Episode 2:
A few days later and Gavin rolled over in his bed, and in that moment before he woke completely he reached out to the other side of the bed for the woman who had been so vividly alive in his dreams, however his outstretched hands grasped only empty air. Suddenly throwing back the covers a silently fuming Gavin leapt out of bed stalking over to the bathroom and standing in front of the mirror his sullen reflection glared back at him. The last few days were a constant blur of alcohol, drugs and women. He hadn't gone a bender like that well since....Not since finding out Jessica wasn't his daughter he admitted silently.
Sighing deeply he turned on the shower, ice cold just like he needed it, stepping into the freezing water he had to fight the urge to turn up the temperature but as he felt the water waking him up faster than any cup of coffee he forced himself to keep his head under. He could get over this, he'd done it before and after all she wasn't the only woman in the world, he could go out tomorrow and find himself a nice pretty homey girl, someone who wouldn't muck him about and would be content to stay at home and raise his children and not ask too many questions. But as he stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel wrapping it round his waist, he had to ignore the little voice at the back of his mind that mocked him, whispering that its not that easy.
Ten minutes later a smartly dressed Gavin jogged down his staircase, ignoring the chaotic mess all over his lounge the leftovers of one hell of a party he wandered into the kitchen, grabbing the milk out of the fridge and taking a swig before grimacing as he spat the sour contents out into the sink. Grabbing his keys he headed out towards the door, intent on popping out and getting a few things before calling his cleaner for an emergency house call. However just as he was pulling open the door, he came face to face with someone he had been hoping to avoid. - - - -
Meanwhile across town Meredith had finally been allowed home, slowly her jag pulled up outside her Chelsea house, James practically jumping out of the car to rush round and help his employer out before moving to get her bags out of the boot and follow her up the steps. Meredith couldn't wait to get inside, to sit on her own couch and sleep in her own bed and ignoring James concerned prattling she forced her spare key into the lock pushing the door wide open. "Oh my god!" Meredith screamed her keys and handbag clattering to the floor.
- - - - "Mr Cochran!" DCI Jordan said smugly as she held up ID, glancing across at her colleague DS Don Merrick. "You're a very difficult man to get hold of, and believe me we've been trying."
"Is suppose you'd better come in then!" Gavin sighed, wishing that he had been able to get at least one cup of coffee down him that morning before dealing with Carol Jordan and her barely housetrained lacky. Ushering them both in he quickly grabbed at the scattered bottles and glasses, ignoring the knowing glances the pair exchanged.
"Did we come a bad time?" Carol asked.
"Yeah Maids day off or something?" Don sniggered.
"Can we get to the point?" Gavin snapped, pouring himself a glass of water and swigging down a couple of aspirin.
"As you wish Mr Cochran, lets start with a certain missing William Montague..."
- - - -
"Police." James's voice rang out loud and clear as a shaking Meredith paced up and down her ransacked flat. Examining the complete devastation, the furniture had been flung all over, mirrors smashed, her expensive art work slashed beyond recognition and worse of all the place stank. Unable to stand it any longer Meredith staggered out to the landing, gasping for the fresh air. Who could have done this? Of course there was one prime candidate, someone who would want to lash out and hurt her back. At that moment Meredith realised what she had to do, she had spent the last few days mulling over her consultant's words over the misunderstanding that had arisen.
The Doctor had been so apologetic, had explained how he had told Gavin it was too late and before he could set him straight Gavin had left, she had assured him it was alright that she would deal with it when she was home. She had meant to phone him this evening, and somehow tell him what was happening that she had changed her mind and was keeping their child and that if he still wanted perhaps they could....
Shaking her head Meredith leant against the wall, her hand moving to cover her stomach protectively, something that had become a habit over the last few days as the realisation she was having a baby had settled in, perhaps this was for the best, perhaps it would be better if she never again laid eyes on Gavin Cochran.
