Chapter 25: Waiting Game

Upon hearing the gunshot, Smithy called out Andrea's name. He was all ready to burst his way into the apartment but Gina Gold grabbed him by the arm.

"Smithy, no!" The inspector said, exasperated. "You do not enter a property where there is a firearm!"

"But Andrea could be injured!" Sergeant Smith said, pleading with the inspector to understand his desire to enter the property.

"We don't know who's injured. Maybe no one is. But the last thing I want is for you to enter there now and come out in a body bag later," Gina said truthfully. She had a lot of respect for Sergeant Smith and he was one of her only colleagues she actually considered as a friend. She wasn't so bothered about the welfare of either Gabriel or Andrea though she of course wanted Gabriel to answer to the crimes she had just discovered he was guilty of. "We must follow protocol. Check each apartment and get everyone to exit the building quickly and safely. I'll call it in."

Smithy reluctantly did as Inspector Gold instructed. He knew Gina was right. He needed to evacuate the building in case this escalated. The last thing he wanted for someone innocent to get caught up in all of this. Thankfully, most apartments he approached, the occupants didn't appear to be at home. The few he did find he asked to leave the building and wait out front where Gina would show them where to stand. All the while he wanted to tell Neil what was going on but with everything escalating so quickly he had little time to do so. He also didn't want to have to answer to Gina about why he was trying to reach DI Manson. Thus far, Smithy believed Neil and Andrea's affair was still very hidden from the relief and he didn't want to be the one to expose it.

By the time Smithy exited the building, a few of his colleagues had arrived and were cordoning off the street to stop anyone entering the area. Gina had moved the apartment residents and a few surrounding neighbours behind the cordon so they would hopefully be safe.

"Everyone out?" Gina Gold asked.

"Yes Ma'am," Smithy answered.

"The PC's are currently cordoning off the area to stop any traffic or anyone coming into the street. CID should be on their way. We are waiting on an estimated time of arrival for SO19 and ambulances are also going to be on standby in case someone was seriously injured when that gunshot went off."

"We need to go back in there!" Smithy yelled. "All civilians are out. It's of no public risk."

"Only a risk to my officers!" Gina Gold snapped. "We have to wait for SO19 to arrive. We can't enter without armed back up."

"But what if one of them is bleeding to death up there?"

"I know it's hard Sergeant," Gina sighed. "But we have to do this properly regardless of the fact that we know them. I'm sure the armed response won't be too long. For now we will treat it as a hostage situation. I'm a trained negotiator and I will call their phones and see if I can get any response.

Meanwhile at Sun Hill, the news of the current situation had not long broken and many were confused as to why Gabriel Kent was at Andrea Dunbar's apartment. DS Samantha Nixon had already left with DS Hunter to attend as DCI Jack Meadows and DI Manson hadn't been able to be contacted as yet.

Adam Okaro was putting on his body armour, ready to join his colleagues at the scene. Even he didn't really understand what was going on and he hoped that once he was down there he could shed some light on what was happening. All he knew was that Sun Hill really didn't need this kind of drama and bad press right now. After Andrea's real identity had been revealed it had damaged the station's reputation heavily. Another incident involving her and another of his staff was all he needed.

Just as he exited his office he saw Neil Manson coming along the corridor, having just arrived back to the station after going to find a witness to the murder he was investigating.

"Neil," Adam said, gesturing for him to enter his office. "In here, quick."

"Sir?" Neil asked tentatively as he entered the Superintendent's office, closing the door behind him.

"I'm guessing you haven't heard the news? DI Nixon said she was unable to reach you or DCI Meadows," Adam said, sighing as he realised that he was going to have to inform Neil of what was going on and how Andrea was involved. "There has been an incident, called in about fifteen minutes ago. It seems there was a gunshot heard, coming from Andrea Dunbar's apartment. According to Gina Gold, it is believed PC Gabriel Kent is in the apartment with her."

"Oh no," Neil said, turning pale. "I must go down there immediately."

"I don't want you anywhere near the situation," Adam ordered sternly. "I only told you because I'd rather you heard it from me than as it spreads like wildfire through the station. It would be best if you stay here and we make out you were too busy to attend. The last thing we need is your affair with an undercover journalist to come pouring out now."

"With all due respect Sir, I've had enough with all of it: Being told what to do and how to feel. Undercover journalist or not, I was in love with Andrea," Neil said, taking a deep breath. He was careful not to use the present tense. Of course he still loved Andrea but he thought now might not be the best time to highlight that to his boss. "Now you're telling me that Andrea may have been shot by Gabriel Kent and you're expecting me to stay here and not get involved."

"That's what the station needs right now," emphasised Adam.

"Look sir," Neil said, knowing now was the time to come clean to Adam about what Andrea, Smithy and himself had been investigating. "I think I know why Gabriel Kent is there. Please let me come with you and I'll explain everything in the car."

"I don't know what the hell is going on," Adam said angrily while looking at Neil with suspicion. "But I need to get down there and so I guess I have no choice. But I don't want you giving anything away about the feelings you may have once had for Andrea Dunbar. Is that clear?"

"Crystal," Neil nodded.

Back at the scene, Gina was still trying to reach either Gabriel or Andrea but no one was answering their phones.

"This is ridiculous!" Complained Smithy, pacing up and down. "It's been over twenty minutes since we heard that gunshot. They could both be dead in there by now for all we know!"

"Armed response are on their way," Gina said, trying to calm her sergeant.

"And what does that mean? Ten minutes? Twenty minutes? Another half an hour?"

