My Caroline

by Roger Rapel

  ‘So you see Gordon this is another offence possessing indecent pictures of kids so you are also arrested for that as well, the list is growing my old mate.’

  Jim looked at Forsyth; he couldn’t get out of his head the fear and loneliness poor Christina had been subjected to.

  ‘You will be in court in the morning then remanded to police cells for another day before being remanded in prison.’

  Jim switched off the tapes then went through the procedure for ending the interview then said to him ‘mate I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes when you get inside prison, they just love your kind inside, you will get a taste of what it’s like to be shit scared, just like those little kids you raped and tied up were. I will make sure the prison knows the reason why you’re coming their way.’

  ‘You can’t threaten me like that.’ ‘Yes I can, and I just did so fuck you, you piece of shit the world would be a better place without you.’

  Jim nodded to Vicky who took him back to his cell as Jim tidied the interview room. Vicky got back to the room as she said ‘god Jim how did you hold back?’ ‘Been there before Vick, not that I didn’t want to, but to lose the case and let him out to abuse little kids like Christina again is the guiding force that kept me from beating the shit out of him.’

  ‘We just have to wait now for the DNA and hopefully it’s his, then we’re home and dry.’

  18

  Christina was picked up by social services and taken to an outlying house recently converted for interviewing abused children. The house was purposely laid out with kids in mind; there were a couple of interview rooms kitted out with toys and soft furnishings. All meant to make the children feel comfortable and less afraid of the surroundings. The rooms already had microphones and videos installed covertly, to record the way the interviews were conducted.

  Jackie was waiting for Christina having prepared numerous cuddly toys ready for her to hug; trying the best she could to make Christina feel good about her surroundings.

  Christina was led into the room and as soon a she saw Jackie she hurried into her arms. Jackie was knelt down and hugged Christina to her as she kissed her on the cheek.

  ‘Wow that was a nice hug Christina, did you sleep oaky?’ Christina nodded as she looked at all the toys. ‘Go on my darling pick one, not just one as many as you like.’ Christina was smiling as she hugged a couple of soft teddies.

  Jackie lay down on the floor resting on her elbow as she started talking to Christina. ‘Now then what is this one’s name?’ Pointing to a teddy Christina was holding ‘I will call this one Jackie, because you’re nice to me.’ ‘Oh wow that’s kind of you.’

  The hours went by as the play and chatter continued; all designed to get the confidence of the children involved before asking the questions which would bring back memories. Jackie would use her experience to assess when the time was right to throw in a couple of searching questions.

  ‘Who was in the home you were in?’ ‘Susan.’ ‘How old was Susan?’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Was she smaller or bigger than you?’ ‘She was as big as you.’ ‘Did she work in the home?’ ‘Yes.’

  ‘What was Susan like?’ ‘She wasn’t nice.’ ‘Did she play with you sometimes?’ ‘We played games she liked playing games, at her house.’ ‘What kind of house did Susan have?’ ‘Not a big one, but it had a big bed upstairs.’ ‘What games did you play?’ ‘Susan said I mustn’t tell anyone.’ ‘But you can tell me, we are friends now; one of your toys is called Jackie as well.’ ‘Don’t tell Susan I told you.’ ‘I won’t, I’ll keep it a secret.’

  ‘So what were the games you played?’ Christina was engrossed in the toys and became relaxed as she told of the scenes and the games. It soon became clear that Susan was the one who supplied the kids to be abused. She went onto tell Jackie how sometimes men would come to Susan’s house and would undress as part of the games then she said ‘they would kiss me all over, even my noo noo and made me kiss them all over as well it was horrible.’

  That was enough for that day as Jackie collected all the toys up and gave her the one she called after her to take home and bring back the next day. Jackie gave Christina a big hug for being such a good girl.

  Social services picked up Christina and brought her to Mrs Murphy who was ready and waiting having received the call. Mrs Murphy already had tea cooking, a piping hot Irish stew with dumplings.

  ‘Now then Christina, oh no, not another cuddly toy, and what’s this one called?’ ‘I call her Jackie, she’s my good friend.’ ‘Well to be sure, that’s a lovely name. Are you hungry?’ Christina nodded. ‘Well be off with you upstairs and I’ll be up to give you a bath, in just one minute.’

