Disclaimer: This story is for fan purposes only. The characters and original storyline are property of their respective owners (not me!) and are used here without permission. Some of the dialogue was excerpted from the episode, but I have taken many liberties.
It's now or never, Robbie Lewis told himself despite his misgivings as he entered Thamesmarsh secure mental institution. He knew that he shouldn't be there, but Graham Lawrie's appeal was going to be heard later that day. If Lawrie's conviction for the murders of PCs Neal Chadwick, Jimmy Alderman, and Martin Wong were to be overturned, this would be Lewis' last chance to interview the man he knew to be a cold-blooded killer. So into the lion's den he went.
Soon, it was clear that Lewis never should have come, however. For Lawrie the encounter was merely a chance to manipulate Lewis' emotions. "I lost my marriage because of you, Robbie," claimed a maudlin Lawrie, but his face then contorted into a lascivious grin. "Still, I have hope. If I'm as lucky as you, I'll get to start over again with someone as lovely as Laura. I'm looking forward to meeting her."
Before Lewis could react, the door swung open and there stood DI Hathaway. He said nothing, but the expression on his face was clear: Lewis was to leave immediately. "Home time!" exclaimed Lawrie with glee.
Hathaway was in the process of reading Lewis the riot act when DS Maddox intervened. "Sir, we've got to go." Hathaway decided that he was not up to attending the police benevolent association's wake for PC Mark Travis. But he insisted that Maddox take Lewis.
Lewis felt utterly defeated. Innocent, who had championed him ever since his return to work, had side-lined him from the investigation because he did not have an open mind. Dr. Hobson had told him in no uncertain terms that he was not to be a troll in her mortuary. And now, he had been humiliated by Hathaway in front of Lawrie. Lewis, with weak resignation, tossed the keys to Maddox and rubbed his temples.
Wakes for police officers are always heart-wrenching affairs. Lewis was grateful to Maddox for sharing a drink with him as they waited for their respective partners, Laura and Tony, to arrive. Lewis caught sight of the journalist Hugo Blayne hovering near the hors d'oeuvres, scribbling into a notebook. Lewis decided to get rid of Blayne before he could upset PC Travis' family. After a few choice words from Lewis, Blayne started towards the way out. He shot a parting glance at Lewis' beverage and noted, "orange juice, DI Lewis? I find that interesting." Lewis raised an eyebrow in response, but Blayne turned his back to leave.
Tony Maddox entered as Blayne left. He greeted his wife with a tender but respectful-of-work kiss, and Robbie couldn't help but smile at the idea that his Laura had never quite mastered that skill. Lewis reckoned that the age difference between Lizzie and Tony was about the same that was between himself and Hobson; Lewis liked having common ground to stand on. He shook Tony's hand firmly.
Sergeant Maddox's mobile hummed to indicate a text message. She read it with a curious expression on her face. "Well, that makes no bloody sense," she said, and then showed the message to Tony. He read aloud:
Nothing serious, but Tony's hit his head. Can you come give him some TLC and a lift home?
"Someone's taking the piss, Lizzie. But I don't recognise the number if that's supposed to be from one of my mates." Tony said. "It's just a skeleton crew down at the pumping station today, anyway," he continued. "The union is agitating for a cost of living adjustment, so they thought it best to show Oxford what happens when a pumping station goes unmanned."*
"Sergeant Maddox, someone is luring you into a trap." Lewis said. "Don't go anywhere."
Jean Innocent had just finished her appeal for gifts to the family of PC Travis, so Lewis discretely took her by the elbow. "Ma'am. Something you should see." He led Innocent to where the sergeant and Tony were huddled together. "Show her, Maddox."
Innocent snatched the phone, read the message, and then looked up for a moment. Her eyes then returned to the phone and she tapped out a response.
"What are you doing, ma'am?" Sergeant Maddox asked.
"I've just said that you're on your way. Don't worry, I'm sending in an armoured response team with you." Innocent took out her own mobile and started making some calls.
"You can't send her off to meet whatever psycho is lurking in the dark." Tony protested.
"Mr. Maddox, you are going to have to trust me. You may ride along in my car." Innocent answered though her words did little to assuage his concern.
Dr. Hobson arrived at the gathering as Innocent hustled off to enact her plan. As Hobson began making excuses for being late, Lewis grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her into the cloakroom.
"I don't want you responding to any call-outs alone, Laura." Lewis said forcefully.
"First of all, Robbie, I got that memo. No one is to attend any crime scene alone. Understood. Second of all, I don't like you grabbing me and telling me what to do." she exclaimed vehemently.
"No call outs. Do I make myself clear?" He reiterated with as much authority as a hapless father whose teenage daughter was about to sneak out the window.
Innocent popped her head into the cloakroom. "Lewis. It's time."
"Wait, what is going on here?" Hobson asked.
Once Lewis had explained Maddox's mysterious text and Innocent's plan, Hobson understood the gravity of the situation. "I will never forgive myself if I just let Innocent send Maddox to… to…" Lewis was unable to finish his thought.
Hobson took his hand. "Let's go, Robbie." She said, and together they drove off to the pumping station with Lewis exceeding all the speed limits.
*I have no idea if pump-station employees are unionized, but this was the best plausible explanation I could come up with as to why the pump station was abandoned despite earlier references to Tony working extra shifts...