Brackenreid remained on his cot, staring across at the undercover constable. Jackson fidgeted, as it was an uncomfortable assignment to be on for various reasons. Jackson reflected back at his first meeting with the Inspector, which ended poorly. "Detective Murdoch said you were hurt," he spoke softly across the cell.
Brackenreid's eyebrows narrowed, "You're suppose to be undercover," he hissed back. "And yes I am. Thanks for the concern," he held his side.
Jackson pursed his lips as he stood up and walked to the iron bars, "I hope the Detective solves this soon," he said to no one in particular.
"look, Jackson," Brackenreid slowly stood and walked across the holding cell where his new bunk-mate stood. "You are just here to keep an eye out," he smiled slightly.
"I know that Sir, but it still feels creepy," the constable sighed.
"Well, image how the bloody hell I feel," the Inspector snorted patting Jackson on the shoulder. "Indeed, I hope Murdoch is working on this, and quickly," he then sighed.
Constables Reese and Dobbin then appeared, "Who's your new cell-mate, Brackenreid?" Reese hissed through the bars. Jackson squared himself to the men, but spoke not a word. Even Brackenreid said nothing. He watched Reese unlock the iron bar door, knowing Jackson was there for him, "What do you what now?" he questioned.
"We need to have a word with you," Dobbin stated.
"Oh?" Brackenreid questioned cockily.
"Alone," Dobbin stated as he stepped through the now open door.
Brackenreid's eyes shifted to Jackson. The Constable waited, his hands slowly balling up into massive fists. Dobbin took another step toward the Inspector, "I said we need to talk to you," he leered. Reese was now inside the cell as well.
"Talk right now. I'm not going anywhere with the likes of you two," Brackenreid walked to his cot, his hands in his trouser pockets. It was then that Reese decided to clobber Jackson, who was slowly moving on in Dobbin, taking him out of action. Jackson yelped as he grabbed the side of his head, before he dropped to his knees. Brackenreid's eyes were wide in fear. Dobbin grabbed the inspector by the upper part of his vest and shirt, and pushed him toward the door.
"I'm not leaving this cell!" Brackenreid bellowed.
"Want to bet on that, Inspector?" Reese sneered as he twisted the Inspector's right arm around behind his back. "Let me go, you bastard," Brackenreid fought, but it was a loosing battle, as the two Constables dragged him down the hall and shoved him hard up against the wall.
"What the hell do you want with me?" the Inspector asked through his clenched teeth.
"We saw and old friend of yours," Reese side as he held his hand tightly around the Inspector's throat. Brackenreid had both his hands wrapped around the constable's forearm as he tried to struggle free. "Marcel says hello. And we tried to pay the Mrs a visit, but she wasn't home. We'd like to find her and the boys," Reese whispered. Brackenreid squirmed harder, "Leave my family be," he choked.
"He wants to escape," Reese looked over to Dobbin who held his night stick tightly in his right hand.
"Is that a fact?" Dobbin asked. "I really do hate when prisoners try to make a run for it," he smiled at Reese. "As do I," Reese let go of the Inspector. Brackenreid remained against the wall, holding his throat with this right hand. His eyes shifted between the two men, "I'm not going to play your damn game," he snarled.
"Have it your way," Reese shrugged. "You know Marcel wants you to suffer long and hard for putting him in prison, don't you?"
"I'm not surprised. The pile of rubbish said he'd seek revenge," Brackenreid glared at the constables.
"We'll be sure to tell him how you feel about him," Dobbin smiled before he whacked the Inspector with his baton. Brackenreid tried to fight the two men off, but they kept coming.
Constable Jackson was now on his feet, even though the whole room was spinning. He could see and hear the two men working the Inspector over. "HEY! Help down here! HELP! he shouted through the bars toward the open door that lead up stairs to the police station. By chance, Inspector Wallis was walking by and heard the plea for help. He motioned to two other constables, as he had no idea what was happening. The three men rushed down the stairs. Wallis stopped in his track, "What in blazes are you doing!? Stop immediately," he ordered.
