Not Always Out Of Reach – Part 4
"Ma'am!" Amber ran back down the corridor, frowning as Gina shushed her. "Ma'am!" She repeated softly, stopping in front of the inspector as she caught her breath. "There's no Peter Jackson on file…"
Gina turned her head slightly to look at Jo who'd overheard. "Just what we need…" She sighed, rubbing her forehead, before pulling her notebook out, scribbling the man's description down, tearing the page out as she passed it to Amber. "Go run this through CRIMINT and pull off all matching details, then look for the files and bring them back.
"Ma'am." Amber nodded, hurrying back down the corridor.
"I'm scared." Charlie admitted, her hand having moved from Smithy's side to his neck.
"I won't let him hurt you." Smithy's arms tightened around her, and he shifted, watching Jackson as he stood by the door. "We'll be out soon."
Charlie sighed and turned her head back into his shoulder, still trembling.
"What are you two muttering about?" Jackson turned his gun on Smithy, glaring.
"Nothing." Smithy held his gaze, something that appeared to unnerve Jackson.
"Keep quiet!"
Smithy continued watching Jackson, keeping his mouth closed as he tilted his head back onto Charlie's.
"Very cosy!" Jackson snorted.
Smithy looked away, sighing inwardly as Charlie's grip on him increased, her head turning into his neck.
"You like this with all the girls, Smith?" Jackson smirked, crouching in front of them, running one finger over Charlie's cheek. Charlie tensed and batted his hand away instantly, Smithy covering her head with his arm, stroking her hair. "You don't have the power here." Jackson threatened in a low growl. "I have."
"You have nothing." Smithy scoffed. "The second you start firing, SO19 will burst in, and kill you."
"Is that meant to be a threat?" Jackson almost laughed. "And…?" He stood back up, pacing the room again, "I have nothing to live for…"
Charlie looked up, turning her head to look at him. "So you're ruining other peoples lives too?"
"If you wanna know about ruining lives." Jackson lifted the gun, using it to gesture at Smithy. "You ask him!"
"Smithy hasn't done anything!" Charlie insisted. "And neither have I!"
"Hasn't done anything?" Jackson's expression contorted with anger. "He killed my son!"
Jo raised her head and looked at Gina as the officers outside continued listening, overhearing what was said. "Ma'am…"
"Tony, contact SO19." She said softly and calmly. "Get them into position."
"Isn't that the Super's-"
"Just do it." Gina repeated firmly, knowing Adam would trust her judgement.
"What?" Charlie scoffed.
"And then…" Jackson stopped pacing, standing in front of Charlie and Smithy. "I find out…he's got a promotion! He's a Sergeant and carrying on like nothing's happened!"
Charlie swallowed and looked at Smithy, turning her head to look at Jackson, watching the tear streak along his cheek.
Smithy looked baffled, still trying to place Jackson. "I don't understand…"
"Thursday 15th August, 2002."
Smithy tilted his head, pulling Charlie further against him, turning her away from Jackson. "…Go on…" He said softly.
"The police officer knocks on my door." Jackson swallowed. "…The wife answered, called my through from the shed…said they'd come to talk about Mark."
"Mark Jackson…" Smithy frowned, murmuring the name to himself, coming up with blanks.
"He was a bit of a tearaway, but a good kid." Jackson sat on the chair in the corner of the room, rubbing the top of his head with one hand. "He loved his mum, and she doted on him." He trailed off till his voice was a whisper. "He just got in with the wrong crowd."
Charlie looked from Smithy to Jackson, slowly and carefully pulling herself to her feet, staying still as Jackson continued.
"It was a favour!" Jackson sighed. "For Anthony…thick as thieves those two, had been since primary school…we knew Anthony took drugs, but Mark always swore to us he wasn't into that. He was just his mate, his best mate!"
"But something happened…" Charlie ignored Smithy's whispered order to go back, and walked slowly towards Jackson, holding her hands up.
Jackson nodded, watching Charlie, more tears threatened by his eyes. He lifted the gun and pointed it at her, causing Charlie to stop in the middle of the room, watching him.
"He asked him to do a job." Jackson slowly lowered the gun as Charlie stayed still, "Mark agreed…he was the driver, he'd do anything to help anyone…."
"The driver?" Charlie asked softly.
Jackson sighed, nodding and sniffing. "The Royal Union Building Society."
"He was a getaway driver?" Charlie blinked, taking careful steps forward again.
"Charlie!" Smithy hissed, shaking his head.
Jackson nodded, looking up at her, tears flowing freely. "The getaway driver….he didn't know Anthony had a gun….he just thought he was earning some extra cash. I'd been made redundant…he was helping!"
Charlie stopped beside Jackson, gently reaching a trembling hand out, and placed it on Jackson's shoulder, squeezing it comfortingly.
Jackson sighed and dipped his head. "The cashier pressed the alarm and the police came…Mark had gone in to see what was happening, what was keeping Anthony…they said Anthony was high….didn't know what he was doing…. He had some customer around the neck….had the gun aimed at her…Mark tried to stop him, they struggled….the gun went off….then the police went in…" Jackson turned slightly, almost holding onto Charlie as he forced his words out. "And…and…"
"Shh…" Charlie swallowed, patting Jackson's back awkwardly as she looked at Smithy, guessing the rest.
"…I'm sorry…" Smithy swallowed. "But your son was involved in an armed robbery. I was part of the SO19 team who-"
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY YOU'RE SORRY!" Jackson lifted his gun, pointing it at Smithy, and then at Charlie. "Don't you DARE!" He spat, pinning Charlie to his side, the gun aimed at her chest.