Prologue Part II
"Maya, where's the former Guv?" This is the second day after the incident. No one has seen the former Guv since, who is Gene's nasty ex copper of an uncle, now presumably elderly.
"I dunno." Ray looks up from the magazine he has been reading, seeing that DC Maya Roy is ready to pounce "Have you tried contacting Gene's uncle? At home?"
"No." He's been contemplating it, yes, but something has kept him from driving round his former Guv's house. He doesn't know how Tyler and Hunt do it, paying calls to his retired colleague frequently enough, but he himself... No, Ray Carling can't bring himself to pay a visit to his old Guv, especially not now.
PCSO Cartwright straightens up, frowning. "But... we need to do something."
"Not our problem, send it to the Cold Case Unit" Ray mutters, glancing down at his magazine again. "Guv's his own man, isn't he."
"What? How... how can you say that? Ray," said Liz shocked by her own outrage "He's supposed to be here awaiting Custody!"
"We can't just let Gene's uncle run from responsibility like that, even though he used to work here! We found out the whole thing was a ruse after SOCO e-mailed us, he needs to know, and he needs to face what he did to S-" Suddenly, she breaks off, as though she's just choked on something, and looks away. The whole department including Gene is looking at her now.
"If Gerry Hunt doesn't show up for Custody by tomorrow, send ex DS Phyllis Dobbs to his house. That might bring him round to his senses." Everyone gets back to their desktop computers and PCSO Liz Cartwright walks back to the Police Community Support Officers department without saying another word.
Lunch break. Gene walks through the entrance of the St. James's hospital, up to reception.
"Anyone been to visit DCI Tyler, luv?" asked Gene wearing his beloved leather jacket, a casual but smart light green collared shirt and jeans adorned with black Doc Martens. The receptionist was scrolling through the computer records of visitors to the hospital. "Uhm... bloke with dark hair styled into a mullet, kinda nervous... Turned up pretty early."
Ah. So that's why Chris was late this morning, the cheeky div. thought DS Gene Hunt though he secretly admired the young PCSO checking on their boss before the dawn shift at Greater Manchester Police's main Stopford House, Salford.
"Anyone else? Big bloke, grey 'air, camel 'air coat...? Looks like me old man?" Gene wondered to himself. The receptionist thinks for a moment, brow creased, before shaking her head. "No.. don't think so. I didn't see no-one, at least." finding there was no computer records under visitors for a former DCI who obviously spent a number of decades running around Manchester.
Gene Hunt nods his thanks and makes his way to Tyler's room, already knowing the way by heart.
He opens the door gingerly – not so much as to disturb Tyler, but rather because he doesn't want to stay, should the bloke have woken up. However, the Boss is still out cold, and so Gene was made Acting DCI in lieu of the significant incident.
DCI Tyler's breathing is shallow all of a sudden, loud, irregular, and oh God he's backing away, panic standing clear as day in his face, but he's moving too much, he'll pull out the IV tube and he's trying to say something but that hurts him somehow and he seizes up, eyes scrunched shut against the pain, mouth open, gasping..
After they've sedated Tyler again – doesn't look like he managed to hurt himself seriously, thankfully – Gene drives right back to the station, feeling decidedly sick. This situation is too messed up, he can't deal with it himself.
And for the first time, Gene's angry. Angry with his uncle Hunt. Angry with him because he is hiding, and leaving Ray and the others to deal with this, his bloody mess. Angry with Sam sodding Tyler, for doing or saying whatever through no fault of his own, that made Ray's Guv lose control. Angry with PCSO Cartwright, because she was right all along and they should have called the retired Guv into Custody immediately and made him bear the consequences.
