Chapter Six – Home Again, Home Again

I'm surprised it got so far
Things aren't the way they were before

Returning to Sun Hill was like going home. The relief welcomed her with open arms, literally in Smithy's case; he greeted her with a hug and a murmured "Knew you couldn't stay away". Nikki also hugged her, which surprised Diane and sent a thrill through her body at the contact before the other sergeant drew back, looking awkward.

Sun Hill quickly reminded her why it had it reputation as one of the busiest nicks in London. On her second shift, Weston had paired her with Nikki; Diane suspected it was to test her claim that they could work together despite her problems with Doug. The assertion wasn't really challenged, though the conversation was stilted and forced and the general atmosphere uncomfortable. Nikki kept stealing glances at her colleague when she though she wasn't looking, and occasionally drawing a breath as if to say something, though she never followed through.

Mid-morning, they were called to an attempted mugging on the Bronte. Tony greeted them at the scene. "Sarge. Right, we've got one James Moran, reckons a kid accosted him as he got out of his car, demanding money. He was waving a water pistol around, claiming it was a gun. When Mr Moran realised he wasn't about to get shot, he fought back and the kid ran off. Leon's getting a description now."

"Thanks Tony, could you get—" Nikki was cut off mid-sentence by a man, presumably Mr Moran, shouting and pointing at a boy of about fifteen who was trying and failing to look inconspicuous as he snuck through the crowd that had gathered.

"That's him! That's the kid!"

The boy in question took off. Diane swore and ran after him with Nikki close behind her. The sergeants chased him to an underground car park where they caught up to him as he was trying to force open a locked door . He turned, and Diane recognised him with a start. "Benny Baker?"

He looked at her, a flash of recognition flooding his eyes. "Oh my god; PC Noble, are you following me or summat?"

"It's Sergeant Noble now. And I could ask you the same thing; what're you doing in London?"

"Mum moved here, didn't she. Said we needed a fresh start." he answer, while Nikki looked curiously between the two of them.

"Someone gunna fill me in?"

"Benny here was my favourite reprobate in Hertfordshire." Diane explained. "Graced us with his presence at least once a fortnight, didn't you Benny? Give it up, mate. You won't make it." The sergeant added, noting how he was judging with his eyes if he could make a run for it. Benny looked from one officer to the other, before his shoulders sagged and he held his arms out in front of him.

"Hey, since I gave myself up, that'll look good for the judge, right?" He questioned as Nikki was cuffing him. The blond sergeant gave him an incredulous look.

"Since you made us chase you for a mile and a half first, no, I don't think so." Nikki answered him as Diane hid a grin.

***

As they were leading him back to the scene, Benny, who until then had been trading bantering comments with Diane, fell silent and froze, then wrenched himself out of Nikki's grip and dived behind a parked car. He made no attempt to escape, just lay there peering past the wheels with an expression of utter terror on his face.

"What the hell are you doing?" Diane questioned, moving so she could haul him to his feet. The teenager looked up at her, his face filled with fear.

"Noble, I kinda like you, and I don't want you to die, so get down here now and shut up, hear me?"

"What?"

"Trust me." Something about his tone and the look in his eye made Diane do as he said, kneeling down beside him. After a moment's hesitation, Nikki copied her action.

"Right, why are we playing hide and seek?" Diane whispered, rolling Benny onto his front to stop him leaping up.

He was too scared to even complain. "Okay, did you see those two guys in the far corner? The smaller one calls himself Nox. He's bad news; I've been in town two days and I already know to stay away. He's into seriously heavy stuff, even the gangs don't mess with him. He killed a guy for giving him the wrong change once."

"How serious?"

"Guns. You want a piece, he can get it for you. And if you need rid of one, he takes care of it, for a price. The bigger guy is his muscle. If he sees you two, he'll kill all three of us."

Nikki and Diane traded a glance and Diane reached for her radio. "Sierra Oscar from 48." The only response was static. After a few seconds, she repeated the call, and again there was no response. She swore softly. "Of course it's a dead spot…"

"No, it's Nox, he's got this thing." Benny told them both. "It messes with phones and stuff. His still works, but no one else's does. It's really weird."

"What do we do?" The sergeants shared another glance. Nikki shook her head. "No way."

"What?"

"You're about to suggest you go and take a closer look. I'm saying no way."

"I'll be fine, it won't take long." There was a strange feeling in her stomach at Nikki reading her so easily, but Diane ignored it with the ease born of much practise.

"Remember the last time you said that? You're only just off light duties from the last bullet you took!" The sergeants glared at each other. Nikki's eyes held a storm of emotions, which made it difficult for Diane to decipher any one feeling in them.

"Oh man, you got shot? That is so cool."

"Shut up, Benny." both sergeants muttered at the same time, neither taking their eyes away from their wordless debate.

Eventually Nikki realised she probably wasn't going to win the silent battle of wills and relented. "Fine. But I'm coming with you."

"You can't. One of us has to stay with him." Diane nodded toward the teenager lying between them, who looked a combination of impressed and terrified. "I'll be five minutes; keep trying the radio." Nikki started to protest, but the other sergeant was gone.

Diane snuck from car to car, keeping her head down, until she got close enough to the pair to hear what was said. It was obvious they were waiting for somebody.

"He is late. He should have been here ten minutes ago." Nox's voice was cultured, but with an accent that Diane couldn't place.

"He'll be here, boss. You know what Jackson's like. Maybe he had some trouble convincing our 'friend'." Nox's bodyguard had Manchester accent.

"His job is not to convince, it is simply to bring the man to me. I will be the one to convince him."

"Yes boss." Diane ducked as an SUV rolled past where she was hiding and stopped beside the arms dealer and his bodyguard. A third man climbed out of the driver's seat and addressed Nox.

"Boss, I'm sorry I'm late, I—" Nox held up a hand, forestalling his explanation.

"Never mind that, Jackson. Did our 'friend' agree to meet me?"

"Yes boss." Jackson replied with a slight grin, going to the passenger side door and opening it. "Out, now. The boss wants to talk to you." Whomever it was refused to move. Jackson's frown grew, and out of his waistband he pulled a pistol, which he pointed into the car. "I said out! The boss doesn't like to be kept waiting!"

A forth man climbed shakily out of the car, his gaze shifting rapidly between the gun in Jackson's hand and Nox himself. "I told the first goon you sent, I'm not working for you, Nox! I don't do that kind of work anymore."

"You don't speak unless spoken to!" Jackson raised the gun, as if to pistol whip the unfortunate man, but Nox held up a hand.

"Jackson, enough. Put that away, there is no need for that unpleasantness. Mr Sams is going to be very co-operative."

"Like hell I am, Nox." The absence of the gun seemed to have strengthened Leo's spine somewhat. "I told your last guy, I haven't done that sort of work in years. I've lost all my contacts."

"Contacts may be remade."

"No Nox, I've got a family to think about now. What'll happen to them if I end up inside?"

"I am well aware of your family situation. I can assure you, they will be looked after if you are incarcerated as a result of our business."

"No Nox, I told you. I'm not coming to work for you."

"That is a shame. I was hoping we could come to some sort of arrangement without all this unpleasantness. But if you insist on being stubborn…" The arms dealer nodded to the bodyguard at his shoulder, who pulled out a mobile phone and spoke into it softly. Then he held it up and flicked on the speakerphone.

A woman's terrified voice shattered the relative quiet at the same time as a hand clamped over Diane's mouth.

AN: Dun dun duunnnn. C'mon people, it's Australia Day. Be nice to me and review.