Chapter One

Inspector Smith woke with a start as his alarm began sounding round his room, he sat up reaching over to the small device and switched it off, rubing his eyes, he climbed from the bed. His room was dark, he could just make out the outline of the door,
as he made his way towards it. At five thirty on a cold december morning he would much rather still be in bed but he was due in work at seven, he made his way to the bathroom, he pushed his hand through his short brown hair, eventually resting it on his chin where his day old stubble prickled at his fingers. He rubed his eyes trying to wake himslf a bit before switching the shower on. Downstairs he made his way to the kitchen, switching the kettle on and popping two slices of bread into the toaster. Once at work he made his way to his office, plonking down in his seat he glanced up to the knock that sounded the room, he hadnt even been in ten minutes and he was in demand all ready. "Jo... what can I do for you?" he smiled. Jo moved into the office pushing the door closed behind her, she glanced over his handsome features, realising how tierd he looked, something obviously kept him awake at night. "DI Manson wants to see you asap Smithy" she smiled. Smithy in return nodded as he stood from his seat, "Ok... thanks Jo".

He climbed the stairs to CID, he wanted a nice relaxing day but obviously Neil had other plans for him. He pushed the door open and glanced around the room. Terry and Banksy were sitting at there desks, their heads deep in paperwork. Grace smiled as she passed making her way from the room, he made a mental note at how empty CID was but then again it was half seven on a saturday morning, it was nothing unusal for the team to be late. Standing outside Neils door he was surprised to hear the amount of voices from within. He knocked gently before being called into the room. He glanced at the occupants of the room, Neil was sat in his chair, with a large bulky folder in his hands. Jack sat oppisite, smiling sincerley at him. Mickey and Stevie lent against the far wall, Mickey was glancing to the ground, while Stevie flashed him a huge grin, he and Stevie were close they had a lot of unsolved chemistry. As he closed the door he noticed her face turn to worry. Jack stood from his chair and gestured to it. "Sit down Inspector Smith". Smithy glanced around the four people before resting into the chair. Neil produced a photo from his file passing it too Smithy. "This is Rob Stanford..." he began. Smithy glanced at the photo, the man before him had a mess of dark brown hair, much like Smithys after a hard day. His face was smiling slightly, Smithy couldnt help but think how cockey he looked. "What has he done?" he smiled glancing back up to Neil. "He is running a drug ring in Longmarsh prison... three inmates have died because he is supplying dodgey drugs, one was only eighteen... he was due out next month". Smithy nodded "Ok... so where do uniform come into it?" Smithy asked, he couldnt quite work out why he had been called up so urgently. Neil sighed "They dont..." Jack moved foward and Neil took this as his indication to back away. "Smithy... Im going to cut to the chase... this man needs to be stopped" he paused while Smithy glanced to the photo once again. "We want to send someone undercover in the prison to befriend him so we can get enough intell to bring him down" he continued. Smithy nodded, glancing up between the four people whos eyes were fixated on him. His eyes widened as they caught Jacks "What me?". Jack nodded "Smithy you have been there.. you know what prison is like..." Smithy nodded "Yeah its hell". Jack smiled "we know you can handle it... you would be given a new identidy and will be on a different wing to last time.. there is no one that will reconise you as a police officer". Smithy glanced between the three men before his eyes rested on Stevie, the worry that etched accross her face made him smile slightly as he returned his gaze to Jack. "When would I be going in?" he asked. Jack smiled glancing between Mickey and Stevie "Monday morning... we need an answer by tomorrow". Smithy let out a sigh "And if I say no?". Jack shook his head "There is no one else we feel comfatable sending in there". Smithy nodded knowing he didnt have much of a choice if they wanted to convict this man. "You wouldnt be alone Smithy.. DS Moss and DC Webb will both be going undercover as prison officers." Smithy smiled at his two colleagues "One of them will always be there for whatever you need... the other officers wont know that you are police, but the governor has aggred to the operation and will be aware of your real identidy". Smithy nodded. Neil moved foward passing him a smaller file from his desk "Read this Smithy and let us know your desicion tomorrow morning". Smithy nodded raising from the seat, Jack held out his hand shaking Smithys "We want you to know there is no pressure... if you want to decline then that is your choice.. you need to give this a lot of thought Smithy this is your life you will be giving up... its prison". Smithy nodded, he knew what he was letting himself in for, he knew what prison was like, he couldnt make this desicion in the ten minutes he had been in the room, he needed to think about the effect it was going to have on him, "Yes Sir" he smiled as he made his way to the door.

