CARAVAN PARK
Back porch
Birkett sat, twiddling his thumbs, not quite sure what to do with himself whilst he waited for news. He wasn't even entirely sure why Carter had left him there. It wasn't like Flynn was going to be stupid enough to hang around in the Bay and it wasn't like he'd be able to do much if he did pay them a visit anyway. He longed for the day where he was the one calling the shots, not running around after Carter.
The distinct sound of a phone ringing interrupted his dreams for the future. Glancing around, he spotted a phone lying on the floor. He bent down, picking it up and debated with himself whether or not to answer. Birkett glanced around, unable to see or hear any sign of life nearby and pressed a button to accept the call.
"Hello? This is Detective Const - "
The end of the line went dead. He glanced at the display. The call was a recognised number, coming from a caller named only "F mobile"
"What are you doing?"
He spun round, feeling guilty for creeping around. If it could be called creeping. Shelley snatched the phone from him
"You had a call... whoever it was hung up"
He looked at her nervously. Maybe he shouldn't have answered. It seemed to have had a personality changing effect on her. Her once motherly attitude had been replaced by a stony glare.
..............................
Rhys paced up and down the small cell. All he could do was think in that place, and all the thinking was driving him mad. Carter had passed by on his way out to inform him of the current situation involving Flynn. He was powerless to do anything about it, other than curse the police force for not doing their jobs properly, which didn't go down too well with Carter. He couldn't even look after his family properly whilst he was stuck in that place. And he didn't know when he'd ever regain his freedom, his control over his life. He only hoped he would be bailed pending the trial. Anything to try and get things back on track as much as possible. Just to sort things out. But Carter had told him there was nothing he could do until the morning, so he just had to sit tight.
..............................
Carter knocked briefly on the front door, which was stood open. Shelley appeared from the kitchen and Jade and Dani looked up from where they were sat on the couch. Max lurked in the hallway, listening into the conversation.
"I know it's late to be calling..."
"Have you got any news?"
Shelley was alarmed by his sudden appearance. It was nearing midnight and none of the kids seemed able to get any sleep. And who could blame them? And she didn't want to go to bed, she had to keep her guard up.
"Not as yet... there have been... complications"
"Such as?"
"Flynn and Kirsty have left the Drop In Centre... he was armed and there wasn't much we could do"
"So where are they now?"
Carter cleared his throat.
"We're still trying to locate them"
"Didn't you follow them?"
Surely that was the logical thing to do. But Carter shook his head
"We tried... things went a bit wrong - like I said, complications"
His fingers twisted the edges of his shirt collar, mildly embarrassed by the stupidity of his officers but too proud to offer an apology. Shelley tried not to let her relief show.
"Anyway, I thought I'd give Birkett a lift back to the station... Flynn's out of the area so there's no immediate danger and I reckon you all need some sleep...so where is he?"
The last time Dani recalled seeing him was when he slipped outside for a breath of fresh air. He had never returned.
"I don't know... I haven't seen him for the last hour..."
Dani walked hurriedly out of the back door, taking a brief look up and down the caravan park before returning and shaking her head. Shelley interrupted the silence.
"I remember now... he told me he was going back home - not much point him being around here anyway and he was exhausted"
Carter frowned. Birkett wasn't half going to hear from him in the morning. He was new to CID but Carter had never thought he would be stupid enough to abandon a job in the middle. Especially when there was a crazed gunman on the loose.
"Right..."
He hesitated, before turning and leaving the house.
..............................
"Name?"
"Phillips"
He looked around the hotel reception. It was a nice place, one of the best in the city apparently. Why not spend the money if he had it? It was what Rose would have wanted. For him to enjoy the future. Besides, it wasn't like he had anyone else to spend it on.
"I've put you in room twenty two"
She slid the key across the counter and he took it, not waiting around.
..............................
Kirsty tugged at the rope typing her hands behind her back, connecting her the handle on the locked door. There was no way she could free herself, Flynn had obviously learnt some useful stuff in the army about tying knots. He lay asleep in the back of the car. They had had to stop before reaching the city as Flynn was nearly falling asleep at the wheel. Even he knew how dangerous that could be. So rather than risk checking into a hotel Flynn had decided to spend the night in the car. His snoring was already driving her mad, there was no chance of her getting any sleep. Ne thing was for sure, it was going to be a long night
..............................
