No," answered Karen. "I-I came back downstairs because I could hear Mum crying and p-pleading with Mr Venner. When I came downstairs, I saw him on top of her, then Mr Scutt came in and Mr Venner took me outside."
David's blood turned to ice upon hearing that. No child should ever have to go through that, especially his daughter, and now he was going to have to try and explain to Karen what had happened.
The two DI's that were in the living room approached the couple. One was a middle-aged man with messy grey hair and a moustache and the other was a middle-aged woman with dark hair.
"David, meet DI's Tim Evans and Kate Gallighar," said Scott. "I'm sure they'll have some questions for you if that's okay."
David simply nodded.
Di Evans quickly explained to David what had happened.
"Mr Sumner, did Misters Venner and Scutt give you any indication that they were planning something like this?" asked Kate.
"None at all," answered David guiltily. "Scutt and Chris Cawsey were hitting on my wife, but they were just staring and making remarks, so I never confronted them … wish I had now."
"This isn't your fault, David." assured Amy.
"Do either of you know where we might find Venner and Scutt?" asked Evans curiously.
"Well, when they took me on the hunting trip, Cawsey mentioned going to the Bistro." informed the dark haired man.
"Thank you, Mr Sumner," said the male DI, "We'll keep you updated on any developments."
"Thank you." thanked Amy.
The trio then left.
Amy simply sighed before resting her head on her husband's shoulder.
"Can't we just stay like this?" mumbled the blonde.
"No, we need to go to the hospital," whispered David gently before helping his wife to her feet. "Don't worry, I'll be there with you the whole time."
Amy simply nodded before allowing David to gently lead her and Karen out of the house.
Over at the Bistro, Cawsey and Bobby were enjoying some beers with Tom, Charlie and Scutt. The duo had just finished telling their friends about the hunting trip.
"Ohhhh, boys, that wasn't a very nice thing to do," remarked Tom disapprovingly. "I don't think David will be very happy with you lot."
"He probably won't," agreed Bobby. "Uncle Charlie reckons that Mrs Sumner secretly wants him."
"I thought you'd would know better than to try that sort of thing," said a surprised Tom to Charlie. "What makes you so sure."
"She came back," muttered Charlie guiltily. "I only lured David out of the house so I could show Amy that she still had feelings; didn't work."
"Well of course it wouldn't work!" retorted a disgusted Tom. "You shouldn't be doin' those sorts of things, Charlie; she and David have a daughter!"
At that moment, Sergeant Scott entered the pub, followed by Tim and Kate. Tom and the others looked up as the trio approached their table.
"Tom, we need Charlie and the others to come down to the station and answer some questions." informed Sergeant Scott.
"Mr Sumner hasn't tried reporting us for ditching him!" cackled Chris before doing his signature giggle.
"No, Mr Cawsey, he has not," replied Kate in a serious manner. "Charlie Venner and Norman Scutt, you are being arrested on suspicion of rape."
The four men exchanged shocked expressions.
"What!" cried a shocked Bobby as Charlie and Scutt were pulled to their feet and placed in handcuffs.
"Rape!" cried Tom in shock. "There must be some kind of mistake!"
"That's what we're determined to find out," remarked Tim. "You can all come down to the station."
Tom and the others got to their feet and followed the others out of the Bistro.
A bit later at Wakely General Hospital, Amy had finished the examinations for the rape-kit and was now sitting in a hospital room with David.
A female doctor came in. "Mr and Mrs Sumner, thank you for waiting," she said politely, "The rape-kit has been sent to the police. You'll be pleased to know that you have suffered no serious injuries, aside from some bruising. There are also no signs of infection or disease."
"That's good to know," replied Amy, glad of some good news, "Hopefully, Charlie and Scutt will admit to it."
"I'm sure we'll find out soon enough," assured David, wrapping a comforting arm around Amy's shoulder. "Will Karen and Amy have to stay in for any kind of observation?"
"Thankfully not," replied the doctor. "Mrs Sumner, you and your daughter are free to return home whenever you like, but I would strongly recommend plenty of rest and physical therapy to help in your recovery."
"Thank you, Doctor." replied the young woman.
The doctor then exited the room.
Sometime later, David and Amy returned to Trencher's Farm. Amy and Karen immediately got themselves huddled up in Amy and David's bed, while David decided to make her a nice cup of coffee. After taking the coffee up to her, David came back downstairs. Suddenly, there came a knock at the front door.
Upon opening the door, David saw Major Scott, Tim and Kate standing in the doorway.
"Mr Sumner, may we come in?" asked Di Evans politely.
"Oh, um, yeah sure." replied David before allowing the trio to enter.
Upon sitting down, Amy came downstairs. "Oh, hello," she said. "Have you got any updates?"
"Yes, and I'm afraid to say that it's not good news," informed Major Scott. "We've had to release Charlie and Scutt."
"What!" cried David in shock.
"Charlie is claiming that it was consensual," explained Tim. "He says that you were struggling at first, but then you started to enjoy it."
"I was only pretending so that he wouldn't get any more violent!" spat a disgusted Amy. "I said no and I made it perfectly clear that I wanted nothing from him, but he refused to listen! And I suppose Scutt is saying I was consenting as well!"
"Yes he was," replied a dismayed Gallighar. "Until there's more evidence, it's a he said she said situation I'm afraid. I'm sorry, Mrs Sumner."
"B-but what about her being slapped!" cried David in disbelief as the trio rose to their feet. "You can tell she was slapped!"
"That could possibly have been some roleplay." suggested Major Scott.
"Get out!" barked Amy furiously.
Amy came down and opened the front door for the trio, she then slammed the door shut and locked it after they'd gone, the blonde then stormed over to the sofa, sat down and wept into her hands. David sat next to her and gently gathered his wife into a hug.
(AN) And that's a wrap on this chapter of Straw Dogs: Reimagined; hope you all enjoyed.
So, the next chapter will basically show some time passing and focus on Amy and Karen trying to heal and then we'll get to the social event and we all know what happens there.
Until then, this is TimeLordMaster108 signing out.