"It should be about another fifteen minutes," Gina sighed.

Just then DI Nixon and DS Hunter arrived, being allowed through the cordon.

"Gina, what is going on?" Samantha Nixon asked, both concerned and confused.

Gina explained what had happened from the moment of hearing the gunshot to now. "You may be best talking to Sergeant Smith about Gabriel Kent. He has some very important information to tell you."

Smithy explained what he knew about Gabriel Kent and his use of a fake identity, his connection to the Sun Hill sniper and his confession to Andrea that he had killed Kerry Young. He could see that both Sam Nixon and Phil Hunter were horrified at what they were hearing. He carefully omitted Neil's involvement in working with them and also chose not to mention the blackmail, hoping that it would remain hidden and that his omission of the truth wouldn't come back to bite him on the butt later.

"And you never told anyone else about this?" DI Nixon mumbled in shock.

"How could I?" Smithy said, becoming stressed. "I know what we were doing was reckless but all it was at first was hearsay from an undercover journalist. Do you think anyone at Sun Hill would have listened to me when all my information was from Andrea? We wanted to get something solid before we brought it to you."

Sam remained quiet as he said this and Smithy knew she was thinking him a fool for keeping quiet about Gabriel. He knew she was probably right too.

"The road is cordoned off Ma'am with officers posted around the cordon to stop entry," Tony Stamp said as he wandered over, somewhat out of breath from how quickly they had put everything into place.

"Good," Gina nodded. "It is imperative that no one enters, especially the press. That would be the last thing we need."

Just as she spoke, Gina heard the squeak of a door opening. Looking up she first saw Andrea coming through the main doorway to the apartment building but was quick to realise that Gabriel Kent had hold of her, holding a gun to her head. Gina didn't know if to be relieved that it looked like neither had been hit by the earlier gunshot or worried that they were now coming out to where she and her fellow officers were. After all, armed response weren't there yet.

Gina, Smithy, Sam, Phil and Tony all looked across from where they were standing on the opposite side of the road, none of them knowing exactly how to react to the situation. To them it felt like time was moving at a slow pace as their panic and adrenaline set in.

"Andrea!" Smithy called out upon seeing her. From what he could make out she seemed to be bleeding from her head; it was running down her face. Though he knew that couldn't be from a gunshot he knew that Gabriel had obviously hurt her and it made Smithy angry. "Gabriel, let her go!"

"That's enough Sergeant!" Gina said in a strong but hushed tone. "We don't want to make this any worse."

"Gabriel!" Gina called out, taking very small steps across the road towards them. "Gabriel I'm not sure what has happened but I'm sure we can sort it out."

"Don't come any closer or I'll shoot. I mean it," Gabriel said those his voice trembled slightly.

"How about you let go of Andrea and we can have a little talk."

"I want a car," Gabriel replied, ignoring his inspector's suggestion completely. "I want to be able to leave here freely and then no one gets hurt."

"How about we talk first?" Gina asked trying to stall time, knowing that S019 couldn't be far away.

"No!" Gabriel growled. "I want to leave and I need a car."

"Okay, Gabriel. DS Nixon will arrange one for as soon as possible." Gina turned and nodded to Sam hoping that Sam would know to just pretend to be doing so. Gina just wanted to try and appease Gabriel, hoping that he would talk.

"So while we wait, how about we have a chat?" Gina paused, not knowing what to ask. She didn't want to rile him up but she needed to delay time. "What has made you so upset? Everything seemed fine this morning."

Gabriel remained silent, clearly agitated. He was tapping his foot like a nervous twitch.

"Gabriel," Andrea suddenly spoke weakly. "Please. I don't feel so good."

"Shut up!" Gabriel yelled in her ear. "You never know when to stop. This is all your fault. All of it. We wouldn't be here if you hadn't kept pushing and pushing..."

Tears began to fall from Andrea's eyes, mixing with the blood on her face.

"Gabriel," Smithy said, walking forward to be level with Gina. "Andrea's hurt. How about you let us take her to the paramedics?"

"Gabriel," Andrea said. "Please. I told you I don't believe you're a bad person. Don't have another death on your hands."

"Shut up!" Gabriel shouted once again. "Where is that car?"

"It's being organised," Gina Gold lied, worried at how irritable PC Kent was becoming. "It won't be too long."

"Armed police!" A voice suddenly called out as armed officers almost appeared out of nowhere aiming at PC Kent from all angles. "Drop your weapon!"

However, the way Gabriel had hold of Andrea just slightly in front on his body with his free arm holding the gun to her head, it would be near impossible for the armed officers to get a clear shot.

"Gabriel," Gina continued. "You know as well as I that there is no getting out of this. Put down your gun and let Andrea Dunbar go."

Just as Gina said this a car pulled up to the edge of the cordon. Superintendent Okaro and DI Manson exited and approached the team.

Neil could only look on in horror as he saw Gabriel using Andrea as a shield, holding a gun to her head. Neil felt sick as he looked at them and for a second he caught Andrea's eye. She was covered in blood and looked exhausted. He wanted to run in there and tackle Gabriel but he knew that it wouldn't be a good idea. The armed police were here after all, so he could only hope that things would go smoothly from now.

"Please Gabriel," Gina spoke once again. "Put the gun down; let go of Andrea Dunbar. I don't want another officer to lose their life."

Gabriel looked Gina in the eye for a moment before moving his arm at lightning speed. He aimed at his own head and pulled the trigger. Both Gabriel and Andrea fell to the ground with a hard thud. Both of them still and silent.