A/N: So, I've resurfaced after god knows how long. I've been absolutely obsessed with Whitechapel recently and had this idea milling around in my head for ages. I adore the little crush that Emerson Kent seems to have on Joseph but he's had such bad luck with the ladies that I just had to give him one that he's already happy with. That's not to say that issues won't arise of course ;)
I know that at the beginning of the first episode Joseph goes to one of those Men Only things that are always in these kind of shows, but I tweaked it just a little bit.
Also, I welcome any criticisms, and especially tell me how to improve on any representation for things I include in the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Whitechapel or any characters that are recognisable, only Wilhelmina Carter.
Chapter 1
The evening was in full swing when they arrived. A tall, blond man and a petite redhead clinging to his arm, both with wide smiles on their faces. Dressed to the nines, they made their way to where a group of older gentlemen were waiting.
"Here's Jo. And you must be Wilhelmina. Joseph's told me a lot about you, so I feel as though I know you already", remarked a man with a smile.
The redhead's smile dimmed slightly. "Please, call me Mina. I can't stand my full name. Honestly, I don't know what state my mother was in when she picked it." Her hand moved to offer a handshake, "And I've heard an awful lot about you as well, Commander Anderson. It's an honour to finally be meeting you. Those of us lower down the chain of command tend not to."
Anderson responded with a smirk.
"Commander, how are you?" Asked Joseph, extending a hand in greeting.
"Very well."
Joseph lent down to murmur in his partner's ear, "Mina?"
"I feel like he'd be more comfortable with that instead of Will." She shrugged.
Across town, sirens blare in the heart of Whitechapel. PCSOs and firemen working in tandem to calm both the mob that had built up in the area and the fire that ravaged a nearby building.
"And that's why men like Jo are the future of British policing"
"Well no pressure there then!"
Laughter rang out.
Glass shattered as members of the public threw bottles overhead of the officers. The fire hoses gushed water. The voices of the mob almost a mess different insults and shouting.
"What you gonna do about it? What ya gonna do?"
Another siren rang out.
"Okay, back." Came the calm voice of a PCSO. A man rushed forward, "Do not come any…Closer!" He's pushed back by 4 officers. There is clear annoyance on the PCSO's face. Clearly not how she wanted to spend her morning.
"Listen, you've been told once! I do not want to tell you again." Her voice is raised in an effort to make the civilians understand.
"We need bold initiatives in partnership with the communities to ensure good practice within a solid management framework." Explained Jo, "Ultimately, this is about the effect delivery of sanctions to the stakeholders."
Anderson looked over with mild confusion, "The stakeholders?"
"Five years ago, we simply called them criminals", Will smiled around her wine glass, to the amusement of the others in her company.
"Do excuse me", murmured Joseph, standing and placed a kiss to Will's cheek before hurrying off in the direction of the toilets, leaving Will sat amongst the others.
She began to wonder about her part in this. These kinds of parties never were her thing, but as Jo's partner she tagged along if it meant it would help him. Commander Anderson was Joseph's Godfather, and thus he was fast tracked through the chain of command. His hope was to one day make Chief of Police, like his father was before his death. Will, herself was just a Detective Constable at the Whitechapel police station. She often found it strange how she and Jo worked. They both had very similar career goals, but were moving towards them at very different speeds. What would her team think? She knew their opinions on 'Plastic Policemen'. What would they say if they found out she was dating one?
The flames had finally been stopped and the crowd dispersed. A chance for everyone to still have a good night's sleep.
"Night, see ya tomorrow."
"Night, Mary."
She left in the opposite direction to her colleagues, turning down a nearby alleyway, not noticing the figure of a man, just a little further down. A figure that began to follow her.
Passing under the Overground tracks near the old board school, a faint choking caused Mary to stop in her tracks. Peering through the gates, a woman is seen lying on the ground. The choking becomes louder.
Slowly approaching the woman, it became clear she was severely wounded. A pool of blood at Mary's feet.
"Oh, my god," She uttered, kneeling down beside the woman. "I've got you, love." Mary quickly grasped the woman's hand, "You're gonna be alright."
Whether Mary truly believed that was a mystery. The woman had a deep slash across her throat, making it difficult for her to breathe. And having lost a lot of blood already, the chances looked slim.
Mary grasped her radio, "PCSO Bousfield to Control. Receiving, over."
The "Mum" ring on the woman's hand glinted in the lamplight. The gurgle of her throat was getting less frequent.
"Receiving you, Mary. Go ahead." Came a woman's voice on the radio.
"Immediate assistance and an ambulance required at the old board school off Commercial Street." She cut the radio off. The woman continued to choke. "There you go, love."
A sudden bang had Mary looking up. The door of the building had swung open and shut in one go. She turned her head to the gate where she had entered. There stood a man. In dark clothing, grasping a long, thin knife.
"Christ have mercy" She uttered. Sirens blared and the man turned and left.
A mobile rang. Will fished it from her bag before quickly excusing herself. "DC Will Carter."
"Will? We've got a situation. Need you down here as soon as possible." The Sarge. Of course something would come up tonight. Not that Will particularly minded. "Board school off Commercial Street. How quick do you think you can get here?"
She glanced at the clock on wall, "At most half an hour. I am a party of sorts right now, so don't make fun of me when I get there, ya hear?" She joked.
"Ooooh, a party!" Sang Miles. "Well you've got another one waiting down here. Probably way more interesting anyway."
