What's Happening So Far: Ruby James, now Junior Detective Inspector, has appeared in a time and place completely unknown to her and is seeking sanctuary in the only place where she feels safe: Greater Manchester Police Station. Who will she meet? What will happen?
Read on!
? (Continued...)
Ruby stared up at the tall yellow-ish building. Ruby had come around the corner expecting to see the dark grey skyscraper she had known since she was a child, but now she was confronted with this! It looked really old and worn out, like it was a well-used coat. She looked around her at all the people dressed in similar attire to her. She raised an eyebrow at the sight of a group of teenagers walking past with the strangest mohawk-type haircuts. Ruby then watched a man run past, obviously late for something, in a tweed jacket and thick-rimmed glasses, a classic stereotype of a pencil pushing geek. Jesus, Ruby thought, it wasn't a case of where was it. It was a case of when!
Ruby cautiously entered the building, walking past many adults in those stupid Abbott and Costello Keystone Cops outfits. It was like a 1950s cop convention. Ruby was in awe at the tiny lobby area that she entered when an annoyed voice broke through her daze.
"Oi, Miss. You deaf or what?"
Ruby turned to the source of the voice. Behind the desk sat a middle-aged woman in another stupid Keystone Cop getup. Her hair was done up in a bun style that Ruby hadn't seen since the times of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. She eyed Ruby with a look of mixed interest and irritation.
"Excuse me, is this the Greater Manchester Police Station?" Ruby asked
"No, this is Manchester and Salford. What the hell is the Greater Manchester Police?"
Ruby shook her head, partially in disbelief, partially in an act, "I meant Manchester and Salford. Sorry. I've had a hell of a morning. Can you help me out?"
"No kids allowed in here, sorry" she said
Ruby put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows, "I ain't no kid. My name's JDI James. Ruby James"
The woman's eyes widened in disbelief, "You're the JDI?"
"Apparently" Ruby didn't let the fact she was still not used to that title cross her face and continued on, "Listen... you may have had a call-in from a PC Jefferson?"
The woman nodded, "Yes. He said he found the new JDI at a construction site. Said you had a case of amnesia"
Ruby nodded, quickly going along with it. She needed to find out what was going on and it was better they thought her with amnesia than being absolutely mad.
"Yes, I've still got a bit of it" Ruby replied, "You see... I have no idea where I'm supposed to go from here. Hell, I don't know who I'm supposed to be working for"
The woman looked concerned, "You sure you wouldn't rather go to a hospital?"
Ruby shook her head, "I'll be fine as soon as I get the information I need. I'm just freaking out a little"
The woman nodded again, "Understandable. I'm WPC Phyllis Dobbs"
Ruby held out her hand to her. The woman stared at her for a minute before quickly taking it. Ruby shook it vigorously and grinned, "Nice to meet you, Phyllis"
Phyllis raised an eyebrow, "You've got a strong handshake there. And an even more peculiar accent"
"I'm Australian" Ruby replied, "Well, technically, I'm British, but I was mainly educated in Australia"
Phyllis made an 'oh' of understanding, "Don't worry. You've got to be strong to handle the lads of this place"
Ruby nodded, "Tough ones?"
Phyllis laughed, "You have no idea"
Phyllis checked her records, going over them quickly. Ruby looked around the office area in front of her, seeing what information she could gather about WPC Phyllis Dobbs. An empty bottle of whisky caught her eye in the wastepaper basket. Liked a good drink now and then obviously. The paperwork was half neat in one pile, which was reasonably high. However, the untidy paperwork was ridiculously high. Tries to work hard, but it is difficult. Ruby looked around the office area and noted about two other girls in the uniforms. Definitely understaffed and predominantly female. Phyllis finally popped up and nodded.
"OK, JDI" Ruby looked at her expectantly, "You are in... A-Division CID?"
Phyllis snorted with laughter. Ruby raised an eyebrow at this. Phyllis quickly answered her unspoken question.
"Lemme put it this way, JDI James. If you can survive a week with these guys, I will personally congratulate you and take you for a bottle of whisky at the pub" Phyllis replied, "Second floor, dear. If you get lost, just ask someone"
Ruby smiled politely, "Thank you"
Ruby turned to go but turned back, "Hey, Phyllis"
Phyllis looked back at her. Ruby grinned, "Make it a couple of litres of soft drink and it's a deal"
Ruby then turned and hurried up the staircase. She knew where the CID A Division was- well, she hoped it was still there. Her guardian would take her there all the time when she was younger. Everyone in the station knew her, even some of the repeat minor offenders. The station was like her second home. And now...there were people everywhere, walking past as if she wasn't there. No one stopped and acknowledged her, to smile or offer her some food or something. Her home had changed dramatically. Ruby was surprised she was acting as calm as she was. Why was that? She should be panicking. She should be wondering what the hell was going on. Well, she was, but she was way too accepting of all of this. Was this time travel? No, time travel isn't real. But this is the past, according to that billboard at the construction site. Ruby pondered on these ideas. But one thing kept repeating in her head, one thing that refused to leave her head.
