LONDON'S BURNING
Flight of the Phoenix
Part 2 - Cheat (Adam's Story)

It hadn't been the first time he had slept with a married woman, but they had usually lost their husbands somewhere first. Emma, however, hadn't been entirley truthful when it came to the subject of her husband. The news came as a shock, not to mention embarrassment when both men found out.

It was the reason he had transferred, but getting his fingers burned once hadn't put him off women. In fact the effect had been the total opposite – the danger made them more appealing.

He had been seeing her for a couple of months before the penny finally dropped at the Watch's social gathering to celebrate a birthday. Not just any birthday either. The party was for Station Officer Tony Mills – Emma's husband.

During the party, Adam managed to grab Emma and drag her outside where he demanded to know what she had been playing at.

"Chill out, Adam," she remained calm and couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

"No I won't!" he was amazed that she could be so calm at a time like this. "He's my boss!"

"Yeah, I know."

"You know?!"

"Yeah, we've got a great big picture of you lot on the mantle piece! Tony's pride and joy!"

"Wha…" he started. "I don't believe this."

She had known what she had been doing. She tried to kiss him, but he pushed her away.

"Just keep away from me!" he ordered her. "I don't want anything to do with you!"

She looked hurt at his rejection. "I could always tell him…"

"You wouldn't."

She shrugged. "Try me."

With that she stalked off back to the party and stayed by Tony's side all night so that Adam couldn't talk to her again without rousing suspicions, and that was the last thing he wanted.

He later realised that Emma must have told Tony when Adam found his nose making contact with Tony's fist. He didn't have a chance to explain either, Tony refused to listen, so did the rest of the Watch. Adam decided to transfer.

"It wasn't my fault," he was telling Hyper.

Hyper nodded, ready to believe him. "It doesn't seem to have stopped you though!"

"I stopped taking women seriously. You can't trust them."

"Well, I wouldn't know about that, mate! Is she the one you were talking to this morning?"

Adam nodded.

The pump crew had been out inspecting hydrants earlier that day. Adam had been distracted when he saw his blast from the past – Emma.

"Adam! Fancy seeing you here!" she recognised him immediately.

"Emma," he didn't really want to speak to her at the moment, in fact he didn't ever want to speak to her.

"How've you been?" she asked eagerly.

"Fine."

"Did you hear about Tony?"

"No."

"He lost his job, a few months back."

Adam looked at her, wondering if he should take it seriously. "Why?" he asked casually.

"For doing this," Emma pulled up her shirt sleeve to reveal a small red burn. "He's been Hell since you left."

"He didn't need to do that! I hope he went down!"

"Yeah, but he's out now. I don't know where he is, I've left him. But I think I should warn you, he blames you for everything," she explained. "Watch your back, I think he might come looking for you."

"You don't think he's responsible?" Hyper asked as Adam finished telling him about the conversation with Emma.

Adam shrugged. "If he can do something like that to his wife…" he paused. "The guy's off his rocker! And now he's after me!"

"Well, you did have an affair with his wife!" Hyper pointed out.

"Yeah, well maybe I deserve it, but you lot don't! If he is Phoenix, then this is all my fault!"

"Maybe you should tell the police," Hyper advised.

Adam considered it. "Yeah, maybe I will."

London's Burning – Flight of the Phoenix – Cheat © Karen Moody 10/06/2002