Dobbin and Reese stood over Brackenreid who was now down on the floor trying to sit up. "He tried to make a run for it," Dobbin stated.
Wallis stepped closer to Brackenreid, "Is that so, Tom?"
"Yeah, sure," Brackenreid mumbled as he tried to wipe the blood from his eyebrow.
Wallis wasn't convinced at all by the Inspector's admission. Wallis looked up at the two constables, "Get him to his cot, now," he ordered as the two men scooped down to haul Brackenreid to his feet. The inspector groaned. "Be careful!" Wallis bellowed at the two men and followed them back to the cell where they place Brackenreid on the cot. "If I catch either one of you down here again, I will reprimand you severely," he snarled at Reese and Dobbin. "Now get the hell out of here, and don't think I won't look into this matter further," he ordered. Both constables backed away before they made their way back up the stairs.
"Care to talk about it?" Wallis asked Brackenreid, who merely rolled his aching head from side to side indicating that he was going to remain quiet on the matter. Wallis huffed and then turned to Jackson, "You were suppose to protect him," he stated.
"They jumped me before they took him out of the cell," Jackson said in self defence.
"They removed the Inspector from the cell?" Wallis asked.
"Yes, Sir," Jackson replied, holding his hand to the side of his head as he sat on his own cot.
"I'll send for a doctor," Wallis patted Jackson on the shoulder before he left the cell. He couldn't be bothered to lock the door.
William Murdoch and Julia Ogden had just arrived at the police station and were pleased that the blood tests were coming along and that at least two narcotics were in Darby O'Farrell's system at the time of his death. They openly chatted about it as they strolled through the police station, anxiously waiting to tell the Inspector. "Now all we need to do is identify if there were any more drugs used. Miss James is more than competent to do so," Julia smiled as they walked passed Constables Dobbin and Reese. "And then we need to find out where Darby got the narcotics," William stated.
"Let's finish with the blood work first," Julia suggested.
Reese and Dobbin exchanged looks having over heard the conversation about Darby O'Farrell, "We need to destroy the evidence," Dobbin whispered.
"Isn't that the doctor from the morgue?" Reese questioned.
"I think so," Dobbin's eyes narrowed.
"I guess we need to pay the morgue a visit, then," Reese nudged Dobbin and the two men left the police station.
William and Julia met Inspector Wallis at the top of the stairs. He looked dreadful. "Sir?" Murdoch looked at the man with concern.
"I'm glad you're both here, especially you, Doctor Ogden," Wallis sighed.
"What's happened?" William quickly asked.
"I'm afraid he's in a bad way. Two constables decided for whatever reason worked him over pretty good just now," the Inspector shook his head in dismay.
"What two?" Murdoch enquired.
"Dobbin and Reese," Wallis replied as he looked for them in the bull pen.
Murdoch's eyes narrowed. "Reese must have been one of the first assailants," he stated. "I remembered bumping into him the first time," he noted. He was trying to connect the dots. "Why would they do such a thing?" he asked himself as they quickly made their way down to the cells. Brackenreid had passed out.
"Oh my," Julia gasped at the sight, covering her open mouth with her right hand. Brackenreid's face was covered in blood, with it seeping from a deep cut over his right eye and a rivulet seeped from the corner of his mouth and one from his nose. The doctor sat carefully on the edge of the cot and assessed the Inspector's injuries.
Jackson walked over to look at his boss, "Holy," he muttered.
"Did you hear anything?" Murdoch asked the Constable.
Jackson winced as he thought, "I could have sworn that one of the men said the name Marcel," he shrugged. "They hit me pretty hard."
"Marcel?" Murdoch's eyes narrowed, "Julia, you stay with the Inspector, I need to get back to Station House No. 4 and look through some records. Those two Constables could be the link," he added.
"The Inspector needs more help than I can give him. He needs to be in hospital," Ogden stated.
"He'll 'enjoy' that," William said sarcastically as he quickly left for his police station.
Wallis drew a deep breath, "I'll call for an ambulance," he sharply nodded and followed Murdoch.