sorry for such a short chapter compared to the recent ones! I needed to end this at an appropriate place as have WAY more lined up for the next chapters! also found the time to write this so jumped at the opportunity and rushed to get it out!
thank you to everyone who wished me well with university and those of you who have commented your supports/thoughts on this fic. it really does mean so much! enjoy!
"You called for me?"
"Ah, Beth," Hastings smiles from his desk as she walks into his office, moving to stand beside the three AC-12 officers, "We have a wee debate going on here, thought we could use your opinion."
"What's going on?" Liz asks, her eyes flitting to the officers beside her then back to Ted, curiously.
"We were just discussing the Danny Waldron shooting," Hastings explains, "and the possibility of an undercover assignment."
Liz looks over to Kate who stands between Steve and Dot, who sends her a determined glance.
"Look," Dot says before Liz can respond, "this feels like a long shot."
Steve jumps in, disputing, "Kate was kept out of the interview on purpose to give us this option. We should use it."
Hastings seems to contemplate this, "Remind me, Kate, are you firearms trained?"
"Yes, sir, I am," Kate agrees. Liz remembers the woman excelling in this particular area during training. It seemed she had a natural gift for it. Liz… not so much.
"The statements given by Waldron's team are all highly consistent," Dot argues, "That's not suspicious in itself. What else are they gonna do? Give them 48 hours to get their stories straight?"
Steve huffs, "The question is whether Waldron's story adds up. Whether his squad's really as loyal as they appear. The only way to get an inside look is with Kate on the case."
Dot shakes his head, disagreeing, "Putting Kate into a AFO role is a whole level of jeopardy above a normal undercover assess-"
"I can handle it," Kate states to Hastings, arms folded and eyes fixed.
Hastings lets out a breath as the three AC-12 officers watch him, anticipating his answer. The older man's eyes turn to Liz, him raising an inquisitive brow.
Liz, who had been thinking all their arguments over, clears her throat slightly, "I understand the risks but Kate is the most capable officer we have to complete this mission. If sending Kate in gets this case closed, then surely it is our duty to see it through."
Hastings nods, agreeing, "Right, I'll put in the word. Kate, you'll have a briefing tomorrow morning at o-nine-hundred."
"Thank you, sir," Kate says, Liz noting the pleased smirk appearing on her face.
"Dismissed," Hastings waves them off, turning to his phone to make the necessary phone calls.
Liz follows the officers out of the room, Kate thanking her with a smile before walking back to her desk. Steve also sends her a grateful glance before heading over to his own.
About to turn back for her own office, Liz hears a frustrated sigh beside her. Dot still stands outside Hastings' office, hands in his pockets and looking to his feet, defeatedly.
"Everything alright?" Liz asks, the man looking up at her a little startled.
"Yeah, yeah," he dismisses, then frowns, "Just concerned."
Liz starts heading for her office, hoping he will follow as his desk is not so far from it. Dot moves to walk beside her.
"What's concerning you?" Liz inquires, softly as she would with her clients.
"We are sending her into a firearms squad without any concern of the risk of her being found out," Dot explains, worriedly, "If Waldron's willing to shoot down a suspect without any thought, who knows what he could be capable of."
Liz hums, thoughtfully, "You're right. I have the same concern. But this is Kate we are talking about."
"I know," he admits, Liz can see the conflict on his face, "Not like she hasn't been caught out before, though?"
Liz stays quiet. She hates to admit it, but there is some truth in his concern.
"Christ," Dot exclaims under his breath, no longer walking,
Liz stops too, looking up at his irritated expression curiously before following his eyes.
Gill Biggeloe.
