Episode 4:
A few minutes later a dressed yet still damp Meredith Gates made her way down the staircase and into the open plan living room, her heels tapping gently on the polished mahogany alerting the two men to her presence.
"Meredith what are you doing up...." Gavin began quickly crossing over to her a look of disappointment on missing out on some aquatic fun flickering across his handsome face. "I would only have been a few minutes more, we're almost done here."
"Thanks but there really was no need." Meredith retorted coolly, her beautiful eyes as cold as flint.
"What is it, what's wrong?" Gavin demanded, instinctively sensing the subtle shift in her mood, before when she had been openly cool there had still been something in her eyes that hinted at hidden warmth but now it was if that fire had been completely extinguished.
"I think it's time you were leaving!" Meredith replied throwing his jacket at him.
"What you can't be serious?" Gavin retorted, slinging his jacket down on the sofa and closing the distance between them.
"Oh I am, deadly serious I might add, I would make it that you have only a few minutes before the police arrive best use them wisely!"
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell is going on!" Gavin added seizing her roughly by the shoulders and pulling her against him.
"Fine I'll tell you, if you don't let me go right now and get the hell out of here not only will I have you charged with breaking and entering and trespassing but attempted assault as well!"
Dropping her suddenly like she had burnt him Gavin backed away picking up his jacket and eyeing her with a combination of bewilderment and fury. "What happened, what happened in the few minutes between me leaving you upstairs and now, I mean one moment you're practically gagging for it and now you're like ice!"
"Let's just say I had my eyes opened! Now get the hell out..." Meredith countered trailing off when she spotted two uniformed police officers through the open door. "Ahh Officers you're just in time, this man broke down the door to my apartment and now he is refusing to leave."
"You bitch." Gavin retorted automatically raising his hand to put her firmly in her place but before he could let it fly he was grabbed roughly from behind by the two policemen, struggling against the restraint Gavin instinctively lashed out memories of months of being locked up coming to the forefront. However after a few minutes and despite a few well placed kicks from Gavin the police were able to wrestle him to the ground and slap on the cuffs. Pulling him roughly to his feet they strong-armed him towards the door one of the coppers whispering in his ear as they went. "You have been a naughty boy, now that's assaulting a police officer we can add to the list...."
The other officer bent down retrieving Gavin's wallet and mobile which had fallen on the floor during the tussle, opening the wallet his eyes went suddenly wide when he spotted the name. "Bloody hell Sarg it's only Gavin Cochrane!"
"Well this is my lucky day but who'd of thought it the supposedly untouchable Gavin Cochrane nicked for an amateur's case of breaking and entering!"
"Yeah it's back to prison for you matey...Personally I don't know why they ever let you out!" The constable piped up, earning a stern look from his superior.
"Prison!" Meredith gasped, meeting Gavin's eye and he flinched when he saw the look of fear and revulsion in her eyes.
"Yes but I was released and cleared by the courts!" Gavin snapped. "Completely exonerated!" He added softly.
"Yeah for that crime maybe so you're not a murderer, well not a convicted one but there are still plenty of crimes you have committed and I know a few DCI's who will be knocking down your cell door to have words with you my boy!" Then turning to Meredith he added. "Thank you for phoning us Madam we can send a car to pick you up to come down to the station and make a statement so we can get the ball rolling on charging Mr Cochrane here."
"Thank you but that won't be necessary." Meredith replied softly, causing Gavin the glance over at her in bewilderment. "I've already had a trying day; all I want is him out of my home!"
"But madam surely...." The constable began.
"I've made up my mind I won't be pressing charges." Meredith cut in insistently. "Just leave will you!" She added a hint of exasperation in her voice as she reached up to her throbbing head.
Sighing and with a look of resignation between them the two officers quickly escorted Gavin to the door, and as far as Meredith was concerned out of her life for good.
Down at the station Gavin Cochran sat once more in a cell, he had truly thought that after that horrendous incident when he had almost been falsely convicted of multiple homicide, that he would never see the inside of one of these again. He had almost managed to forget the complete bleakness, the pale lifeless walls and the smell, that unusual and sickening combination of disinfectant, sweat and urine. It was all her fault, once again he was being banged up for something he had not even done and the injustice of that rankled deep, when he got out of here he was going to make damn sure he paid her back, paid her back in full; not only for setting him up in the first place but for making him open himself up to care about her then ripping his heart out through his chest. If only he could think of a reason why, but there was nothing, there couldn't be anything that could justify her turning on him like that; that Will Montague was right Meredith Gates was the biggest bitch this side of hell.
