Chapter 11

Mark Henderson had spent most of the night reading all the information that Evan had given him. He had settled into his familiar chair in his office with a large scotch and had read every word with disbelief. Once completed, he had set to and re-read it all again and again. He couldn't comprehend the intensity of the words that were staring back at him. He had to admit that when Evan had sat in front of him earlier that day, he thought that he may be dealing with another wacko. Wackos were commonplace when you put out a TV appeal, but Evan seemed like an intelligent chap and there was something about his story that crept under his skin. Henderson had reasoned that it was fanciful, farfetched, and crazy even, but the words of a delusional barrister and a 12 year old girl?...no. Something was gnawing away it him and he wanted answers...not that he thought for one minute there was a sensible, rational explanation. This was definitely irrational. However, he had felt sufficiently spurred on, by his natural curiosity, to board the train to London the following morning.

Now he was striding down the starchy, white corridors of St Thomas's Hospital with Evan by his side.

"Thank you for coming I can't say how much I appreciate this." Said Evan graciously

"I read all the files last night, Mr White. I couldn't stop my brain whirring; you've succeeded in making me an accomplice." Henderson replied.

Evan wasn't sure accomplice was really the correct term. But he was grateful to have Henderson on his side none the less. Having found the correct room the two men entered without knocking. In front of them led a ginger haired man with a distinctively, ghostly pallor. DI Simon Collins opened his bleary eyes and focused on the two men.

"Hello Simon. I'm Evan White and this is DCI Mark Henderson. Thank you for agreeing to see me."

"What's he doing here?" Collins viewed Henderson suspiciously.

"DCI Henderson is working on the Faringfield Green case, in Lancashire." Evan explained.

"I thought you wanted to talk to me about my coma?" replied Collins sternly.

"We do, Mr Henderson has an interest on the subject." Evan said trying not to give anything away.

"Shouldn't you be trying to indentify that poor sod?" retorted Collins, indicating Henderson was neglecting his case.

"Oh we have." Henderson said bluntly not wishing to give any more information.

Collins stared at them both.

"Simon. As you know I am DI Alex Drake's Godfather she had a very bizarre experience when she was in her coma that was very similar to the one DCI Sam Tyler had in his."

"What we want to know is, if you have had the same experience?." Added Henderson

"What makes you think I had any experience when I was under?" said Collins defensively.

"When you came to, you were talking about 1983 and Fenchurch CID." Countered Evan

"So, I had a strange dream." Collins was sounding a little exasperated.

"Please DI Collins, can you tell us about your dream?" Henderson softened.

Collins sighed "You're going to think I'm mad... but... I was pushed out of a 2nd story window. When I woke up I was lying on the pavement outside my station, Fenchurch East. It looked the same...more or less, but it felt different." Collins was feeling uncomfortable as he felt their eyes fixed on him.

"Go on." encouraged Evan.

"Naturally I went in to go to my office, but my office had gone. Instead there was a CID office with a smaller office within it. It had a really strange checker board ceiling and I didn't recognise any of the officers there. I then realised that the year was 1983."

"Did you know any of the names of the officers?" asked Evan

Collins shook his head "I'm not sure."

Sensing that Collins was struggling with his memory, Evan looked across to Henderson for permission to help him. Henderson nodded in agreement.

"Was there a DS Ray Carling?" continued Evan. Collins shook his head.

"WPC Shaz Granger?" he persisted

"No." Collins shook his head again

"DC Chris Skelton?"

"No" Collins said impatiently

"DI Alex Drake?" Evan asked exasperated

"No! No! Only a big northern Bastard of a DCI. Really old school. A right Neanderthal."

"A northerner?" questioned Evan further

"Yes a Manch." Replied Collins annoyed

Henderson asked Collins, himself now impatient "His name?"

Collins closed his eyes, remembering the name plate on the door of the small office.

"DCI Gene Hunt." Collins announced with effort.

Henderson shot Evan a glare and Evan returned the shocked look.

"Thank you DC Collins you've been most helpful." Stated Henderson as he turned to leave

Realising he had just told them what they wanted to hear Collins hurried to stop them, "Wait, what's it about?"

Henderson without stopping said over his shoulder. "Gene Hunt was the Police officer found at Faringfield Green."

With that they left a very confused DI Collins reeling from the news.


"Why do I get the impression I'm here to prove that you and your Goddaughter aren't insane?" Said Henderson.

Evan allowed himself a small chuckle. He was starting to warm to the ageing DCI and Henderson to him likewise. "I think you might be right."

Henderson gave Evan a friendly smile.

"Look, I know you have a lot of work to do, but would you come back to the house for some lunch? I know Molly would like to meet you and it would be my way of saying thank you. Before you catch your train." Evan offered

"Yes, why not. I'd like that. We can go over Alex's psychological file while we're at It." replied Henderson.

"You got it?" asked Evan surprised.

"Called in a favour." Smiled Henderson "Picked it up this morning before I met you."

Evan grinned.

"Do you think Collins will be ok?" Henderson thought aloud.

"There is tremendous support for coma victims these days. They even send a nurse out on a home visit to help with rehabilitation." stated Evan.

Henderson stopped dead in his tracks "Home visit, nurse home visit." Henderson had appeared to lose himself in his thoughts. He put a finger up to Evan "Skuse me." He pulled out his mobile phone and dialled "Adams."

"Yes sir." replied Adams the other end of the line.

"Brenda Rose's statement."

"Yes sir." Adams said waiting for instructions.

"She said that her sister's ex boyfriend's mother was a district nurse."

"Yes Sir?" replied Adams wondering where his boss was leading.

"Margaret Lowe mentioned in her statement, that a District nurse attended to Mrs Booker and took her to hospital. How many District Nurses do you find living in the same small village?" Henderson posed the question to let his young DC work it out.

"Not many I would have thought." answered Adams. The wheels in his head started to turn. "Miss Lowe said a Nurse Watts tended to Mrs Booker."

"Exactly Adams! Check her out and find out if she had a son."