The Bill: Corruption
Chapter 10: At the Hotel
At the hotel reception desk Marion Raye and Stephen Hodges were desperately hoping for some vacancies. The hotel had one room left and so without anywhere else to go the two settled into the room for the night (Or what was left of it.)
"Remember last time we were stuck in a hotel together Ste?"
"Don't remind me. That was embarrassing; especially with what's his name walking in."
"Yeah at least it wasn't the gov. Can you imagine?"
"Yeah, we really would've been dead then. Do you ever miss the ole' days Mar?"
"Sometimes. In fact change that to most of the time. You?"
"Yeah. It was a lot easier then; and more fun."
"I know what ya mean. So what am ya gonna talk to what's the names about when ya get in?"
"Who? Claire and John you mean? Nothing much; just about the sticky situation I found them in this morning. I was just trying to put the frighteners on them really."
"Oh come on, do tell. What sticky situation?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yes, come on Ste, Spill it"
"Ok I walked in to find them cuddled up together; then I went to fetch some coffee and when I came back they was awake and turned as red as a beetroot an jumped away from each other like there was a bomb there. You draw your own conclusions from that?"
"Ah, I see; but if I remember right we've been in more embarrassing situations than that Ste."
"Yeah I know. Now that I think about it, it was all pretty innocent; especially considering some of the things we've done. To tell you the truth Mar, I think it was shock more than anything. I was expecting them to still be asleep."
"Yeah, well talking about sleep if we don't stop chatting all night, neither of us will be up for work in the morning."
"That wouldn't be so bad would it Mar?" "Well in normal circumstances I'd say no, lets stay up all night, but considering the fact if we're not up for the bus in the morning we'll be stranded for even longer, I don't think that's such a good idea do you Ste?"
"Suppose not, night then Mar!"
"Night." With that they both fell asleep.
Several hours later at CIB HQ most of the staff was coming into work. In the residential suite Claire and John were just waking up. "Arrrggg," yawned Claire, I knew we shouldn't have stayed up all night. "John, John, wake up, it's morning."
"Arrrggg, what do you mean its morning? I only just got to sleep."
"It's 10am and Hodges is gonna kill us. He said to meet him in his office at 9."
"Oh, just give me 10 more minutes; I can't keep me eyes open."
"Come on lazy bones, get up." Claire said whilst rolling him over and shaking his shoulders to wake him up.
"Ok, Ok, I'm up. Give it a rest already."
With that the two tidied up and headed down the stairs to the office. When they got there no one was in. "That's strange," states Claire, "The Gov should have been in hours ago. This door's locked and if he's actually been in this door would be open. It looks like he hasn't been in all morning."
"So what do we do now?"
"Well I've got a spare key so we'll go in and I'll call him. Hopefully he'll have written down what he had planned for today. So we'll start on that. If not we'll just sit around till he gets here." replied Claire fishing the spare key out of her pocket and attempting to unlock the door.
Once inside the office Claire flicked on the light and searched the office for the plans for the day. "Arr, here they are, now let's see, gather all evidence and decide next step in Beech case. We can do that." She then picked up the phone receiver and dialled Hodges mobile number.
#Ring ring, ring ring, ring ring.#
In the hotel the sound of a mobile phone ringing woke up Stephen and Marion. "Who's phone is that?" whispered Marion realising she was not at home and alone.
"Mine I think," answered Stephen waking up and reaching for the phone. "Hello!" he said into the phone drowsily.
"Gov, where are you? You were supposed to be in hour's ago." said the voice on the other end of the line. At that he sat bolt upright. "What time is it?"
"It's now just turned 11am. Where are you? What are you doing?"
"11? You have got to be joking?"
"No."
"Ok, I'll be in as soon as I can. See you in a bit." With that he hung up.
"Who was that? What did they want?"
"It was Claire. They're wondering where I am considering its 11am and I should have been in work at 8 this morning."
"11? Oh my god, I had no idea it was that late."
"Neither did I. Come on before they send out a search party."
"Now that would be a tragedy."
"You've been watching too much TV Mar."
"I know. Nothings been going on lately I was bored so I sat flicking TV channels
You should have come round."
"Yeah well I didn't wanna disturb you. So are we moving or staying here all day."
"Don't give me the idea"
They both packed up there stuff and checked out of the hotel then walked down the road to the bus stop. The bus came shortly after they got there. Once on the bus they sat down near the front. "Let's head to sun hill first I left my car just round the corner from the station"
"Ok then, it's just as easy Mar, let's do that."
They got off the bus at the stop closest to sun hill police station and then walked down the road to Marion's car she opened up the boot and they put their stuff inside they shut the boot then jumped inside and drove off in the direction of CIB headquarters.