Kathy and Smithy sat at a table together, their drinks in front of them.
'Everyone's in position. We're going to be fine.' Smithy whispered.
'I think they just walked in the door.' Kathy whispered.
Three burly blokes walked to their table and sat with them.
'You wanted a meet?' The burliest guy asked.
'Yeah. We wanted to get our hands on some guns. Defence job.' Smithy let his slight Essex accent do the talking.
'Defence job for who?' Burly 1 asked.
'Marcus Greeley. He deals in drugs and needs us to get some guns now he's been gettin' threats. This is his daughter, Kat. She wants to get the stuff and I'm here to keep an eye on her for her Dad.' Smithy improvised.
'Under protection is she?' Burly 2 laughed.
'Yeah. She's stronger than she looks.' Smithy backed Kathy up.
'You speak, darlin?' Burly 1 asked.
'Yeah, but of course you're gonna have to prove your worth. Daddy dearest isn't gonna just part with his money on the say so of you lot that your guns are worth it. He needs proof that you're worth his time. He wants Smithy and I to see how you work and if he likes the report, you have yourselves a deal.' Kathy pulled out her Brummy A-game.
'A Brummy? My, my, haven't you travelled far?' Burly 3 chuckled.
Kathy drew a knife and held it by Burly 3's privates.
'Less of the cheek, if you don't mind. Smithy warned you that I know how to defend myself, so that means I know exactly where your gender is weakest, so if you try and cross me again, I swear your man part won't be living much longer. Do I make myself clear?' Kathy snapped.
'Yes, ma'am.' Burly 3 got uncomfortable.
Kathy put her knife away. Burly 3 relaxed a little.
'You have yourselves a deal. We can take you to our workshop now and we'll show you how we work.' Burly 1 took control.
'Kat?' Smithy wanted her answer.
'Sounds good to me. If we're happy, you can meet Daddy dearest tomorrow.' Kathy was prepared.
Burly 1, 2 and 3 led Kathy and Smithy out the pub.
'Marcus Greely doesn't exist.' Smithy whispered to Kathy.
'I know. That's why I'll convince Dad to play along. If he's getting us to get guns it would mean he wouldn't have a clue. It's a brilliant plan. Just please go with it.' Kathy whispered.
Smithy nodded. They got to the van and let Smithy and Kathy get in the back. They started moving as Kathy's phone started to ring.
'Who's that?' Burly 1 asked.
'My Dad. I'd better answer it.' Kathy groaned.
Kathy answered the phone.
Callum plugged his phone into a recorder at Sun Hill and called Kathy's phone.
'Dad, what's going on?' Kathy picked up.
'Kathy, what happened to the plan? Where the hell did you get a knife?!' Callum freaked.
'Dad, you wanted the guns, so we're checking them out. Remember what you said about keeping myself safe? This is it. I'm doing the job you asked me to do. We'll get it sorted. We'll check they're kosher and then you can meet them tomorrow.' Kathy wasn't budging.
'Kathy, that's not a good idea. We don't know what these guys are like.' Neil wasn't up for it.
'Trust me on this. We can handle it. Besides, I think they trust us with this deal. Looks like the Brummy charm Henry Frank thought didn't work is actually making a good plan.' Kathy sounded hopeful.
'As soon as you're done, get back to the nick. We need a serious chat.' Neil wasn't too happy.
'Fine. I'll see you later. Oh, Smithy says hi.' Kathy hung up.
'That kid of yours might just throw this whole operation.' Max snapped at Callum.
'More like save it. If she's getting us in, that could mean we get more than we thought without this change.' Jo countered.
'You're seriously backing the kid?' Max wasn't happy.
