Where Is She?

by Roger Rapel

  Then the door opened as in walked the dejected Sangster along with the barrister followed by the DC.

  They were invited to sit down; Vicky then made the introductions and commenced the interview.

  ‘Julie Sangster just so you are clear why you are here, you have been arrested for conspiracy to rape; you were cautioned at the time, but I will caution you again.’

  Vicky rattled off a word perfect rendition of the caution which she had used so many times before.

  ‘Do you understand?’

  Julie looked at the barrister who nodded.

  ‘Yes, I understand.’

  ‘Okay, how do you know Charles Sumner?’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘You do know him; also how do you know Stuart and Lynda Small?’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘How many times have you been to the house at 76, Tall Pines Road?’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘I will show you later how I know you have been there. Okay Julie, what I’m about to show you on video are a sequence of events, watch the video and then I will ask you some questions.’

  Vicky nodded to the DC who pressed play on the video player; the whirring sound died away as did the white noise on the screen; the scene opened to the bedroom where naked men and women stood waiting. Then the door opened as in walked Sumner leading Janet Crosby. She was blindfolded. Then two women Julie and another stripped the clothes off of the fighting and struggling Janet, who was taken to a bed and held down by Julie and the other woman who tied her to the bed whilst she was raped by the men present.

  Vicky looked at Julie whose face was as red as beetroot from blushing as she looked down. Vicky nodded to the DC who stopped the tape.

  ‘Okay Julie you do know Charles Sumner he is the one leading the woman in, oh by the way her name was Janet the one with Sumner; that name is important; you will see why in a minute how important it is. You also know Lynda and Stuart Small, because that is their house at 76, Tall Pines Road.’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘Now as you can see Janet was a non-willing participant in the proceedings as she was held down by you and another whilst she was raped by the men one after the other. That Julie is why you have been arrested for conspiracy to rape.’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘As you can see, there are four other tapes to be played. I can tell you now that they all contain the same scenes but with different women. Yes Julie conspiracy to rape.’

  Julie looked at the barrister, who requested an adjournment.

  Vicky gathered up the tapes ejecting the one in the machine as well. They waited for some twenty minutes then the barrister confirmed they were ready to carry on. Once back in the interview room the barrister said that his client would like to make a statement on the videos.

  Vicky nodded as she thought she is going to say the women consented to the sex because they liked to be involved in rough sex. She was right as Sangster gave a nearly scripted account of how the women liked to be roughed up and enjoyed rough sex.

  ‘How did you know the women liked being roughed up?’

  ‘They told me they did.’

  ‘Oh so you spoke with them did you?’

  ‘Yes I did.’

  ‘Was that before or after the sexual encounters?’

  ‘Oh afterwards they all said they loved it.’

  ‘Okay let me show you this video sequence after the rape of Janet Crosby, yes I say rape, just listen to one of the men in the room, you will know him, his name Reginald Prentice; just listen as he is heard to say something, you are standing next to him, just listen?’

  Vicky fast forwarded the tape to the section then pressed play; the voice of Prentice is heard ‘who is going to do this one; it must be exciting hearing someone die.’ Julie is seen to squirm at the comment made by Prentice.

  ‘Now Julie, you are also being arrested for conspiracy to murder.’

  She was again cautioned by Vicky and this time she was ready to go for the throat.

  ‘So Julie as you see this knocks consensual sex out of the window, you knew she didn’t consent, nor did the other women you held down whilst being systematically raped by the men present. They didn’t consent because after being raped they were murdered, that is why none of them complained; they couldn’t, they were all dead!’

  The barrister then interjected and became very insistent that his client was innocent and wanted it recorded that Vicky was becoming aggressive in the interview.

  ‘Oh I wouldn’t go too far with that if I were you!’

  ‘What do you mean by that, is that a threat, are you threatening me detective?’

  ‘No just making a comment that’s all.’

  ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘Okay, if you want me to tell you I will,’

  Vicky opened her brief case and took out another video cassette and after ejecting the one inside placed it in then pressed play; a sex scene was shown with Peregrine Farquharson, the barrister representing Julie taking her from behind looking pleased with himself as he was smiling for the camera.

  ‘I want that tape?’

  ‘Sorry that is evidence for the prosecution; I now believe you have a conflict of interest in this case?’

  ‘I will make that decision. I want to speak with your senior officer?’

  ‘I haven’t finished my interview yet.’

  Vicky then carried on.

  ‘The women on the five tapes are all dead, their bodies have been recovered from woods nearby; five deaths to satisfy some underlying sexual desire. You knew they were being brought to the room to be raped, you knew afterwards they would be killed, you knew that didn’t you? You knew damn well they were going to be murdered didn’t you?’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘Okay this interview is now concluded, I will prepare charges and you will be in court in the morning.’

  The barrister was now looking sheepish he knew if that tape was entered into evidence and produced at court his days would be numbered as a barrister.