She groans, Dot letting out an amused but agreeing chuckle beside her. AC-12's legal counsel had been nothing but a bitch to this office for five years now. Liz in particular. She has been sucking up to Ted for years, trying to dig her talons into him and manipulate his every move. Liz always assumed that was why the woman immediately disliked her; because Ted would listen to her and favour her perspective every time. Gill was reluctant to allow her to have an office in the department all those years ago when Liz started working on her network. Something about it being nepotistic, making the department look bad. In fact, it was Gill who first derogatorily claimed Liz was nothing but a 'glorified HR assistant', a notion that had been a sensitive accusation ever since. Ted had argued it was nothing of the sort and defied Gill to give her an office and resources anyway. Liz loved him a little more for that.
Liz and Dot watch as she passes, ignoring them as she does despite Liz's best attempt at a polite smile. Liz rolls her eyes as the woman strides into Hastings' office, without even knocking, as if she owns the place.
"Interrupted a meeting with myself and Arnott yesterday," Dot explains, gesturing with his head to the woman who disappears into the SUperintendent's office, "Some shit about the Police Federation pushing back against Waldron's suspension."
Liz groans, again, folding her arms, "You're kidding."
Dot shakes his head, disappointedly, "Said his lawyer wrote an email about three pages long-"
"Which she probably helped write," Liz rolls her eyes.
Dot huffs, humoured, "No doubt. Asking for him to be operational again with his firearms permit reinstated. Need more substantial evidence, apparently."
"What are you going to do?"
"Well, I suppose now we have Kate as a UCO, see if she can identify one of the team as a weak link or find irregularities in their statements," Dot explains with a shrug, "and then we push them harder."
Liz sighs, "So, what, Biggeloe is running your investigations now?"
"Arnott said the same thing," Dot says with a smirk. Liz smiles too at that. Of course he did. That man was rubbing off on her.
Someone was following her again. She knows it.
It's those footsteps again, the same heavy pace as the other night.
The last few nights, Liz had taken the long way home via the main roads. It added about twenty minutes to her journey, but she was able to avoid those dangerously discreet alleyway shortcuts. She had thought that would keep her safe - and it had worked. Until now.
Turning onto her road, she quickens her pace as she had done before. The footsteps quicken behind her as they also had done before.
Liz bites her lip, willing herself to move faster without breaking into an obvious run.
Hastily walking up the short path to her apartment building entrance, Liz slams the door behind her and runs to her own flat. She doesn't look back this time, too fixated on getting through her own door and away from him - whoever it was. Once safely inside, she twists the internal lock and secures it shut, pushing against it for a moment just to make sure.
Sighing when she is satisfied it is locked, Liz moves away to her sofa, collapsing on it.
Her mind runs with questions and possible answers, yet drawing on no conclusions.
How long has she been followed? Why was she being followed? Who was following her?
Just then, her phone vibrates beside her. She jumps. Reaching for it and looking at the caller, she feels her chest swell in relief at the sight of Steve's name.
"Hello?" she asks as she picks it up.
"Lizzie, I was just- wait, everything ok?" his voice asks, concerned. Liz silently curses herself. She must have forgotten to conceal the scared shakiness of her voice.
She clears her throat, sitting up straight, then deflecting "Uh, yeah. You?"
He pauses for a moment, probably not believing her, "I was just doing some surveillance on Waldron. He lives just around the corner from you, about two minutes away. I have some treats for Saoirse I could drop off if you're not busy?"
Liz feels herself smile at his kindness, despite her heart still beating wildly, "Oh, yeah, that would be great. I only just got back so it's not a problem."
"Great, I'll be there in five," Steve says.
"Ok, I'll have a coffee waiting," she smiles, hanging up the call.
Liz throws her phone down onto the sofa and removes her jacket, heading to the kitchen to make the hot drink. As she does, her mind returns to her ordeal.
Who would want to follow her? What reason would anyone have? To scare her, to intimidate her? The only person to have ever come to her home with that intent was Denton, and she was currently behind bars awaiting her official trial. And it wasn't like that woman had any allies to send after Liz. So who else would want to scare her? Who else could she think of who might be angry with-?