Where was Micah?
Ruby's heart twisted in worry as she thought about him. She could hear his shouts ringing in her ears as Dragon Man shot her. That shout had scared her. Micah never let people know his emotions. Only people that we really close to him could know when he was upset or worried, like Ruby, when they looked into his eyes. Brown doors that blocked out the world but always had a small peephole which only a few people were privileged to look through. But that shout- or scream -was full of emotion: fear, panic, rage and... grief. So much emotion in that one shout than he had shown in a lifetime in front of a stranger. That shout had chilled her to the bone. Ruby finally reached the right floor to the office and was taken back by the new colour scheme and the setting. The place was really seventi-fied. Ruby then realised she hadn't gotten the date from Phyllis. Oh well, she'll ask someone in here. Ruby took a deep breath, the type of breath she drew right before entering a major exam or going into the shooting range, and pushed open the doors to the office.
The mess that confronted her seemed strangely comforting. It reminded her of her room back home, wherever- or whenever -that was. Another thing which oddly seemed to comfort her- or at least she was highly aware of it -she was surrounded by all male police officers. Men in their plain clothing watched her warily as she strode into the room. She eyed them boldly as they murmured amongst themselves. Ruby finally stood in the middle of the room, her arms folded, looking around the room and taking in everything. It was clash of different browns and reds and greens around the room. The men all wore leather jackets and had big haircuts. A couple of them had the classic bushy porn star moustaches that she had seen in Anchorman. Now all she had to do was remember which era Anchorman was set in and she'd have a pretty good idea when she was.
All the men watched her like prey waiting for a reaction from the predator. Ruby waited paitently for one of them to have the guts to make a move. Finally, a young man stood up. No older than his mid 20s, he had flimsy dark brown hair and a nervous face. Ruby could tell that he certainly wasn't the leader. He shifted from one foot to another as he approached Ruby.
"Excuse me, miss. I don't think you're allowed up here" he said, trying to sound like a scary man of authority, but failing miserably.
Ruby smiled kindly at him, "No, I am allowed up here. Phyllis let me up. What's your name?"
He stared at her boldness and replied, mainly out of surprise, "DC Chris Skelton, miss"
Ruby smiled, "Well, DC Skelton, I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of each other. I'm-"
"Hey, Chris, the Guv isn't gonna appreciate you bringing ya broads to work"
Another man, much older, definitely mid 30s or so, appeared behind Chris. He had short, curled blonde hair with one of the classic porn star moustaches and beady brown eyes. He sneered as he looked at Ruby and raised an eyebrow at Chris. Ruby got the distinct impression that she was going to have trouble with this one.
"A bit young, isn't she?"
Chris blushed as he turned to the older man, "Ray, she isn't one of my broads or anything like that. She says she has permission to be here"
Ray turned to Ruby, "Dear, I think you're looking for the women's department. Nice to meet you, WPC..."
Ruby raised an eyebrow and pulled her new identification out of her pocket, "WPC? My name is Junior Detective Inspector Ruby James"
Ray gawked at her, "JDI? You're the new JDI?"
Ruby grinned at him politely, "You need proof? Right here"
Ray snatched the I.D out of Ruby's hands, studying it with a furrowed brow. Chris, equally surprised, watched Ray from over his shoulder.
"This has to be a fake! It can't be real!" Ray exclaimed, "You're a girl!"
"Yes, I'm well aware of that fact, you know" Ruby crossed her arms, "You are actually more surprised that I'm a girl than the fact I'm 16? Seriously?"
Ray ignored her question as he continued to analyse her I.D. Chris, meanwhile, sidestepped Ray and smiled at Ruby, extending his hand.
"You must forgive DS Carling. You must understand, this is a lot to take it"
Ruby accepted his hand, shaking it firmly, "Don't worry. I had a time coming to terms with it myself"
Ray finally was satisfied that the I.D was real and handed it back to Ruby, smirking, "Well, it's not us you should worry about. Wait until the Guv hears about this"
"Who's the Guv?" Ruby enquired
Ray grinned, "Your boss"
"Carling! Skelton!"