  Vicky then smiled as she withdrew the video cassette from the player as she said ‘if you would like to see the senior officer now I will take you?’ She knew she had him by the bollocks and was calling his bluff. He replied ‘no not at the moment.’

  Vicky prepared the charges then after reading them out placed her back in the cells, then she went upstairs and punched the air shouting ‘yes, yes, yes.’ The other detectives knew she must have had a result.

  Once she had calmed down she got on the phone to Langton explaining the tape and the barristers comments after he was shown the video sequence of him shagging his client. Langton replied nice one Vicky; get here ASAP please, and to bring the tape.

  Vicky was hoping to have a meeting with Steve the DC, who had gone to arrest Maria, but knew that was out of the window for the moment; so she grabbed the file papers and the tapes and went to HQ’s where she met with Langton. He shook her hand and said the Chief will be here in a moment, can you set up the tape so he can see it, he’s going to inform the Temple Chambers Head of this.

  Vicky set it up, just as she had finished the Chief arrived and requested a look at the sequence. Vicky pressed play and pointed out whom Peregrine Farquharson the barrister was and who Julie Sangster was in the compromising position they were in. The Chief thanked Vicky then invited her into Langton’s office where she outlined the interview and the way the barrister had reacted.

  The Chief thanked Langton and Vicky as he left the office. Langton said ‘well done Vicky.’ He opened the bottom drawer and poured a large scotch each as he toasted her for the good job she had done and how Jim had been right choose her for the role.

  Langton enquired about Steve, Vicky confirmed that Maria had been arrested, but she had not heard from him, so that was a good sign.

  Vicky finished her scotch and left the office. She finished off her papers; she tried to ring Steve again, but was informed he was still wrapped up in the interview.

/>   CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Steve stood with Georgina a uniformed officer at the door of Maria’s house, it was all in darkness; he rang the bell and saw the upstairs lights come on, then the landing lights as he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. The door opened half way as a sheepish looking woman looked around ‘Yes what do you want?’ Steve put his foot in the door as he said ‘police Maria, I need to come in and talk to you for a moment.’ ‘Come back later when I’m dressed.’ She went to close the door but, his foot prevented it, as he pushed his way inside then said ‘Maria I am arresting you for conspiracy to rape.’ ‘What? Oh do behave.’ Georgina then took Maria upstairs to get dressed; once dressed Steve joined them upstairs in the bedroom.

  ‘You live alone Maria?’ She sat at the dressing table brushing her hair. ‘Yes, but what’s that to do with you?’ ‘Just asking that’s all.’ He then started to look through the drawers and the wardrobe. Then in the corner he found a box of video cassettes with handwritten notes on.

  ‘What are these Maria?’ ‘Video’s; are you blind?’ ‘Okay the hard way then, what’s on them?’ ‘Just some holiday video’s’ ‘been on lots of holidays then?’ ‘I’m taking these as part of the investigation.’ That hit a note with Maria as she began to colour up. Steve took the box out then found some photographs in a folder, he opened the folder and took out the photographs as he did he saw Maria in all kinds of sexual poses performing sexual acts on both men and women. Steve thought she has got a nice body, as he looked over at her as she sat blushing.

  The search completed she was taken to one of the other stations where she was booked-in, then placed into a cell. Steve took one of the videos and checked the content. He sat and watched as he saw Maria rough handling a woman who was being held by a man, she cut her clothes off her and performed sexual acts on her as the woman struggled. Maria slapped her then she became compliant, then the man had sex with her.

  Steve thought good stuff then had a full breakfast; after a fat boy’s; he and another detective interviewed Maria.

  ‘Okay Maria you have been arrested for Conspiracy to rape you are under caution you understand?’

  Maria nodded

  ‘Is that a yes?’

  ‘Yes I understand.’

  ‘Your full name is?’

  Maria Glennister.’

  ‘Do you want a brief?’

  ‘No don’t need one.’

  Steve having spent time reading the briefing notes of Vicky, so was prepared for the interview.

  ‘How do you know Stuart and Lynda?’

  ‘They’re friends of mine.’

  ‘How long have you known them?’

  ‘A couple of year’s maybe a bit longer.’

  ‘How long have known Charles Sumner?’

  ‘Not long about a year or so.’

  ‘How many times have you been to Stuart and Lynda’s house?’

  ‘Quite a few times.’

  ‘For what reason?’

  ‘Mainly parties.’

  ‘What kind of parties?’

  Maria knew he was playing the game with her but, she had no way of stopping it.

  ‘You know damn well what kind of parties.’

  ‘Sex parties?’

  ‘Yes sex parties; I like sex okay.’

  ‘Yes I understand. I am now going to show you a sequence of a video so you know what and where this is leading okay?’

  ‘As you like.’

  Steve operated the video player as the scene opened to show the group of naked men and women including Maria standing waiting looking at the door, when in came Sumner with Janet blindfolded as Maria and the other women stripped Janet then held and tied her down whilst the men raped her.

  ‘Okay that scene; tell me what that was about?’

