The Sharp End.

Part III

DS Juliet Roan knocked on the office door and waited "Enter!" summoned a deep voice

"Ah, DS Roan, good to see you" Said Okaro "How are you feeling?"

"Better Sir, thank you"

"Good, I'd like you to meet Acting DI Samantha Nixon, she'll be taking over from DI Manson until we hear either way"

"Ma'am" said Juliet

"Hi, Juliet" began Sam "I'm afraid we have some good news and some bad news" she paused and looked at Okaro "Gardiner has been released on a technicality, and we fear that he may come after you and Debbie for reprisals"

"We have arranged round the clock uniform protection for you" said Okaro

"And Debbie?" asked Juliet

"She is in a safe house," replied Sam "Unfortunately this means you cannot start here until we find something to arrest and charge Gardiner for"

Juliet sighed "And the good news?"

"No action will be taken against you regarding this almighty cock up"

"Thank you sir" murmured Juliet "I'm staying at the station House at the moment, surely I'll be safe there?"

"We can't take that risk" said Sam "We've set you up in a flat for now, if you report to Inspector Gold she will inform your assigned protection officer you are ready to go"

That was that then "Thank you Sir, Ma'am" she mumbled leaving the office.

Sam followed her out "Juliet? Don't worry we'll get Gardiner, you'll be back on the team before you know it" comforted Sam

"Thank you ma'am but it was hardly the best first day was it? A pol-acc, an argument with another sergeant and an un authorised OBBO that went wrong, it's a wonder you're not shipping me straight back out again"

"We look after our own" said Sam "The pol-acc and the OBBO weren't your fault, and as for Smithy, you'll get used to his strops, he's a bloody good copper under it all, just tread carefully for a bit he'll come round"

"Thank you ma'am, I'd better report to Inspector Gold"

Juliet went down the stairs her mind whirling this time last week she'd been looking forward to moving to the legendary Sunhill, working under the equally legendary DI Manson. Now she was being protected from a nutter, had rubbed up uniform the wrong way and managed to contribute to two CID officers being suspended!!

Juliet faced Inspector Gina Gold "So" she said softly "You are the new DS" Taking in the trim figure and long red hair, and pale complexion "No wonder they've been fighting to get this detail" she remarked

Juliet started to speak "Ma'am, I...."

"Don't look so terrified, I only bite when I'm hungry!" she grinned, "Stay there I'll go and get Des"

Gina returned with a bald, but quite attractive man "Hiya!" he said

"DS Roan this is PC Taviner, he will be with you until the shift change tonight"

"Hi" said Juliet "Thank you ma'am"

Des and Juliet sat amongst the boxes and bags in the flat

"So" he said awkwardly "Where you from?"

"Last posting was up North" she replied in a monotone

"Full of conversation you aint ya" he laughed

"Sorry, it's been a sod of a few days"

"Yeah, you are probably the most popular CID officer now!"

"Oh?" Juliet quizzed

"Yeah, you got rid of Debbie and got Manson demoted all on the same day, though mind you, Smithy had one hell of a cob on after you pranged the area car, he just about chewed everyone's arse off!"

Juliet laughed "So tell me about the nick then, who's who?"

"Well" started Des "You've met some of them, lets start at the top, there's Okaro, a good boss as they go but a bit more interested on PR than policing, and Gina Gold, a right old dragon, stay on the right side of her!" he sipped his coffee "There's super sarge, Smithy, thinks he's still in the army, and er Sheelagh Murphy she's lovely"

"So who else should I watch?" she asked

"Urm, Gary Best, a bit overenthusiastic he's a good kid really, in small doses, and watch Phil Hunter, bit of a ladies man"

Juliet laughed, "I think I'll wait and find out, might as well unpack a few bits I suppose"

Des went over to the window and checked up and down the quiet street, he smiled "I know where the kettle is!"

Neil Manson looked at himself in the locker room mirror, he shook his head and headed for the door, he walked straight past the staring eyes in the corridor, all gossiping over his newly acquired uniform, and knocked on Gina Gold's office door "Come!" she replied, he entered the room and closed the door, Smithy was lounging his tall frame against the filing cabinet "Ah, Neil" said Gina "I've paired you with Smithy today" she smiled with more than a touch of sarcasm "Just to remind you what uniform police work is all about"

"I think I can remember" ground out Neil

"I think I can remember Ma'am," said Gina

Neil glared at her, "Ma'am!" he said

"That's better, off you go then," she ordered

Neil followed Smithy down the corridor to the sergeants office "Right" said Smithy "Before we start lets get a few things straight, before we do anything we talk to each other, we talk to the relief and we talk to Inspector Gold, we don't go off half cocked with daft ideas"

"Excuse me sergeant Smith but I was a copper when you were still guarding gates in Northern Ireland!" he exploded; Gina knew Smithy would be like this; she'd paired them together to humiliate him even more!

"Yeah?" said Smithy with his trademark eyebrow lift "And now you're a sergeant, just like me, so lets got on with some real police work shall we?"

Smithy walked off towards the yard to get in Sierra One, Neil glared after him, this was going to be a bad day, Smithy and Gina were going to run him ragged.