"You're joking? You absolutely sure?" Joe lent over the desk, his fist's clenched.
"Yes sure, we've been all the way through it. Nothing connects Grant with the brothels financially; clean as a whistle". Stuart held the papers in his hand
Joe turned away and looked out the window.
"We can't let this bastard get away; Have they finished searching all the properties?"
"His place and three others have come back clean, still waiting back on the other two"
"Ok lets hope that we find something or all we'll have is the evidence of a bloody copper he was screwing"
Lorraine walked back into the office, and Stuart shuffled off out the door, head down to avoid Lorraine's look.
"Well, thanks for your support,Joe. This was your idea remember?" Lorraine stood there scowling at him.
"Well, you knew who he was and what he did, but didn't stop you screwing him did it"
"Yes, and you know what Vickers does but you don't do anything to stop that" She walked off to her desk and sat down. Cheryl tapped her arm reassuringly.
"Cheryl with me" Joe headed for the door followed by Cheryl
Lorraine sat there with her head in her hands, the room was silent apart from the thoughts rushing through her head. She desperately wanted to see Jason to say sorry, she knew he wasn't a good man - who was - but he certainly wasn't the bad man that they making him out to be.
Meanwhile, down in the parking bay, Cheryl was taking a drag from her cigarette and Joe was pacing up and down.
"You realise Grant is going to get away with this? Makes me sick, Cheryl. Do you think Lorraine knows any more than she is letting on?"
"No, I don't think so. I think the only reason he slipped up on the night he was arrested was because she told him she had chosen him over the job. Maybe if we hadn't raided him that night she would have found out more. She is confused, she thinks she's in love with him and he is with her, she's lost. It's what this shit we call a job does to you; it messes with your head. We aren't all as strong as you Joe"
"Maybe women aren't cut out for Vice then!" Joe snarled
"Don't be a sexist PIG! Maybe if we had support of our senior officers when the shit hits the fan we wouldn't need to turn to drugs or pimps!" Cheryl threw her cigarette on the floor, stamped on it and stormed off.
"Shit" Joe hit the wall with frustration and chased after her
"Cheryl, Cheryl wait"
"Joe, Jason's brief is getting restless" Stuart was stood at the door waiting for Joe to return.
"Chase up those two remaining properties, If they bring up nothing we will interview him with what we've got.
A couple more hours passed and the searches at the remaining properties didn't provide them with any further evidence. Joe was sat on Cheryl's desk in the office.
"Cheryl, I've sent Lorraine home, she is in no fit state to work. About earlier today I'm sorry with what I said, you know I don't think that, Its just so frustrating we have nothing on him, he's going to walk"
"I know Joe,but taking it out on me or anyone else isn't going to help the situation either. What's going to happen to Lorraine after all this? I mean, she isn't handling this at all well"
"Don't know Cheryl, I can't protect her anymore. I think the only option for her is to move divisions." He shook his head.
Vickers stormed into the office in his usual pompous style, coat flapping behind him.
"Joe, what's going on with Grant, have we got him by the balls?" He hung his coat in his office, Joe walked to his office door and lent against the door frame. I don't think you need these two words in here – they make the sentence a bit long, don't you think?
"No evidence anywhere apart from the tape Lorraine got"
"Bastard! Well we knew this could happen, when you going to interview him?"
"When Stuart gets back. I've sent Lorraine home she is in no state to be here"
"Not surprised Joe. She has lost her screw for tonight thanks to you." with that Vickers gave a smarmy wink
Joe pushed himself away from the door and gave him a dirty look. Stuart returned from lunch and they made their way to the interview room. Jason sat there in his black t shirt, his brief to the side. An attractive lady, Joe nodded to her as he entered the room. They sat down and Joe started the interview.
"Jason, do you own these following properties" Joe read a list of six addresses out.
"No comment" Jason stared straight ahead devoid of any emotion
"When you were arrested you were in one of these properties, can you tell us why you were there?"
"No comment" Jason lent back in his chair arms folded.
Joe looked at Stuart, realising this was going to be a no comment interview.
The interviewed continued like this for a couple of hours, by now Joe was getting frustrated.
"Come on Jason, you know we have evidence to put you away for a very long time"
"Inspector, If the only evidence you have is that of a tape which was obtained by one of your officers who had been having a relationship with my client, I suggest you charge him or let him go"
"Interview terminated at 3.45pm" Joe got up and kicked his chair away and left the interview room followed by Stuart.
"We are going to have to bail him, we have nothing besides Lorraine's tape and her word and neither of that will stand up in court, can you sort out his bail, I have something to do."
Lorraine had been lying down for the last few hours, she was haunted by that hurt face of Jason's as she arrested him. He really hadn't seen it coming, he trusted her and she ripped it away. Would their relationship have lasted, who knows. There was a part of her that loved him perverse or what. A knock at the door tore her away from these thoughts.
"Hello Joe, come in" she signalled to Joe to come in
"How you feeling?" Joe could see that she looked no more composed than she did earlier that day.
"Oh you know on top the world! I feel crap, I feel as I have mucked it all up" she sat down on the sofa and brushed her hair back.
"Well, it's going to get any better, Grant's been bailed. We've got nothing on him apart from the tape which we know any half decent barrister will discredit"
"Oh well that's bloody great so he is out there and I'm stuck here" she started to get anxious.
"I don't think he will bother you, if he did we would be able to get him and I think he is far too clever for that, but I do think perhaps you should take some time off, maybe visit some family. I think you need time to think and revaluate your position" Joe tried to look at her reassuringly but she knew what he meant.
"So you're saying that I need to find another position or force then, well that's just great! Just like Cheryl said, shit hits the fan and the superior officers run the other way"
"It's not like that Lorraine, but I think you need to think about it long and hard. Is the Vice really right for you."
"Joe, just leave please." Lorraine was holding back the tears, she had lost everything.
She looked out the window as Joe left, aware now that Jason could be seeking revenge.