Oh no. Surely, it can't be-
There's a knock on her door. Liz jumps again, almost spilling the boiling water from her kettle over herself. She sets it down, slowly moving over to the door. Liz hesitantly steps towards it, leaning quietly against it to look through the viewing hole.
Her tense shoulders sag as she sees Steve standing outside, hands in pockets as he waits for her to respond. Taking a brief moment to steady herself and fix on her bravado, Liz opens it.
"Hey, come in."
"Thanks, Lizzie," he says as he steps past her with a smile, "Where should I put these?"
Liz smiles as he pulls out a packet of cat treats from his pocket, holding them up.
"Just put them down anywhere, I'm sure Saoirse will find them," Liz grins, "Thank you."
"No problem," Steve says looking around for the cat.
Just then, when the packet rustles as he puts them onto the counter, the fluffy creature appears - trotting happily into the room. She pads over to the pair, looking up at the packet and brushing her coat gratefully against Steve's ankle.
The pair smile at the cat's eager eyes watching Steve pick up the packet and open it, pulling out a treat for her. Saoirse sits up, waiting patiently for the treat as he waves it in front of her.
Crouching down, Steve holds out the treat, which the cat devours hungrily, then strokes her head gently as Liz had shown him to do before.
"She'll be you bestie friend now," Liz humours, watching them fondly.
Steve chuckles as the cat brushes itself against him again, purring under the touch of his hand.
Liz suddenly swallows, moment ruined by her intrusive recollection of her experience. She begins, attempting with all her might to sound indifferent, "So, you said you saw Danny Waldron?"
"Oh, yeah," Steve says, giving the cat one last stroke before following her around the counter. He thanks her as she hands him a hot drink, "Thought I would try and catch him at his flat. Just on Throwley Gardens. Did you know he lived so close?"
Liz shakes her head, ignoring the way her heart begins to thump harder, "No, I had no idea."
"Yeah, saw him about ten minutes ago. Was sat outside in the car for a good forty minutes before he came running past like a madman," Steve explains, taking a sip of his drink, "Seems he went for a run and pushed himself a bit too hard. Looked like he was going to be sick."
Liz stays quiet, taking a sip herself.
"He must have come past here, by the direction he turned onto his road," Steve says, casually.
Liz's throat dries at the dawning possibility.
"Did you see him?" Steve asks, not yet catching on to her restrained panic.
"I don't think so," Liz mutters, her mind thinking back to her walk home.
The route he was supposedly running would fit. The timing would fit. The motive would fit.
Danny Waldron was following her.
She should have known, from the way he had looked at her back at the office the other day. It had unnerved her, the blankness in his stare. How it seemed so vacant yet threatening. Liz had thought, then, that he may have wrongly believed she was giving the team personal information on him. That would usually be the case, if he were a client, but not this time. She did not know the man well enough to have any valuable insight. But Liz understood how it may seem that way. For him to have seen her, someone he worked with, standing beside AC-12 as they questioned him on his private life. It had been the same with Denton, who had also wrongly assumed her involvement. From that experience and all the trouble Denton had caused her, it was not so unlikely Waldron was making his attempt at intimidation too - was it?
"What did he say when he saw you?" Liz squeaks through her dry throat.
"Insisted he had never heard of the suspect prior to the shooting," Steve shrugs, though seems distrustful, "Larger sections of Ronan Murphy's profile were redacted. It is possible there is something bigger going on here."
Liz hums, still a little distracted by her own revelation, "That's what I thought. Danny was always a stickler for the rules, always wanting to impress and serve at the highest standard of officer. He has always been... well, difficult. But I never assumed he would be capable of gunning down an innocent man."
She resists the urge to roll her eyes at herself. Even now? After the realisation of him being the one to follow her? How can she be so sure of what that man is capable of? Was she not, herself, now scared of him? Why would she be scared of a man if she did not think him capable of something terrible?
Steve raises a brow, "Well, easiest way to get away with killing someone-"
"Is be a police officer," Liz finishes for him, her heart palpatating wildly at the thought of Waldron committing murder. Perhaps, her insistence she did not think him capable was just a way of her easing her mind. Ignoring the worst possibility of his intention in following her.