Suddenly the door to his cell opened in leered two junior officers, Gavin on the other hand barely favoured them with a second glance, there were nothing compared to him and what's more they knew it.
"On your feet mate we have a few people who want to talk to you!" One crowed as they stood back ushering him out the door.
"Yeah real anxious they are!" The second added. "So you better not keep them waiting!"
Sighing Gavin got to his feet, he knew they were just trying to provoke him, so far all they had on him was resisting arrest as Meredith had chosen not to press charges and that change of heart he couldn't understand, if she was truly the manipulative bitch that everyone took her for why didn't she go for the jugular? Why let him off the hook so easily? But if she wasn't then what was that whole scene about in the first place? Shaking his head as he entered the interview room Gavin decided to put that particular puzzle aside for later, after all once he got out of here there would be plenty of time to settle his account in full with that lady, and he had just the idea in mind as to how.
Across town similar thoughts were going through the mind of Meredith Gates, every time she thought about how close she had come to being duped again she practically shook with rage. The first time was bad enough, loosing £500k on a fake Mondrian was a lesson she swore she would never forget but she had not thought to guard her heart, it would have seemed preposterous that she would let someone so close so fast. But deep down, under the anger was the undeniable pangs of hurt, disappointment and betrayal.
Taking a swig of brandy that she knew she shouldn't drinking, not with the medication, Meredith clung to the idea of revenge; this time she was not going to let them get away with it. However this had to be done carefully, and overhearing what the officer had let slip about prison she realised she was going to have to tread very carefully, and the only way to do that was to know your enemy. Finishing her brandy she returned to her laptop and began to search for anything and everything relating to Gavin Cochrane.
Many hours later as the sun was beginning to rise and the nip of the first real frost was biting at the air Gavin Cochran finally emerged a free man, well free for the time being he was bound over to appear before magistrates in a few days facing the charge of resisting arrest. But his solicitor was confident that would be squashed due to the fact that no other charges had been brought against him, so as far as the law was concerned the police had no reason to arrest him in the first place; it was a tenuous loophole but a loophole none the less.
Pulling out his cigarettes Gavin lit one slowly taking a deep breath in order to relax, but in reality his mind was still racing, he knew he had the perfect revenge the trick would be in reeling the help he needed but he knew just the 'in' he required. Pulling out his mobile he quickly dialled for Danny.
"Danny I'm waiting in the cold so you better have a damn good excuse for being late..." He snorted down the phone before hanging up, but instead of putting the phone away he searched through his numbers until his eyes alit on one in particular, smiling victoriously Gavin rang it just as Danny pulled up alongside.
"Ash my boy sorry to ring you so early I know it's been a while, I think its time the two of us got together and discussed that favour you owe me....What's it about? Oh well I heard along the grapevine that you might have information that can help me out..." Gavin trailed off as he got into his waiting car his smile broadening at the sheer poetic justice of his plan. Later that day as the rest of the world was getting on with its day to day business Gavin Cochran was holding a rather unconventional meeting over brunch at a certain downtown bar, walking into the room he spotted the barman give him a quick once over, assessing the threat before quickly getting back to polishing glasses and wiping down the bar. Smiling broadly Gavin strode towards the group gathered in one of the corner booths it was time to make his presence known, suddenly Ash looked up and he nervously caught Gavin's eye before hastily looking away. It didn't take long for Mickey to follow Ash's glance and Gavin could have sworn he saw the suave con artist turn several shades paler than normal.
"Micky the bricks at last we meet in person, I have been looking forward to this for some time, I presume you know who I am?" Gavin asked confident in the answer.
"I know of you yes, I doubt there are many that have been inside that haven't." Mickey replied cautiously, causing several of the others to glance at him for an explanation. "What I don't understand is why you would want to meet me?"
"Well would anyone care to fill us in?" The young fair haired con asked cheekily, glancing between the deadly serious Mickey, to the cowed Ash and back to the supremely confident Gavin. "Let's start from the beginning I'm Danny Blue and you..." But Danny didn't get the chance to finish as a sharp quick from Albert quickly shut him up.
"Now is not the time Danny." Albert hissed under his breath.
"Oh that's quite alright." Gavin retorted good naturedly, his eyes flickering over the group, the unreadable Mickey, the apprehensive old hand Albert, Ash sitting quiet and unmoving unable to look Gavin or his colleagues in the eye and then there were the two new faces. This Danny Blue an obvious sharp mouthed kid who must have some raw talent to be Mickey's team and the girl, pretty, very pretty but somehow she did nothing for him; there was only one woman in his thoughts at the moment and that was what he was here to discuss.