CARAVAN PARK
Morning
Dani drained the last drops of her mug of coffee down her throat. She knew she needed sleep, but she wasn't going to get it anyway. Besides, she had to be there for Jade and Max. Shelley wasn't like she used to be at all. Her whole attitude had changed. All the care she was trying to show seemed somehow forced, every noise at the door tensed her up.
"Hey Dan..."
She looked up at Scott as he entered and smiled faintly
"Sorry I couldn't get here yesterday... there were problems with Kit and Mum needed me at the farm"
"You're here now... that's what matters"
"Any news?"
Dani shakes her head, trying to hold back tears.
"The family's falling apart Scott..."
"Look, I'm gonna take some time off work so I can be here for you"
"No, you don't have to do that"
"I want to... listen, I'm gonna give Kane a call and ask him to take care of things on the boat... I reckon he owes me a few favours"
..............................
Rhys signed his name on the line triumphantly. He was going home. Maybe not for ever, but they were releasing him on bail all the same. At least he could be there for his family, without sitting in the cell being useless. He wasn't due to appear in court for another three weeks.
..............................
HOTEL
Kane collapsed back onto his bed, throwing down his phone and resisting the urge to trash the room. He'd tried to refuse to go into work but he knew he had to keep Scott on side. Besides, it was the only thing he had going for him. His dream job, it had to count for something. He was in a bad enough temper, and now he had to drive all the way back to the Bay to get into work.
..............................
Flynn started up the car. He had slept for longer than he had intended. The police could be closing in and he had wasted hours of precious time.
Kirsty sat, arms folded, in the passenger seat. Her arms were marked by the rope that had tied her arms all night and they had started to sting. The night had been one of the most uncomfortable of her life and exhaustion was starting to take over.
Flynn frowned. A car was approaching them on the other side of the road, badly driven, and Flynn muttered something under his breath about troublesome youths being taught a lesson, resisting the urge to take a shot at the driver. Without warning, the other car swerved slightly, colliding with Flynn's wing mirror, provoking him to swear viciously.
Using Flynn's distraction, Kirsty jerked her car door open and threw herself out, not caring about the possible risks. He hadn't even thought to lock the doors, some criminal he'd turn out to be. Flynn looked across the car, having no time to respond. Stepping onto the brake, he gathered his thoughts, before accelerating again. She wasn't worth stopping for.
Kirsty groaned as she rolled to a halt a couple of metres away from the roadside, attempting to sit up and get her bearings.
The other car had come to a stop now and the driver climbs out, also recovering from the shock of the incident. Snapping out of the daze he had been in whilst behind the wheel. Noticing the crumpled figure by the roadside he walked over, hoping he hadn't been to blame for the incident. Another in a long line of his mistakes. His eyes widening in shock as he saw who it was.
"Kirst... what happened?"
Kirsty couldn't quite believe it was him. Of all the people in the world it could be, it had been Kane that had caused the accident. He knelt by her side, instinctively taking her hand, his voice full of concern.
"Flynn... he..."
She was too choked up to explain the whole sorry story. That it had been Flynn who shot Kane, that he had kidnapped her, not to mention Shelley's involvement. She was just overcome by relief, the tears flowing down her cheeks as she came to terms with what could have happened.
"I know... I know"
She collapsed into his arms as he stroked her hair gently, everything else in the world becoming irrelevant. But he just had to know.
"Kirsty... the phone call..."
He forced himself to pull back slightly, desperate for an explanation.
"Flynn made me... I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."
She clung to him, wishing that the past hours of her life had never happened.
"Shhhh... Look, I'm going to get you back home Babe... you don't have to explain now"
He could see how upset she was. How traumatised she had been by the whole drama. However much he desired an explanation he couldn't bring himself to put her through it. Once she got home she could relax. Rhys was likely to have been released on bail and she'd even have her mother there to look after her.