Steve looks at her then, properly, her uneven tone catching his attention. She is glaring distractedly into her tea, eyes distant and blank. Liz chews her bottom lip, the flesh there becoming red and torn.
"Are you ok?" he asks, gently, putting this mug down to step a little closer.
Her head snaps up, Liz almost dropping her mug as if shocked by his voice. She stumbles, turning to put the mug on the counter as he had done. Tucking some hair behind her ear as her cheeks begin to redden, she fails to smile as she squeaks, "Fine, just tired."
Steve sighs, doubtfully. He decides against pushing, having learnt in the almost three years of knowing her to give her time. Liz struggles to admit when something is bothering her, despite being so painfully obvious about it. But he knows she will tell him eventually, when she wants to. Liz had always been so patient with him, the least he could do is the same for her.
She doesn't want to bother Steve, Liz tells herself as he looks at her, worriedly. He has enough on his mind than to be loaded with her, probably irrational worry. She didn't even know for sure if she was being followed, let alone if it was Danny Waldron. Surely, it was all just coincidence. There was no proof.
Knowing she will not say anything further, Steve finishes the last of his drink before stepping away from the counter.
"I should head home, Sam will be waiting up," Steve says, Liz feeling her heart pang.
"Yeah, of course," Liz says, Steve feeling his heart pang.
Liz does not want him to go. She feels safe with him here. But that would be selfish to ask. Steve has a girlfriend he would rather be spending his time with.
Steve does not want to go. He can see something is upsetting her. But that would be selfish to ask. He has a girlfriend he should get back to. After the whole Hurrell thing, he was on thin ice as far as spending more time with Liz when he promised to be with Sam was concerned.
"Thank you, again, for the treats," Liz says, though sadly, as they walk to the door.
Steve gives the cat one last stroke before opening Liz's door and stepping out.
"I'll see you tomorrow at work," Steve says, standing on her doorstep, visibly reluctant to leave. He hopes Liz will invite him to stay a little while longer, or at least admit whatever was on her mind.
She doesn't.
"Goodnight, Steve," she says, quietly.
Steve nods, not wanting to push. He gives her one last wave before making his way out of the building.
Liz slowly closes the door as she watches him leave.
Perhaps, she should have told him, she thinks once the door is shut. But there was no proof and so far no need. Besides, if it were Waldron, the sooner they solved this case the sooner he could be behind bars. Then she would be safe - right?
"What is that all about?" Liz asks as she approaches Steve at his desk, looking over through the frosted windows to see Gill once again sat in Hastings' office.
Moving the phone in his hand away from his ear, Steve looks up at her. She notes his frown, it is as if she should know something.
Liz had only just entered the building, deciding after her ordeal last night, she deserved another hour in bed. She never took holiday, so she was sure Ted wouldn't mind filing it under that.
She had hoped to speak to Steve, confess something about her concerns over being followed by Waldron - or, at least, the possibility. He would want to know. And, after thinking it over, it was the only theory that made sense. The coincidences were a little too coincidental. But, upon seeing Gill in deep discussion with Ted as she arrived, Liz was curiously distracted.
Steve clears his throat, "We called in the rest of Waldron's team this morning."
"Oh?" Liz exclaims, "And what did they have to say for themselves?"
"All stick to their statements about Murphy's death," Steve explains, standing from his seat to move beside her, "Did Hastings not call you?"
Liz frowns, concerned at his lowered tone, "No, should he have?"
Steve puts his hand in his pockets, awkwardly, "Lizzie, Danny Waldron is dead."
"What?"
"Waldron was shot yesterday afternoon while on a mission," Steve explains, brow creasing in concern at her stunned expression, "He's dead."
Liz is at a loss for words. Her lips try to form some kind of verbal response but she is sure it is just hanging open, dumbfounded.
