Disclaimer nope, still not mine
Tea time
Brian sat at his desk in the UCOS office, glad of the piece and quiet. The rest of the team were out, leaving him to read the new toxicology reports in peace. It seemed that Rhys Evans had died due to a cardiac arrest. "Don't we all?" Muttered Brian as he turned the page. The rest of the report went in to more detail as to what the causes of the cardiac arrest had been and what changes the human body had to go through to cause a cardiac arrest in a man that outwardly looked as fit and healthy as Rhys Evans. Brian was absorbed in his reading as Gerry made his way in to the office.
"'ello Brian" He shrugged off his coat as Brian merely grunted.
"Charmin!" Gerry huffed to himself as he set about making a much needed coffee. Gerry didn't like this case. He didn't like what it was doing to the team. The more he heard about the only real suspect, the less he liked him and the more he wanted him to be guilty. He knew that was a bad state of mind to be in. If he allowed his judgement to be clouded then there was a very real chance justice would never be done. He waved his mug in front of Brian and finally got a response.
"Oh yes please, no sugar" Brian continued to read the report in front of him.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sandra was not happy. The case was getting away from them. There were very few leads and she hated to think she was going to have to go back to Ellen and the children with the news her father's death would be forever unsolved. It was one of the reasons she had taken to working in UCOS. She loved the fact that they gave people answers, caught the criminals. Time was no object; some of the cases they had solved had been over fifty years old. Why was this one proving so difficult? She stared out of her car window at the small terraced house that was home to Robert Richards.
"Where are you?" She muttered as she saw the elderly neighbour open the door. She smiled; it was time to meet the neighbours.
"Hello" Sandra walked up to the elderly woman.
"Morning" The pensioner smiled.
"Hi, my name is Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman. I'm looking for Robert Richards. Have you seen him? Only it really is very important that I talk to him" Sandra waited as the older woman seemed lost in thought.
"Bobby? Is he in any trouble?" She looked genuinely worried.
"Oh, I'm just looking to find people for a reunion. I used to work at the same station as him. I've been trying to track him down for weeks" She didn't like lying to the old woman but she couldn't shake the feeling that the future of UCOS relied on solving the case.
"Ouch I see" The old woman smiled. "He won't be back for a couple of hours. He always goes to the hospital on Mondays. Would you like to come in and wait? I could put the kettle on?" Sandra hesitated as she saw Jack walk towards them wondering what was taking so long. The elderly woman sighed as she realised Sandra wasn't alone.
"Oh, this is Jack Halford. We work together, he's helping me with the reunion" Sandra glanced at Jack silently wishing he wouldn't contradict her. Jack held out his hand for the older woman to shake.
"Nice to meet you, please call me Jack. And you would be?" He could charm the birds off the trees when he wanted to Sandra thought to herself.
"Moira Sutton. Look, Bobby wont be long. He's always home by about half ten. Come in, I have some cake in here somewhere" She smiled at Jack, obviously delighted to have visitors. Jack nodded.
"Thank you Moira, I'm parched" He followed her in to the small terraced house as Sandra was left with nothing to do but roll her eyes and follow them indoors.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gerry sat opposite Brian in the office, feet propped on the desk as he read through the reports. Brian had read the reports twice and still couldn't understand how the original pathology reports had found the police man had died of natural causes. The only explanation to be seen now was poisoning.
"What I don't get Brian" Gerry started as Brian looked up. "Is why the post mortem at the time didn't find this? How could they have missed this?"
"Well Atropine is a chemical usually found in the body. Doctors give it during cardiac arrest to try to resuscitate the patient. The vast amounts may have been attributed to the pathologist assuming the doctors had given the drug in the resus room" He closed his eyes as he thought.
"But then Rhys' body was found in the police station. He was already dead by the time Jack and the others came on duty. I do not like this Gerry" He stood and retrieved his cycle helmet as he spoke. Gerry was on his feet in seconds.
"I reckon we need to talk to the pathologist" He retrieved his jacket.
"Yes" Gerry picked up the report again, checking the name on the bottom of the report "I agree, we need to talk to Home Office Pathologist Clare Potter" He followed Gerry out of the office as the pair decided to talk to the woman who had given the wrong answers thirty years previously. He shook his head, hoping they finally had a lead. He hoped wherever Jack and Sandra were they were having the same luck.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sandra sat on the old fashioned sofa in Moira's living room with a cup of tea on her lap. She was keen to get to Robert Richards. She checked the clock as Jack made small talk with the old lady. He seemed genuinely interested in the woman. Sandra smiled in all the right places but she really wanted to speak to Richards. She was snapped back to reality at the sound of a car pulling up in the street outside.
"Jack" She stood and walked to the window. He placed his cup on the table and walked towards her.
"Ah, seems our Robert Richards is finally putting in an appearance. Thank you for the tea Moira. We really must go" Jack followed Sandra out of the front door as they both made their goodbyes. Sandra smiled slightly, she sighed. Things were about to get interesting.
author's note. Is anyone still reading this? If so please review. More soon x
