The Sun Hill police officers were being taken on a surprise trip, excitement was running high. All of the boys reckoned that it was gonna be a football match but the girls were equally convinced that it'd be a fashion show. Gina Gold and Adam Okaro just sat in the front of the bus and exchanged knowing glances.
The drinking of alcohol had been strictly prohibited but Gina knew what Mickey had taken such pains to stow away in his bag. She also had sneaking suspicions about the contents of Smithy's bag she had heard it clinking suspiciously as he'd carried it onto the bus.
When they swung off the road and onto a bumpy track the police officers looked out of the windows and tried to guess where they were going.
Phil spotted a football field and pointed it out gleefully to Sam, who pouted and said "I thought we were all meant to enjoy this."
Then she saw a swimming pool, steam rose off it in swirling clouds. "It's not so bad." she said grudgingly. Smithy and Mickey were talking in hushed whispers and glancing back at the others, grinning evilly and pointing out individual members of the relief.
The bus stopped outside a large stone tower, the officers rose to their feet immediately and surged forward trying to get off the bus. Gina blocked the gangway and shouted above the excited chatter for quiet. When everyone had fallen silent she briefed them on the rooms. "The boys are taking the tower and the girls are in the cottages. I want everyone back here in 10 minutes after you've all sorted out your rooms."
Then she picked up her bag and led the way off the bus.
Mickey and Phil raced each other to the tower and wrenched at the door handle as the door remained stubbornly closed. "Oi! Try not to break anything just yet!" shouted Smithy as he walked over.
"The door won't open." said Mickey in a whiney voice, he'd arrived at the door a full five strides before Phil and now everyone was catching up.
"Mickey, seriously. For a detective your not very bright are you?" said Smithy, he walked up and flipped open a file. He pushed Mickey and Phil aside and said "If there's one of these pads it probably means you need a password to get in." as he typed in the code.
He went into the welcome office and bagged the first room for himself. Mickey took the next one up and Phil the third one. The other guys came in and had to lug their bags up several flights of stairs to get to their rooms.
The girls separated into their cottages amicably, and each dashed straight to the bathroom. Quickly topping up their make-up and redoing their hair.
When the relief had gathered again Gina explained about their first activity, British Bulldog.
"In case you've never played this game or have different rules, I'll explain the rules that we will be playing by." said Gina.
"One person starts off it, then whoever they take down is it with them until every one is it, the last person standing is it but gets a drink of their choice on the house. Last person on the field is it."
The boys went quickly to their rooms and brought out older pairs of jeans and T-shirts, the girls on the other hand spent five minutes discussing what they were going to wear before even starting to change.
The boys were all doing stretches and jogging up and down to warm-up when the girls arrived. Kerry was officially the last on the field.
Kerry knew who she'd be targeting, he had a cockney accent, green eyes and he supported West Ham.
"Bulldogs." she called.
The boys charged in one long line, she spotted Smithy near the left end. As she focused on him she saw the other boys accelerating past her, then she dived at him. Smithy stopped dead, side-stepped and carefully avoided her.
The girls were still in the middle of the field, Kerry tackled Amber.
Kerry soon gave up trying to get Smithy, he was too fast. Once she'd caught his arm but he'd just pulled himself out of her grip without slackening pace at all. Tony was tired and he couldn't be bothered to run, Kerry grabbed hold of his arm and called the other girls to help take him down when Tony lay down of his own accord.
Finally only five people were left, Reg, Smithy, Mickey, Phil and to everyone's surprise DI Neil Manson.
Reg, wasn't down because no-one could bear the look of hurt that Marilyn gave anyone who went near him.
Smithy, wasn't down because Kerry had told everyone that she was going to get him down alone after he'd taunted her by falling over just out of her reach then snatching victory from her by rolling away over the line.
Mickey, wasn't down because he was just good at British Bulldog.
Phil, wasn't down because he was strong enough to pull anyone who was fast enough to catch him over.
Neil, wasn't down because he had a surprising turn of speed and he threatened any CID members with demotion if they came near him.