Ain't I good? Another chapter today? Just cause it's Christmas ye know! J xx
Chapter 4 - Corrupt?
The sound of the laughter from the men in CID was unbearable to Alex, who was sat in her office with the door closed. She sat looking at the black jacket which still hung on the peg, it hadn't been touched, and Alex secretly hoped that the owner would return for it as she was curious about who it belonged to, the smell on it had long vanished but Alex still wished it was still there, as somehow it relaxed her that day when she had first found it.
She was startled by the phone coming to life on her desk, groaning as she lifted the receiver to her ear, hoping and praying it wasn't another report of a rape, the rapist himself was cunning, and knew how to hide his tracks.
"Yes, Drake," she said down the phone, listening carefully, and letting out a long sigh at the news. Returning the receiver to its place on top of the phone she exited the office, no one paying attention to her appearance, and still joking amongst themselves as she began to speak.
"Last night a seventeen year old - "
No-one appeared to be listening to a word she was saying.
"WILL YOU SHUT UP AND LISTEN!" Alex shouted, grabbing the attention of the men in the room who turned to face her, her face red with anger.
"Last night a seventeen year old girl was brutally assaulted and raped," Alex explained,
"Description?" Ethan asked,
"One guess," Alex replied, "I don't want any more women or girls being attacked by this man, you all got that?"
"Yes Ma'am," CID chorused,
"We need to find him, sooner rather than later preferably, how would you lot feel if it was your mother or sister who had been raped?" Alex asked hoping to blackmail them in to getting some work done,
"I'd kill the bastard!" Piorot replied,
"Right, then bloody find him!" Alex said as calmly as possible,
The men of CID bustled away, some grabbing jackets and heading out of CID to speak to anyone who had been in the area of the rape from the night before, some escaped to the evidence room to review previous evidence and Alex returned to her office, the phone on her desk going wild, ringing loudly.
"Hello," Alex called down the receiver.
"You look sad Alex, sorry DCI Drake," the voice on the other side of the receiver growled, "What would a little extra money do to lift your spirits?"
"Who is this?" Alex asked, all she could hear was heavy breathing.
"Who is this?" Alex asked again, but the line had suddenly gone dead.
"You coming Ma'am?" Ethan asked from the door,
"Yes," Alex replied, pulling on her jacket and closing her office door behind her with a loud bang.
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That night Alex returned to her empty flat, clutching a bottle of red wine, which she planned to devour then fall asleep, however when she opened her front door, she found a hand written envelope with no stamp on it lying behind her door.
Sitting down on her sofa, she carefully opened the envelope and unfolded the letter which lay inside.
Alex read the letter, carefully considering every word on the piece of paper, giving a sly smile before placing the letter on the table.
After pouring a large glass of wine, Alex sat back to consider what the contents of the letter meant, eventually coming to a conclusion and thinking to her self,
"Why not?" May help me get out of this hellish little flat, why not? Everyone does it!"
Alex placed her empty glass on the table, picking up the phone with trembling hands and dialled the number that was at the bottom of the letter.
The phone rang three times before it was answered by a familiar voice.
"Hello," the voice said,
"I'm in," Alex replied, tones of uncertainty entering her voice, which didn't go unnoticed,
"It'll be fine Alex, no one will know its you, and any way I knew you couldn't resist me!" The last few words sent a shiver down Alex's spine
The voice on the other end of the phone began to speak again, in a low growl,
"Now here's what I need you to do…"
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Alex was at the station before the rest of CID the next morning, for the first time in ages she felt happier than she had done in quite a while, especially after the conversation she had the previous night, knowing that she would soon be able to buy some new things for her flat, ok if she was caught she knew she would have to do some serious psychological bullshitting to get out of it, but she liked the idea of a risk.
Flicking though a folder of evidence from the current rape case, she found the page she was looking for and quickly removed it from the file, placing it inside a book in her desk.
"There!" she thought, "That ought to keep him happy for a while!"
Her eyes gazed at the black jacket and an instant twang of guilt hit her, but before she had time to return the sheet, CID filled up as her team arrived for the start of the day.
"Morning ma'am!" someone called,
"Morning!" Alex called through the open door.
"Good morning DCI Drake," the same voice, who had spoken to her over the phone the night before said, sounding closer than her colleagues.
Alex lifted her head, and smiled at the man who stood, framing the doorway to her office.
He was tall with dark hair and dark eyes, Alex had looked up just in time to see him offer her a flash smile,
"You probably don't remember me Alex," he began,
"Of course I remember you," Alex smiled, "How could I forget a man like you?"
"Oh easily, especially in your job," he replied closing the door behind him and pulling down the blind to stop the prying eyes from CID.
"Have you done what I asked?"
"Yes," Alex replied nervously, not knowing how he would react, "The sheet has been removed,"
"And destroyed?" he asked,
Alex nodded nervously, fingering the drawer handle discreetly,
"Good," he replied, "Here," he thrust an envelope towards Alex, which contained fifty founds.
Alex was silent as she stared at the envelope in her hands,
"This is private of course?" he asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Of course," Alex smiled.
A few minutes later the tall man left CID, being watched by the rest of Alex's colleagues as she stood at her office door.
"What's he wanting?" Piorot asked from his desk.
"For those of you who don't know that was DCI Jim Keats, formally of D&C, now of Fenchurch West, he's going to get his team working in correlation with us on this rape case, since you lot are bloody rubbish!"
"But ma'am - " Piorot began,
"No if no buts!" Alex shouted, "I trust him and want you lot to do the same!"
"But - "
"What did I just say?" Alex asked, "Now get on with some bloody police work! OK?"
Alex entered her office, slamming the door behind her causing the blinds to jump, whilst thinking to herself,
"Am I really doing the right thing?"
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