"For those of you that don't know me my name is Gavin Cochran." At this the kid let out a surprised gasp. "So you know the name, well I suppose that's something! Your good friend Ash here invited me for Brunch I do hope you don't mind, you see I was hoping to discuss a little business."
"What could you possibly need us for?" Albert asked.
"Oh well you see a little birdie told me about their recent dealings with you boys, and girl, something about being stitched up over painting you a fake Mondrian, now I'm not here to criticise the way you do business but there was something that intrigued me and that was how you managed to swipe an original out from under the very noses of the gallery owner." Gavin replied drawing up a chair and waving over the barman. "Espresso, Columbian if you have it!"
"Look Gavin we may con people for money but we're not thieves..." Mickey began earnestly.
"What an interesting distinction." Gavin mocked. "But I never said that you were I know the painting was returned." Gavin cut in, his voice dangerously low, "What I asked is how!"
"Why should we tell you?" Stacie cut in earning her an appraising glance from Gavin, there was something about those eyes that made her shiver slightly, he was hardly her type but he positively reeked of power and magnetism, it was almost a hypnotic quality.
"Simple my dear because I am asking you nicely that is why!" Gavin retorted his crystal blue eyes turning to ice for a brief moment. "What I decide to do with the information afterwards, well that is my business, however if you want to play it the hard way I will simply call in my marker."
"Your marker?" Danny asked bemused.
"He means me." Ash hissed looking up for the first time, his normally kind eyes flashing with anger as they locked with Gavin's. "Haven't any of you ever wondered how I got this metal plate in my head? Well I wasn't hit by a car, it was more like a bar stool and believe me I was the lucky one my kid brother well he wasn't so lucky, and when the bastard who did it got away with it due to lack of evidence well I went to someone who I knew could help."
Smiling Gavin sat back in his chair sipping at his espresso. "And I was delighted to help; I mean I can't stand people who refuse to pay up when they lose let alone use violence against the opposition its hardly sporting!"
"And this is?" Ash demanded.
"We made a deal, you didn't think I had forgotten did you? That you had got away with it for nothing?" Gavin replied his voice low yet menacing. "I did you a favour, now you do one for me, that's how it works!"
Sighing softly Mickey locked eyes with Gavin, taking a deep breath he began to speak. "What exactly do you want us to do?"
A few minutes later a dressed yet still damp Meredith Gates made her way down the staircase and into the open plan living room, her heels tapping gently on the polished mahogany alerting the two men to her presence.
"Meredith what are you doing up...." Gavin began quickly crossing over to her a look of disappointment on missing out on some aquatic fun flickering across his handsome face. "I would only have been a few minutes more, we're almost done here."
"Thanks but there really was no need." Meredith retorted coolly, her beautiful eyes as cold as flint.
"What is it, what's wrong?" Gavin demanded, instinctively sensing the subtle shift in her mood, before when she had been openly cool there had still been something in her eyes that hinted at hidden warmth but now it was if that fire had been completely extinguished.
"I think it's time you were leaving!" Meredith replied throwing his jacket at him.
"What you can't be serious?" Gavin retorted, slinging his jacket down on the sofa and closing the distance between them.
"Oh I am, deadly serious I might add, I would make it that you have only a few minutes before the police arrive best use them wisely!"
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell is going on!" Gavin added seizing her roughly by the shoulders and pulling her against him.
"Fine I'll tell you, if you don't let me go right now and get the hell out of here not only will I have you charged with breaking and entering and trespassing but attempted assault as well!"
Dropping her suddenly like she had burnt him Gavin backed away picking up his jacket and eyeing her with a combination of bewilderment and fury. "What happened, what happened in the few minutes between me leaving you upstairs and now, I mean one moment you're practically gagging for it and now you're like ice!"
"Let's just say I had my eyes opened! Now get the hell out..." Meredith countered trailing off when she spotted two uniformed police officers through the open door. "Ahh Officers you're just in time, this man broke down the door to my apartment and now he is refusing to leave."
"You bitch." Gavin retorted automatically raising his hand to put her firmly in her place but before he could let it fly he was grabbed roughly from behind by the two policemen, struggling against the restraint Gavin instinctively lashed out memories of months of being locked up coming to the forefront. However after a few minutes and despite a few well placed kicks from Gavin the police were able to wrestle him to the ground and slap on the cuffs. Pulling him roughly to his feet they strong-armed him towards the door one of the coppers whispering in his ear as they went. "You have been a naughty boy, now that's assaulting a police officer we can add to the list...."
