New Tricks Golden Chances
Chapter 12
Sandra was pretty much determined about them not getting involved. "Absolutely not Jack. We'll be risking our own working reputations by involving ourselves furthermore in an investigation that we shouldn't really be pursuing unsolved answers for in the first place. Have you even considered what Strickland might say about this matter, there's no doubt that he'd close us down straight away, without us being given a chance to explain our reasons for wanting to crack this unresolved murder case " She strongly argued and now hoped that her colleagues might perhaps reconsider.
Jack felt an element of unruliness within his thoughts and mind. He had to go with what his gut feeling kept telling him all along. "I'm afraid, its too late Sandra. The fact that you're trying to persuade us to change our minds, it isn't going to work. Now be before, you start to lecture me on going against you yet again. I want to make my thoughts crystal clear, now that man in there, has a distinctive look about him. It's either one of three things, he could be cleverly covering up his tracks or maybe perhaps he's done nothing wrong and dislikes the fact that we've made our short visit to his police station unwelcome or the final thing, maybe in fact he's a guilty man afterall. We're helping Kai whether you like ir or not. Brian, Gerry you go back to the conference centre and find Alfie. Sandra, me, you and Kai I reckon we should have another word with our welsh counterpart"
Back at the UCOS office, while being left alone and not having to overhear her friends' continuous chitchat and banter. Sandra had sometimes regularly questioned whether or not Jack was slowly becoming a lone thinker or trying to distant himself from the team whenever a case personally affected him.
Gerry tapped Jack on the right shoulder and decided that he wanted to share his thoughts. "By following your plan I hope this means, you and Sandra aren't going to get distracted by another argument and deliberately let Robert slip through your fingers. From what I've seen of him, he looks like a right bloody charmer and I'm presuming that he looks capable of wiggling himself out of serious trouble. "
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After placing his mobile phone down on the wooden tabletop, Robert Beckford was quite surprised to notice Sandra Pullman returning with her colleague. She didn't choose to knock at his office door and walked into his office. "Ah back again are you both? Must be something about my office you feel particularly drawn to. Oh the flowers , dahila flowers they haven't been watered for two weeks and the carpet hasn't been hoovered for over a week, it might explain why there are a lot of boot foot-marks. I reckon your UCOS office isn't quite as fancy as mine, less confined space yes...no" Robert wisely suggested, it dawned on Sandra, Kai and Jack that he was behaving inappropriately and mockingly towards them.
Having heard quite enough of the Cardiff born Detective Chief Inspector's talk, Jack slightly raised his voice in frustration. "Just bloody shut up will you. Listen I know what you really are, Robert, You're all about innocent talk and clever manipulation, trying desperately to masquerade behind false chitchat. Oh believe me I've seen detectives like you before. They're all charmers, sweet talkers and hear-tbreakers. They always know what to tell doubters and try their damn hardest to throw suspicious people off track. We know that you probably figured out what happened on the night that James Hughes was tragically murdered and you either promised Alfie Miller that you wouldn't utter another word or maybe perhaps were being blackmailed by him into keeping sch-tum about the murder."
Robert nodded. "You're quite a very clever man Halford. Going by your gut instinct and following what your heart tells you to. Your accusations can't bring me down in fact nobody's can. I'm the most respected and dedicated Detective Chief Inspector in this city and if you made these public everybody would think you're completely out of your mind" He laughed softly. "Now get out of my office or do I have to send for someone to escort you out instead."
"We're not leaving DCI Beckford" Kai found the confidence to speak out, even confidently staring the detective straight in the eyes. "You're a liar, you've lied everytime to the press whenever they've asked you about re-investigating this case. Bet it made you sweat inside when somebody bought up James Hughes' name and I also reckon that you probably were one step away from silencing them for good. I mean what would the press say if they'd found out that the most trustworthy and honored detective in this country had been taking back-handers from a former criminal. Your reputation would go downhill maybe even disappear into existence."
