Adam Okaro opened the paper and nearly dropped his coffee as the headline screamed out
PHSYCO EX COPPER ON THE LOOSEIt had a picture of Cathy Bradford underneath.
He read the copy with a sinking heart:
'Ex MET police officer turned murderer Cathy Bradford escaped from a high security psychiatric hospital yesterday, it was revealed by a source. Bradford who embarked on a reign of terror through the borough of Canley has seriously injured two nurses, with a third nurse possibly being held as a hostage. Our exclusive source says that Top Brass at her old police station, the notorious Sun Hill, are concerned that Bradford may try to head for the station. The maniac is considered extremely dangerous and should not be approached. Officers at Sun Hill are on high alert, searching all possible avenues to track Ms Bradford down, with neighbouring station, Barton Street, answering all emergency calls. Sunhill is open for business, but who wants to walk in there with the threat of another murderer at your back, our advice is steer clear...............'
Adam folded the paper and pushed away his toast, getting up from his breakfast table he slowly went to get dressed.
"Yvonne, you seen Gabriel?" asked Gary
"No, should I have?" she replied, putting on her stab vest
"Well, he disappeared after the briefing and I can't find him anywhere" he said
"Better tell Sarge," she advised, walking towards the front office
Gary thought a moment; he knocked on Gina's open door
"Yes Gary?" she said
"Ma'am, Gabriel's gone AWOL," he said
Gina looked up "When?" she asked
"After the briefing, I did the paperwork you wanted and went to find him, he's not answering his mobile and CAD haven't heard from him"
"Right, go out with Smithy then, tell Andrea to assist in CAD, Polly hasn't showed yet"
"Ma'am" replied Gary, on his way to find Smithy.
Gina stood looking at Jack Meadows and Okaro "And you've checked her flat?" asked Adam
"Smithy and Gary are there now, no sign, they questioned the neighbours, no one heard Polly come home last night, June said that Jim and herself waited for Polly's taxi to pick her up, they heard her give her address to the cabbie" replied Gina
"Right Gina, check bank details, family, all that" said Jack "We've got to find Polly, if Bradford's' managed to get to her, then we could be looking for a body"
"Don't say that, Jack" said Adam "The press have got hold of this already, I'm going to speak to them, it's just possible that Cathy is the 'exclusive source' they are talking about" he sighed
"I'm going to go and see Polly's parents," said Gina
"Take DS Roan with you, she needs the mileage" said Jack
"Sir" said Gina leaving; she went straight to Sam's office
"Sam, I need to borrow your DS Roan," she said, popping her head around the door "Mr.Meadows has asked me to take her along to interview Polly's parents"
"Am I going to have any officers' left?" complained Sam "I've got to go out and with all the drama round here, my only DS will be Phil Hunter!" she groaned
"My advice Sam, don't go out!" laughed Gina
"On second thoughts, probably a good idea to get Juliet out of the station, keep her and Smithy apart, after what you told me yesterday, you know the car park, arguing again"
"Smithy's due back soon, but somehow I don't think it will be a problem any more" smiled Gina
"Oh?" Sam raised her eyebrows
"Well, they were seen shall we say, getting friendly last night" Gina rolled her eyes "Shameless relief gossip, but I think you're right, we should try and keep them apart!" Gina left Sam's office
"DS Roan, Mr.Meadows would like you to accompany me to interview Polly's parents" it was an order
"Ma'am" said Juliet, wincing as she stood; her hangover really wasn't getting any better.
"Feeling OK?" asked Gina in the car
"Fine thank you Ma'am" replied Juliet "Just a bit of a headache"
Gina laughed, "You really shouldn't play drinking games" she smirked
Juliet looked at her sharply, remembering the game they'd played at Honey's last night, her face colouring slightly as she remembered what they'd been up to.
Gina laughed again "So you lost then?" She was really laughing now, noticing how red Juliet had become "I wouldn't say that" she said quietly, leaning her head back against the headrest, closing her eyes she remembered the previous night.
