The Victim by G D Sanders

Author:G D Sanders [Sanders, G D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008313227
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-03-22T04:00:00+00:00

47

Ed and Jenny were drinking coffee when Anna came back to the interview room with Gina, who was wearing paper overalls and carrying a cup of tea.

‘Thanks, Anna. I’ll just step outside for a word before you leave. Gina, would you like a biscuit or something to go with that drink?’

‘No, I’m good, the tea’s fine,’ said Gina casually, before adding in a weaker, small voice, ‘Thank you.’

Ed nodded. ‘Gina, this is my colleague, Detective Constable Jenny Eastham. She’ll stay with you while I have a quick word with the Medical Officer, then we’ll talk some more about what happened to you.’

In the corridor, Anna summarized what she’d found.

‘All the signs are that she’s been physically attacked and probably raped. I’ve bagged all her clothes and taken swabs. Before she cleaned herself up we got photographs. Aside from torn clothes the most obvious injuries are ligature marks around her neck and some light scratches on her back and breasts. There’s bruising on her thighs, which would be consistent with forced penetration. All the samples and clothes are ready for forensics.’

‘When I first started questioning her, she said he tried to strangle her with her bra,’ said Ed.

‘That’s odd.’

‘I’m afraid it happens quite a lot.’

Anna nodded. ‘Yes. I didn’t mean the strangulation. The marks on her neck could have been caused by a bra but there was no bra among her things.’

‘Perhaps he took it as a trophy; that’s not uncommon. I’ll look into it. How about her, how is she?’

‘Physically she’s not seriously hurt.’

‘Not even after being almost strangled to death?’

‘Whatever happened, it didn’t go that far. There were ligature marks round her neck, but they weren’t as deep as I would have expected if he was really trying to kill her. I think her attacker found the act of strangulation stimulating. Maybe it gave him an added sense of power.’

Ed wanted the MO’s opinion of Gina’s state of mind but didn’t want to ask directly.

‘I spoke briefly with her before you arrived. She seemed hesitant but coherent.’

‘Initial reactions vary. Some victims are hysterical, others are withdrawn, and some appear quite calm, repressing their feelings, hoping it will all go away, hoping to maintain control and not fall to pieces.’

Ed was annoyed that Anna should speak to her as if she were an inexperienced officer. ‘I’ve seen all of those reactions when working in London. Do you think she’s fighting to maintain control?’

‘Yes, I do. When she was with me she was almost matter-of-fact, doing exactly what I asked and trying her best to help me do my job. From what I’ve seen of her, she’s a classic case, a victim of rape fighting to stay calm and repressing her emotions.’

‘With me she spoke hesitantly, but I thought she was quite coherent. Of course, I haven’t been with her for long.’

‘When you question her further, I’m sure you’ll see signs she’s very disturbed. Treat her gently – she’s vulnerable, and she’s going to have difficulty coming to terms with what has happened to her.

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