The other officer bent down retrieving Gavin's wallet and mobile which had fallen on the floor during the tussle, opening the wallet his eyes went suddenly wide when he spotted the name. "Bloody hell Sarg it's only Gavin Cochrane!"
"Well this is my lucky day but who'd of thought it the supposedly untouchable Gavin Cochrane nicked for an amateur's case of breaking and entering!"
"Yeah it's back to prison for you matey...Personally I don't know why they ever let you out!" The constable piped up, earning a stern look from his superior.
"Prison!" Meredith gasped, meeting Gavin's eye and he flinched when he saw the look of fear and revulsion in her eyes.
"Yes but I was released and cleared by the courts!" Gavin snapped. "Completely exonerated!" He added softly.
"Yeah for that crime maybe so you're not a murderer, well not a convicted one but there are still plenty of crimes you have committed and I know a few DCI's who will be knocking down your cell door to have words with you my boy!" Then turning to Meredith he added. "Thank you for phoning us Madam we can send a car to pick you up to come down to the station and make a statement so we can get the ball rolling on charging Mr Cochrane here."
"Thank you but that won't be necessary." Meredith replied softly, causing Gavin the glance over at her in bewilderment. "I've already had a trying day; all I want is him out of my home!"
"But madam surely...." The constable began.
"I've made up my mind I won't be pressing charges." Meredith cut in insistently. "Just leave will you!" She added a hint of exasperation in her voice as she reached up to her throbbing head.
Sighing and with a look of resignation between them the two officers quickly escorted Gavin to the door, and as far as Meredith was concerned out of her life for good.
Down at the station Gavin Cochran sat once more in a cell, he had truly thought that after that horrendous incident when he had almost been falsely convicted of multiple homicide, that he would never see the inside of one of these again. He had almost managed to forget the complete bleakness, the pale lifeless walls and the smell, that unusual and sickening combination of disinfectant, sweat and urine. It was all her fault, once again he was being banged up for something he had not even done and the injustice of that rankled deep, when he got out of here he was going to make damn sure he paid her back, paid her back in full; not only for setting him up in the first place but for making him open himself up to care about her then ripping his heart out through his chest. If only he could think of a reason why, but there was nothing, there couldn't be anything that could justify her turning on him like that; that Will Montague was right Meredith Gates was the biggest bitch this side of hell.
Suddenly the door to his cell opened in leered two junior officers, Gavin on the other hand barely favoured them with a second glance, there were nothing compared to him and what's more they knew it.
"On your feet mate we have a few people who want to talk to you!" One crowed as they stood back ushering him out the door.
"Yeah real anxious they are!" The second added. "So you better not keep them waiting!"
Sighing Gavin got to his feet, he knew they were just trying to provoke him, so far all they had on him was resisting arrest as Meredith had chosen not to press charges and that change of heart he couldn't understand, if she was truly the manipulative bitch that everyone took her for why didn't she go for the jugular? Why let him off the hook so easily? But if she wasn't then what was that whole scene about in the first place? Shaking his head as he entered the interview room Gavin decided to put that particular puzzle aside for later, after all once he got out of here there would be plenty of time to settle his account in full with that lady, and he had just the idea in mind as to how.
Across town similar thoughts were going through the mind of Meredith Gates, every time she thought about how close she had come to being duped again she practically shook with rage. The first time was bad enough, loosing £500k on a fake Mondrian was a lesson she swore she would never forget but she had not thought to guard her heart, it would have seemed preposterous that she would let someone so close so fast. But deep down, under the anger was the undeniable pangs of hurt, disappointment and betrayal.
Taking a swig of brandy that she knew she shouldn't drinking, not with the medication, Meredith clung to the idea of revenge; this time she was not going to let them get away with it. However this had to be done carefully, and overhearing what the officer had let slip about prison she realised she was going to have to tread very carefully, and the only way to do that was to know your enemy. Finishing her brandy she returned to her laptop and began to search for anything and everything relating to Gavin Cochrane.
Many hours later as the sun was beginning to rise and the nip of the first real frost was biting at the air Gavin Cochran finally emerged a free man, well free for the time being he was bound over to appear before magistrates in a few days facing the charge of resisting arrest. But his solicitor was confident that would be squashed due to the fact that no other charges had been brought against him, so as far as the law was concerned the police had no reason to arrest him in the first place; it was a tenuous loophole but a loophole none the less.
Pulling out his cigarettes Gavin lit one slowly taking a deep breath in order to relax, but in reality his mind was still racing, he knew he had the perfect revenge the trick would be in reeling the help he needed but he knew just the 'in' he required. Pulling out his mobile he quickly dialled for Danny.
