Disclaimer I still dont own Ashes to Ashes or Life on Mars
Everything is Significant
Alex sat at her desk, files were open everywhere and the computer screen held a number of open window. She buried her head in paperwork and tried not to think how she would rather be out with the others chasing down what few leads they had. She was growing inpatient with the team's lack of progress, she knew Gene was too.
"C'mon Alex" She muttered to herself as she tapped away at the keyboards, pulling up yet another report. "Everything is significant" She sighed as she looked around the empty Squad Room. She really hated being treated differently but she knew why Gene insisted she stayed in the office. The baby was due in six weeks; she was hardly in a fit state to be running after suspects and driving round at top speed. She missed it though; she never really thought she'd miss it as much as she did. She looked around the office hoping that wherever they were and whatever they were up to they'd all be back soon.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sharon sat in the car next to Ray. He was as annoyed as ever, angry that there seemed to be a leek. Information had somehow got to the gang they were after and the drug dealers seemed to be one step ahead. He cursed as listened to Sam and Chris talking on the police radio. Both men as frustrated as he was.
"What really gets me Shaz" He sighed as the young police officer glanced at him. "What really gets me is why anyone would want to put this rubbish in their bodies It just rots you from the inside"
"I know" Sharon sighed "People do strange things to themselves. I don't understand how anyone could do half the things we arrest them for. In my Gran's day they'd have had a slap and been sent to prison for years. Not now" She sighed.
"It's no different though is it? All that flower power and stuff in those days. People still as stupid now. Bloody kids I feel sorry for, they think taking this rubbish makes them something special." He shook his head as Sharon sighed. The sooner they caught the dealers the better it would be for everyone.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alex reread the reports on the raid which had gone dramatically wrong. She was annoyed for the team; they had been so sure they would pick up the Delaney brothers. Now it seemed like they not only had a prolific drug dealer on their patch but someone on their side was feeding them information. She didn't like it. Reading the words Chris had typed up the day before she swore under her breath. It didn't make sense, she knew Chris had been blackmailed into selling out Gene before, but she prayed he hadn't done the same again. The report was full of holes that just didn't make sense. She pulled up another report on the computer screen; a DS at another police station had filed a report on the arrest of the junior Delaney brother a few years earlier when he was arrested for possession with intent to supply.
"No, oh please no" She tapped her pen on the table in frustration before picking up her mobile to ring Gene.
"C'mon c'mon answer" She continued to tap the pen against the desk as she waited for Gene to answer before throwing the pen in temper when she heard his mobile go to answer phone.
"This is Gene Hunt. Leave a message" There was a beep as Alex debated leaving him a message she decided he had to see what she had found.
"Gene, it's me. What is the point of having a mobile phone if you don't have it turned on? I've found something. Ring me as soon as" She put the phone on the desk before trying to ring Annie and then Sam. She continually got the same answer phone message.
"Where are you?" Alex muttered as she looked at the clock. It was still early, only just turning 12 o clock. She desperately wanted to speak to Gene or at least one of the team. The fact that all the phones she tried kept going to answer phone was starting to worry her. Sighing she pushed herself out of the chair and headed towards the front office.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gene was not a happy man. He didn't like leaving Alex in the office on her own, he always had a sneaking suspicion that she would decide she was more use in the field and slope off on her own. He also missed having her by his side when they went after suspects. She kept him level headed in a way Sam or Ray never could.
"What are we missing Sammy boy?" Gene muttered as Sam looked around the warehouse.
"This is definitely where we were told they would be." Sam didn't like it. He thought they were being played for fools. He rubbed his eyes as he grew accustomed to the dark. The miserable and damp warehouse didn't seem the logical place to house a cannabis factory but Sam supposed it seemed as good as place as any to act as a distribution centre. He sighed as Gene walked away slightly as he spoke in to his radio.
"Annie any news?" His voice was clipped as he walked further and further in to the shadows. Sam had gone quiet in the opposite corner of the warehouse. Gene tapped the radio as Annie failed to reply.
"DS Tyler answer me" He spoke again "Ray? Chris? Grainger? Any of you hearing this?" Gene suddenly realised there may be a problem with the signal as he turned and walked back in to the middle of the warehouse, although with Annie's gift of walking off and finding trouble he didn't doubt for a second there may be more to radio silence than a flat battery or poor signal. He was beginning to get worried. He didn't like not being able to locate any of his team. For the first time since he had insisted Alex stayed on desk duty he was pleased she wasn't around.
"Er, Guv?" Sam startled him from his thoughts as he spoke quietly.
"What is it Tyler?" Gene tried not to think of his wife or where the rest of his team may have been hiding.
"I think we have a problem" Sam raised his hands in the air as the younger Delaney brother emerged from the shadows holding a shot gun.
"Yeah, looks like" Gene muttered. He shot Sam a filthy look as he walked towards the gun man.
"Arthur Anthony Delaney. Put the bleedin gun down and stop acting like a prat" Gene raised his voice as Sam winced.
"I see the hostage negotiation course they sent you on was worth the money" Sam muttered as he received another dirty look from Gene.
"Tyler, shut it" He turned his attention back to Delaney.
"Drop your weapons" Delaney started as he waved the gun at them.
"Oh shut up" Gene sighed "You been watching too many cowboy, Yankee films. We work for the Met you prat, UK police generally don't carry guns" Gene rolled his eyes, the youth of today never ceasing to amaze him.
"Yeah you do, I seen armed police in the airport" Delaney waved the gun directly at Gene.
"You been in an airport? Blimey they really don't care who they gave passports to do they?" Gene addressed Sam who shrugged.
"Where's the drugs then Arthur? You know why we are here" Gene narrowed his eyes.
"Dunno what you on about."
"What have Jimmy got you involved in now? He's the brains behind all this isn't he?" Gene glanced at Sam as he spoke.
"Jimmy not done anything. You coppers always think he dun somfing!" Arthur shouted as he pointed the gun at Sam.
"Easy" Sam spoke as he lowered his hand. "Where is he? Where is Jimmy? We only want to talk to him" Sam tried to sound reasonable. He heard Gene swear as the gun went off.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alex walked down to the front desk. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Of all the team it was usually easiest to contact Annie, but even she hadn't been answering the phone. Alex smiled slightly as she reached the desk to see Viv answering the phone.
"Sorry Viv" She smiled as he replaced the receiver "Have you heard from Gene or the others? They should have been back by now" Alex tried to look innocent and unconcerned as Viv shook his head.
"No, not yet" He smiled slightly. He was still getting used to being back. He never thought he would return to Fenchurch East.
"Oh, ok. If you see Gene, tell him I had to go out" She walked towards the door as she spoke, hoping that her hunch was right.
author's note - more soon x