"I'm sorry, I know you knew him," Steve offers, reaching a hand out to comfortingly pat her arm.
"Hardly," Liz has to resist the urge to deliriously laugh.
If Waldron was dead, the following would stop. She didn't have to look over her shoulder every time she walked on her own. She didn't have to bother Steve with her problem. She could sleep again.
Liz feels terrible feeling relief at the news of a man's death. Waldron was trouble, but no one deserved that. As she had always believed, people like that just need help. It saddens her to think there was no one there for him in that way.
But that doesn't mean she is not relieved the torment will stop.
Trying to push her mouth downward to avoid smiling and confounding Steve, Liz just frowns, folding her arms as Steve removes his hand, "What does this mean for the investigation?"
"Well, the three of them claim Danny put the gun to his own head, they tried to help him and the gun went off."
"Do you believe them?"
"Kate was the one to run in and try to stop the bleeding. Says they were all standing around just watching," Steve explains.
"Kate was here?" Liz asks, having wondered how her friend was getting on since she went undercover a week ago, "Is she alright?"
Steve nods, "She's doing fine. Had to keep up the cover during the recording and in front of the other three officers, so didn't get much chance to ask. But she seems ok."
"Good," Liz affirms, pleased, "What did she tell you?"
"That she was downstairs when the incident happened, only ran up there when she heard the shot go off," Steve says, recalling her account, "Said Waldron tried saying something to her before he passed but she couldn't make it out."
Liz quietly huffs in disappointment, "So what's next? Why is Gill here?"
"Hastings arrested the three officers on suspicion of murder," Steve gestures to the phone in his hand and to Dot, stood a little away from them, also on the phone, "Just trying to arrange custody for them in stations where they aren't known."
Liz looks over to Hastings' office, seeing the outline of Gill still talking to the man. She rolls her eyes, "No doubt trying to call it off. Always more concerned with image than justice."
Steve follows her line of sight, humming in frustrated agreement before dialling a number on the phone and lifting it to his ear, waiting for an answer.
Just then, Hastings stands from his seat, moving to the window and knocking on it to catch their attention. Liz, Steve and Dot watch astounded as the older man gestures his hand slicing his throat, clearly ordering them to call-off their custody arrangements. Steve almost growls as he ends his call, telling the person on the other end of the line to cancel. Liz catches Ted's eye before he turns away again, seeing he is just as frustrated as they are. Though, she understands the position is in. If this comes from the lawyers and, more importantly, the head officer, there was little the man could do.
"Scrap that," Dot says as he walks over to them, ending his own phone call.
"Ted won't stop the investigation," Liz assures the two defeated-looking men, "I know he cares about seeing this one through."
Dot nods, "Yeah, just frustrating though. Thought we might be getting somewhere."
"And you still can," Liz assures, looking between Steve, who stressfully rubs his forehead, and Dot, who is glaring at the woman in the Superintendent's office, "We always thought there was more to Danny's background, a possible link to the suspect he shot. Why not keep digging?"
Steve nods, knowing he is right and having wanted to do the same. Dot also lets out a congruent grunt, looking away as Gill leaves the office and strides proudly out of the department.
Liz, also having ignored the woman and not given her the satisfaction of a glare, continues to assure the two AC-12 officers, "Just speak to Hastings. Maybe ask to search Danny's apartment? Send forensics? I'm sure that won't do too much harm to our 'public reputation'."
The two men look at eachother, clearly agreeing with her.
"Come on, Arnott," Dot says, a new air of confidence about him as he turns for Hastings' office, "Thanks, Queenie."
Liz smiles, not believing to have done much but glad the man seems a little less defeated, "Good luck."
"Yeah, thanks, Lizzie," Steve repeats after his initial irritation with Dot's mocking command, "Do you need a lift home?"
"Uh, no I can walk, thanks though," she smiles, waving before heading back to her own office, "Call me when you have something."
For the first time in a while, Liz finds herself rather looking forward to her walk home from work.