Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks – Part 4

"Don't make things worse…" Smithy held on tight to the small boy beside him, keeping him out of line of the gun being pointed in their direction, looking directly at James. "Let Inspector Gold go…"

The door slammed closed behind them, James forcing Gina to block it with a chair to stop anyone else getting in. "Shut it." He snarled, waving the gun at Gina.

"This isn't going to solve anything…" Gina tried to reason with him, "You've more chance of being able to see Craig if you let this end peacefully, James!"

The side of James' lip curled and he sneered at Gina. "James now is it?"

"Mr Henderson!" Gina said sharply.

"Have you got kids?" James continued glaring at Gina as she shook her head, pointing the gun at Smithy. "You?"

Smithy appeared to be weighing up his pros and cons before slowly nodding. "…A little girl." He said softly.

"You get to see her?"

Smithy nodded again, moving Craig behind him, keeping a hold of his hand as Craig's fingers gripped his hand tighter.

"Married?"

Smithy sighed. "I don't see-"

"Answer the question!"

"Yes." Smithy looked from James to Gina and back again.

"Good relationship?"

Smithy frowned a little, before nodding. "James-"

"See, that's something I couldn't do." James' hand started to shake a little and he pulled Gina closer. "My wife…she er…" He paused and swallowed. "She left me…" he looked up at Smithy, the pain and anger still obvious in his eyes. "I love her! I gave her everything…and she left me!"

"…And stopped you seeing your son?" Gina asked softly, looking up.

James nodded and appeared to loosen his grip a little. "She didn't… didn't even leave me for another man!" he scoffed. "Some stupid bitch from her office! Said she knew more about what she wanted than I ever could!"

Gina turned a little, looking up at James. "Did you try and see Craig after?" She asked.

James nodded. "She said I'd been abusing them…said I was bad for James, bad influence…"

"She took you to court?"

"Told them…I'd been calling her things…I didn't do anything to jeopardise seeing my son! …but they believed her. They took my boy…"

"Did you ask for help? Explain-"

"What's the point!" James let go of Gina, pushing her back towards Smithy and Craig, Gina immediately grabbing hold of Smithy's arm, Smithy pulling her to him. "Noone would believe me! They all believed the bitch!"

"54 from Sierra Oscar."

Smithy froze as his radio sounded, looking at Gina.

James' head snapped up and he glared at Smithy. "…Who's that?"

"54 from Sierra Oscar." Dean paused. "Are you receiving Sarge?"

"It's the station." Gina explained calmly. "They want to know where we are…"

"You've been talking to them!" James' became more wound up and he glared at Smithy, raising the gun again. "They can hear!"

"They wouldn't be calling if they could…" Smithy held his hands up. "Calm down Mr Henderson…"

"Dad." Craig sniffled from where he was still holding onto Smithy. "Stop…"

James looked at Craig, opening his arms. "Come here son…"

Craig tensed and he held onto Smithy. "Dad…" he sniffed, shaking his head, terrified of the gun and his father's temper.

"What are they playing at!" Amanda stood with her hands on her hips, frowning over Dean's shoulder.

"Noone's heard from them since they reached the school, ma'am."

Amanda pursed her lips, not putting it past Gina to have talked Smithy into going into a pub for 'lunch'. "Call them again!"

"54 from Sierra Oscar." Dean paused a few seconds. "Are you receiving, Sarge?"

Amanda scowled at the lack of response. "Send someone to the school, then tell Inspector Gold I want her in my office as soon as this is over!"

"Ma'am…" Dean sighed, relaying the call to Roger and Dan.

Lance looked up as Amanda stalked out of CAD, looking across at Dean. "Amazing." He frowned. "Inspector Gold could be in danger, and she still manages to put her down."

Dean just sighed and shrugged, acknowledging Dan's acceptance of the call.