AN:

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Chapter 29: Attack called in

The music in his ears was the only thing keeping him on his feet. It hadn't been the plan to spent 36 hours at work but having the opportunity to watch the gauntlet being run had been too exciting to let slip by. He had learned a lot actually, from discussing the various assignments with his fellow minions. However, kipping on his chair for only a couple of hours followed by another harrowing shift meant he really needed to get home. It was too bad he was missing the end of the gauntlet. But seeing as Jordan was almost sleeptyping on his keyboard the ending would probably have been a bit of a downer anyway.

And Justin felt that after all of last night's excitement, he really needed to get away for all the stress. He still couldn't believe that it had been Rose of all people who had betrayed them. She didn't seem to be the type at all. She was always all bubbly and excited about everything, from the latest WoW updates to the latest escapades of her son. The one year old was the entertainment of the night crew. All his bumps and bruises were discussed. How that woman could cheerfully betray them all, Justin just couldn't understand.

A sudden hard shove ended this line of thought abruptly. He hit the wall hard.

"Hey." He shouted, thinking someone had just bumped into him on their morning run or something. It was still rather early on a Sunday morning and runners were the only people up at this crazy hour. But when he looked up, he saw the situation was much more serous than that. He was in an alleyway between two houses and two people, one of whom had obviously pushed him, were advancing on him rapidly.

He hardly heard the music in his ears over the thumping of his heart as he tried to get to his feet. But they were on him too fast. Immediately they started to rain blows on him. Fists came at him from everywhere and he could do nothing but try and protect his head and his stomach. There was a noise but he paid no attention to it. The blows just kept coming and coming. He hurt everywhere now, but still they kept on punching him until he just couldn't take it anymore. He wanted to get away. He wanted it all to stop. The noise was deafening now. And the world spun around him until it all went black.

"Lestrade, what the bloody hell have you gotten yourself into now?" Greg lifted his head to look at the superintendent at the door.

"Sir?" He asked confused. As far as he knew he hadn't done anything.

"What do you know about Universal Exports?" His boss asked angrily. Greg blanched. He wasn't supposed to know anything about them.

"Uhm…" He started and then winced but carried on anyway. "Nothing, Sir." He said unconvincingly. The man looked at him, not buying his lie for a second.

"Well they know about you apparently. You've been flagged as their liaison." Greg groaned. God damn Holmes's with their noses in his business. This had Mycroft written all over it. And if it wasn't him it was that Greaves guy. Anyway, he had better deal with it.

"Apparently, that was decided, Sir. Why is that relevant?" He asked because his boss wouldn't come to him for nothing.

"Because a punker was beaten up in an alleyway early this morning. Justin Remar, works at Universal Exports. Probably a robbery gone wrong. He screamed his head off which alerted the neighbours. We're still looking for the two suspects who got away. But the vic is not responding to anything we say and combative whenever we try to approach him. And he's about to become your problem. I suggest you get down there and get in touch with your contacts about this guy." The superintendent informed him and then disappeared before he could protest.

Greg groaned again, cursing under his breath. How the hell was he supposed to contact anyone from Universal Exports. He didn't even know what the hell they were supposed to be. He didn't have a phone number to call or anything. The only ones who he knew that knew anything about them were Mycroft bloody Holmes and John. And he sure as hell wasn't going to call Mycroft if he could avoid it. He grabbed his coat and walked out of his office.

"Boss, where are you going?" Donovan asked as he made his way towards the elevator.

"I've got business to take care of. Stay here. I know you're still covered in paperwork from the Jenson-case. I'll be back later, though I don't know how long I'll be." He answered, hoping she would just drop it if he brought it nonchalantly enough. Donovan's eyes narrowed. But she reluctantly nodded.

"Just make sure you check in." She asked, surprising him a bit. Donovan normally wasn't the type to care about that. But it was good to hear that she had his back. She was his second on the team after all.

"I'll make sure to check in with you within two hours." He said a smile on his face. She smiled back and nodded before returning to her work.

The moment he had the car started he dialled John's number.

"John, it's Greg." He said as soon as the phone was answered.

"Greg, it's Mary. John's upstairs. One moment please. Is everything alright?" Mary answered. It reminded Greg of the jackpot John had hit in finding her. She had been very understanding about the fight, especially when he came home without charges being filed. They had all spent a couple of nights in the pub together with Molly since then, getting to know her. Those two really seemed to fit together so well. He was glad he got to go out for pints again, now that the divorce was finally settled. Before, everything was just so complicated.

"Everything is fine, Mary. I just need John's help for a case. I might have to borrow him today. I hope you two didn't have any plans?" He asked, hoping and praying that it wouldn't be a problem.

"No, we didn't have any plans beyond a lazy morning in. And it might be good for him to go with you anyway. He's been a bit bored lately. Here he is. John, it's Greg. He needs you for something." Mary said as she handed the phone over.

"Greg, what can I do for you? I thought you weren't allowed to call in outside help anymore." John asked as he came on.

"Yeah well, you remember the incident a week ago? The one we can't talk about." Greg asked lightly.

"Greg…" John started with a warning in his voice.

"Yeah well, apparently they made me liaison and I just got called in. Can you come?" He asked.

"They made you…" He could hear the astonishment in John's voice. "Yeah, sure, I'll come, mate. Just text me the address." And he rang off.

His phone gave a text-alert a moment later. As he read it, he groaned for what seemed like the millionth time today.

And you'd better call Mycroft. JW