One Small Step, One Giant Leap
By: Ladydeakin
DISCLAIMER: 'The Bill' characters depicted in this story are copyrighted to Thames Television/Pearson Corp. All other characters depicted in this story are copyrighted to the relevant author or creator.
Chapter 1
The night was dark, like thick blue ink. It was not a new moon, however, the moon was shrouded in cloud. No stars were visible. The pavement below his tyres swallowed up DS John Boulton's headlights. As he made his way through the nearly empty London streets, he realised how eerily quiet the sidewalks were. It was if the night sky and the Thames swallowed up everyone on Earth but him.
'Could I only be so lucky,' he thought to himself. Shards of thought interrupted his consciousness - DI Meadows asking him to head the investigation. The yellow, faux-natural lighting of the trendy café bar. He had no idea what to expect; the usual drivel on TV should give an idea, however stereotypes portrayed on the US sitcoms he watched during his many sleepless nights were hardly considered to be doing homework for the real thing - what he faced today. She unsettled him by one glance. That accent. That stare.
'I should be used to this by now', he thought. 'How many years have I been a copper? Damn it.'
John pulled into his parking space behind his block of flats. He slowly made his way up the steps, loosening his tie. He was sweating, despite the crisp touch of fall in the air.
'For God's sake, it's not as if she's the prettiest girl I've ever seen,' John berated himself. 'Get yourself together. Concentrate.' In John Boulton's world there was no room for weakness, especially the kind of weakness he was experiencing at the moment.
Opening up the door to his flat, his eyes quickly darted around the room, force of habit after one too many death threats. Hanging up his jacket on the peg, he walked to the kitchen and poured himself a double scotch. As the fiery liquid made it's way down his throat to his stomach, he allowed himself to relive the events of the day.
* * *
It started out normal enough - he was at Sun Hill by 8:00, had his coffee by 8:05 and was at his desk reviewing his case files when Kerry Holmes walked in.
"Morning, Sarge, Meadows is looking for you."
"Thanks, Kerry," he said.
'Jack Meadows,' he thought, 'one person I don't need to see. I've got a few leads to see in this robbery-assault case that need 'persuading' to cooperate,' he smiled to himself. As he knocked on Meadows' door, he hoped that, whatever it was, it wouldn't take long.
"Come in," Meadows said, "Ah, John, close the door. I've got an important case that you need to give urgent attention to."
"But Guv," John said, "I've already got plenty of work to do on this robbery. Duncan's meeting me at 10:00 and we're going to see if we can get Alex King to talk to us."
"No John, this gets your highest priority. I've assigned Don Beech to take over with Duncan."
John could feel the resentment crawling up his spine and settling in his jaw. His back stiffened as he eyed Meadows angrily.
"And just what is so important that you have to pull me off of my case in order to give it my full attention," John asked, the anger in his voice undisguised.
"It's an interesting errand, more than it is a case. My friend at the Yard, Chief Inspector Ritter contacted Mr. Brownlow and myself recently. They are working in conjunction with the FBI to infiltrate an international drug cartel. They have reason to believe the kingpin is here, in Sun Hill. You will be investigating him, and his local connections to see where the drugs go after they arrive in London. You will be working on this case with Special Agent June Gowan, of the FBI, on this case."
"But Guv!" John exclaimed, "Can't I take Kerry or Rod instead of some know- it-all Yank who has no idea how the Met works? I mean, I don't want to get caught in the line of fire when she mistakenly shoots down the suspect!"
Meadows was beginning to get irate. "John, Special Agent Gowan has been working at Scotland Yard for two years. Her speciality is liasing with Met officers to help gather evidence in international cases. I trust you'll find her knowledgeable about UK policing procedures and most definitely not armed."
"So, how do I go about starting work on this case?" John asked, defeated.
"Donavici's café, 1:30. She'll be waiting for you and will brief you. John, I cannot emphasise enough the need for discretion. Do not discuss this case with anyone apart from the officers involved in it. This case will eventually involve undercover work, and it's important not to prematurely blow the covers of the people involved. Any questions?"
"Just one, Guv. Will I be involved in the undercover work?"