- - - -
"So you're telling me that you found Ms Gates alone and tied up in a warehouse after receiving a tip off from one of your 'friends' that she was being held there and that when you arrived there was no sign of Mr Montague?" DS Merrick repeated monotonously, his eyebrow raised in disbelief.
"How many times do we have to go over this?" Gavin snapped.
"How about until we get the truth?" Carol retorted.
"I'm telling you the truth, we found her there she was obviously drugged up so I took her to the hospital I certainly didn't hang around waiting for that walking time bomb to turn up..." Gavin replied, jumping up from the sofa and storming over to the kitchen, rummaging around in the drawers for any stray headache tablets.
"And you didn't leave anybody behind to wait just in case Montague returned? Someone instructed to speed him on his journey perhaps?" Don hissed.
"No I told you what happened; if you don't believe me ask Danny he was with me after all..." Gavin snapped.
"Oh yeah like we can accept the word of Danny Abrams as the gospel truth!" Don retorted.
"Mr Cochran... Gavin," Carol began carefully shooting Don a look to keep quiet. "We understand how traumatic it must have been finding her like that, and it is understandable if you lashed out in the heat of the moment, but I thought we had a deal, you gave me your word not to hurt him..."
"I haven't seen or heard from William Montague since the day he turned up in my office." Gavin cut in. "That is all I have to say, I've told you what happened and you've gotten my statement, now if you don't believe me that is tough, unless of course you've found yourself a witness who says they've seen something different..."
"We could try talking to Ms Gates again; see if she has remembered anything at all..." Don muttered, earning him another scathing look from Carol.
"Some how," Carol replied getting to her feet and shooting Gavin a knowing look, "I don't think she will have done, do you Mr Cochrane? Shall we give her your regards?" She asked as they both headed towards the door, but when Gavin didn't answer she added. "Well no matter I'm sure you can do that yourself now that she is out of the hospital."
"She is?" He asked tentatively, for a moment unable to suppress the very real desire to storm out the door and go straight over there, but then the memory of what she had done and very real pain and humiliation he had suffered at her hands returned and he had to curl his fist to stop himself from reaching for the nearest bottle.
"Yes." Carol replied softly. "Don't worry about us Mr Cochran we'll see ourselves out!" - - - -
The next few weeks passed quicker than either party could have believed Meredith buried herself in her work,
she had so much to organise for the Picasso exhibition that she spent all her time locked in her gallery
struggling to make all the arrangements that normally her former manager would have done. In the end she
had been forced to call in some extra help, using all forms of emotional blackmail to drag one of her old friends
over from the states abandoning his own New York gallery for a few weeks in order to help her put the
finishing touches to her displays.
Gavin on the other hand despite his best intentions found himself slipping back into the former lifestyle had
begun to hate, on one hand having to present to the world the façade of the independently wealthy and
respectable Gavin Cochrane by day and then at night and behind closed doors hunting down and meting out
punishments to his enemies with a ruthlessness that surprised even Danny. Then in order to forget he would
head out on the town with a few of his closest supporters and often potential clients, indulging in the spoils
that London had to offer, namely dinner at one of the finest restaurants, the finest wine in the house and
then on to one of his own strip clubs where given the nod any of his girls were delighted to provide him and his
friends with out of hours entertainment.
However despite such distractions neither could keep their thoughts from drifting to the other. Frequently
Meredith's secretary Mary would glance up at her expecting her to answer the question she had just fired at her
only to find her staring off into space a unreadable faraway expression on her face and it would take several
repeats to drag her back out of her fantasy world. The first time it had happened Mary had tried to find out
what was wrong but the quick retort to stay out of it and the acerbic tone of voice kept her from ever asking
again. Gavin by comparison was far more vocal, when asked by Danny if he wanted to visit Meredith the day
after the accident he had sneered and made it clear through his tone and language that he had no intention of
seeing that particular whore again!