The game had been a cross between the name game and truth or dare, when you lost
You had to down as much drink as you could and answer a truth, or do a dare, Juliet had become unstuck.......
"Truth!" Honey had declared, grinning at her "Who do you fancy then?"
"Brad Pitt" laughed Juliet
"No! at the nick?"
Juliet should of said 'no-one' but her brain was fogged with the alcohol "I'd rather not say!" She'd laughed
Yvonne laughed, "Dare! Dare!" she said "Come on dare master, give us a good one!" she said to Smithy
Smithy had looked at Julia "I dare you" he had smirked "to kiss Gary" he paused then added "or me" he sat back in his chair, Juliet looked at him, she stood up and lent towards Gary, seeing his face light up, before suddenly turning and sitting on Smithy's knee, she felt his arms go round her.......
"We're here" Gina's voice cut into Juliet's thoughts, she followed Inspector Gold up the path of the detached, suburban semi.
"Thank you, Mr.Page, Mrs.Page" Gina shook hands with Polly's parents "You have been very helpful, and please if you hear from Polly, contact Sunhill immediately" she smiled at the elderly couple
"We will, thank you Inspector, Sergeant, we just want our Polly to be safe" said Mr Page a little unsteadily
"I'm sure she will be," said Juliet as they left, neither noticed the grey saloon parked at the end of the cul-de-sac as they got into the car and drove away.
Cathy watched the panda car leave and settled further into her seat, she would leave it an hour and then go and speak to Polly's parents, too soon just now, they might get suspicious.
"PC Kent, where have you been?" demanded Sgt Ackland
"Out and about Sarge" he replied
"You were assigned with Gary" she scolded, "He's had to go out with Sgt Smith, who is not happy, and you were told not to go out alone! You're lucky I don't report you to Inspector Gold!" she said
"What's up June you seem on edge?" smarmed Gabriel
"Polly's missing," she said
"Well, to be expected wasn't it? I mean with Cathy roaming the streets, I'd be surprised if she was still alive" he spoke softly but without emotion
"Gabriel!" said June shocked "That's a fellow officer, and one of my friends you are talking about, get out of my sight"
"What about Inspector Gold?"
"I suggest you tell her you were doing paperwork or something, if she finds out you were AWOL she'll kill you"
Gary appeared round the corner "Where you been?" he asked
"Doing paperwork" replied Gabriel
"You weren't!" he said surprised "I looked everywhere"
"Well you didn't look hard enough did you?" Gabriel fell into step with Gary "And don't take it out on me, just because the new DS decided to get off with Smithy and not you" Gabriel laughed humourlessly
"She didn't get off with him, she kissed him for a dare, and anyway how did you know you weren't there"
"Stations have ears, Gary, now what have we got?" they headed towards the car park "Just patrol, looking for Cathy, we've got to keep an eye on Polly's parents place" replied Gary, rather sulkily.
Cathy knocked on the door "Hello, Mr.Page?" she asked smiling out from under her MET hat "PC Andrea Dunbar" Cathy offered the warrant card, her fingers covering the photo "May I come in?"
"Of course, have you found Polly?" asked the old man anxiously
"Unfortunately not" said Cathy
"Well, we spoke to an Inspector a little while ago, and a nice sergeant, they said we should contact you" said Mrs.Page
"Yes, Inspector Gold asked me to come back and take a formal statement" she flipped open Andrea's spare note book "And we really need to have a look around Polly's flat, do you have any spare keys?" she asked
"Yes, I'll get them," said Mrs.Page "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"That would be lovely" smiled Cathy.
"That car's on double yellers'" said Gary reaching for the car's radio
"Leave it," said Gabriel, putting his foot down "The traffic wardens get paid to do that" he finished
"But there's no wardens here!" exclaimed Gary as they passed they grey saloon "And it's obstructing that entrance"
"We've got more important things to do" said Gabriel, pulling out of the cul-de-sac, he pulled over and got out of the car, typing a text message into his phone, he waited for a reply and got back in, smiling at a very huffy Gary "You're just weird" said Gary as they drove on.