"More than probably." Meadows said.
DISCLAIMER: 'The Bill' characters depicted in this story are copyrighted to Thames Television/Pearson Corp. All other characters depicted in this story are copyrighted to the relevant author or creator.
Chapter 1
The night was dark, like thick blue ink. It was not a new moon, however, the moon was shrouded in cloud. No stars were visible. The pavement below his tyres swallowed up DS John Boulton's headlights. As he made his way through the nearly empty London streets, he realised how eerily quiet the sidewalks were. It was if the night sky and the Thames swallowed up everyone on Earth but him.
'Could I only be so lucky,' he thought to himself. Shards of thought interrupted his consciousness - DI Meadows asking him to head the investigation. The yellow, faux-natural lighting of the trendy café bar. He had no idea what to expect; the usual drivel on TV should give an idea, however stereotypes portrayed on the US sitcoms he watched during his many sleepless nights were hardly considered to be doing homework for the real thing - what he faced today. She unsettled him by one glance. That accent. That stare.
'I should be used to this by now', he thought. 'How many years have I been a copper? Damn it.'
John pulled into his parking space behind his block of flats. He slowly made his way up the steps, loosening his tie. He was sweating, despite the crisp touch of fall in the air.
'For God's sake, it's not as if she's the prettiest girl I've ever seen,' John berated himself. 'Get yourself together. Concentrate.' In John Boulton's world there was no room for weakness, especially the kind of weakness he was experiencing at the moment.
Opening up the door to his flat, his eyes quickly darted around the room, force of habit after one too many death threats. Hanging up his jacket on the peg, he walked to the kitchen and poured himself a double scotch. As the fiery liquid made it's way down his throat to his stomach, he allowed himself to relive the events of the day.
* * *
It started out normal enough - he was at Sun Hill by 8:00, had his coffee by 8:05 and was at his desk reviewing his case files when Kerry Holmes walked in.
"Morning, Sarge, Meadows is looking for you."
"Thanks, Kerry," he said.
'Jack Meadows,' he thought, 'one person I don't need to see. I've got a few leads to see in this robbery-assault case that need 'persuading' to cooperate,' he smiled to himself. As he knocked on Meadows' door, he hoped that, whatever it was, it wouldn't take long.
"Come in," Meadows said, "Ah, John, close the door. I've got an important case that you need to give urgent attention to."
"But Guv," John said, "I've already got plenty of work to do on this robbery. Duncan's meeting me at 10:00 and we're going to see if we can get Alex King to talk to us."
"No John, this gets your highest priority. I've assigned Don Beech to take over with Duncan."
John could feel the resentment crawling up his spine and settling in his jaw. His back stiffened as he eyed Meadows angrily.
"And just what is so important that you have to pull me off of my case in order to give it my full attention," John asked, the anger in his voice undisguised.
"It's an interesting errand, more than it is a case. My friend at the Yard, Chief Inspector Ritter contacted Mr. Brownlow and myself recently. They are working in conjunction with the FBI to infiltrate an international drug cartel. They have reason to believe the kingpin is here, in Sun Hill. You will be investigating him, and his local connections to see where the drugs go after they arrive in London. You will be working on this case with Special Agent June Gowan, of the FBI, on this case."
"But Guv!" John exclaimed, "Can't I take Kerry or Rod instead of some know- it-all Yank who has no idea how the Met works? I mean, I don't want to get caught in the line of fire when she mistakenly shoots down the suspect!"
Meadows was beginning to get irate. "John, Special Agent Gowan has been working at Scotland Yard for two years. Her speciality is liasing with Met officers to help gather evidence in international cases. I trust you'll find her knowledgeable about UK policing procedures and most definitely not armed."
"So, how do I go about starting work on this case?" John asked, defeated.
"Donavici's café, 1:30. She'll be waiting for you and will brief you. John, I cannot emphasise enough the need for discretion. Do not discuss this case with anyone apart from the officers involved in it. This case will eventually involve undercover work, and it's important not to prematurely blow the covers of the people involved. Any questions?"
"Just one, Guv. Will I be involved in the undercover work?"
"More than probably." Meadows said.