Authors Note: Hey – I'm again with another Chapter! We're almost halfway through the story so from now on, everything is significant :P (couldn't resist)

Disclaimer: Don't own anything that resembles Ashes – Kudos owns all that...but if they want to give the rights away then I'm not complaining!


Plymouth Calling

Part Two- Artemis, Allegiance And Approaching Alex

Chapter Four- The Special Branch Traitors


July 4th 1982,
Alex Drake's Flat, London

"Shit."

"Yeah, that's what I thought too."

"Somebody managed t' break int' me house, possibly somebody at the station an' edit the Artemis file."

"Yeah...So?" A confused look crossed Alex's face.

"Why? Why, Alex? The Government want that file back. If they knew where it was, they'd take it back an' string me up by the bollocks. Only the Government could know tha' information or take those photos. They wouldn't edit the file for our benefit."

Alex watched the fire rage behind his sea-blue eyes. There was no doubt about it: Gene Hunt was furious – and worried. Of course, he right – Alex knew that. But her mind was still piecing together broken parts of the whole picture.

"Gene..." she called softy, "Somebody did edit the file for our benefit." His eyes locked with hers, "so I think the question is: why did they edit the file for benefit? What could we possibly do with that information?"

"Yer, right Bolls."

Running a hand through her hair, Alex flumped onto her satin bed sheets. She was tired, worried and completely confused. But some points were still crystal clear.

Skye Kenning was involved with SuperGreen.

Somebody was spying on her and Gene – maybe for the Government.

They'd been suspended – why? Had they gotten too close to something big?

Somehow the Masons were involved.

Alex could feel her eyelids begin to droop with the lack of sleep she'd been getting. Not that it was her fault mind – she was laying the blame on Gene and his need for sex. With her.

The bed dipped slightly under her and Alex knew that he'd come to bed. Sleep was starting to invade her body. Tonight's worries were now tomorrow's problems.


July 5th 1982,
Alex Drake's Flat, London

Her hand moved up his chest and snaked around his neck. Moving closer, Alex could feel the heart radiating from his body. She leant towards his eye and whispered softly, "No way. It's too dangerous."

"Bolls." Gene muttered through his teeth, "Using yer womanly powers will not get me t' change my mind. I recognised one of 'em codes. It's Special Branch. The bastards 'r' in on it."

Alex heaved a huge sigh and let her arms fall to her sides. There was no way she could let him to this; it's far too dangerous; they'd run her over; think what they'd do to Gene.

"Fine," she whispered as she leant into his chest, "but be careful."


July 5th 1982
Special Branch Squad Room, Metropolitan Police Station, London

The wooden tables were clean, completely clear of overfilling paperwork and ash trays. The seats were placed tidily under the tarnished desks. Above him, the ceiling wasn't stained or grubby-looking, but it looked awfully plain. At least with the black and white checks it added character to his Kingdom.

This place was lifeless – probably a good point – but it held no memories or feelings. Special branch were known because of their secrecy, toffee-nosed-ness and work-alcoholics. They wouldn't bond with their mates or colleagues outside working hours and they never really left their houses.

Yep, this was Special Branch territory.

As Gene crept into the Squad Room, he kept lights to a minimum. The records room was located in a little room off the side of the Squad Room. When the lights flickered on, Gene knew immediately that what they'd been looking for was in here. He proceeded to check on topics that seemed connected.

First up was SuperGreen.

He was a former Special Branch copper that was transferred to Plymouth CID six years ago. Again, like Heath, he had four years missing from his file; 1978-1982. According to the file, SuperGreen is an alias that he assumed after leaving Special Branch. In 1978, he joined the Masons. Hand written in the file, it told of his task: to work alongside the Masons as a double agent.

Shit.

Next up was DCI Heath.

Like SuperGreen, he was former Special Branch and in 1978, was tasked with joining the Masons. Again, with only one job: to work alongside the Masons as a double agent. But Gene thought back to his file that he and Bolly had read. In 1978, DCI Heath was in Newcastle – and now it said he joined the Masons? Surely that wasn't right? The Masons were located in London. Unless...No.

What if the Masons operated all over the country?

Shaking his head at this possibility – he was starting to sound like Alex – he grabbed the next file.

SuperMac.

