She's the One

Chapter 2

The relief was about to begin a new day at Sun Hill. Yvonne, Honey and other PC's sat in the briefing room, eagerly awaiting news about Kerry. A few minutes later, the room was full. Smithy glided in, not feeling up to work at all.

"Serge?" Honey began, standing up as her sergeant reached her. "How's Kerry doing?" She knew at once by the look on his face it was the wrong thing to say.

"She's err…" Smithy began, but stopped, not knowing quite what to say.

"She's fine," Gina finished as she entered the room. "Smithy dear, go home; you can't do anyone any good when you're like this."

"I'd rather not, ma'am," Smithy replied, not knowing whether the relief had guessed why he was acting like this yet.

"Alright, then, but I'm not keeping you here," continued Gina, "you can go on patrol with Honey." Smithy nodded, and took a seat next to June Ackland. The Super entered the room seconds later, and the relief fell silent.

"Morning all," he began in his deep voice. "I'm sure you're all wondering about the condition on PC Young. As you know, she was shot yesterday. She's still alive, and she's improving. The operation to remove the bullet was a complete success, and she's now conscious. Kerry should be well enough to return to work in a few weeks."

"Pass on our regards, sir," Tony chipped in, and many of the relief nodded in agreement.

"Oh, and Smithy -" Smithy jerked his head upwards. "- Kerry's requested to see you today. I've told her you'll be in this afternoon."

"Thanks, sir," he murmured, trying not to catch the wandering eyes of his colleagues.

"Sir?" a voice spoke up. "Do we know who shot her?"

"Not yet, Gabriel, but I can assure you we'll find out," promised Okaro.

"If you don't mind," Gina cut in, "Kerry has quite enough to worry about without the prospect of you lot gossiping over her. Let's leave it until later."

Some of the PC's began to get the feeling that Smithy, Gina and Okaro were hiding something. Why would she want to see Smithy? Of course, there was the possibility that she wanted to thank him for saving her life. But Kerry's closest friends wondered whether there was something much deeper involved.

That day, Yvonne had been paired with PC Gabriel Kent, much to her distaste. He seemed to be in such a foul mood, and Yvonne couldn't work out why. They were driving the panda through the streets of Canley, and Yvonne smelt a rat, and was determined to dig further.

"It's lucky Kerry pulled through," Yvonne commented as Gabriel sped through the traffic lights while on red.

"If you say so," snarled Gabriel. "Personally, it would have been one less slapper on the streets."

"So, you're saying you think she should have died?" Yvonne said incredibly. Gabriel didn't answer.

'Well, even if I did, I'm not going to tell you,' thought Gabriel menacingly, 'sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong…I've half a mind to send a bullet firing towards you too…but Kerry…she deserved it. She picked Smithy over me? I don't love her, I lust her. She'll have to learn the hard way, once Smithy's out of the way…Smithy out of the way? Now that's an idea…' Gabriel was soon lost in his own thoughts.

"David?" came a voice from behind him. David Radford spun around on his stool to find his mother, Irene. She had make-up and jewellery plastered over her face, making her look younger than she actually was.

"Mum! What is it?"

"Have you heard about your Kerry?" Irene inquired.

"What about Kerry?" he asked. "Oh, you mean her getting arrested? Or her making a complete fool of me again?"

"Actually, neither," Irene said smoothly. "Kerry was shot the other day outside Sun Hill station." David's normally well-composed face went blank. "Yes, I imagined you'd be surprised. Looks like someone did us a favour…unless…it wasn't you, was it?"

"Mother? How could you even think that?" David raged incredulously.

"Well, you're the son of two criminal masterminds and she'd recently arrested you," Irene pondered.

"Well, it wasn't me," spluttered David.

"Alright, I'll take your word for it. But I will say this; we owe someone big time…"

Andrea was in the area car with Steve that shift. She sat uncomfortably in the passenger seat, praying Kerry wouldn't grass her up. She hadn't confessed herself to Gold yet, she had no time! Although, there might be a chance that Andrea could wriggle her way out of this tight hole.

'I could threaten her,' Andrea thought cleverly, 'and say that I shot her. If she believes me, I could say I'll do it again if she doesn't keep quiet. But what if she says that I nearly killed her to someone? It's too risky…'

Andrea pondered these thought until her and Steve reached a mangy lane. Around seven youths were spray painting rude words on what was obviously the nicest house on the block. One kid sprayed the word 'rapist'.

Steve and Andrea leapt out of the car, and began sprinting towards the teens. Only at the last minute did they realise the police were after them, but it was too late.

"Oi!" cried Andrea as three youths sped off in the other direction, leaving the other four to be hauled into the back of the area car.

"Leave them, Andrea," soothed Steve, "this lot will grass them up."

"She will not grass me up!" Andrea shouted into Steve's face, spraying him with spit. Then she suddenly realised what she had said.

"Are you feeling alright, Andrea?" asked Steve, concerned, "you haven't been right since you heard Kerry had been shot." Andrea snorted; trying to make it sound like her partner was over re-acting.

"Don't be so nosy Steve, or I'll chop your nose off." she replied nastily.