  Christina sat on the bed hugging her teddy called Jackie, as she began talking ‘now this is a lovely house Jackie and this is our bed, you can sleep with all the other toys as well, but you’re my special one, my favourite.’

  Mrs Murphy ran the bath as Christina undressed then added the bath foam, after testing the temperature then Christina stepped into the bubbles. ‘Now then, can you see Jackie is there looking at you.’ Christina looked at Mrs Murphy and smiled as she splashed the water.

  To Mrs Murphy this was the moment she looked forward to when fostering kids, the smile and their feeling of being cared for, nothing else mattered for that one moment except that smile.

  After playing with foam and plastic ducks they both sang quack-quack songs, then Mrs Murphy held out a big white bath towel as Christina melted into her outstretched arms. The bruising on Christina was still tender so Mrs Murphy was mindful as she patted her down carefully with the towel. Christina got into her warm pyjamas then they went down the stairs, the kitchen door was open which allowed the aroma of the stew to waft through the house.

  ‘Mr Murphy will be home from work soon, so I will start to dish up now, would you like a dumpling?’ Christina nodded as a bowl of stew was placed in front of her as Mrs Murphy mashed up the pieces of potato and blew on it to cool it. ‘Now you mind, that is hot so blow on it first.’

  Just as his plate was being placed onto the table Mr Murphy arrived home. He greeted them both. Then washed his hands and sat down at the table, he smiled at Christina as he pulled funny faces at her causing her to giggle. ‘Now come on the pair of you, eat your dinner up’ as Mrs Murphy laughed at the both of them.

  Jackie knew from her previous handling of other child abuse cases that women also get involved in abusing kids as well. From the accounts of Christina, the woman Susan appeared to be involved as the facilitator of the abuse against kids in the care home where Christina had been sent to.

  Finally the care home where Christina and the other kids in the photographs had come from was identified. Langton dispatched a team to Yorkshire where the home was situated and together with local officers they would raid it and interview staff and arrest Susan.

  19

  Jim received the DNA results from the forensic science laboratory. As suspected the seminal fluid inside Christina was matched to Forsyth’s DNA. Jim clenched his fist and punched the air with a sense of self-satisfaction. Vicky saw the actions of Jim as she said ‘good news Jim?’ ‘Got him Vick; the DNA sample from inside Christina is a match to his profile.’ ‘Magic Jim, that’s a great result.’

  Jim went to see Sandy and was about to start his normal banter with her, but she jumped in first this time, she relished the fun with Jim as she normally had boring reports and the straight talking with Langton. ‘Oh Jim am I having your dict again?’ ‘Yep I’ve come to give you one again.’ ‘Come on then sit down.’ Jim sat down as he looked under the table viewing Sandy’s shapely legs. ‘Now Jim keep you mind on your dict.’ ‘Oh I am Sandy I am.’ They both laughed as she settled herself. ‘Okay Sandy just be prepared this is not a nice case this time.’ Sandy looked at Jim as she saw seriousness on his face.

  Jim cleared his voice as he began to dictate the report leaving nothing out. Sandy paused for a moment after Jim was some way into the report ‘oh Jim that poor li
ttle girl.’ ‘I know, but there are others as well. This is just part of it, the woman from the care home is being interviewed at the moment so hopefully this will close at least one door, but there are many other doors out there that are open and need to be closed.’

  Jim finished the report and smiled at Sandy, who wasn’t looking the same as normal as she said ‘oh Jim that was awful what a sick load of bastards.’ ‘Yep sorry for that, but hopefully the next one will be a better.’ ‘It better be this was awful Jim.’ Jim looked under the table, Sandy laughed as she said ‘bugger off Jim.’ Jim walked out of the office blowing her kiss as he smiled then closed the door.

  Jim sat down putting the file together with Vicky. It took ages placing all the relevant papers and exhibits together as the volume of statements had grown considerably.

  Jim had just put the file together when Langton called him and Vicky into his office. Jim handed over the heaving file for him to read. Langton put it to one side then picked a manila folder and took out a report leaving it face down. Langton toasted them for another good job; he was congratulatory to them both on the investigation and the long hours they had put in with all of the frustrations involved.