However when he wasn't putting up the façade of nonchalance in front of his men he was trying every trick in
the book to purge her from his system, attempting to replace his addiction for Meredith with any other that
would work. However deep down he knew the only person he was really kidding was himself, and even that
he was making a piss poor effort at it, if he was truly over her then it wouldn't be her face he kept in mind
when he relieved himself with other women, nor her voice he called out at the moment of release. Despite the
change in his feelings towards her, the souring of his affection until all that burned was a simmering hatred,
his desire for her was as strong as ever; she was the most sexually exciting woman he had ever known and the
thought he would never again savour her delights was driving him crazy. Danny suggestion had not made
things easier.
Realising that his boss still had a thing for the Irish gallery owner and that if he pushed the right buttons
Gavin might put himself in exactly the position that Danny wanted, out of his way for good, the driver had
began to drop hints. Planting the seed of an idea that now refused to go away: he was Gavin Cochrane and if
he wanted there was no woman he couldn't have, willing or otherwise! It would be all to easy Danny had
pointed out, a little chat with their locksmith friend, a midnight visit to a certain apartment, a balaclava,
handcuffs and condom and there was no reason why Gavin couldn't have the woman of his choice. At the time
Gavin had snapped at him, disgusted that Danny would suggest such a thing and that he seriously thought
his boss would consider such a venture, but now the idea as repulsive as it was refused to go away and Gavin
awoke night after night drenched in his own sweat his boxers clinging tellingly as the scenario played over and
over in his dreams.
Disgusted with himself and now unwillingly to sleep just in case he dreamed, Gavin found himself seeking
comfort in the bottom of a bottle most nights, waking up each morning to feel even lower than the night
before. He barely noticed the nods and glances that were being shot behind his back, nor the fact the every
day Danny's smile got a little bigger and his swagger a little cockier, in truth although alarm bells were ringing
somewhere in the back of his mind he couldn't summon up enough enthusiasm to seek out the conspirators and
put a stop to their plotting. Without the prospect of the future he had been unconsciously planning with
Meredith he felt lost, rudderless, perhaps it would be best just to wait and see what plans Danny's group
was cooking up just so he had something else to concentrate on.
A few days later and Gavin rolled over in his bed, and in that moment before he woke completely he reached out to the other side of the bed for the woman who had been so vividly alive in his dreams, however his outstretched hands grasped only empty air. Suddenly throwing back the covers a silently fuming Gavin leapt out of bed stalking over to the bathroom and standing in front of the mirror his sullen reflection glared back at him. The last few days were a constant blur of alcohol, drugs and women. He hadn't gone a bender like that well since....Not since finding out Jessica wasn't his daughter he admitted silently.
Sighing deeply he turned on the shower, ice cold just like he needed it, stepping into the freezing water he had to fight the urge to turn up the temperature but as he felt the water waking him up faster than any cup of coffee he forced himself to keep his head under. He could get over this, he'd done it before and after all she wasn't the only woman in the world, he could go out tomorrow and find himself a nice pretty homey girl, someone who wouldn't muck him about and would be content to stay at home and raise his children and not ask too many questions. But as he stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel wrapping it round his waist, he had to ignore the little voice at the back of his mind that mocked him, whispering that its not that easy.
Ten minutes later a smartly dressed Gavin jogged down his staircase, ignoring the chaotic mess all over his lounge the leftovers of one hell of a party he wandered into the kitchen, grabbing the milk out of the fridge and taking a swig before grimacing as he spat the sour contents out into the sink. Grabbing his keys he headed out towards the door, intent on popping out and getting a few things before calling his cleaner for an emergency house call. However just as he was pulling open the door, he came face to face with someone he had been hoping to avoid. - - - -
Meanwhile across town Meredith had finally been allowed home, slowly her jag pulled up outside her Chelsea house, James practically jumping out of the car to rush round and help his employer out before moving to get her bags out of the boot and follow her up the steps. Meredith couldn't wait to get inside, to sit on her own couch and sleep in her own bed and ignoring James concerned prattling she forced her spare key into the lock pushing the door wide open. "Oh my god!" Meredith screamed her keys and handbag clattering to the floor.