Back porch
Birkett sat, twiddling his thumbs, not quite sure what to do with himself whilst he waited for news. He wasn't even entirely sure why Carter had left him there. It wasn't like Flynn was going to be stupid enough to hang around in the Bay and it wasn't like he'd be able to do much if he did pay them a visit anyway. He longed for the day where he was the one calling the shots, not running around after Carter.
The distinct sound of a phone ringing interrupted his dreams for the future. Glancing around, he spotted a phone lying on the floor. He bent down, picking it up and debated with himself whether or not to answer. Birkett glanced around, unable to see or hear any sign of life nearby and pressed a button to accept the call.
"Hello? This is Detective Const - "
The end of the line went dead. He glanced at the display. The call was a recognised number, coming from a caller named only "F mobile"
"What are you doing?"
He spun round, feeling guilty for creeping around. If it could be called creeping. Shelley snatched the phone from him
"You had a call... whoever it was hung up"
He looked at her nervously. Maybe he shouldn't have answered. It seemed to have had a personality changing effect on her. Her once motherly attitude had been replaced by a stony glare.
..............................
Rhys paced up and down the small cell. All he could do was think in that place, and all the thinking was driving him mad. Carter had passed by on his way out to inform him of the current situation involving Flynn. He was powerless to do anything about it, other than curse the police force for not doing their jobs properly, which didn't go down too well with Carter. He couldn't even look after his family properly whilst he was stuck in that place. And he didn't know when he'd ever regain his freedom, his control over his life. He only hoped he would be bailed pending the trial. Anything to try and get things back on track as much as possible. Just to sort things out. But Carter had told him there was nothing he could do until the morning, so he just had to sit tight.
..............................
Carter knocked briefly on the front door, which was stood open. Shelley appeared from the kitchen and Jade and Dani looked up from where they were sat on the couch. Max lurked in the hallway, listening into the conversation.
"I know it's late to be calling..."
"Have you got any news?"
Shelley was alarmed by his sudden appearance. It was nearing midnight and none of the kids seemed able to get any sleep. And who could blame them? And she didn't want to go to bed, she had to keep her guard up.
"Not as yet... there have been... complications"
"Such as?"
"Flynn and Kirsty have left the Drop In Centre... he was armed and there wasn't much we could do"
"So where are they now?"
Carter cleared his throat.
"We're still trying to locate them"
"Didn't you follow them?"
Surely that was the logical thing to do. But Carter shook his head
"We tried... things went a bit wrong - like I said, complications"
His fingers twisted the edges of his shirt collar, mildly embarrassed by the stupidity of his officers but too proud to offer an apology. Shelley tried not to let her relief show.
"Anyway, I thought I'd give Birkett a lift back to the station... Flynn's out of the area so there's no immediate danger and I reckon you all need some sleep...so where is he?"
The last time Dani recalled seeing him was when he slipped outside for a breath of fresh air. He had never returned.
"I don't know... I haven't seen him for the last hour..."
Dani walked hurriedly out of the back door, taking a brief look up and down the caravan park before returning and shaking her head. Shelley interrupted the silence.
"I remember now... he told me he was going back home - not much point him being around here anyway and he was exhausted"
Carter frowned. Birkett wasn't half going to hear from him in the morning. He was new to CID but Carter had never thought he would be stupid enough to abandon a job in the middle. Especially when there was a crazed gunman on the loose.
"Right..."
He hesitated, before turning and leaving the house.
..............................
"Name?"
"Phillips"
He looked around the hotel reception. It was a nice place, one of the best in the city apparently. Why not spend the money if he had it? It was what Rose would have wanted. For him to enjoy the future. Besides, it wasn't like he had anyone else to spend it on.
"I've put you in room twenty two"
She slid the key across the counter and he took it, not waiting around.
..............................
Kirsty tugged at the rope typing her hands behind her back, connecting her the handle on the locked door. There was no way she could free herself, Flynn had obviously learnt some useful stuff in the army about tying knots. He lay asleep in the back of the car. They had had to stop before reaching the city as Flynn was nearly falling asleep at the wheel. Even he knew how dangerous that could be. So rather than risk checking into a hotel Flynn had decided to spend the night in the car. His snoring was already driving her mad, there was no chance of her getting any sleep. Ne thing was for sure, it was going to be a long night
..............................