"Danny I'm waiting in the cold so you better have a damn good excuse for being late..." He snorted down the phone before hanging up, but instead of putting the phone away he searched through his numbers until his eyes alit on one in particular, smiling victoriously Gavin rang it just as Danny pulled up alongside.
"Ash my boy sorry to ring you so early I know it's been a while, I think its time the two of us got together and discussed that favour you owe me....What's it about? Oh well I heard along the grapevine that you might have information that can help me out..." Gavin trailed off as he got into his waiting car his smile broadening at the sheer poetic justice of his plan. Later that day as the rest of the world was getting on with its day to day business Gavin Cochran was holding a rather unconventional meeting over brunch at a certain downtown bar, walking into the room he spotted the barman give him a quick once over, assessing the threat before quickly getting back to polishing glasses and wiping down the bar. Smiling broadly Gavin strode towards the group gathered in one of the corner booths it was time to make his presence known, suddenly Ash looked up and he nervously caught Gavin's eye before hastily looking away. It didn't take long for Mickey to follow Ash's glance and Gavin could have sworn he saw the suave con artist turn several shades paler than normal.
"Micky the bricks at last we meet in person, I have been looking forward to this for some time, I presume you know who I am?" Gavin asked confident in the answer.
"I know of you yes, I doubt there are many that have been inside that haven't." Mickey replied cautiously, causing several of the others to glance at him for an explanation. "What I don't understand is why you would want to meet me?"
"Well would anyone care to fill us in?" The young fair haired con asked cheekily, glancing between the deadly serious Mickey, to the cowed Ash and back to the supremely confident Gavin. "Let's start from the beginning I'm Danny Blue and you..." But Danny didn't get the chance to finish as a sharp quick from Albert quickly shut him up.
"Now is not the time Danny." Albert hissed under his breath.
"Oh that's quite alright." Gavin retorted good naturedly, his eyes flickering over the group, the unreadable Mickey, the apprehensive old hand Albert, Ash sitting quiet and unmoving unable to look Gavin or his colleagues in the eye and then there were the two new faces. This Danny Blue an obvious sharp mouthed kid who must have some raw talent to be Mickey's team and the girl, pretty, very pretty but somehow she did nothing for him; there was only one woman in his thoughts at the moment and that was what he was here to discuss.
"For those of you that don't know me my name is Gavin Cochran." At this the kid let out a surprised gasp. "So you know the name, well I suppose that's something! Your good friend Ash here invited me for Brunch I do hope you don't mind, you see I was hoping to discuss a little business."
"What could you possibly need us for?" Albert asked.
"Oh well you see a little birdie told me about their recent dealings with you boys, and girl, something about being stitched up over painting you a fake Mondrian, now I'm not here to criticise the way you do business but there was something that intrigued me and that was how you managed to swipe an original out from under the very noses of the gallery owner." Gavin replied drawing up a chair and waving over the barman. "Espresso, Columbian if you have it!"
"Look Gavin we may con people for money but we're not thieves..." Mickey began earnestly.
"What an interesting distinction." Gavin mocked. "But I never said that you were I know the painting was returned." Gavin cut in, his voice dangerously low, "What I asked is how!"
"Why should we tell you?" Stacie cut in earning her an appraising glance from Gavin, there was something about those eyes that made her shiver slightly, he was hardly her type but he positively reeked of power and magnetism, it was almost a hypnotic quality.
"Simple my dear because I am asking you nicely that is why!" Gavin retorted his crystal blue eyes turning to ice for a brief moment. "What I decide to do with the information afterwards, well that is my business, however if you want to play it the hard way I will simply call in my marker."
"Your marker?" Danny asked bemused.
"He means me." Ash hissed looking up for the first time, his normally kind eyes flashing with anger as they locked with Gavin's. "Haven't any of you ever wondered how I got this metal plate in my head? Well I wasn't hit by a car, it was more like a bar stool and believe me I was the lucky one my kid brother well he wasn't so lucky, and when the bastard who did it got away with it due to lack of evidence well I went to someone who I knew could help."
Smiling Gavin sat back in his chair sipping at his espresso. "And I was delighted to help; I mean I can't stand people who refuse to pay up when they lose let alone use violence against the opposition its hardly sporting!"
"And this is?" Ash demanded.
"We made a deal, you didn't think I had forgotten did you? That you had got away with it for nothing?" Gavin replied his voice low yet menacing. "I did you a favour, now you do one for me, that's how it works!"
Sighing softly Mickey locked eyes with Gavin, taking a deep breath he began to speak. "What exactly do you want us to do?"
