"Sandra, welcome back" Jack said with his arms out stretched to greet the woman who was the closest thing to being his daughter. She went to join her team. She hugged Jack and flashed a smile at Brian then she turned to Gerry.
"Gerry" she said in a nonchalant tone of voice. She handed him her suitcase, in her opinion carrying her bag was the least he could do.
"What have I done to deserve this, you've been gone a week surely I can't have wound you up already" he said unsure of his boss's attitude.
"Believe me Gerry you never fail to wind me up" she said in an annoyed tone of voice rather than the jokey tone she usually would have said this remark in.
Knowing it would be best to do what he was told Gerry took the case and put it into Jack's car that was waiting outside the airport. As he did that Jack and Brain got into the car. Just as Sandra opened the front passenger car door she felt a tug at her elbow assuming it was Gerry she told him to
"Piss off"
"That's no way to talk to a gentleman"
Sandra sharply tuned around to discover Rich had tailed her.
"Rich I thought I told you to leave me alone" she sneered.
Brian and Jack turned to face the window to see Sandra struggling.
"Is everything okay Guv" Gerry asked slamming down the hatchback boot walking over to the pavement where Sandra was confronting Rich.
"Well, well if it isn't Gerry Standing, coming to save the day" Rich spat.
"Sorry mate do I know you, Guv is this geezer bothering you" Gerry asked slightly confused.
"Gerry leave it, he's no one" Sandra said predicting what would happen if Rich jogged his memory.
"No one am I you weren't saying that the other night"
"The other night, Guv what planet is this guy on"
"Gerry just stay out of it" Sandra snapped holding up the palm of her hand to his face to indicate he should stop right there.
"I think you should just go" she told Rich
"I suggest you do what the lady says" Gerry intervened.
"Gerry just get in the car" Sandra was close to boiling point and Gerry could see this so he did what his Guv'nor ordered him to do.
"Goodbye Rich" she said resisting the urge to spit in his face and getting into the car.
"Care to explain" Jack ventured.
"Maybe after a large drink" she sighed.
None of the team said anymore and went straight the pub.
Two hours later and Sandra still refused to say anything about the outburst at the airport and anything about her holiday other than it was nice.
"I think it's my round" Brian called.
"Yeah, I think I will give you a hand" Gerry said desperate to get away from the awkward tension at their table.
"Yes, sir what can I get you" the red haired bar maid asked Brian.
"Two pints of larger, a large dry white wine and a sparkling water please love"
Gerry watched the bar maid disappear around the corner before confiding in Brian.
"I don't know if it's just me but is madam giving me the cold shoulder" Gerry asked.
"I picked up on that actually" Brian admitted.
"I mean normally when she goes off on one I know what I've done but this time I have no bleeding clue whatsoever"
"Maybe she's had the holiday from hell and she's just looking for someone to take it out on" Brian tried to reason.
"Nah, I think it's got something to do with that bloke who was at the airport, he looked a dodgy sort and what's more there's something going on with him"
"Well it's obvious he and the Guv and a bit of a fling or something and she ended it and hes not happy about it"
"Nah there's more to it than that he knows me, he knew my name" Gerry sounded confused.
"Well what else is Sandra going to talk about other than her work" Brian reasoned.
Brian did have a point but Gerry knew there was more to it than that. "Nah something's gone on and I want to know what that something is." He said just as the lady behind the bar cashed up the cost of the drinks and gave the two men their beverages.
"Hurry up Brian I am in dire need of that drink" Sandra shouted without even looking at Gerry.
I really hope this is still going okay, as I am not to sure about this chapter, please feel free to tell me what you thought about it as I love to hear from you and really appreciate your feed back on how I can improve these little stories! Thanks love Gee xx