- - - - "Mr Cochran!" DCI Jordan said smugly as she held up ID, glancing across at her colleague DS Don Merrick. "You're a very difficult man to get hold of, and believe me we've been trying."
"Is suppose you'd better come in then!" Gavin sighed, wishing that he had been able to get at least one cup of coffee down him that morning before dealing with Carol Jordan and her barely housetrained lacky. Ushering them both in he quickly grabbed at the scattered bottles and glasses, ignoring the knowing glances the pair exchanged.
"Did we come a bad time?" Carol asked.
"Yeah Maids day off or something?" Don sniggered.
"Can we get to the point?" Gavin snapped, pouring himself a glass of water and swigging down a couple of aspirin.
"As you wish Mr Cochran, lets start with a certain missing William Montague..."
- - - -
"Police." James's voice rang out loud and clear as a shaking Meredith paced up and down her ransacked flat. Examining the complete devastation, the furniture had been flung all over, mirrors smashed, her expensive art work slashed beyond recognition and worse of all the place stank. Unable to stand it any longer Meredith staggered out to the landing, gasping for the fresh air. Who could have done this? Of course there was one prime candidate, someone who would want to lash out and hurt her back. At that moment Meredith realised what she had to do, she had spent the last few days mulling over her consultant's words over the misunderstanding that had arisen.
The Doctor had been so apologetic, had explained how he had told Gavin it was too late and before he could set him straight Gavin had left, she had assured him it was alright that she would deal with it when she was home. She had meant to phone him this evening, and somehow tell him what was happening that she had changed her mind and was keeping their child and that if he still wanted perhaps they could....
Shaking her head Meredith leant against the wall, her hand moving to cover her stomach protectively, something that had become a habit over the last few days as the realisation she was having a baby had settled in, perhaps this was for the best, perhaps it would be better if she never again laid eyes on Gavin Cochran.
- - - -
"So you're telling me that you found Ms Gates alone and tied up in a warehouse after receiving a tip off from one of your 'friends' that she was being held there and that when you arrived there was no sign of Mr Montague?" DS Merrick repeated monotonously, his eyebrow raised in disbelief.
"How many times do we have to go over this?" Gavin snapped.
"How about until we get the truth?" Carol retorted.
"I'm telling you the truth, we found her there she was obviously drugged up so I took her to the hospital I certainly didn't hang around waiting for that walking time bomb to turn up..." Gavin replied, jumping up from the sofa and storming over to the kitchen, rummaging around in the drawers for any stray headache tablets.
"And you didn't leave anybody behind to wait just in case Montague returned? Someone instructed to speed him on his journey perhaps?" Don hissed.
"No I told you what happened; if you don't believe me ask Danny he was with me after all..." Gavin snapped.
"Oh yeah like we can accept the word of Danny Abrams as the gospel truth!" Don retorted.
"Mr Cochran... Gavin," Carol began carefully shooting Don a look to keep quiet. "We understand how traumatic it must have been finding her like that, and it is understandable if you lashed out in the heat of the moment, but I thought we had a deal, you gave me your word not to hurt him..."
"I haven't seen or heard from William Montague since the day he turned up in my office." Gavin cut in. "That is all I have to say, I've told you what happened and you've gotten my statement, now if you don't believe me that is tough, unless of course you've found yourself a witness who says they've seen something different..."
"We could try talking to Ms Gates again; see if she has remembered anything at all..." Don muttered, earning him another scathing look from Carol.
"Some how," Carol replied getting to her feet and shooting Gavin a knowing look, "I don't think she will have done, do you Mr Cochrane? Shall we give her your regards?" She asked as they both headed towards the door, but when Gavin didn't answer she added. "Well no matter I'm sure you can do that yourself now that she is out of the hospital."
"She is?" He asked tentatively, for a moment unable to suppress the very real desire to storm out the door and go straight over there, but then the memory of what she had done and very real pain and humiliation he had suffered at her hands returned and he had to curl his fist to stop himself from reaching for the nearest bottle.
