Changes
Chapter 2
The Guv woke up, still dressed, wondering exactly where he was, looking around him, some of last night started to revisit his brain. There was a man in his head with a hammer, and the taste of a badgers arse in his mouth. Sam, Ray and Chris had crashed out downstairs, much to Luigi's annoyance, many Italian incoherent mutterings were heard.
"Down here is not Bed and Breakfast. I go upstairs shoot myself I think, because I have no restaurant tomorrow if this goes on"
"It's just tonight Luigi we promise" Raymondo tried hard to look sincere, the others expecting his nose to grow. The Guv had made sure Cartwright spent the night upstairs in the flat, she was only a plonk, but he felt she needed to be protected from the likes of a pissed Raymondo, the dancing antics, and spewing up of Chris, and a much in love Sam. That's what the Guv did, protect folk.
Luigi was handing out coffees, dressed in nothing more than a dressing gown, as Annie and the Guv came down the stairs from the flat.
"Oi, oi" Ray shouted, and chuckled
"Don't you even dare go there Raymondo, bum conkers and vice come to mind"
"Sorry Guv" Ray knew he'd overstepped the mark, but he did notice Sam looked slightly jealous, which even Sam himself knew was just ridiculous.
"Right listen up everyone" the Guv held court.
"We're meeting Superintendent Mackintosh at the station this morning. Super Mac they call him with good reason. He's arranged for us to form this new division. I have huge respect for this man, and I expect same from all of you, got it?"
"Yes Guv" they all replied. Ray had heard a lot about Super Mac, was looking forward to meeting him, and after Harry Woolfe the Guv needed a boss he could trust. The Guv had taken long time to recover from the betrayal of his mentor, although he'd never admit it.
"We'll be back later Luigi" Guv smiled cheekily.
"I shall look forward to that" Luigi rolled his eyes with "just great" muttered under his breath, in broad Italian accent.
They all arrived at the station wishing maybe they'd freshened up a bit, except the Guv who only wished he'd had a sly hair of the dog, and Annie who always looked amazing in Sam's eyes, and had sneaked in a shower before the Guv had woken. The Metropolitan police station looked lot newer than Manchester, and smelt less CID, less sweat, fags, and Scotch. That could soon be changed Gene thought. Gene knocked on Super Macs door.
"Come" they all followed their Guv into the office. They were greeted by a well dressed man of stature, good looks, and obviously principles, with a tone in his voice that would calm any stressful situation, and probably get a few women into his bed.
"Welcome Gene, Scotch?"
"Thought you'd never ask" Gene took the Scotch, downed it in one. Mac shook the others hands in turn.
"Carling, Tyler, Skelton, glad to have you on board, and..."
"Cartwright Sir, Annie" Annie offered her hand.
"Just joined CID, we needed some eye candy" Guv smiled cheekily. Annie scowled, but knew the Guv would take no notice.
"Yes of course, no problem with that Gene. Always good to have a female or 2 about" Mac smiled charmingly, handed out Scotches all round, topping up Hunts.
"Welcome aboard everyone, and here's to a new CID division at the Met" they all raised their glasses.
"I'll get the Skip to show you to your office, get you settled in. Gene can I have a word before you go?" There was knock on the door. A tall well built black lad with tight curly dark hair entered the office, right on cue. Mac introduced everyone. Skip shaking their hands.
"It'll take me while to get used to your names, you lot all look alike" the Skip smiled, laughed, instantly Hunt knew he'd like this lad. Carling wasn't so sure, a black Copper, whatever next. Sam's memories went back to Glen Fletcher his mentor, he'd paved the way for coloured officers to be accepted. Chris took a while to get the joke, and laughed after everyone else, which just made the others laugh even more. The new team was coming together right there, bonds forming.
The others followed the Skip out of the office, Hunt shutting the door behind them.
"Good to have you on board Gene" topping up Hunts glass again.
"Looking forward to working with you Sir, you wanted a word"
"Do you remember Stephen Warren?" Mac enquired
"Wendy Warren, uphill gardener, fudge packer, oh yes" Hunt acknowledged, and grinned. Mac laughed at Hunts no punches pulled description.