"You don't scare me son. Nobody scares me. I don't fear" Beckford strongly clarified, putting up one last defiant stand.
Sandra's phone rung out, she answered it quickly. "Hello, Gerry. Oh wow, that is fantastic news. Alfie's even mentioned Beckford. Thanks for letting me know. Meet you back here then" She finished the conversation in a matter of 45 seconds. "I think it's time you start telling us the truth ro if you don't we'll be contacting your Superintendent as soon as possible."
"Alright fine, what you've said, it's all true. I helped cover up Miller's tracks three weeks after the murder took place. He threatened me, threatened to harm my son Kyle and my wife. Said that he would pay me enough to keep my mouth shut. I was tempted by his offer of money." Beckford looked regretful as he told them the rest of the story. "I've always regretted doing this. Hiding my guilt, trying to put it behind me even though I sensed dark clouds looming over me"
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As Sandra watched Beckford being lead away by two detectives, she turned to face Kai. "I thought you were very brave in there, standing up to him in the way you did. I know now someone had to frighten into eventually telling the truth and I'm glad it was you." Letting her growing feelings rule her heart, she desperately wanted to reward him with a gentle kiss. She simply couldn't the fact that they'd grown closer to one another over the few hours they'd spent together. "You know if you come to London sometime, maybe I could take you out to dinner perhaps" She blushed nervously as she made this suggestion.
"Are you asking me out on a date Sandra? because if you are, I'd be more than happy to" Kai was understandably delighted.
"Yes Kai" Sandra smiled.
"Well it's a yes" He gave his answer and placed a soft kiss against her cheek. While watching the latest romantic development between his boss and their new friend, Brian glanced over across the room at Gerry who seemed to be in a world of his own.
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After Kai had waved them off outside of the Cardiff City football ground, the UCOS team were now on their way back to London, Brian was sitting uncomfortably in the back seat of Gerry's Triumph Stag. "Oi don't you start kicking the headrest with your legs everytime you get RLS. By the way these seats are new so I don't want to have to be cleaning dirty footprint off them." Gerry fussily pointed out.
"What do you expect me to do Gerry, keep my legs straight and get upper pain in my thighs. I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to exercise them before long." Brian argued, he was soon wishing that he'd gone in Sandra's car instead.
"Oh trust you to get all high and mighty on me" Gerry happily chuckled at Brian's temporary misery and uncomfortable looks.
Brian looked very annoyed with having to put up with the laughs and remarks being hurled at him. He soon came to a quick decision and decided to annoy and wind up Gerry as much as he possibly could. "Mark my words Gerry, you're going to having an argument of your own very soon" He calmly predicted, sensing that trouble was soon on the horizon for his relaxed friend.
Thirty minutes later...
Sandra and Jack had spent most of their journey back together, repairing their fragmented working relationship. She was glad that they were happily on speaking terms again and hoped that they wouldn't argue anymore. "Where are they? they should have been here by now?" Jack expressed a worried reaction.
Back at the Severn Bridge toll booth on the border, Gerry was experiencing difficulty in paying money. "You're having a laugh aren't you. I've already paid three pound and now you're asking me for another 75 pence which I haven't got on me. Brian help me out please, I honestly need the money" Gerry found himself begging much to the enjoyment on his amused friend.
"Don't ask me, I'm not getting involved in this minor dispute when I'd rather be at home with my feet up watching the telly." Brian backed away from getting involved and looked sideways at the beautiful scenery.
"Fine then, stay quiet as mouse if you want to then Brian. They must be having a laugh, What a total rip off, having to fork out that much money. Oh balls to this I'm not having this. They can stick up their backsides" Gerry couldn't wait anymore longer and chose to speed through the toll booth, ignoring the shouts of the irrated man at the booth. "Next time I'll get the train instead" Gerry laughed.
"You know sometimes you can be a right bloody..." Brian claimed but got prevented from saying anymore as his friend carefully drove the car like a professional motor racing driver.
End of chapter
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