Smithy glanced through the file, keeping his eyes trained on three words, the key to his new identidy, the person he would become Jimmy Smith: Murder. He was going to be posing as a criminal, but not just any criminal a murderer. It all seemed like a nightmare, his stint in Longmarsh was something he was pleased to put behind him, he had no intentions of ever reliving it, but this was to prevent crime, to do his job. "Gov..." he glanced up from the file to her words, he couldnt help the smile that graced his face at the sight of her "Can I come in?" she asked. "Of corse Moss..." he smiled at the frown on her face, that in itself proved she cared for him "Im guessing its buisness rather than pleasure?" he asked running his hand through his hair. She nodded "Well we do have to work sometimes Smithy" her voice was laced with sarcasim and she let out a grin. He pointed to the chair on the oppisite side of the desk "Sit down Stevie...". She moved over releaxing into the chair "So what is it I can do for you?" he smiled as he closed the open file on his desk. She gestured to it "Have you made a desision?" she asked. Smithy smiled "I dont know what to do..." she lent foward "Dont let them guilt trip you Smithy.." he shook his head "I want to do it.. too bring this piece of scum down... but the last time I was locked up.." he paused wondering if the stations biggest gossip was the best person to be telling his innermost feelings. Stevie lent accross the desk placing her hand to his "Talk to me" she smiled. Smithy nodded "It nearly killed me Stevie... its the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life and now Im being asked to relive it.." he glanced back down to the closed file "I dont know how I would cope". Stevie smiled "You are forgetting one thing Smithy.." he glanced up, her features gave away nothing as she let out a chuckle "I'll be there with you this time". He laughed the idea of Stevie in the uniform almost made the whole idea worthwhile. Stevie stood from the seat "I will leave you to it Gov... it has to be your desision.. dont let them force you". Smithy watched as she left the room, he knew she was right, he had to make his mind up on this one alone.

Standing outside Jacks door he let out a sigh before knocking gently. "Come in..." He pushed the door open, the file clutched between his hands as he moved to the centre of the room. "Inspector Smith... I wasnt expecting you untill tomorrow". Smithy nodded "Yes Gov.. but I have made my desision". Smithy glanced at the file before returning his eyes to his boss "I'll do it"
Jack stood from the seat "Are you sure Smithy.. this wont be easy, you know what your letting yourself in for, can you handle it". Smithy smiled "Yes Sir I am sure.. I have thought about it today and I want to do this, Stanford needs to be stopped and anything I can do to help". Jack nodded "We can pull you out at anytime Smithy.. you just have to say the words" Smithy shook his head "No.. Im gunna see this through". Jack nodded "I'll brief Mickey and Stevie tomorrow.. any problems report to them" he held out his hand for Smithy to shake before moving to a large filling cabinet and producing a large bottle of whiskey and two glasses "Drink?" he smiled gesturing to the large chair for Smithy to sit down. Smithy nodded "Yeah it will be the last for a while" before taking the glass from his boss. Jack moved back behind his desk and rested down into the seat "I'll get the ball rolling... go home and get ready and I'll see you tomorrow at eight for the briefing". Smithy drank the remainder of his drink before rising from the chair and placing the glass to the desk "Sir" he nodded to Jack before exiting the room, he had one more day of freedom and then he would be returning to possibly the worst place on earth, he was begining to wonder if he could truely handle what he had let himself in for.

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