The Bill: Corruption
Chapter 13: Operation Beat Beech.
The next day they didn't wake up till 11am. They rushed to get ready and made their way back to CIB HQ.
They arrived shortly after 1pm and quickly set to work on organizing the operation to catch Beech.
"You know Mar," started Stephen, "You ought to think about paying Sun Hill another visit; you haven't been there in over 3 days now and it's gonna start to look a bit suspicious you know."
"What do you mean, haven't been to Sun Hill for 3 days?" asks Claire, "I mean you was there yesterday morning wasn't you?"
Whoops. think Stephen and Marion, This one's not going to be easy to explain! Why did I just mention that?
Claire looked from one to the other and back again. "Well?" she asks, not letting them off the hook.
"Ermm ..., it's a long story," insisted Stephen, "and you definitely don't wanna here it."
"This is beginning to sound interesting," stated John, "so come on; this I've gotta see."
I can't wait to see how he gets out of this one, thinks Claire.
"Ok, you know last night I told you that story about me getting stranded?"
"Yes, go on," prompted John and Claire.
"Well there was a bit more to the story than I let on; you see ... I wasn't stranded alone. You get the picture?"
"Yes, no I see why you didn't want me to pick you up. It could've been a bit embarrassing, right?"
"You don't know the half of it." Damn. What did I have to say that for? I could've got away without saying anymore.
"Oh yeah? Like what? I think you've got a bit more explaining to do, don't you?"
Me and my big mouth. thinks Stephen. Luckily he is saved when the telephone rings. "Hello!" he says into the receiver, "NO I'm sorry, I can't help you I'm afraid," he says a few seconds later, "Yes, of course, ok, bye bye."
"What was all that about?" asked Marion when he put down the receiver.
"It was Sun Hill. They wanted to know if I'd seen you." He said referring to Marion; "I said no of course, but I'd like to know how they got this number, or even thought to call here."
"Opps," said Marion, "I accidentally left the number on the desk from when I called the other day. I forgot all about it."
"Careless."
"You think I don't know that Ste?"
John was right! thinks Claire, There's definitely something going on between them two. I've never seen the gov go all ... soft like that before. Weird.
At Sun Hill DS Gary Whitehouse was getting slightly worried about his missing DCI. She hasn't been here for over 3 days and nobody has had any contact with her. I hope she's all right; and who the hell was that on the phone? CIB? What would she want with CIB?
"Y'know Mar, you ought to call Sun Hill, that guy on the phone sounded kinda worried about you."
"Who? DS Gary Whitehouse? He worries about everything, and besides even if I did call I wouldn't know what to say."
"Hmm ... (LONG PAUSE) ... say you found John and put him in a safe house, saying you're the only person he'll let near or something. Of course on the other hand you could always just tell the truth ... hmm. As long as you don't say where we are then it should be pretty safe."
"Ok, that sounds like the best option. I'll say that I got in touch with an old friend who has some contacts in high places and I've found John, and he's in a safe house where nobody can get to him. Sound ok Ste?"
"Yeah sounds fine. Just make sure you use your mobile to make the call. It will be harder for anyone to trace then."
Marion called DS Whitehouse and explained what was going on. DS Whitehouse then told her how much they had found and they discussed what he should do next.
Sometime later the four sitting in the CIB office devised a detailed plan on how to catch Beech, now codenamed 'Beat Beech'. They worked on getting together all the resources they needed for the operation and finalized the details on what was to be done, how and when?
At 8pm that evening the operation 'Beat Beech' was well under way. They had followed their target to an old abandoned factory building in a disused area of town. All exits were covered once the target was in the building and there was no way for him to get out unnoticed. At the appropriate moment Stephen yelled "GO, GO, GO," into the radio and everyone rushed into the building to catch Beech.
After a lot of shouting and running about, all targets were apprehended and locked into the vans to be taken away. John and Claire stayed at CIB HQ during the raid for safety reasons.
"Hello Don," said Marion when she caught him, "Long time, and no see I believe."
Don gulped and was led away.
"Well I think that's just about everyone," stated Stephen heading back to the car. (HIS IS STILL IN THE GARAGE SO HE IS USING AN OFFICE ONE.)