Life On The Other Side: Natovnia
CID takes up a campaign to bring down local brothel-king Craig Bolt on rumours of supporting the trade of underage prostitutes. What they uncover is more than they imagined…
In Part 2: Natovnia, the team are surprised when they find that someone they thought was crooked turns out good. Using this new aid, they follow up Bolt's connections to a Croatian arms dealer with a creepy agenda…
Rated M
PC Millie Brown/DS Max Carter/OC
Crime
Disclaimer: I don't own 'The Bill'.
A/N: I'm in major squee mode at the moment because I'm only hours away from finally seeing Smash and Grab (does it count as a first viewing if I watched the first 10 minutes of Part 2 online? Whatever, I'm taking it). I am very excited. Also, because I'm making a video for Max and Millie from it, The Canley Change-rooms have a post for it and god knows how many more one-shots will be spawned from it. Likely more than needed. Either way, as long as the writers are getting the message that more Max and Millie is key to the long-term survival of my obsession, it's all good. And so, with Smash and Grab under my belt by 10pm next Saturday night, my next aim will be finding more Max/Millie pairing confessions on profiles… (yes Megan, I totally own you now!). Enough chit-chat though, time to carry on the story. I hope you enjoy part 2…
Chapter One;
Natovnia
Craig Bolt's trial on the following Friday was meant to be cut and dry. Bolt turns up, gets convicted and everybody carries on as normal. But as Millie learnt the Monday before the trial, things weren't that easy – especially when step one went very, very wrong.
"PC Brown." Sgt. Smith's voice carried down the halls as Millie walked with Sally from the change rooms. She stopped and smiled, letting Sally go on her way. Smithy ushered her closer. "Have you heard?"
Millie frowned. "Heard what?"
"Craig Bolt missed bail check-in for the last two days. I've sent Roger and Nate around there now to drag him in, orders of DS Turner."
"Thanks sarge." With a grin in his direction she headed upstairs to CID, pushing open the swinging doors when she got there with more hostility than she'd intended. Will, who was on the other side, had to step back out of her way.
"Millie, gee, in a good mood this morning?"
"Oh, sorry Will, I didn't see you."
"I'm glad it's not personal. I was coming to find you actually, about…"
She cut him off as she followed him into the office. "Craig Bolt's MIA, I know."
"She's psychic." Will grinned at Max who'd just glanced up from a pile of papers, gave her a blank look, and then looked back at his desk.
"No, just apparently everyone knows before I do. Thanks for the heads-up."
Max made to say something, but DS Turner joined them, motioning them towards the incident room. "Meeting in two…" He noticed Millie. "You're quick." He continued as if he'd never stopped. "…minutes. DI has a surprise for us. I'm hoping it's chocolate!" He gave a big, fake, smile and shook his fists like he was waving small flags. Millie chuckled as he walked off then, giving Max one more frown, headed to the incident room. Raising his eyes skyward as he looked at Will, Max stood and followed.
*
Millie scanned the small crowd in the incident room. The original investigation team, led by DS Turner, were all there. DC Kezia Walker had joined them, as well as Ben Gayle, Nate, Roger and Leon Taylor. Sgt. Smith stood by the door talking with DI Manson. It had been six days since they'd pulled in Craig Bolt off his pleasure craft the Sahara. Since then Millie had taken a back seat in the investigation, only called out of her normal uniform work for back-up on a raid or any work with the Roxons whom she'd grown a strong bond with. Since coming out of hospital, Eleanor's father David had moved in with Andrea and their daughter. Andrea had insisted it was to help him recover, but Eleanor had confided in Millie only Friday that she suspected more. Of course her work with the Roxons hadn't been case involved most of the time. After exhausting their link with the drugs, DI Manson had put them on the back foot, assuming their work with Bolt had been more unlucky than any kind of plan. Millie had thought the same, but still kept in contact, just in case. She was thoroughly enjoying the FLO position and didn't really want to think about giving it up.
As for anything else case involved, that morning had proven she was well behind in that area.
DCI Meadows entered the room, drawing Millie's attention when every face turned to the door. He nodded to them all and went to the whiteboard at the front. The room went quiet.
"Morning. As you know Craig Bolt has fallen off the radar since being bailed pending a court appearance. Sgt. Smith tells me he's missed the last two check-ins so earlier this morning we sent officers around to his home to chase him up. PC Valentine?"
Roger nodded. "Long gone. A neighbour said they thought they heard something on Saturday morning but we can't be certain it was Bolt. Either way, he's scooted off."
"What about the girls? Mrs. Bolt?" Ben asked, only seconds before Millie could.
"The girls cleared out when Hayleigh did, four days ago."
"She left him two days after he was arrested?" Ben spoke again, frowning at Roger who just shrugged.
"So, back to the case," Max spoke up, sick of the gossip at the back of the room. "Any leads?"
DCI Meadows shook his head. "Not our end, which is why we've called in re-enforcements from Bolt's hometown and Manchester police have sent down someone who knows Craig Bolt like the back of her hand. Some of you may recognize her and I hope this answers your questions PC Gayle." Jack looked to the door. "DC Spark?"
Everyone glanced up at the doorway as the Manchester DC walked in. Indeed, pretty much everyone knew her, but not as a policewoman at all. She grinned at them, crossing her arms over her chest and letting her mahogany red hair fall over her shoulders. "Good to be back on the right side of the law." Hayleigh Spark, or who they'd known as Hayleigh Bolt, just grinned at their faces. "Miss me?"