Will hummed in agreement, before hanging up. The quick beep of her phone indicated the address had been texted. Turning back, she could see Jo was still missing, meaning she would be able to say goodbye properly. He'd understand. He knew the kind of job she had.
Her heels clattered against the floor as she approached the Commander. Leaning down, she murmured, "There's been an incident and I'm needed. Could you tell Jo I said goodbye for me?"
With a mutter of agreement and nod to the others sat there, Will left.
'The life of a police officer.' She thought to herself. 'I could probably be getting married and have to leave my own wedding early.' Not that she hated her job. Loved it, in fact. People didn't choose to die by a mugging gone wrong or gang warfare. She was just glad she could help bring their killers to justice.
Police tape was cordoning off the area when two officers stepped out of a car. A third was standing by, several cups in his grasp.
"Fitz, coffee, no sugar." He handed one cup over. "Two tea bags, Skip," Another to a gruff looking man.
"Thanks."
"Usual, McCormack." The last offered to a larger man.
"Can't people die at a decent time of day?" McCormack asked, accepting the cup.
A fifth, younger man arrived on a bike, "Got your own crappuccino there, Kent?" The question was ignored as Kent took off his helmet and took a swig from his coffee. The clicking of heels on the cobbles caused them all to turn.
Will could see them all about to react to the fact she was in a fancy gown and tall heels and held up her hand, "Ah! Not a word! Yes, I'm in a dress. Yes, I'm more awake than the lot of you." She smirked, "And yes, I can't help it if I have a better social life that the rest of you."
They all smiled, before Skip, otherwise known as DS Ray Miles, muttered, "Right, what we got?" And led the way through the gate.
"Let's get suited and booted boys." Fitz shot a look at Will, "And lady." She rolled her eyes and followed.
Anderson strutted into the toilets, causing Joseph to look up.
"Mina had to rush off. Got a call from her Sergeant. Asked me to say good bye for her." Joseph smiled in thanks.
"There were impressed with you in there." He called, walking over to a urinal. "Good money's on you making commander in 3 years."
"That's very generous." Uttered Joseph.
"It's all part of the plan, Jo." He tilted his head slightly as he spoke.
Joseph turned his face, "Yes, sir." He smiled slightly and moved towards the sinks.
"No need to be so formal." Anderson smirked, "This is what your father wanted. He'd be proud."
The sound of the taps filled the room as Joseph ran his hand under the water, before lathering them with soap. Anderson soon joined him, and began speaking again as Jo remained bent over the sink.
His face was grimmer now, "We have a dead woman in Whitechapel. Probable domestic. No DI. Bit of a rough squad. It's the one that Mina works on I believe. Don't worry, you won't be breaking any rules."
"I'll take it!" He responded eagerly, a grin forming on his face.
"Ready to head up your first murder?" Anderson was clearly pleased to see his enthusiasm.
"Absolutely." He'd have his first go a proper police work and get to work with his girlfriend. In fact, having her there would probably help. She'd mentioned before what her team was like. Good men, but a bit old school at times. She'd probably help keep them in line.
"Good lad," Anderson turned off the tap he was using. "And once you've ticked that box, we can move you on. Get you out of the trenches and up to headquarters where you belong."
Joseph was almost giddy, "I don't know what to say." His grin obvious now.
"How about 'Thank you'," He tapped Joseph's shoulder as he passed him.
Joseph grabbed a towel. "Thank you, sir!" He stood for a moment drying his hands, as Anderson walked out, before throwing down on the counter. "Excellent."
Will was standing with Fitz, helping to canvas the area when Miles, walked over and clapped a hand on the man's shoulder. Indistinct chatter could be heard over the radio.
"Commander Anderson is sending us a new DI." He muttered. Fitz snorted
"Oh…Good, cause we don't know what we're doing." The remark make Will smirk.
Miles' tone became less pleasant, "Another fast tracker," he sneered. The comment made Will jolt slightly.
'Fast tracker? Could it..? No, Anderson wouldn't send Jo to work on my team, surely.'
Fitz and Miles didn't see her jump, "Oh, if I'd have known, I'd have made vol-au-vents." This prompted Will to hit him lightly in the stomach. He just grinned at her.
"I'll go tell the others." And with that Miles was off.
A few moments later, Will was standing with Miles at the gate, a black car pulled up. It was a car Will knew well.
'Oh shit,' she thought, 'The bastard actually did it.'
Fitz wandered over, clipboard still in hand, to see who the new DI was.
Sure enough, the door opened and out came her boyfriend, still dressed in the suit and bowtie from the party. He must have come straight from there. Miles and Fitz didn't look impressed and Will attempted to school her expression to look similar. She hoped she didn't look like a deer in the headlights.
"Now that's a good look." Fitz murmured to Will. She hummed in agreement, a tiny smile gracing her lips.
Joseph walked straight to Miles and held out a hand to shake "DI Chandler." He looked every bit the boss. No boyish smiles from earlier in the night anywhere to be seen.
"DS Miles," replied Miles. Cameras flashed around them, the work of the SOCOs taking pictures of the scene. "We'll get you suited up. This way." He pointed to the right of Will.
Joseph head turned to acknowledge the two other officers there. Meeting Will's eyes, he gave a small smile, one she instinctively returned, before walking passed them. Fitz whistled and motioned with his hand to Miles, causing Will to hit him again.
'This is gonna be the longest case of my fucking life.'