CARAVAN PARK
Morning
Dani drained the last drops of her mug of coffee down her throat. She knew she needed sleep, but she wasn't going to get it anyway. Besides, she had to be there for Jade and Max. Shelley wasn't like she used to be at all. Her whole attitude had changed. All the care she was trying to show seemed somehow forced, every noise at the door tensed her up.
"Hey Dan..."
She looked up at Scott as he entered and smiled faintly
"Sorry I couldn't get here yesterday... there were problems with Kit and Mum needed me at the farm"
"You're here now... that's what matters"
"Any news?"
Dani shakes her head, trying to hold back tears.
"The family's falling apart Scott..."
"Look, I'm gonna take some time off work so I can be here for you"
"No, you don't have to do that"
"I want to... listen, I'm gonna give Kane a call and ask him to take care of things on the boat... I reckon he owes me a few favours"
..............................
Rhys signed his name on the line triumphantly. He was going home. Maybe not for ever, but they were releasing him on bail all the same. At least he could be there for his family, without sitting in the cell being useless. He wasn't due to appear in court for another three weeks.
..............................
HOTEL
Kane collapsed back onto his bed, throwing down his phone and resisting the urge to trash the room. He'd tried to refuse to go into work but he knew he had to keep Scott on side. Besides, it was the only thing he had going for him. His dream job, it had to count for something. He was in a bad enough temper, and now he had to drive all the way back to the Bay to get into work.
..............................
Flynn started up the car. He had slept for longer than he had intended. The police could be closing in and he had wasted hours of precious time.
Kirsty sat, arms folded, in the passenger seat. Her arms were marked by the rope that had tied her arms all night and they had started to sting. The night had been one of the most uncomfortable of her life and exhaustion was starting to take over.
Flynn frowned. A car was approaching them on the other side of the road, badly driven, and Flynn muttered something under his breath about troublesome youths being taught a lesson, resisting the urge to take a shot at the driver. Without warning, the other car swerved slightly, colliding with Flynn's wing mirror, provoking him to swear viciously.
Using Flynn's distraction, Kirsty jerked her car door open and threw herself out, not caring about the possible risks. He hadn't even thought to lock the doors, some criminal he'd turn out to be. Flynn looked across the car, having no time to respond. Stepping onto the brake, he gathered his thoughts, before accelerating again. She wasn't worth stopping for.
Kirsty groaned as she rolled to a halt a couple of metres away from the roadside, attempting to sit up and get her bearings.
The other car had come to a stop now and the driver climbs out, also recovering from the shock of the incident. Snapping out of the daze he had been in whilst behind the wheel. Noticing the crumpled figure by the roadside he walked over, hoping he hadn't been to blame for the incident. Another in a long line of his mistakes. His eyes widening in shock as he saw who it was.
"Kirst... what happened?"
Kirsty couldn't quite believe it was him. Of all the people in the world it could be, it had been Kane that had caused the accident. He knelt by her side, instinctively taking her hand, his voice full of concern.
"Flynn... he..."
She was too choked up to explain the whole sorry story. That it had been Flynn who shot Kane, that he had kidnapped her, not to mention Shelley's involvement. She was just overcome by relief, the tears flowing down her cheeks as she came to terms with what could have happened.
"I know... I know"
She collapsed into his arms as he stroked her hair gently, everything else in the world becoming irrelevant. But he just had to know.
"Kirsty... the phone call..."
He forced himself to pull back slightly, desperate for an explanation.
"Flynn made me... I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."
She clung to him, wishing that the past hours of her life had never happened.
"Shhhh... Look, I'm going to get you back home Babe... you don't have to explain now"
He could see how upset she was. How traumatised she had been by the whole drama. However much he desired an explanation he couldn't bring himself to put her through it. Once she got home she could relax. Rhys was likely to have been released on bail and she'd even have her mother there to look after her.