The Lion prowls in the morning light.
Ashes To Ashes
Gene outside the Alla Casa. Prequel to Gene Hunt's Nightmare
Mild language, short story.
Gene Hunt is borrowed as is the reference to the Manc Lion.
In the early morning light a lion prowls. He paces up and down the smart paving stones outside a smart restaurant as morning breaks over the cool London Docklands.
The lion is tall, large and deceptively fast when he wants to be, his swept back golden mane shines in the dying street lights.
He prowls with a belly full of rage. Rage at the Cale's and their crimes, rage for the child who grew up too fast on that very long night, rage at himself for allowing doubts to creep in. He roars for the doors to be opened, for the Cales to let him in.
Then he sees it, he stops dead, his heart in his mouth. With nerves of steel he draws his gun, he has a look of cool, grey steel, with only a glimmer of the fear.
The still, quiet of the morning is rudely shattered as a bullet hit's a plate glass window and the lion tells everyone that he will kill if anyone gets in his way.
He walks through breaking glass and the only pain he feels is the thumping of his heart as he enters the rooms.
In a flash he bears down on Joan Cale, she is very easy pry and the smell of Chaz' piss fills the room, he cuffs her to the oven door. He feels no pity for them now.
His face close to hers, he says in a quiet voice "What the bloody 'ell have you done with my DI?