Authors Notes-
Here's the next chapter. Only a couple more to go. Read Reveiw please.
The Bill: Beech is Back.
Chapter 6: Close Call.
Five minutes pass before anyone arrives and attempts to rescue them. "Are you ok?" asks a familiar voice.
"Gov, is that you?" asks Claire.
"Yes," answers Stephen trying to break open the door.
"There's a bomb in here. It's set to go off in 20 minutes."
"Shit!" exclaims another voice from behind the door, which John and Claire recognise as Marion.
"Mar, run down to the car and call the bomb squad from my mobile."
"Ok," replies Marion, rushing out to the car to call the bomb squad.
The bomb squad arrive with only 5 minutes left on the clock and they soon manage to break down the door.
"GET AS FAR AWAY FROM THE BUILDING AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN," shouts one of the bomb squad officers.
John, Claire, Stephen and Marion rush out of the building and jump into the cars, speeding away from the scene.
5...4...3...2...1...BANG. The bomb goes off and all of the bomb squad officers in the building are immediately blown to bits. Bright orange and yellow flames fill the air and bits of flying debris erupt into the sky. The fire brigade arrive within minutes and proceed to put out the flames with Sun Hill uniform officers cordoning off the surrounding area.
John, Claire, Stephen and Marion carefully drive back to the scene and tell the fire brigade how many bomb squad officers were caught in the blast. Sergeant June Ackland and PC Jim Carver approach them.
"John, Claire, what are you doing here?" asks June.
"We were here investigating a murder when the door slammed shut behind us and trapped us in a room with the bomb. We got out 10 seconds before the bomb went off," explained Claire.
"Goodness me, are you ok?"
"We're fine June, just a little shaken up."
"Does Meadow's know yet?" asks Jim.
"Not yet, can you fill him in, I want to find out who's behind this?" says Claire before walking away from the scene with John following.
Jim and June go back to interviewing the other witnesses.
Claire, John, Stephen and Marion all head back to CIB headquarters to discuss who could be behind this latest incident.
"It could be the murderer we're after," suggests John, "perhaps he's trying to cover his tracks or something."
"Maybe, but I don't think so," states Stephen mysteriously.
"What do you mean? What aren't you telling us Gov?" asks Claire confused.
"I had an anonymous tip off this morning, that's how I knew how to find you," answers Stephen.
"That makes even less sense. What's going on Gov?"
"I've heard that Beech isn't dead."
"What? That's impossible, we saw him crash his car into the river in Australia," says Claire.
"Not necessarily, we never found his body remember," mentions Marion.
"You two don't really believe he's still alive do you?" Claire asks.
"I don't know," answers Stephen, "but until we can prove otherwise, we need to think of it as a possibility; In which case you two are nowhere near safe. If Beech was behind that bomb, we can assume he's trying to kill you and we all know he won't give up until he succeeds or dies trying."
"What should we do then Gov?"
"You two aren't gonna do anything. I want you two to stay here where you'll be safe, and don't even think about arguing with me," says Stephen, leaving no room for disagreement.
"But Gov..." starts Claire.
"No Claire, don't even think about it. You're staying here and that's final."
"Well at least let us help with some paperwork or something Gov," begs Claire.
"Alright, as long as you don't leave the building; Mar, stay and look after them ok?" says Stephen.
"But why have I gotta stay?" asks Marion.
"Several reasons; 1) I want you to make sure John and Claire stay here, 2) beech knows you so you're a possible target as well, 3) I don't want any of you to get hurt, do I need to go on?" says Stephen.
"Alright, but be careful, if your right then you could be in danger too; Beech saw you at the café remember?"
"True but he doesn't know who I am."
"Yeah, but even so, he saw you sitting with us..."
"I get your point. Don't worry Mar, I'll be fine," Stephen reassures her, before setting off to search for Beech.