"Yes." Carol replied softly. "Don't worry about us Mr Cochran we'll see ourselves out!" - - - -
The next few weeks passed quicker than either party could have believed Meredith buried herself in her work,
she had so much to organise for the Picasso exhibition that she spent all her time locked in her gallery
struggling to make all the arrangements that normally her former manager would have done. In the end she
had been forced to call in some extra help, using all forms of emotional blackmail to drag one of her old friends
over from the states abandoning his own New York gallery for a few weeks in order to help her put the
finishing touches to her displays.
Gavin on the other hand despite his best intentions found himself slipping back into the former lifestyle had
begun to hate, on one hand having to present to the world the façade of the independently wealthy and
respectable Gavin Cochrane by day and then at night and behind closed doors hunting down and meting out
punishments to his enemies with a ruthlessness that surprised even Danny. Then in order to forget he would
head out on the town with a few of his closest supporters and often potential clients, indulging in the spoils
that London had to offer, namely dinner at one of the finest restaurants, the finest wine in the house and
then on to one of his own strip clubs where given the nod any of his girls were delighted to provide him and his
friends with out of hours entertainment.
However despite such distractions neither could keep their thoughts from drifting to the other. Frequently
Meredith's secretary Mary would glance up at her expecting her to answer the question she had just fired at her
only to find her staring off into space a unreadable faraway expression on her face and it would take several
repeats to drag her back out of her fantasy world. The first time it had happened Mary had tried to find out
what was wrong but the quick retort to stay out of it and the acerbic tone of voice kept her from ever asking
again. Gavin by comparison was far more vocal, when asked by Danny if he wanted to visit Meredith the day
after the accident he had sneered and made it clear through his tone and language that he had no intention of
seeing that particular whore again!
However when he wasn't putting up the façade of nonchalance in front of his men he was trying every trick in
the book to purge her from his system, attempting to replace his addiction for Meredith with any other that
would work. However deep down he knew the only person he was really kidding was himself, and even that
he was making a piss poor effort at it, if he was truly over her then it wouldn't be her face he kept in mind
when he relieved himself with other women, nor her voice he called out at the moment of release. Despite the
change in his feelings towards her, the souring of his affection until all that burned was a simmering hatred,
his desire for her was as strong as ever; she was the most sexually exciting woman he had ever known and the
thought he would never again savour her delights was driving him crazy. Danny suggestion had not made
things easier.
Realising that his boss still had a thing for the Irish gallery owner and that if he pushed the right buttons
Gavin might put himself in exactly the position that Danny wanted, out of his way for good, the driver had
began to drop hints. Planting the seed of an idea that now refused to go away: he was Gavin Cochrane and if
he wanted there was no woman he couldn't have, willing or otherwise! It would be all to easy Danny had
pointed out, a little chat with their locksmith friend, a midnight visit to a certain apartment, a balaclava,
handcuffs and condom and there was no reason why Gavin couldn't have the woman of his choice. At the time
Gavin had snapped at him, disgusted that Danny would suggest such a thing and that he seriously thought
his boss would consider such a venture, but now the idea as repulsive as it was refused to go away and Gavin
awoke night after night drenched in his own sweat his boxers clinging tellingly as the scenario played over and
over in his dreams.
Disgusted with himself and now unwillingly to sleep just in case he dreamed, Gavin found himself seeking
comfort in the bottom of a bottle most nights, waking up each morning to feel even lower than the night
before. He barely noticed the nods and glances that were being shot behind his back, nor the fact the every
day Danny's smile got a little bigger and his swagger a little cockier, in truth although alarm bells were ringing
somewhere in the back of his mind he couldn't summon up enough enthusiasm to seek out the conspirators and
put a stop to their plotting. Without the prospect of the future he had been unconsciously planning with
Meredith he felt lost, rudderless, perhaps it would be best just to wait and see what plans Danny's group
was cooking up just so he had something else to concentrate on.