"Escaped jail couple of days ago, during a transfer. Snouts tell me heading to London. Thought you'd definitely be interested, especially as rumour has it he's out for revenge"
"Definitely then, our first collar, or body on the slab. Look forward to renewing our acquaintance with the bent bastard" Hunt sunk the Scotch.
"I'll brief the team, need your snouts info"
"Skip will give you everything you need. Thanks Gene, and again welcome on board"
Hunt strode down the corridor, already feeling at home. Pulling the doors open to the office with such force that everyone turned round to see his entrance. The Guv had obviously made the place his own. He entered his new office, hung up his camel coat, opened filing cabinet to find bottle of Single Malt, and a few crystal cut glasses. Super Mac had thought of everything. Gene's heart was pounding, everything was telling him this is where he now belonged, to carry on his work, alongside his team. A stocky, dark haired, confident man entered the office offering his hand to shake.
"Terry, Guv, DC I've been added to your team for local info, and help" Hunt shock his hand, firm handshake by Terry, already the Guv liked him, gut instinct, coppers nonce, it was rarely wrong.
"Scotch?"
"Hmmmm, why not" now this was a Guv Terry could work with.
Hunt called everyone into his office.
"Right listen up. Remember Warren, Stephen Warren, uphill gardener, fudge packer, cock sucker?" Sam cringed at the Guv's delightfull description, but nodded. They all nodded, and remembered the day that Guv and Sam walked Warren handcuffed into the station. It was a brave arrest. The party at the Railway Arms that night was something special, with coppers on the beat feeling 10ft tall the next day.
"Well he's escaped during a prison transfer, and for some bloody reason heading our way. He may even be here in my city already, and according to Super Mac looking for revenge"
"What we waiting for, let's go fetch" Ray excitedly chipped in.
"Hold your horses Raymondo, Skip is bringing us details of local snouts, villains, underworld haunts. This isn't Manchester, we need to reccy our new patch, slowly, slowly, catchy bent bastards"
Skip knocked on the Guv's door, and entered the office.
"Here you go Guv, local snouts, villains. Arthur Layton maybe good place to start. Small time fence, petty criminal, long haired lay about, sneaky bastard, but does seem to have his nose to the ground. Here's some mug shots"
"Ok Skip that's where we'll start tomorrow. I can feel beer o'clock calling us. Viv, Terry, want to join us?"
"Love to Guv" Viv replied, thinking he was definitely starting to like the Guv. Terry nodded, and smiled.
"Super Mac has given me some addresses for flats to use, all within walking distance of Luigi's. Cartwright I'm presuming you want one to youself"
"Of course" Annie blushed looking coyly at Sam. Sam's heart skipped a beat. He really needed to be with Annie on his own, soon.
"That's bloody handy then Guv" Ray grinned, chewing more rapidly on his gum.
"Well for you Raymondo, should that be staggering distance" Guv laughed, finishing his own Scotch, oblivious of the irony.
"I'll be Luigi's when you're all sorted. Don't get lost Christopher" Chris was only one not to laugh, looking worried, the Guv was right, if anyone would get lost walking round London it would be him. As the Guv walked out the office he noticed a file on Terry's desk 'Wendy Gorman'
"What's this case Terry" Hunt looked through, pics of young girl, 14yo, murdered, signs of forced sex.
"It's been closed now really Guv, we interviewed guy named Jarvis, but the trail went cold after that"
"I'll keep it, if that's ok, look further into it" something wasn't right the Guv's instinct was telling him.
"Please do Guv, it's a gut wrenching case" Terry also had feeling, something didn't add up. Why the case had just suddenly been dropped.
Sam dropped Annie off at her flat.
"Are you coming in?" Annie asked, leaning over passenger seat. Sam thought she'd never ask. It was small bedsit, cosy though. Woodchip wallpaper everywhere, flowery patterned sofa. Sam's new abode was only couple doors down, but he'd be much happier sharing here, he thought. Every time he was in Annie's company his heart raced, his mind just totally muddled. He had to grow a pair, tell her exactly how he felt, although he thought, hoped, that Annie already knew, and felt the same.
