He places his belongings into his locker. Surrounded by the suffocating air, the tightness of his collar makes it difficult to breathe. He steps out of the locker room and…
"Breathe" he mutters, without realising he spoke aloud. Sergeant Callum Stone walks past and gives him this disarranged look.
"You alright there, Smithy?" questioned Stone
"Of course, lets get to work" Smithy answered.
X-X
Sergeant Dale Smith saunters along the corridor passing the DCI's, making his way to his office. He arrives at his office, removes his stab vest and belt, and positions his radio on the desk then logs onto his computer.
He attempts to finish the paper work he didn't manage to complete the day before, when the door flies open.
"Morning Sarge" P.C Mel Ryder voices, filling the office with enthusiasm
"Well… someones happy this morning. Any particular reason?" Smithy replies
"I've been placed with my favourite Sarge for the day!" exclaims Mel
"I wonder what the world has in store for us today, P.C Ryder" wonders Smithy
Before Mel has time to reply Sergeant Smith's radio alarms the room.
"All units from Sierra Oscar; Man with shot gun gashes collapsed in home on Baker Court"
Smithy springs from his seat to take hold of the radio and replies "Sierra Oscar from 54, show me and 148 dealing".
Smithy puts his stab vest and belt on, tells P.C Ryder to quickly inform the DCI and meet him at the carpark.
X-X
Mel hurries along and Smithy jumps into the driver seat. He ensures the sirens are alarming the traffic in front and races along to Baker Court. The wheels make a screeching noise, making Mel jump in her seat.
"Maybe I should have drove Sarge, then maybe it wouldn't be as though we were compete in Formula One" Mel said jokingly
"We have to live life to the max" Smithy replies with passion. They eventually came to a sudden halt, due to the ambulance blocking the road. Smithy gets out of the car and Mel follows.
X-X
Smithy walks up to the scene and knocks on the door. A women, in about her 30's with brown hair opens the door with panic in her eyes, a sense of his past hits Smithy.
"Finally, you're here. He's through there" the woman explains. Smithy enters the house, heading for the living room area, which was now treated as a crime scene. Mel guided the women back in the house and asked her to describe her version of events
She sat at the kitchen table and began to explain. "I'd been working until late at the EastEnd Eatery, so I was in bed when I heard Alex screaming. I ran downstairs to find her holding our brother, Jamie, in her arms. Blood was pouring out of his chest" she mumbled, bursting into tears.
"You're doing really well, your cooperation is really helpful" Mel says to reassure Amber. Before Amber could continue to explain, Alex walks in the kitchen and says "Don't worry, Amber, everything is going to be fine"
"I'm guessing you're Alex, is that correct?" asks Mel
"That's right" answers Alex
"Right, it would really help with the investigation, if you both came down to the station with me to give a detailed statement. Alex if I could have the clothes which you had on please and I shall collect Jamie's from St Hughs later. My Sergeant will wait here for CSE Eddie Olosunje to arrive and investigate the crime scene" explains Mel
Meanwhile Sergeant Smith enters the living room area to see a tall, young man laid in a pool of blood. "Is he breathing" Smithy asks
"He is, but very slowly we need to get him to St Hughs ASAP" explains the ambulance man
"Please, move him into the ambulance to get all the care he needs" says Smithy.
Smithy stands at the crime scene, trying to wrack his brains as to why he recognised the woman who answered the door.