The Whole Truth

‘So-called? I thought you’d secured a big-cheese donor – isn’t that worth celebrating? Hilary Reynolds gave me the impression it was a tour de force.’

She gives an acid little sigh. ‘Funnily enough, it doesn’t feel much like that any more.’

‘But it would have done last night, surely? Before all this happened?’

She sits back. ‘He said we should celebrate. He got the champagne out of the fridge. He opened it. OK?’

‘So the two of you had a drink together. Just the one glass?’

She flushes again. ‘I think so.’

‘You think? You don’t remember?’

‘I remember I spilt some – on my dress. I remember him filling my glass again.’

She glances at Kennedy, and then at me. Evidently something else they’ve already discussed.

She takes a deep breath. ‘After that, it gets a bit hazy.’

* * *

VE: Mr Morgan?

CM: [fidgeting with his water bottle]

VE: I know this is tough –

CM: She started coming on to me, all right? I was leaning back against the worktop and she came up really close. Like, pressing her body against me. She started asking me if I fancied her.

VE: And do you – did you?

CM: [flushing]

Kind of. I mean, she’s a lot older than me but she’s pretty hot. All the postgrads think so. And she looked amazing in that dress – anyone would have thought she looked sexy –

VE: It’s not a crime to find her attractive, Mr Morgan.

CM: Caleb. You can call me Caleb.

VE: So what happened next?

CM: [takes a deep breath]

Well, she was definitely drunk by then. She’d kicked off the stilettos but she was still swaying, like she couldn’t stand up straight. And she was slurring her words. Even if I’d wanted to – there’s no way I’d have done anything about it with her in that state.

VE: But you might – under other circumstances? If you thought she knew what she was doing?

CM: [pause]

In theory, perhaps. But only in theory – it’d have been a complete nightmare in practice. For my research, I mean. And anyway, I’ve got a girlfriend. It just wouldn’t be worth the colossal amount of shit it would’ve caused.

VE: What happened next?

CM: She started touching me – through my clothes. My shorts. She said, you know, that it proved I did fancy her.

VE: [softly]

You had an erection.

CM: [nods]

But that didn’t mean –

VE: It’s just a physical reaction, Caleb. It’s not something you can necessarily control. It doesn’t mean that any of this is your fault, and it certainly doesn’t mean you weren’t assaulted.

CM: [pause]

VE: Can you go on?

CM: [looks away, nods]

* * *

Adam Fawley

7 July 2018

19.47

‘You’re saying you don’t remember what happened next?’

Fisher shakes her head.

Kennedy leans forward. ‘Look, what exactly is this Caleb Morgan alleging?’

‘He says Professor Fisher made physical sexual advances, and continued to do so even when he made it clear that he was saying no. Intercourse did not take place, but she did touch him in the groin area.’

Fisher is shaking her head. ‘This is some terrible, ghastly misunderstanding. There is no way –’

She looks down, puts a hand to her lips, breathes. Then she looks up again. ‘Is Caleb OK? I mean, that’s the only explanation – he must have had some sort of breakdown –’ Her voice falters. ‘Look, he’s been under a lot of pressure lately. His research –’

‘So, to be clear, you’re telling us you don’t remember any physical contact with Mr Morgan?’

‘No.’

‘And the bruising on your wrist – how did that come about?’

She tugs at her sleeve, then realizes she’s doing it and lays her hands flat on the table. ‘As I told your technician, it was probably my son. Children are surprisingly strong and don’t always know what they’re doing.’

If she’s aware of the irony in that last remark she gives no sign.

‘What about this morning?’

She frowns. ‘What about it?’

‘When you woke up – were you in your own bed?’

‘Of course I was –’

‘Fully dressed? Nightclothes, what?’

Fisher raises an eyebrow, derisive. ‘I don’t bother with what you so quaintly refer to as “nightclothes”, Inspector.’

‘So you were naked, but you don’t remember how you got there?’

She shrugs. ‘My gown was on the back of the chair, my shoes in the rack. Everything was as it should be. Apart from the fact that I had a headache and a raging thirst, and a child long overdue his breakfast. Don’t tell me that’s never happened to you.’

‘And it didn’t concern you that you couldn’t remember much about the end of the evening? Has that ever happened before?’

She sighs heavily. ‘Once or twice, if you must know. Usually after champagne. I really should avoid Bollinger last thing at night.’

As fuck-yous go, that was about as deft as it gets.

‘That being the case, when we’re done here I’m going to ask our CSI officer to take a blood sample. Just so we can all be absolutely clear exactly how much alcohol we’re talking about.’

Fisher glances at Kennedy, who nods. ‘They’re allowed to do that.’

Asante sits forward. ‘What about the dress?’

Fisher frowns. ‘What about the dress?’

‘Why did you rush to get it cleaned?’