Gene knew that he'd been at the same police academy as Green and Heath, but what they didn't know was they'd planned to set up collaboration with the Government so that everybody in power would know about the scum and their plans.

Mac had been in charge of the Masons, but unlike the other two, hadn't been a double agent. So, Green and Heath were spying on Mac for the 'white' coppers. Fandabbydozy. Like this corruption couldn't get any harder.

Clutching the files under his jacket, Gene flicked off the light and closed the door. In the darkness of the Squad Room he was almost blind, but that didn't stop him picking out a tall, shadowy figure lurking by the exit.

"My, my. Gene Hunt as I live and breathe. Having fun in my records room, were we?" The figure stepped out and switched on the lights. They revealed a rather startling person. But one Gene knew too well.

"Sam 'bastard' Andrews." Gene replied, instantly stiffening and narrowing his eyes.

"Yes, I believe that's my name. Now, what were you doing in my records cupboard?" Andrews asked, calmly.

"Looking for my office," Gene replied sarcastically, "Wha'd'ya think? Corruption is bleeding this place dry; an' by the looks of it, your whole department is knee deep in it."

A shadow fell across Andrews face as he drew a chair, inviting Gene to sit down. "We've been enemies for a long time, Gene, even when you were in Manchester. Now, everything coppers like us believe in is being destroyed – corruption, as you put it. We must stick together."

Gene placed the files on the desk next to him and pulled out a whiskey flask.

"Special Branch isn't just about bomb threats and the IRA. We train coppers with potiential to go out in the field and do things to protect the country. For example, you must know already, as double agents. For the Masons." Before Gene could interrupt, Andrews continued, "We know what the Government is planning, as you do too; the weapons testing.

"We needed to learn about this through the Masons, which, by the way, operate all over the country. We know that they have a finger in every pie. Think about it as four teams. The first team is you and Alex." Andrews watched Genes' face change threatening in his direction. "Ah, so it is true, then." He allowed himself a small smile, "Anyway, you guys are like pawns in this game, or so we've heard.

"The second team is the Masons. They collaborate with the Government and are turning bent coppers – but we can't be sure that all this is an elaborate game to play with you and Alex. The third team is Skye Kenning – watch out there, a major Blagg is going down. The last team is a mysterious guy named Thornberry or Caine. We suspect that they're the same person.

"One last thing, Hunt. It might not be just Special Branch being turned, but one thing is for sure: CID is safe; I'm keeping an eye on them."

Gene nodded his head, gathered up the files and walked towards the doors.

"Oh, and Gene?"

"Yea'?"

"I know about Artemis."


July 5th 1982
Location unknown

Skye Kenning laughed.

It was highly pitched and very piercing. She clutched her notes for her operation and smiled in glee. There wasn't anything that was going to stop this now. Thanks to the SuperMac guy, DCI Hunt was transferred and in all the fuss, they missed the body of another young woman.

Jeannette.

Yeah, sure, they were friends. But she'd had other plans. They didn't need to get with Hunt – he had that cocky DI to fill his life now. Skye knew that she was evil, but she couldn't help it. The four teams were obvious now.

Hunt and Drake.

The Masons.

Skye and her crew.

Thornberry and Caine.

The date was set. The gold would be off her hands and into the 'safety' of the MET. Thinking about this made her skin crawl; she'd vowed never to deal with coppers.

Taking a step forward, she felt the breeze tickle her cheek and a sense of familiarity washed over her. Had she been here before?


July 5th 1982,
CID Squad Room, Metropolitan Police Station, London

DCI Bedford stood proudly at the door to his office. There wasn't any sign of corruption here; everybody was white and he was happy. Back in Newcastle, he'd been transferred because, like Hunt, he'd tried to tackle to bent coppers. Now, maybe, he could finally cut the tree down at the roots.

"WPC Granger, a cuppa tea, if you please."

"DCI Beford?" Viv called out as he walked into CID, "There's been a murder in the same park where we found Mac and Heath. It's SuperGreen, sir."


Authors Note: Okay, on a serious note, I am very disappointed in this chapter. It didn't go as I wanted, but even after editing, it doesn't seem right. Hopefully the message of the chapter was clear – especially since it's important to the storyline. Can you pick out the most important sentences? A cyber cookie for anybody who gets them right! :P

Plus, there's a Poll on my profile - please take a look!

Finding Answers xx