  Langton then looked at them both and said ‘take the next couple of days off, keep your mobiles on, I will cover for you.’ Jim looked at him as he cocked his head to one side expecting a laugh or joke, but he was serious. Jim raised his glass and said ‘thanks guv’ as he chinked glasses with Vicky.

  Langton waited for them to finish their glasses then he nodded to Vicky, who didn’t need telling twice, she had seen the signals before when Langton wanted to speak with Jim on his own. She raised her glass then placed it on the table as she left the office closing the door behind her.

  Langton picked up the manila folder turning it over Jim saw ‘top secret’ stencilled across the top. Jim had seen many top secret files before, so knew what was coming, another spooks operation. Jim thought as the folder was opened how quiet the spooks had been recently.

  Langton poured another dram into each glass then said ‘Jim this is another spooks issue it has serious implications attached to it.’ Jim nodded as he said ‘they always have.’ Langton smiled ‘look Jim, this has many issues involved across many countries and could impact our shores if the suspected person in their organisation is not stopped from passing information.’ ‘Fuck me guv they have more leaks than a colander has holes.’ ‘So it seems, but this has many facets attached to it.’ ‘Yeah, so did the last one, I was well and truly used and abused on some Anglo -Yank mission, where I ended up babysitting one of their so called spies, or was I? So what’s the story this time?’ ‘As you know Jim, Yvonne has made it to the top of the tree and she is weeding out those who have been in one place for too long, she is also trying to root out those who she suspects of being double agents. Read this, it will give you an insight.’

  Langton handed over a report, Jim took it, sipping his scotch at the same time then he started reading the report. Jim looked at Langton as he said ‘is this a wind-up guv, please say it is?’ ‘Sorry Jim it’s full on; read it then call Yvonne as she wants to meet you soon for a full briefing.’ Jim then thought, wow I have really missed being taken and abused by her, but now she’s head of MI5 she won’t risk some bedroom romp as she did when she was deputy. Jim smiled as he was reminiscing about days gone by. Then he got on with reading the report.

  He was nearly finished when he read about one of the spooks getting shot and killed in Afghanistan. It didn’t ring any bells with him until he turned over the page and saw the name. Then he thought fuck me it can’t be, not Ricky Briggs, surely not, he felt a slight lump in his throat as he thought about all the times he’d had with Ricky. He continued to read then saw that Yvonne suspected that one of her senior members of staff had all but signed the death warrant of Ricky in return for a substantial amount of money.

  Jim never knew Ricky’s family, he’d never spoken about it, come to think of it, he never knew Ricky at all, he was sure he had been in the special forces at some point in time, but Ricky never spoke of who he was or who he had been.

  The report continued in length, as Jim was reading he thought what he was going to be required to do this time; was it really to flush out the leak in Yvonne’s secret world?

  Jim finished the report as he put his hand to his chin contemplating what he had just read, then Langton interrupted ‘you now understand the implications of this Jim?’ Jim nodded as he thought, then said ‘what does she want me to do now?’ ‘No idea, just call her to say you have read the report then see what she says.’ Jim nodded as he said ‘fuck me poor Ricky, he said he was going deep, but I never knew he was going to Afghanistan.’ He then nodded to Langton as he picked up his desk phone and dialled Yvonne’s number.

  The ring tone continued for a few seconds then it was picked up by Yvonne. Jim informed her he had read the report. ‘Right Jim, meet me; just a minute let me see, yes meet me at the same place tomorrow afternoon, just be careful you’re not followed. When I see you I will provide you with a bugging detector. Don’t say anymore, tomorrow at the same place at the normal time okay?’ Jim confirmed he understood then she was gone.

  Jim looked at Langton as he said ‘fuck me guv she sounded very nervous, and wants me to make sure I’m not followed. When we meet she’s giving me a bug detector as well. This sounds like heavy duty stuff, how much do you know?’ ‘I only know what’s in the report Jim, but yes it does sound heavy duty, so be careful; just as before you can’t let anyone else know what you’re doing not even Jackie.’ ‘I never have, not even Jackie, she worries enough as it is guv without being told the truth.’

