Chapter 2 - Truth
John groaned as the clock radio began to blare out the voices of Russ and Jonno. He couldn't get how those two could be such comedians at 6:30am. He stretched his arms out, his hands resting on Claire's waist.
"Morning gorgeous" she said groggily, leaning over to kiss him. Her head rested on his chest as she began to think about the things she had to do that day. One of them included a visit to her "mother" before work. She couldn't bear lying to John again, but it had to be done.
"Come on, John" she whispered, "time to get up."
"No. too early. no work today"
"Yes, we can't be late again, Meadows will kill us. Come on, get up now and I might even let you scrub my back."
It didn't take John a second to reply. "Ok"
*~*~*
"You ready yet, Claire?" John called into the bathroom. Why on earth did it take women so long to get ready for work, he wondered, but he knew to keep his nose out of it.
"Hey John, you go on ahead, I need to drop in on mum so I'll see you at the office later" she replied as she walked into the living room.
"You sure?"
"Yeah I just want to make sure she's alright"
"Ok" he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her. "I'll see you later"
"Course you will" she said "Bye"
*~*~*
"John" called Jack, as he walked into the office. "We need you on surveillance. There was another attack on a Jewish man in Sharrows Park last night, and this weekend is Rosh Hashanah, so Mr Brownlow doesn't want to take any chances"
"Do we have any idea who might be involved? Any distinction between either Nazi or Palestinian sympathisers?"
"Not as yet, no. But what we do know is that they're a large group of young men, and they dress in black jackets. I want you in the car watching the park with Don, Mickey will be on the other side, near the pond. Nick Klein has volunteered to be our bait"
"Are you sure that's a good idea Gov?"
"He'll be up to it. He says a lot of his friends live in that area and he wants to be as part of this operation as possible"
"Right. I'll be getting over then"
"Just be careful. Uniform will be providing backup, and please, no heroics this time ok?"
*~*~*
"Why the hell did you want to see me on the patch? Don't you realise you could be compromising your position?" Hodges demanded
"Gov, to be honest with you, I really don't care any more" Claire complained. "It's been going on far too long, well over a year, I have been lying to my friends, my family, and my colleagues and I don't know how much longer I'll be able to put up with this charade."
Hodges noticed the ring on her finger. "Claire, what's that?' he asked coldly
"Oh, haven't I told you the happy news" she replied sarcastically. "John and I are getting married"
Hodges couldn't believe it. "I don't believe you Claire. You're going to ruin this hole operation"
"No Gov, you're ruining the operation. I told you months ago that I wanted to be pulled out but you didn't. I haven't done anything Gov, except fall in love, and I don't care what you or anyone else at CIB thinks of that. I love John, I love him with all my heart, and nothing is going to ruin that"
*~*~*
"So, how are the wedding plans coming along?" Don asked, as he John sat in the car, overlooking Sharrows Park.
"Pretty good, Claire wants spring, says all the flowers will be out and it'll be really pretty, so that sounds nice. We haven't decided where though. Neither of us is religious, so we're kind of looking at the prospect on Canley High road"
"Sounds perfect mate. You known, when my brother got married." Don went on, as John stared out the window, his binoculars focused on two people sitting in the park.
Who the hell was that man talking to Claire, thought John. He knew her mother lived over the other side of Canley, and as for brothers, well; it was just her and her sister Linda. John pulled out his phone and dialled John's number.
Over the other side of the park, Claire's phone began to ring. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the screen. She sighed as she cancelled the call.
"Who was it?"
"No one. look, either you get me out or you'll have my resignation in the morning," Claire threatened
"Look Claire, just think about it. You hang in there just a little longer and we'll nail him, and then you'll be free to do what ever you want"
Claire had had enough. She got up and left Hodges, striding over to her car, getting away from Sharrows Park as fast as she could, all the while not noticing the familiar blue car across the road.
*~*~*
"Guv, have you seen John? He hasn't been around all day" Claire asked, happy to be at the end of the shift
"No, he's been on observation all day with Don and Mickey over at Sharrows Park. Say he's probably gone home, the guys they nabbed aren't talking without a brief, and they won't be here til the morning"
"All day? Was he there this morning?"
"Yeah, started about 8:30 over on the High street side, near the cinema. Is there a problem?"
Claire struggled to grasp the information. Sharrows Park, cinema side at 8:30. That means he would have seen her with Hodges, she thought, worried that John's scouse temper would lead him to the very wrong conclusion.
"You up for a drink tonight Claire?"
"No, I think John will be waiting for me" she replied, softly, all the while thinking about what she was going to say to the man she loved.
*~*~*
The flat was in absolute darkness as Claire opened the door. The mail still sat at the door, untouched, and as she bent down quietly to pick the up, a voice called out to her
"So, who is he Claire?"
"John? What are you doing in the dark?" she asked, hoping that somehow she might be able to skirt over the subject.
