‘Do you know her name?’
‘No.’
‘What happened when Tony came back from the toilet?’
‘It was late and I didn’t want to miss the last Tube home, and Tony was staying with me so I said we needed to go. He finished his pint, then as we left the girl he’d danced with suddenly appeared. She grabbed his hand and dragged him off down the alleyway at the side of the ballroom.’
‘And I take it he didn’t resist?’
‘No, but he must have thought it was funny as he was laughing. I didn’t go down the alley as I thought he’d come straight out. About a minute later a policeman and policewoman were passing. They stopped and looked up the alley and must have seen them. They went into the alley and the next thing I heard was a woman’s voice screaming, “Help me, help me!” I looked to see what was happening and the policeman had Tony pushed up against the wall and was putting handcuffs on him. He looked like he was in a state of shock when the policeman brought him out. I asked why he was being arrested and the officer said for indecent assault. I couldn’t believe it. I tried to tell the policeman she was lying but he told me to shut up or he’d arrest me for obstruction.’
‘Did you see the woman again?’
‘When the policewoman helped her out of the alleyway, she was crying, but I couldn’t see any tears. I looked her in the eye, and she turned away — it was obvious she was lying.’
‘Tony’s been a fool and got himself in serious trouble — but if what you’ve told me is the truth, there’s some things that don’t add up.’
‘What do you think will happen to him?’
‘I don’t know yet. The night duty CID will take a statement from the woman, then they may interview Tony or leave it to the early turn CID to take the investigation over. Are you happy to stay here for now?’
‘I’m not going anywhere until I find out what’s happening. Does Pam know he’s been arrested?’
‘Not as far as I know, though Tony would have had to give his name and address to the custody sergeant. I’m going to ask the CID to speak to you. Would you be willing to make a written statement if necessary?’
‘Of course, but I’m worried they’ll think I’m lying to protect Tony.’
‘I won’t deny that’s possible, but I’m a detective and I believe you.’
‘Tony’s lucky to have you as a sister-in-law.’
‘It’ll need more than luck to get him out of the mess he’s made for himself. If the investigating officer tells me to leave it that’s the end of my involvement—’
‘Even if he’s charged?’
‘Yes. I’m putting my neck on the line as it is by being here.’
Jane went through the foyer door to the front counter, where she showed her warrant card to the duty sergeant and asked if the night duty CID were available. The sergeant told her DS Simon Boon was in the CID office on the first floor, and let her into the police side of the station.
Entering the CID office, she saw a man in his mid-thirties, dressed in jeans and a polo shirt, sitting at a desk typing.
‘Sorry to disturb you. I’m WDS Jane Tennison from the Flying Squad. Are you DS Simon Boon?’ She showed him her warrant card.
He nodded. ‘A bit unusual for the Sweeney to be out at this time of night. What can I do for you?’
‘I’m here about the indecent assault suspect you’re dealing with—’
‘He doesn’t strike me as a hardened armed blagger,’ a suspicious-sounding Boon remarked.
Jane was direct. ‘Tony Harrison is my brother-in-law. He used his right to a phone call after his arrest to contact me at home. I’m just trying to find out what happened and if he’s likely to be charged.’
Boon looked surprised, stopped typing and sat back in his chair.
‘He told the arresting officers his name was Tony Durham and said he lived at thirty-three Melcombe Street?’
She sighed. ‘That’s my address. I suspect he doesn’t want my sister Pam to know he’s been arrested.’
‘Well, he’s certainly not done himself any favors by lying.’
‘Tony’s never been in trouble with the police before, so he’s unused to this kind of situation and probably not thinking straight. I’ve always known him to be a devoted husband and father, who’s never been unfaithful or aggressive.’
‘That’s debatable, considering the allegation against him and the state of the victim.’
‘I know your investigation is none of my business, but all I’d ask is that you speak to his friend Noel Harper, who is in the station foyer.’
‘I wasn’t made aware that Tony was with any friends, but I’ll speak to Mr. Harper.’
‘Thanks for your time and I hope you don’t think I’m trying to interfere,’ she said, not wanting to push her luck.
‘For what it’s worth... I’d be standing where you are now if it was my brother-in-law who got nicked. I appreciate you being up front about your connection to Mr. Harrison, and not trying to tell me the victim is mistaken or how to run my investigation. You do appreciate that whatever I may tell you is off the record?’
She realized he was prepared to listen to her.
‘As far as I’m concerned, we never spoke, and if anyone questions why I was here, you refused to tell me anything.’
‘Good, then we both know where we stand. What’s Mr. Harper’s version of events?’ Boon picked up his pen and a piece of paper. ‘I just want to be sure that what Noel Harper told you matches with what he tells me.’
‘That’s understandable.’
She told him everything that Noel had said. Finishing up, Jane emphasized the fact that the woman had dragged Tony up the alleyway and only started screaming for help about a minute later, when the uniformed officers walked towards them.
Boon put down his pen, folded up the notes and put them in his trouser pocket.
‘I spoke to the victim, Laura Brooks, when she was first brought to the station. She was clearly distressed and emotional, and said she felt embarrassed talking to me. I got the WPC who was at the scene to take a statement from her, but I’ll come to that in a moment.’ He picked up the uniformed officer’s incident report book, which contained the details of Tony’s arrest.
‘The arresting officers were passing the alleyway when they noticed a couple kissing and touching each other’s genitals.’
‘Outside their clothing?’
‘No, Tony had his penis out and his hand was up the woman’s skirt. Her bra was up over her breasts and he was touching them with his other hand. As the officers approached, the PC shouted out that they were committing a public indecency offence. Brooks looked at them and started shouting out for help and pushing Tony away. She told the officers she was walking through the alleyway when she was grabbed from behind by Tony, who ripped her blouse and sexually assaulted her. She also said she was paralyzed with fear until she saw the police officers and thought she would have been raped if they hadn’t come along.’
‘Was her blouse torn?’ Jane asked.
‘Yes, at the top, and one button was missing, which was recovered in the alleyway.’
‘Did the police doctor find any scratches or bruising on her consistent with an indecent assault?’
‘No, and he also did an inner thigh and vaginal examination.’
‘So, he found no evidence to support she was sexually assaulted?’
‘Correct. He also thought she’d had more to drink than she said she had, though that doesn’t mean she wasn’t assaulted. In her statement Brooks said she didn’t struggle as she feared being raped and beaten. She admits masturbating Tony, but only because he got his penis out and forced her to.’
‘Did she say anything about meeting him in the ballroom, then kissing and rubbing against him while they were dancing?’