  Then Jim lightened the mood as he said ‘your mission if you wish to accept it’ then he laughed as Langton smiled and poured another dram as he toasted Jim to another successful job completed, also the one to come.

  Jim went out into the office feeling the effects of the scotch as he sat down Vicky said ‘coffee Jim?’ He put his thumb up as he thought of the task ahead. Vicky returned with two cups of coffee; she knew she couldn’t ask. If Langton kept Jim behind, she knew it wasn’t for her ears.

  Jim said ‘I want you to interview the care worker Susan from our perspective including how Christina got down here, there must be a link between her and Forsyth, someone picks the kids up and takes them to be abused. There could still be others living on us who will continue as before after the dust settles, we need to know who they are. I shall be away for a few days and before you ask, I can’t tell you.’ Vicky nodded ‘no problem Jim I’ll make the arrangements now.’

  20

  Jim drove to the Marriot at Five ways in Birmingham, on route he drove around roundabouts twice then down a couple of cul-de-sacs watching to see if he was followed, but he never saw anything to give him any suspicions.

  Jim arrived early, so he sat for a few minutes in his car watching to see if anyone had followed him in, or if someone was loitering in the car park, but again he saw nothing.

  Jim then walked into reception as he did a nonchalant look around the foyer. Kirstin was on reception duty again, she gave a beaming smile ‘oh Mr Broadbent so nice to see you again.’ Jim looked at her and smiled ‘I just come back each time because of your welcoming smile.’ Kirstin coloured up as she said ‘well thank you kind sir’ as she handed him his electronic key after signing in. He shook her hand as he felt her warm soft skin next to his. He smiled as he let go then walked towards the lift. He turned as he reached the doors and gave a smile to Kirstin. Then he thought fuck me what a lovely body.

  He reached his room then unpacked the few things he had brought with him. He had the report that Langton had given him to return to Yvonne, he put it on the bed; then re-read it again, making sure he was fully conversant with the contents before the meeting. He drifted away as he thought was she still going to be the animal she was when she was deputy, or had the step-up made her untouchable? Then he received a text, he opened it up, room 336 in 15 minutes. He wa
s about to find out, but just in case he had a quick shower and shaved splashing on his after shave all in double quick time.

  He stood outside room 336 with his heart beating feeling like a lamb to the slaughter. He knocked the door; Yvonne opened it then stepped back, she was wearing a dressing gown, then she turned and walked ahead of Jim into the room where she sat on the bed. Jim walked over to her then handed her the report in the manila folder which she placed on the side table then stood up and wrapped her arms around Jim’s neck as her fingers played with his hair, then she kissed him deeply, breathing softly as she moaned at his caresses. Then she whispered into his ear, breathing deeply ‘god I’ve missed you Jim, make love to me now.’ Yvonne slipped out of her bathrobe showing she was naked, then she slowly undressed Jim, once he was also naked she lay back on the bed as Jim kissed her from head to toe lingering at her inner thighs, he kissed her deeply his tongue probing inside her; he listened to her softly moan, feeling her pelvis move to the enjoyment of his tongue.

  Jim moved up on her as she anticipated him entering her, she sighed as he pushed inside. Then she was in heaven being made love too by her lover. This was her Nirvana as she gave a deep moan as she had a massive satisfying orgasm, her eyes tightly closed as exploding shooting stars flashed across her mind’s eye. ‘Oh Jim please again, oh Jim again please.’ Jim had to pull out before he reached the point of no return. Then he re-entered her after a couple of minutes once the head of steam had gone down. As he slipped into her again Yvonne screamed with joy as she kept on reaching heights of ecstasy. Jim was on the verge of no return then let himself go with a deep thrust.

  Jim lay by her side panting as sweat was running down his back. ‘Oh Jim I do love these sessions it is so good, you are so good for me.’ Jim smiled as he looked at her then kissed her deeply as he said ‘me too M; I can call you that now or is it chief or perhaps even control, which is it ma’am?’ ‘Yvonne will do just fine, especially whispered in my ear at the point of ecstasy.’