Well I almost forgot about this story. I just found it sitting on my computer hard drive. The story is far from over, and you can expect at least another 2 (possibly more) chapters from this in the near future (How many times have I said that before?)
Also look out for the beginning of a new series i'm working on, all being well you can expect the first part up, before the end of August (No promises though, time seems to be running away from me at the moment) The title is (will be) Summertime Dreaming, see my profile for the details.
DAY 3
Sun Hill CID:
Andrea, Neil and Yvonne had just returned from the hospital. The young boy woke up sometime in the night and is now recovering quite well, with his parents by his bedside. Phil, Sam and Ken are busy trying to track down the location of their suspect who they've come to refer to as the Polka dot short man, without much success.
They spend over 5 hours sifting through mountains of paperwork and information before they finally find something useful. An old case file that documents a similar case.
Phil shows there findings to the DI, hoping that it is the breakthrough they need.
"What have you got Phil?"
Phil hands over the file. "This case from 20 years ago documents a similar case. A man in polka dot shorts abducted 10 children and burned them all to death. He disappeared before anyone could catch him."
"Has this person got a name?"
"Yes Gov, a Thomas F Gregory, I checked his background and it says he hasn't been seen or heard from in over 18 years. He was presumed dead."
"It looks like that wasn't the case. What about a possible location?"
"An abandoned building down by the river looks like the most likely spot. He apparently used to hang out down there when he was young. According to his records, his younger brother drowned in the river at the age of 8. They were running from a nearby building that had been set alite and dived in the river to safety. His brother couldn't swim and drowned in the water."
"Excellent, that could be our motive, gather up a team and lets get down there."
2 Hours Later:
The old building was surrounded by waiting police officers. Neil gave the signal and everyone rushed into the building to arrest the suspect. Amid the shouting and screaming and stampeding feet they eventually managed to corner there suspect and arrest him.
He is forced into the back of a police van and transported to Sun Hill Station. He is booked into custody and locked in an empty cell.
Back up in CID everyone is celebrating the arrest.
"Who's up for a pint?" someone asks.
"First rounds on me!" someone else says.
The officers all make their way out of the building and into the local pub.
"You uniform girls are coming too aren't you?" asks Ken.
"Of course they are," says Rob, putting his arms round their shoulders, "right?"
Andrea and Yvonne look at each other for support before following the others down to the pub.
In The Pub:
They find a table large enough for all of them and settle down. Ken and Rob get the first round after asking what everybody wants.
Andrea is sat squashed between Yvonne and Neil.
"So are you gonna put me out of my misery?" Yvonne asks Andrea, out of earshot of the others.
"I don't know what your on about," answers Andrea, trying to get the spotlight off her.
"Oh, come on, you do, Mr Mystery Lover. So, who is he?"
"Do we have to go through this again."
"Yes. Why all the secrecy? It's not Meadows is it?"
"NO!" yells Andrea in shock making everyone look at her.
She gets up to go the ladies room, with Yvonne following.
"I know who it is!" states Yvonne proudly when they're in the safety of the ladies room; "It's the DI isn't it?" she whispers in her ear.
Andrea's face goes from red to white then back to red again in shock and embarrassment.
"I knew it!" proclaims Yvonne a lot louder this time, "don't worry, your secret's safe with me. So how long? I want all the gossip."
"Theirs nothing to tell," replies Andrea.
"How long have you been with him?" Yvonne repeats.
"About five an a half months now," confesses Andrea unwillingly, "Yvonne you gotta swear not to tell anyone."
"Don't worry I won't," she answers, both of them heading back to the table.
They sit down back in their previous seats with their drink's. The others are laughing about something or another.
"You should have seen the look on his face," someone says before collapsing in another fit of laughter.
"What are you on about?" asks Andrea confused.
"Meadow's" someone manages to get out before bursting out laughing again.
Neil explains, "someone covered Meadows' office in toilet paper the other day and when he saw it, well lets just say he wasn't best pleased."
Andrea bursts out laughing, knowing full well who was responsible for the incident.
"I'd hate to be whoever did it when he catches them," states Yvonne.
"I agree, " says Andrea.
"So which one of you lot is behind it?" Neil asks the boys, knowing it was none of them.
"Not me, Not me," they all say.
"Speaking of the DCI," interrupts Andrea.
Everyone shuts up laughing, and looks towards him expecting trouble.
Jack Meadows walks up to them; "Good job with the abduction case Neil," he says, "By the way did you lose something," he adds, dropping a small camera into the centre of the table.
Neil and Andrea visibly pale. "Gov," Neil gulps.
"Some interesting footage on their by the way. You might want to watch it, and next time you plan on pulling a prank on someone Neil, make sure you hide the camera somewhere it CAN'T be found."
Andrea gulps and tries to hide behind Yvonne, without much success.
Jack Meadow's turns around and walks out of the pub.
"Phew," exhales Andrea, "that was too close."
"Don't tell me you had something to do with this prank too?" asks Yvonne already guessing the answer.
"I've gone and put my foot in it again, haven't I?" she asks looking from Neil to Yvonne and back again.
"Yep," answer Neil and Yvonne together.
"No way," jumps in Phil, "I can't be hearing this right."
Trying to change the subject, Yvonne suggests a drinking competition.
It works and not long after they are all cheering each other on.
Within a couple of hours they are all very drunk. Stumbling to the exit, Sam and a couple of the others head home. The only people left in the pub are Neil, Andrea, Phil and Yvonne.
"Well I don't know about the rest of you but I'm going home," states Neil, the most sober of all of them, "I suggest the rest of you do the same."
Andrea attempts to stand up but loses her footing and collapses into Neil's arms. "Easy," he says as he easily catches her and helps her to stand back up.
"Somebody's had a bit too much to drink," giggles a just as drunk Yvonne.
"I'll walk her home, are you two coming?"
"Jjjusss gonna finisssssh meee drink," slurs Phil.
"Me too," states Yvonne still giggling drunkenly.
"Ok, see you both tomorrow," says Neil before making his way to the exit with Andrea safely in his arms.
"Let's get you home," he says to her, gently kissing her on the head.
They stumble down the street towards Andrea's flat and just about manage to get inside before they collapse on the sofa, totally exhausted. They stay there for a few minutes to regain their strength before making their way upstairs to bed.
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