"Oh, don't play dumb with me Claire. I saw you to in Sharrows Park this morning, when you said you'd be visiting your mother"
"Oh, him. He's. he's just an old friend"
"Oh don't lie to me Claire. I know you wouldn't be meeting an old friend in the Jewish part of town at that hour of the morning!"
"Don't John, please" Claire begged, as she felt the warm tears fall down her face. "It's not what you think it is, really"
"Give me one good reason why I should believe you. Have you been lying all this time? What do I really know about you?"
"This is all of me John. And you should know me enough o know that I'd never hurt you, no matter what"
"You're going pretty good so far" he commented. "Just tell me the truth," he whimpered, his emotions quickly taking over him as he leant against the bedroom dresser, his head down, shaking.
"Ok. but you must promise me that you will never repeat this to anyone. I've hated having to keep this secret from you, but they made me do it."
"Who are they?"
With a shaky hand, Claire handed over her official warrant card. For what seemed like forever, John just stared at it. Claire Elizabeth Stanton, CIB.
"I'm so sorry" she whispered, breaking the icy silence between them. "I didn't think it would go on for this long"
"Is it me?"
"What?"
"Is it me you're investigating? Is that why you're with me? Just so you can get some result and then run out of my life, never to return"
"No, John, please it's not like that" she cried
"Then what is it like, Claire? What is it?"
"Its. its Don"
"What?"
"I've been following Don ever since I came to Sun Hill. I was placed here under the command of Superintendent Hodges from CIB to investigate him for corrupt conduct."
"You what? He's my best mate!"
"Yeah, I know. That's why I found it so hard to tell you. I love you so much John, I want us to get married, be happy. I just hope that you want the same"
John looked the ground. He couldn't believe that both Don and Claire had betrayed him. Don was supposed to be his best mate, he knew that Don was dodgy, but not dodgy enough to have CIB on his case.
"John? Are you Ok?" "I. I just can't believe it. Don's my best mate and I didn't even notice his dodgy dealings. Do the guv'nors know about this?"
"No. Just me. If you want to end it John. I understand. I know that I have lied to you, and I'm so sorry, but if you want me to go, just say the word, and I'll go. Back to Oxford, you'll never see me again"
John pondered on her words for what seemed hours. "No"
"What?"
"I love you Claire. I've loved you since the first time I set eyes on you, and I want you in my life, no matter who you are"
"Are you serious. you still love me?"
"Of course I do. nothing, no one, not Don, not your Super, no one will break our love. I love you, always remember that" he told her, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"You have no idea how happy that makes me feel" she replied. "This makes our love stronger than ever"
John groaned as the clock radio began to blare out the voices of Russ and Jonno. He couldn't get how those two could be such comedians at 6:30am. He stretched his arms out, his hands resting on Claire's waist.
"Morning gorgeous" she said groggily, leaning over to kiss him. Her head rested on his chest as she began to think about the things she had to do that day. One of them included a visit to her "mother" before work. She couldn't bear lying to John again, but it had to be done.
"Come on, John" she whispered, "time to get up."
"No. too early. no work today"
"Yes, we can't be late again, Meadows will kill us. Come on, get up now and I might even let you scrub my back."
It didn't take John a second to reply. "Ok"
*~*~*
"You ready yet, Claire?" John called into the bathroom. Why on earth did it take women so long to get ready for work, he wondered, but he knew to keep his nose out of it.
"Hey John, you go on ahead, I need to drop in on mum so I'll see you at the office later" she replied as she walked into the living room.
"You sure?"
"Yeah I just want to make sure she's alright"
"Ok" he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her. "I'll see you later"
"Course you will" she said "Bye"
*~*~*
"John" called Jack, as he walked into the office. "We need you on surveillance. There was another attack on a Jewish man in Sharrows Park last night, and this weekend is Rosh Hashanah, so Mr Brownlow doesn't want to take any chances"
"Do we have any idea who might be involved? Any distinction between either Nazi or Palestinian sympathisers?"
"Not as yet, no. But what we do know is that they're a large group of young men, and they dress in black jackets. I want you in the car watching the park with Don, Mickey will be on the other side, near the pond. Nick Klein has volunteered to be our bait"
"Are you sure that's a good idea Gov?"
"He'll be up to it. He says a lot of his friends live in that area and he wants to be as part of this operation as possible"
"Right. I'll be getting over then"
"Just be careful. Uniform will be providing backup, and please, no heroics this time ok?"
*~*~*
"Why the hell did you want to see me on the patch? Don't you realise you could be compromising your position?" Hodges demanded
"Gov, to be honest with you, I really don't care any more" Claire complained. "It's been going on far too long, well over a year, I have been lying to my friends, my family, and my colleagues and I don't know how much longer I'll be able to put up with this charade."