"Annie, we need to talk, I need to talk"
"It's not about Ivanhoe, that cat again is it?" Annie chuckled. Sam loved that cheeky smile, more than he'd ever loved anything before.
"No" Sam laughed
"I want to.." Sam started.
"Come on, we need to get to Luigi's, the Guv will be waiting" Annie wanted to get out of any serious discussions, for tonight anyway.
"Seems The Guv is more important than us at the moment" Sam sounded jealous, remembering the Guv had stayed in the flat at Luigi's with Annie overnight. That was bugging Sam, eating at him, but he trusted both of them, and couldn't understand why it messed with his head.
"Oh don't be daft Sam, we can talk later. Let's go join the celebrations now" Annie smiled cutely
"Ok" Sam could never be angry with Annie, frustrated, but never angry, especially after one of those looks.
The Guv and Ray were already at Luigi's.
"Good evening Mr Hunt"
"Evening Luigi, bottle Scotch, couple glasses, and what everyone else wants when they get here, on the tab of course"
"Of course Mr Hunt, I'll bring it over" more Italian mutterings, mainly about going broke, as Luigi fetched the Guv's Scotch. The Guv, and Ray sat at the table in the corner. Ray offered the Guv a cigarette, and lit it for him, then lighting his own. Gene took huge drag, contented with his lot.
"I like Super Mac, seems ok, fairly straight, square kinda guy" Ray enquiring, more than stating.
"I think so, taking a chance having us bloody lot down here" Gene replied, both laughed. Luigi appeared with the Scotch, just as Sam and Annie arrived.
"Joining us Dorothy, or are you sneaking off to a quiet corner for a snog" Guv enquired laughing.
"Joining you of course Guv" Sam bringing over another glass for a share of the Scotch, and just about to ask Annie what she'd like.
"Where's my glass?" Annie asked, beating him to it.
"Didn't think you'd want a Scotch" Sam gave Annie his glass. Hunt stood up to pour out another Scotch for Annie.
"Oh come on Sammy boy, give the lady what she wants. Gene Genie always gives the ladies what they want" Hunt said grinning cheekily at Annie.
"What's that supposed to bloody mean?" Sam pushed the Guv back into his seat. Annie moved out of their way, taken aback by Sam's actions, and sudden change in mood.
"Come on then you bloody nancy, if that's how you feel. I'm just in the mood for you to have a pop at me, come on, make my day Tyler" Hunt swiftly, forcefully, moved forward grabbing Tyler by his collars, Hunt's heart pounding, muscles in his neck straining, pushing Tyler heavily against the bar partition with a thud.
"Gentleman, gentleman, please not in here" Luigi pleaded panicking, looking at the stunned faces of his other customers, 2 of them getting up to leave. The Skip, and Terry arrived to see their new Guv pinning DI Tyler to the wall by his collars. Hunt released Tyler, who straightened his jacket, and shirt. Carling put his hand on the Guv's shoulder.
"Come on Guv, we're all bit wound up by the move, let's get back to the serious stuff, drinking"
"You're right Raymondo, this can wait for another time, whatever your bloody problem is Sam" Guv sat down pouring himself another Scotch. Annie shot Sam a frown, and sat down on the seat next to Terry, who smiled, nodded, wondering what he'd just witnessed was all about. Skip joined them, but stuck to a Pint, rather than the white mans fire water.
"Anyone seen Christopher?" Just as the Guv asked, a very wet bedraggled Chris walked in.
"Raining?" Guv asked. They all roared with laughter.
"A bit, I got lost" Chris said sheepishly
"Bloody knew it, what did I say, always right, trust the Gene Genie" Guv stood up to make a toast. Sam really hated the Guv in this cocky sort of mood. It always meant trouble for others, never Hunt himself.
"To my team, bloody unbreakable" they all raised their glasses, Sam rather begrudgingly, which Hunt noticed, and would sort another time.
"Luigi another bottle of Scotch over here"
"Yes Mr Hunt" Luigi sighed, it was nearly closing time, his only customers left behind were Met CID, and they wanted another bottle of Scotch. What could possibly go wrong...