Not Always Out Of Reach – Part 2
"Afternoon." Charlie switched on her largest friendliest smile, looking to the man as he approached the desk.
"Smith." He said sharply, barely acknowledging Charlie.
"…Sorry?" Charlie asked, her tone changing to be sweeter than usual, knowing that being overly polite annoyed rude people further, and winding them up without actually doing anything…well, it was one of the perks of the job.
"Smith."
"Smith?" Charlie tilted her head slightly. "I'm sorry, you'd have to be a little clearer, is that your name?"
"I want to see Smith."
"Sergeant Smith?"
"Thasstha one."
Charlie nodded, moving to pick the phone up. "Who can I say is asking?" She smiled, watching the man as he twitched and hung his head slightly, frowning as his hands stayed in his pockets.
"Peter Jackson." The man muttered quickly, having to think about it.
"Mr Jackson," Charlie suddenly felt nervous, her hand slowly edging off the table towards the underneath where her panic button was placed, "If you'd just-"
She was cut off from continuing further by Jackson bringing his hand out of his pocket, allowing her to see the gun pointing in her direction, shaking from Jackson's own tremors. "Get. Me. Smith."
Charlie cleared her throat, looking from the gun to Jackson, lifting the phone up. "…Sarge." She managed to force out, her voice strained and shaking.
"I'm busy Charlie." Smithy snapped down the phone. "If it's nothing important, get them to come back tomorrow."
"Sarge." Charlie swallowed. "There's a gentleman in the front office asking to see you. He seems rather…agitated." Charlie could have laughed if it wasn't so tragic. "He er, he has a gun…"
Smithy's whole body instantly tensed and he shot to his feet, calling out Charlie's name as he heard sounds of a struggle, and Charlie whimpering. "Charlie!"
"I've got her, Smith." Jackson grunted into the phone as he held it, one arm around Charlie's neck as he held the gun pointed at the side of her head. "One wrong move, and the girl gets it…"
Smithy struggled to place the voice, "Just let her go…" he said calmly.
"Come and get her." Jackson sneered, before hanging up, pulling the phone from the socket, smashing it on the floor, tightening his grip on Charlie as her legs buckled under her.
"Where is he?" Adam studied a plan of the station, listening as his radio crackled and Gina's voice travelled over to him.
"The store cupboard beside the front office."
Adam cursed as the SO19 inspector beside him shook his head. "No windows, only one way in…"
"Great introduction to the met." Amber muttered as she watched Smithy pace up and down. "Come work for us, we'll get you shot."
"PC Johannsen!" Smithy snapped. "Kindly keep your comments to yourself."
"..I was only-"
"Don't!" Smithy stopped in front of her, glaring furiously. As soon as Jackson had hung up, he'd told Gina as he was hurrying down the corridor towards the front office, only stopped from entering by Gina making Tony forcefully pin him to the wall. Smithy set his jaw, looking at Gina. "Ma'am."
"You're not going in there, it's what he wants…" Gina finished, knowing what he was going to say.
"So you're gonna leave Charlie in there on her own, with no training, no protection, no negotiation skills?" Smithy scoffed.
"Your comments have been noted, Sergeant." Gina moved in closer. "But if we send you in there, that's exactly what he wants…who's to stop him just shooting you, and Charlie and himself? What would that achieve?"
"What does leaving Charlie with a madman achieve?" Smithy snapped, moving aside as Jo Masters appeared beside Gina, holding a megaphone.
"Ma'am." Jo said softly, "The negotiation team are on the way, but they're stuck in traffic…"
"Oh great!" Smithy muttered. "Better and better."
"Jo is a trained negotiator." Gina barely glanced at Smithy. "She's the best we've got until the team get here."
Charlie slowly unfurled her legs, wincing as they pulled, not having moved for the past 10 minutes after being literally thrown into the corner, banging her head against the table beside the wall.
She swallowed hard and ran a hand to her hair, lightly touching the area around her temple, not having to actually touch the cut to know she was bleeding.
"Mr Jackson…" She started, before cowering back down as Jackson rounded on her, pointing the gun at her head.
"Keep quiet." Jackson snapped, glaring.
Charlie licked her lips nervously, hugging herself closely as she looked around her, attempting to make herself as small as possible as she curled up in the corner.