'Yeah, I'm backing Kathy. She's no kid, Max. Maybe you should look in Kathy's file. She's been in almost every situation possible! She's found her Mum OD'd on drugs in the bath when she was a nine year old kid, she's been through the foster system, she's almost been killed by a bomb, had a gun held to her head, dealt with drug dealers, caught a rapist before he raped her, saved a kidnap victim, got kidnapped herself and got a signal out of their location, saved a man from committing suicide, took control of a hostage situation with no casualties, pulled through an attempted murder attack, saved a drowning kid from a car where the brakes had broken, found seven year old twins murdered by their Dad and so many more cases, so don't you dare think she's not got this under control! Sergeant Kathy Stone is one of my officers and she's as good as the rest of us, so get off her case and show her some respect!' Jo wasn't having it.
Callum was in shock. Jo saw the shock on Callum's face.
'I'm sorry.' Jo knew it was a lot.
'It's alright. Thank you, Jo.' Callum was taken aback.
Smithy and Kathy walked into the incident room, seeing the tension.
'Dad?' Kathy knew.
Callum turned round and saw them.
'Kathy, you ok?' Callum checked.
'We're meeting them at the pub tomorrow at 12. They want us to bring Marcus Greeley with us.' Smithy explained.
'Who?' Neil asked.
'My cover's Dad. The reason we went for the guns was as protection. Smithy's some bodyguard sent by Marcus Greeley to protect his daughter Kat. The idiots don't suspect a thing. Oh, I was also able to bug the workshop, so we can see and hear what they say.' Kathy chucked a remote to Neil.
Callum walked to Kathy and held her close.
'Never scare me like that again, you hear me?' Callum spoke quietly so only Kathy heard him.
'I'll give it a go.' Kathy held Callum a little tighter.
'Who can we send undercover in this?' Neil asked.
'I'll do it.' Callum nominated himself.
'Are you sure?' Smithy checked.
'Yeah. I've got to keep an eye on her somehow.' Callum was certain.
Neil didn't argue. No one fought against it.
'That's settled then. Callum, you'll go undercover as Marcus Greely tomorrow with Kathy and Smithy. Let's get some rest. It's been a long day.' Neil suggested.
Callum and Smithy led Kathy down to the offices.
'Kathy, will you wait here for me until I'm out my uniform?' Callum asked.
'Yeah. Of course.' Kathy smiled weakly.
Callum quickly left to change.
'You did the right thing, now I look at it.' Smithy pointed out.
'You think so?'
'Yeah. You did a great job.'
'Thanks, Smithy.'
Jo came and joined them.
'Everything ok?' Smithy knew.
'I ended up telling them all Kathy's work history in cases to defend against Max in front of Stone.' Jo explained.
'Dad knows everything?' Kathy was horrified.
'Yeah. I'm sorry, Kathy. I didn't mean to. I just couldn't let Max slate you like that. He still thinks you're some kid. I couldn't let it go, not after everything you've been through.' Jo felt bad.
'Thanks. I'd better go. Sounds like I have a few things to explain.' Kathy was a little emotional.
Kathy walked towards the changing rooms. She knocked on the door and entered. Callum was alone, fully dressed.
'Kathy?' Callum saw her worry.
'You know everything, don't you?' Kathy asked.
'About what?'
'What Jo said in the incident room, about my history?'
'Kathy, it doesn't change that you're my daughter. I care about you and nothing can change that.'
'Dad, this changes everything. There's too many reasons why I don't talk about it. You knowing all that makes it worse, so much worse.'
'Kathy, what do you want me to say? I'm proud of you. You've persevered when things got tough. You're a fighter and you don't give in. I'm proud to be your Dad. Don't slate any of it because you wouldn't be where you are right now if you hadn't gone through all that. You're my daughter.'
'Dad, I can't do this.'
'Yes you can. You're strong enough and you know how to get through this.'
Kathy walked towards the door, but Callum shut it, stopping her leaving.
'Kathy, look at me.'
Kathy slowly looked him in the eye.
'You're just under a lot of strain. We're going to be fine. We just need to get this case closed and then we can sort everything, ok?'
'Ok.'
Callum picked up his bag and led Kathy out the station, Callum not having a clue what to say to Kathy.