Spence and the team were perched around the examination table debating whether to go back upstairs or not. That was the advantage of being down in the lab – you could hear what was happening upstairs but remain out of harms way. They'd all heard the raised voices from both their boss and the profiler but after a particularly spectacular shriek all had been deathly quiet.
'Maybe Grace has battered Boyd to death with one of her own textbooks', ventured Stella, hoping to raise a smile.
'Yeah or forced every volume on Anger Management ever written down his throat', joined in Eve.
Stella smiled at the pathologist, grateful for her support but Spence sighed angrily and glared at them.
'Guys this is serious. It's not like Grace to scream back like that even if Boyd does it to her all the time. She's a psychologist, she understands things.'
'But she's still human Spence. I would have cracked long ago if I were her.'
Spence fell back to staring moodily at the table. It was going to be a long day.
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Grace sat in the car with the engine running. She had her eyes squeezed firmly shut and her hands had the steering wheel in a veritable death grip. She shouldn't have screamed at Boyd like that but he was just so…childish. They all got stressed, they all had dark patches in their personal lives, they all dealt with it. But not Boyd. He was just so…..
'Aaaaaarrrgghh'.
Grace smacked her palms on the steering wheel and turned off the ignition.
'Right Dr Foley, you are every bit as good as Boyd, as clever as Boyd, as experienced as Boyd and a damn slight more in control. You can go back in there and solve whatever case has got his knickers in a twist.'
Grace smiled to herself at that particular mental image but her face soon fell when she thought of the scene that lay ahead.
Sighing heavily, she climbed out of the car, shouldered her bag and walked back towards the main doors of their building.
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Boyd sat slumped in his chair, staring at the desk and envelope in front of him. If anyone had walked in his stare would probably have seared straight through them. There were so many emotions and scenarios pulsing in his mind that they'd all mixed into one big black cloud, then the red mist had descended and he'd just lost it…
He couldn't even focus long enough to make use of the Scotch in his bottom drawer. Growling to himself, Boyd continued to stare down the envelope.
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Stella peeked out of the lab doors, checking the coast was clear before darting to the bullpen doors. Sliding along with her back against the wall, she willed herself to look through the glass. Turning her head slowly, she opened her eyes only to be face-to-face with DSI Boyd.
'Aaaaargh', she screamed, jumping back in genuine fright before she could stop herself
'Morning to you too Stella', said Boyd, the hurt clear in his eyes. 'Now when you've regained control of your vocal chords, you can round up the rest of the team. Meeting in ten.'
Before Stella could answer, Spence and Eve crashed through the lab doors and into the corridor, panic on their faces.
'If he's laid a single finger on her I'll…' began Spencer.
'You'll meet me in the bullpen in ten', cut in Boyd coldly. He turned on his heel and slammed the door to his office once more.
'Shit', all three of the team said it in unison. Boyd hadn't reacted and they couldn't smell any alcohol. The day was only getting worse.
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Detective Superintendent Boyd,
As you are aware the Metropolitan Police are continually seeking ways to cut our expenditure, reduce waste of valuable resources and maximise our overall efficiency. We are also seeking to recruit the very best of today's graduates to become our high ranking officers and Commissioners of the future.
The Cold Case Unit is relatively new. It has achieved an unprecedented clear-up rate and wrapped up many high profile cases – this is most commendable. It has also been in the public eye on numerous occasions for all the wrong reasons; deaths of officers, wrongful arrests and illegal conduct.
The Cold Case Unit has been compromised in this way one too many times.
As of today, the Cold Case Unit has been assigned the 'No.5 Case'. If the unit has not met its objective within the next four weeks then it will be closed down with immediate effect. Staff will not be reassigned. The unit has been jeopardised by malpractice and unacceptable behaviour and is, as a whole, guilty of unlawful misconduct.
Yours sincerely,
Commissioner Christie
The bullpen was silent. No-one wanted to look up from their copy of the letter. The clock was ticking.
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