REKINDLED LOVE

Gina and Smithy made their way outside to the back yard. As they walked through the back door and down the ramp to the area car, Gina came face to face with Adam.

"Smithy, if you could wait for me in the car I'll meet you in a minute or two." She said trying to get rid of him quickly.

Adam slowly approached Gina and smiled at her.

"I was beginning to think you were avoiding me. Did you get any of my messages?"

"Yes. Sorry. I've…err…been busy…work…you know how it is." Gina replied awkwardly.

After a few seconds of very awkward silence, Gina finally smiled and said,

"Look Adam about last night…"

But before she could finish, Adam raised his hand and cut her off.

"Clearly you need to go deal with something. Can we meet later?"

"How about round at mine? I'll be home around half six."

"Yours will be fine. You'd better go."

Gina walked down towards the area car where Smithy was sat waiting. Just before she got in the passenger side, she turned towards Adam and smiled a very warm smile which he reciprocated.

As they pulled into the car park of the Cock and Crown Leela ran towards the car.

"Ma'am, he got away again. The landlord has a severe head wound where Peters' hit him with a bottle. He was not in a good state. I've asked Honey and Dan to check on Andrea at St Hughs."

"Ok Leela it looks like you've covered all the bases." Gina replied, sounding rather harassed.

"I'm sorry Ma'am. We tried to stop him but… we think he may have been armed."

"Armed!! With?" Gina was now panicked. She knew Andrew would have no problem in using a gun on someone; after all he had done so already. Gina needed to take control of the situation before it escalated.

"Dan thinks it was a handgun. He kept it under his jacket most of the time. Dan also said it didn't look modern."

"Have SO19 been called yet?" Gina asked urgently.

"They've been informed and put on standby, Ma'am."

"Sergeant Smith, could you speak to the landlord, find out what happened, what was said etc, and get back to me ASAP." Gina gave her orders and the place was bustling with action; cordons were being set up and statements being taken.

Dan came running along the car park towards Gina.

"Ma'am, he ran of on foot towards Stratford way. And…" Dan reached into his pouch on his belt and pulled out a plastic bag containing… "The gun. He must have dropped it while he was running away." Dan looked rather pleased with himself.

"Pc Casper you are a genius. Right we need to get it sent to ballistics right now for testing."

"Of course Ma'am, consider it already done." He walked off back to his car and drove off to the station.

"I don't think there's any more we can do here Smithy. The ambulance has come for the landlord and all the statements are being processed."

"I hear Dan found his gun." Smithy stated.

"Yeah he did. Round the corner from here. Anyway, it will be interesting to find out what the ballistics report makes of it." Gina said with a slight mysterious tone to her voice. She clearly knew something Smithy didn't.

"Come on then. What is it about this that you're not telling me?" Smithy was dying to find out.

"Well, Dan said that the gun wasn't modern. He reckons it's from the late 70's early 80's. I agree with him. The thing is, it's not a common type of gun so…"

"So it may turn up some interesting facts of a more criminal nature."

"Exactly. I'm hoping it will be linked to another case. We could get him banged up longer than just a couple of years."

"Great. Shall we head back to the station for final refs then?"

Gina looked at her watch. It was already five to six. It just gave her enough time to go back to the nic, get changed, get home and stick the kettle on for when Adam comes round.

"No thanks Smithy. I've got to meet Adam at about half past, so I'd better not. I'll be nice to you and let you buy me a coffee tomorrow though." She said smiling a very mischievous grin.

"That's very kind of you Ma'am." Smithy replied turning towards the car.