Statement

Taking her notepad out of her top pocket, Detective Samson faced a young man, just old enough to drive. Whatever he had to tell her was going to be long winded. She needed to take a statement about what happened at the bus stop.

An elderly lady stood behind them, her hands wrapped around her handbag. The young man, looked to have a bruise on his cheek, was holding on to his side.

‘She attacked me!’ he shouted.

‘You little ruffian,’ the old lady said, waving her large, blue bag. ‘You tried to steal my bag, I’ll have you for this.’

‘I’ll get to you later,’ the policewoman held out her palm.

‘I could have you done for assault lady! All I did was bump into you, and you get all Ninja on me.’

The old lady, nearly pushed past the policewoman, but at the sight of her handcuffs sat down. Detective Samson pulled the young boy to one side, and opened her pad.

‘So can you tell me what happened?’

‘She’s mad, I was waiting for the bus, and she accuses me of stealing her handbag. Then she keeps hitting me round the head. You need to arrest her, she’s blooming mental.’

‘That’s Mrs Lyles to you lad, and you were going to steal my bag. I saw your hand slide over to open it. I won big on the bingo, and you heard me tell my mate. I’ll have you know I won’t take any nonsense from a lout like you.’

‘No I weren’t. I was minding me own business. I was going to visit my gran actually. It’s her birthday. I was going to do her shopping. I’ve missed my bus now, and it’s all your fault!’

Detective Samson wrote everything down. Who was she to believe? The old lady did hit the young boy around the face several times, but had he tried to steal her bag, that wasn’t clear.

‘Who is your gran?’

‘Maggie Morten.’

‘Maggie, I know her. She ain’t been to Bingo in ages. We went to school together, right pair we were. I’m Maisie. I tell you what, I have the money for a taxi. How about we buy her a bunch of flowers and a steak, it will help bring that bruise a treat.’