Hodges noticed the ring on her finger. "Claire, what's that?' he asked coldly
"Oh, haven't I told you the happy news" she replied sarcastically. "John and I are getting married"
Hodges couldn't believe it. "I don't believe you Claire. You're going to ruin this hole operation"
"No Gov, you're ruining the operation. I told you months ago that I wanted to be pulled out but you didn't. I haven't done anything Gov, except fall in love, and I don't care what you or anyone else at CIB thinks of that. I love John, I love him with all my heart, and nothing is going to ruin that"
*~*~*
"So, how are the wedding plans coming along?" Don asked, as he John sat in the car, overlooking Sharrows Park.
"Pretty good, Claire wants spring, says all the flowers will be out and it'll be really pretty, so that sounds nice. We haven't decided where though. Neither of us is religious, so we're kind of looking at the prospect on Canley High road"
"Sounds perfect mate. You known, when my brother got married." Don went on, as John stared out the window, his binoculars focused on two people sitting in the park.
Who the hell was that man talking to Claire, thought John. He knew her mother lived over the other side of Canley, and as for brothers, well; it was just her and her sister Linda. John pulled out his phone and dialled John's number.
Over the other side of the park, Claire's phone began to ring. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the screen. She sighed as she cancelled the call.
"Who was it?"
"No one. look, either you get me out or you'll have my resignation in the morning," Claire threatened
"Look Claire, just think about it. You hang in there just a little longer and we'll nail him, and then you'll be free to do what ever you want"
Claire had had enough. She got up and left Hodges, striding over to her car, getting away from Sharrows Park as fast as she could, all the while not noticing the familiar blue car across the road.
*~*~*
"Guv, have you seen John? He hasn't been around all day" Claire asked, happy to be at the end of the shift
"No, he's been on observation all day with Don and Mickey over at Sharrows Park. Say he's probably gone home, the guys they nabbed aren't talking without a brief, and they won't be here til the morning"
"All day? Was he there this morning?"
"Yeah, started about 8:30 over on the High street side, near the cinema. Is there a problem?"
Claire struggled to grasp the information. Sharrows Park, cinema side at 8:30. That means he would have seen her with Hodges, she thought, worried that John's scouse temper would lead him to the very wrong conclusion.
"You up for a drink tonight Claire?"
"No, I think John will be waiting for me" she replied, softly, all the while thinking about what she was going to say to the man she loved.
*~*~*
The flat was in absolute darkness as Claire opened the door. The mail still sat at the door, untouched, and as she bent down quietly to pick the up, a voice called out to her
"So, who is he Claire?"
"John? What are you doing in the dark?" she asked, hoping that somehow she might be able to skirt over the subject.
"Oh, don't play dumb with me Claire. I saw you to in Sharrows Park this morning, when you said you'd be visiting your mother"
"Oh, him. He's. he's just an old friend"
"Oh don't lie to me Claire. I know you wouldn't be meeting an old friend in the Jewish part of town at that hour of the morning!"
"Don't John, please" Claire begged, as she felt the warm tears fall down her face. "It's not what you think it is, really"
"Give me one good reason why I should believe you. Have you been lying all this time? What do I really know about you?"
"This is all of me John. And you should know me enough o know that I'd never hurt you, no matter what"
"You're going pretty good so far" he commented. "Just tell me the truth," he whimpered, his emotions quickly taking over him as he leant against the bedroom dresser, his head down, shaking.
"Ok. but you must promise me that you will never repeat this to anyone. I've hated having to keep this secret from you, but they made me do it."
"Who are they?"
With a shaky hand, Claire handed over her official warrant card. For what seemed like forever, John just stared at it. Claire Elizabeth Stanton, CIB.
"I'm so sorry" she whispered, breaking the icy silence between them. "I didn't think it would go on for this long"
"Is it me?"
"What?"
"Is it me you're investigating? Is that why you're with me? Just so you can get some result and then run out of my life, never to return"
"No, John, please it's not like that" she cried
"Then what is it like, Claire? What is it?"
"Its. its Don"
"What?"
"I've been following Don ever since I came to Sun Hill. I was placed here under the command of Superintendent Hodges from CIB to investigate him for corrupt conduct."
"You what? He's my best mate!"
"Yeah, I know. That's why I found it so hard to tell you. I love you so much John, I want us to get married, be happy. I just hope that you want the same"
John looked the ground. He couldn't believe that both Don and Claire had betrayed him. Don was supposed to be his best mate, he knew that Don was dodgy, but not dodgy enough to have CIB on his case.
"John? Are you Ok?" "I. I just can't believe it. Don's my best mate and I didn't even notice his dodgy dealings. Do the guv'nors know about this?"
"No. Just me. If you want to end it John. I understand. I know that I have lied to you, and I'm so sorry, but if you want me to go, just say the word, and I'll go. Back to Oxford, you'll never see me again"
John pondered on her words for what seemed hours. "No"
"What?"
"I love you Claire. I've loved you since the first time I set eyes on you, and I want you in my life, no matter who you are"
"Are you serious. you still love me?"
"Of course I do. nothing, no one, not Don, not your Super, no one will break our love. I love you, always remember that" he told her, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"You have no idea how happy that makes me feel" she replied. "This makes our love stronger than ever"