Phoenix From the ashes Part 5
DISCLAIMER: 'The Bill' characters depicted in this story is copyrighted to Thames Television/Pearson Corp
There was a constant drone of light toned ringing, a dim sound of nattering in the corner and the unique tapping of the computer keyboards. Yes this is the Sun Hill CID department. Andrea was sat at Suzie's desk, she was out with MIT. She was asked to write her statement under the supervision of DI Neil Manson, by his recommendation of course. Andrea found Neil regularly guiding his head towards her direction, and with a mime of "Are you alright?" she always answered with a positive nod.
Neil hadn't been the same from the bomb, Andrea knew that he and his wife were on bad terms, but with Smithy as a possible treat to them, Neil showed as much as possible that he still cared. He tried, but more often than not Smithy beat him, but Andrea didn't love Smithy - she loved Neil, and that gave him the extra points, but Andrea had never told Neil her feelings, she'd never thought that a few days from now… It was one thing she'd regretted.
Andrea sat at the computer, she could see Neil's reflection in the computer screen, he was looking though his office window at her. He was also on the phone shouting, odds were it was his wife. Andrea inspected the main CID office one more, she looked out the nearby window and watched Neil's reflection again for a while. But she couldn't remember what had happened, she tried but nothing shot back from her memory. 'Think Andrea, think.' She played in her head as if it was on a loop.
She sat there for at least half and hour, "Are you aright?" Neil spoke over her shoulder in a soft voice. Andrea lent her head backwards so she could see who it was, "I can't remember anything, I've tried but nothing has come back…" Neil walked by her side and sat on the desk she was borrowing, giving her a sympathetic look he suggested that she might try talking about it with another person, rather than a bright computer screen.
"Like who?" Andrea asked. Neil sighed "What about me, I'm always here for you… or if you don't want to I suppose there's Smithy." Neil dodged Andrea's eyes once he mentioned Dale's nickname. Andrea knew what he was getting at and thought that it was rather adorable of Neil to be jealous and competing. "Well if you don't mind Neil? I mean I thought that you might be busy." "Nah, I'm not busy… come on." Neil stood up and started walking slowly over to his office, Andrea closed down the computer and followed Neil.
As Andrea walked into Neil's office, she just caught a glimpse of him scooping a load of files of his desk into one of his drawers. He was busy but he hid it from her, probably because he thought that she'd might go off with Smithy. Andrea smiled again at Neil's admirable behaviour.
"Take a seat." Neil asked as he sat in his own, but seconds later after watching Andrea sit he changed his mind and decided that he should be closer to her, just in case she needs a should to cry on. So he sat on the edge of his desk, Neil watched Andrea for a few moments before saying anything, she looked uncomfortable and she kept fidgeting. He noticed that her hands were resting on his desk, she was playing with her fingers, he wanted her to be calm and relaxed so he placed his hand on hers, they immediately rested and clenched Neil's hand. Andrea sighed and looked at Neil, who gave her a broad smile to cheer her up, she smiled back weakly, Neil resolved the quiet moment by speaking first. "So where do you want to start… hang on." Neil stood up and walked over to his drawers, opening the bottom one, he moved aside a half full bottle of whisky and pulled out a recording device. Closing the draw and sitting in his original seat he stood the recovered a few inches away from them both.
"This is so we don't forget any details." Andrea nodded, and gulped. Neil reassured her by holding her hands once again and every two seconds he would rub his hand over the back of her hand, like windscreen washers on a car's windscreen, just to let her know he was still there.
"Think, when I did my degree in psychology, you learn that you can bring back memories if they are sparked up again, like if there was a memory about a restaurant, and you forgot it… but days later you saw the same wallpaper in a house that was in the restaurant, the entire memories of that restaurant will flood back. Flash bulb they call them. Maybe you just need something that'll spark it back… the justice of lives of three people are depending on you…" "Yes alright, no pressure, I can't Neil there's nothing there. All I remember is…" "Yes.." "I fell by them, I smelt their after shave and…" Andrea stopped, she couldn't remember anymore.
"After shave? Are you saying it was a man?" Neil asked, holding the recorder closer, so it didn't miss anything.
"I dunno, it was a manly scent, I've smelt it before, but I don't know where… that's gone too." Neil sighed, He didn't want to push her, she was quite weak. Andrea thought that Neil's sigh was a negative one, that he was getting bored and tired of the fact that she didn't know anything, thinking that she began to cry. Neil was focussing on his thoughts, he heard Andrea sniff and examined her to see what was wrong, she was crying alright. He squeezed her hand harder and she stood.
"I can't do this Neil, no it's too hard, there's nothing there I…" She began to walk to the door, Neil held her arms and steered her back towards him. She stood inches away with her head bowed crying, while Neil gripped her arms. "Come here." Neil pulled Andrea towards him. His hands moved to her head and lower back, while Andrea gripped tightly around his waist. He moved his head so his chin touched her forehead, she moved her head up to meet him and court a whiff of his after shave. She threw herself away from him.
"What's wrong?" Neil asked, confused Andrea looked petrified "Your…your aftershave, that's how I remembered that person's, it's yours. The aftershave I remember… it's yours, that's why I stopped by them, I thought it was you. I said hello but you didn't answer so I carried on walking…. The smell was you"