Ray and Chris turned and stood to attention at the barking of their names. Ruby peered around them to see who had them in such military-type stance. A man in his 40s- early or late, Ruby wasn't sure - strolled out of an office at the back of the room. He wore a beige camel coat with a white shirt and striped tie, grey suit and trousers with white slip on shoes. He had a slick haircut, a full light brown without a trace of grey in it. However, Ruby noticed his prominent forehead, so his hairline was probably starting to recede slowly. He walked towards the two men in front of her with such an air of authority that Ruby knew: this was the DCI. He stared down Ray and Chris without so much as raising an eyebrow. They stood completely still, a skill they probably learnt under him.
"What's all the silence about?" the DCI demanded
"Excuse us, Guv. We just were talking to the new JDI" Chris replied.
"The Junior Detective Inspector?" he boomed, "Ah, right. Where is the young lad?"
Ruby stepped out from behind Chris and Ray, arms folded, a single eyebrow raised, "She is right here"
The DCI took a step back in surprise and looked at Ruby up and down, "Who the bloody hell are you, then?"
"Junior Detective Inspector Ruby Amelia James" Ruby held out her I.D again. She could really get used to doing that.
He stared from her to the two nervous men, "Is this some kind of sick ruddy joke? She's a shelia, and a young one at that. She ain't got the experience for this"
Ruby felt her temper rising, "No experience. I got enough experience to kick your cheeky ass from her to Brighton if you don't bite that tongue of yours. I ain't no shelia. I've grown up with men twice as tough as any average British criminal and have seen things just as disturbing as any murder case you have had. So don't you dare treat me like I'm not here and don't treat me like a little kid, or you'll be treated twice as bad"
Ray and Chris flinched at every word she said. The DCI just observed her as she told him off. Ruby took a breathe and waited for him to turned red or start shouting. Way to go, James, she scolded herself, first day on the job and you're already telling off your boss. Swell move. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the DCI turned around and strolled back to his office. When he reached his office door, he turned around and beckoned at Ruby. Ruby turned to Ray and Chris, who shrugged at her. Cautiously, Ruby followed after him. What was he up to?
When Ruby finally reached him, the DCI simply said, "A word in your shell-like, pal"
Before Ruby could reply, the DCI gently pushed her through the doors, causing her to stumble through. She remained on her feet and twirled around angrily as the DCI shut the door behind him. He folded his arms and glared at her. On his face, he looked emotionless, but Ruby knew better from her years with Micah. Ruby looked at the DCI's eyes, which were blazing.
"They say you got amensia. I could care less if your brains were falling out your arse!" the DCI snapped, "Don't you ever waltz into my kingdom acting like a princess. I'm a solo act, sister"
Ruby folded her arms, "Princess? I ain't no princess, pal. I can fight, shoot and cuss just as good as any of your men out in that room"
The DCI unfolded his arms, "Well, you gotta prove that, don't cha? No kangaroo shit around here, pal. One wrong move and I'll throw you outta here so fast, your ears will be attached to ya ass cheeks! Is that understood?"
"Crystal clear, sir" Ruby nodded, "Now, since I've got amnesia, you mind telling me what the date is and who the hell you are?"
"The name's Gene Hunt. I'm your DCI and it's 1972. September, almost dinner time" Gene Hunt replied, "And I'm off to the pub!"
Ruby nodded calmly but inside, she was reeling. 1972? Of all the places, 1972. The 80s, hell yeah, she knew so much about those. But the 70s, early 70s, she knew as much as a monkey's uncle. What the hell was she supposed to do? Ruby knew now she wasn't hallucinating as she looked around Gene Hunt's junk-lined office. She couldn't imagine such detail, never, when she didn't know anything about this era. Then... what was this place?
"Oi, Red!"
Ruby was stared out of her inner thoughts by Hunt's snapping, "Hello, I got things to do. Quit standing there all astounding like a retarded goldfish"
Ruby glared at Hunt, "Well, what the hell is my job? I was just thrown into this, ya know. I don't know shit all about this!"
"Well, neither do we so I guess it's a learning experience for everyone" Hunt threw back, "Now, I know you're underage, but I'm sure Nelson can find some soda pop if you want to hurry to the pub. Or do you want to be a good little girl and hurry off home before the Big Bag Wolf comes out?"
Ruby grinned, "A bit late to hide from the Big Bad Wolf, so I guess the pub sounds inviting. I could use a good drink"
Hunt smirked, "First sensible thing I've heard you say since you walked in"
Yay, so we've met Gene, Ray and Chris. One more chapter and we can fast forward to 1973, where the action begins.
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