  ‘You saw it was a game the woman liked being subjected to humiliation and raped, it was a sex game.’

  ‘Okay I have four other tapes here all with different women depicting the same scene and the people present going through the same procedure. Are they all into sex games the women that are led in, were they all into being humiliated and pretend rape?’

  ‘Yes, it is quite common.’

  ‘So what you’re saying is that all the women consented to the acts depicted on the video?’

  ‘Yes it was just a sex game, have a look in any sex magazine; there are adverts for this kind of party.’

  ‘Okay, tell me why all the women are different in the videos? Why aren’t they part of the other videos either as victims or taking part when other women are engaged as victims?’

  ‘I don’t know, I didn’t organise the parties, I just took part.’

  ‘Tell me then if these women were so willing to be subjected to this kind of treatment why have they never stayed behind to laugh and joke about what had happened?’

  ‘I don’t know I never asked.’

  ‘The tape we just saw; the woman’s name was Janet and she left in tears and it didn’t look like tears of joy either, it looked like she was petrified not full of the joys of spring like your suggesting; she had just been raped and you knew she had been raped; you held her down whilst she was being raped by the men, then you engaged the men as well, not a game Maria, it was rape wasn’t it?’

  ‘No it was a game.’

  ‘No Maria look at this section of tape when one of the women is released, she attacks Sumner who punches her face causing her a nose bleed then punches her again; just watch as she is dazed and falls sliding down the wall leaving a blood smear as she falls, that is not consent that is force.’

  Maria just looked down and made no comment

  ‘Okay we will watch the other tapes then let us see if any of the other women are jumping for joy at the thought of the party and having fun shall we?’

  Steve played the tapes and then he went for her throat.

  ‘Now all those women were raped and you knew they were being raped; you knew they were suffering, you knew by the screams and the tears running down there faces during the rape and then being led from the room crying their eyes out that they had been forced. No Maria not a game it was rape which you participated in by holding the women down.’

  ‘No you don’t understand it was a game they enjoyed it they all did, so did I.’

  ‘During the rape of Janet, yes the rape not the game, the rape, when it was over one of the men in the room is heard to discuss who was going to kill Janet, and how it must be good to hear someone dying. Not a party Maria; victims were led there, raped then murdered, you are also being arrested for conspiracy to murder.’

  That was it Maria finally broke down and cried and said.

  ‘I’m so sorry I got wrapped up in the sex games to start with, but then Stuart and Charles wanted it to be more exciting and real, so started to bring in women and forced them and raped them. I didn’t know they were going to be murdered.’

  ‘Oh Maria I think you did; why did the women not complain about being gang raped. They couldn’t could they? They were all dead and you knew they were going to be killed didn’t you?’

  Maria sat and cried, her whole world now collapsed she was now looking at life in prison.

  ‘Yes I knew Charles had gone too far, but everyone just kept quiet and went for it, yes we all knew; there I’ve said it, you happy now?’

  ‘Thank you Maria, just a couple more questions, can you name all those present in the videos, we know some, just need you to confirm the others?’

  Maria then rattled off the names of those present including the backbencher.

  Steve then finished off the interview then stepped outside of the interview room, where he punched the air and shouted ‘yes, what a fucking result.’

  He then went and prepared the charges, conspiracy to murder and rape, once charged he rang Vicky who also said ‘yes well done, thanks for the update.’

  Langton appeared from his office as Vicky put the phone down; the beam across her face didn’t need a question. ‘Good news Vicky?’ ‘Yes guv, Steve has crac
ked Maria she has coughed she knew of the murders and rapes.’ ‘Good girl, well done, Jim will be pleased, he’ll be over then moon.’

  Vicky went home to her flat which she shared with her boyfriend Tom. Vicky opened the door although she was knackered from the early start; she almost floated in with the result of the day. Tom was not in the police so had no idea of the elation a good result caused in the psyche, but knew from her beaming smile she was over the moon. As he took her coat he gave her a hug which she accepted and kissed him passionately. They eagerly started to undress each other as they hurried to the bedroom where they had an intense lovemaking session. Vicky just lay there afterwards looking at Tom as he slept; she felt a sense of achievement after her days work and smiled as she wrapped herself around him, then nodded off to sleep.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Jim arrived at the Marriot hotel in Birmingham, where he booked in and was met with a big smile from the receptionist he looked at her name badge which read Kirsty. ‘Thank you Mr Broadbent for staying with us again I hope you have good stay.’ ‘Well thank you Kirsty for your greeting’ as he smiled at her.

  He went to his room and hung up his shirt and trousers then had a shower and shaved, he splashed on his aftershave which caused a stinging sensation. He dressed casually then he texted Jackie to say he had arrived okay and would let her know the situation as soon as he knew. He got a message back almost immediately thanking him for the text.

  His phone then pinged as another text came through, this time from Yvonne stating she would be there within the hour and would meet him for a drink in the bar at 1700 or thereabouts.