Here's the next part. Again not all are my words.
"DS Arnott," Steve said as he answered his mobile phone the next day. It was Kate, calling from her car.
"Denton disappeared, now she's asking me to meet her," she relayed to Steve over the Bluetooth connection.
"You suspicious?" Steve asked, mindful of their conversation the previous evening. They hadn't discussed it further and she had already left his bed when he had awoken that morning.
"Not sure," Kate replied. "It's an industrial unit. A&B Carriage repairs,".
Steve instantly was on alert at the mention of the mechanic repair shop he was familiar with having visited it with DS Roger's from Violent Crime earlier in the investigation. "That's the empty repair shop that they used as a front," he informed Kate.
"Now I'm suspicious,"Kate answered uneasily.
"I'll call in back up," Steve informed her, hoping to alleviate some of Kate's fears.
"OK," Kate said somewhat gratefully.
"I know the location, can be there in ten minutes,".
"If she sees you….,".
"We'll hold back until you pocket-dial," Steve suggested.
"Don't blow my cover," warned Kate.
"I said. But anything you don't like the look of, you call," urged Steve.
"Received," replied Kate before hanging up and wondering what on earth she was driving in to.
Back at AC-12, Steve stared at his now silent phone. He knew Kate well, too well, and she was never going to dial until the last possible moment. He grabbed his jacket and headed to his car. He had already lost one partner in this case. There was absolutely no way he was going to lose another, especially not Kate. Not now.
Kate arrived at the industrial estate and saw Lindsey's car already there. Heeding Steve's advice she found his number on her phone before putting it back in her pocket, her finger on the call button if needed.
Although Lindsay's car was there, Kate couldn't see the police officer so had a little look around before Lindsey appeared out of the blue and startled her.
Kate followed as Lindsey made her way around the back of the building, an uneasy feeling growing in the pit of her stomach, her finger still resting on the call button on her phone.
The hard slap to her face came suddenly and was completely unexpected. Kate fell to the ground heavily. "Ugh…..Jesus…..gaffer…".
Lindsey dropped down into her knee beside Kate. "You think I was born yesterday?" she asked.
"Dunno what you're talking about….,".
"Brand new DC, doesn't care I'm a career albatross, wants to me my BFF?".
"I'm just trying to get along,".
"What did I tell you about being honest with me? I hate liars,".
Lindsey yanked Kate's phone out of her pocket and held it to her face, Steve's mobile number shown clearly.
"DS Arnott, AC-12?" Lindsey spat.
"Boss…,".
"People have underestimated me my whole life," she said bitterly before also grabbing Kate's bag and retrieving something else that Kate had no idea what it was. With that done she disappeared quickly.
A little distance away, Steve was waiting with back up. He checked his watch again for the hundredth time. It had been over half an hour since Kate had called him and he hadn't heard anything since. What the hell was going on? He wondered. The back up crew were starting to get a bit restless, wondering if this call out had been a waste of time.
"Give me a minute," Steve begged to the leader before surreptitiously making his way closer to the industrial estate. He was going against Kate's wish not to blow her cover but he had to try and find out what was happening.
Peering around a building he saw Kate stood against her car, hands in her pockets and face downcast. It was the only vehicle in the area.
Sensing she was being watched, Kate looked up and spied her partner lurking. "It's ok. She's gone," Kate shouted. Steve made his way slowly over to her. "I was right about her knowing I was undercover," Kate informed him as he got closer. "I fucked up somehow. I'm sorry,".
Steve hugged her briefly. As he pulled away he saw a graze on Kate's face and a bruise forming. "Did she hit you?" Steve asked incredulously. Kate nodded. "I'm going to fucking kill her. I've had enough of this woman…,".
"Steve," Kate interrupted. "She took my phone. She's going to read our text messages and work out there's something going on between us. God only knows what she'll do with that information!".
Steve took his phone out and scrolled through the history of their messages. "I don't think it's that bad," he said as he turned the screen to show Kate. "Yes we're close but everyone knows that. Lots of stuff flat mates discuss. I think we'll be fine,".
"She took something else as well from my bag. Don't know what it was or how long it's been there. She was right. We've totally underestimated her,".
Dot saw Steve and Kate arrive back together at AC-12, neither of them looking particularly happy about something. "Oh dear. Have the Arnott's had a bit of a falling out?" He teased as he caught sight of the graze on Kate's face.
"Piss off, Dot!" Steve said, not giving the silly comment any more attention than it deserved as they continued walking through the main bullpen to the briefing room. "I'll go get the gaffer," Steve said as Kate took a seat. He could tell she was still upset at having her cover blown by Lindsey but didn't know what to say to make her feel any better. He left her alone with her thoughts while he filled the gaffer in in what had happened at the industrial estate.
"You okay to talk?" Hasting asked Kate as he entered the briefing room a little while later.
"What's there to say?".
"Everyone makes mistakes some time,".
"No way did Kate mess up," Steve said, instantly leaping to her defence.
"I've let you down, sir,".
"Don't talk rubbish. DI Denton doesn't know half of what we've got on her. Steve, contact Denton and her rep. I want her in on a Reg 15. Any prevarication , arrest her," he ordered.
"Sir," replied Steve.
"She'll be wishing she never messed with you by the time we're through with her," Ted promised as he left the room.
"Sure you're ok?" Steve asked tenderly once they were alone.
"Wounded pride, that's all," confirmed Kate trying to assuage his concern.
"I'll give you a lift home,".
"Cheers," answered Kate. There was nothing more she was going to be able do on this case for the rest of the day and she wasn't really in the mood either.
The next day Steve and Kate watched from the balcony as Lindsey entered AC-12 with her rep. She caught sight of the pair of them and returned their gaze just as determinedly.
The interview started off like any other. Ted in charge. They questioned her on the ambush again this time asking Lindsey about the sat nav in her car. They delved in to the industrial estate where she had hit Kate before finally asking about the assault on her.
"Why did you assault DC Fleming?" Ted asked.
"I was emotional,".
"Why?".
"I was frustrated with the case, and angry with DC Fleming's lies,".
"You don't like being lied to, DI Denton? Thing is, neither do we," Ted said before continuing. "DI Denton, I'm arresting you for the conspiracy to murder a protected witness,".
The interview took an unexpected turn at this point. Angry at what was happening, Lindsey demanded to know why she was being arrested. Knowing how she liked everything done by the book, Ted took great delight in filling her in. It was as she was being read her rights that the tables turned. Lindsey produced a file of documents along with Kates phone and the other device she had put in Kate's bag. Kate met Steve's glance. They were both worried about what was about to unfold.
Instead of talking about the phone, Lindsey decided to divulge the contents of the file first. It wasn't what any of the AC-12 officers were expecting. In it, evidence that Ted was under financial strain. It was embarrassing for Ted and both Steve and Kate tried their best not to show their shock.
"Your phone makes for very interesting reading," Lindsey said, now turning her attention to Kate who watched incredulously as Lindsey gained access to the device keying in the code faultlessly. She proceeded to read a few messages out between Kate and Steve. It didn't quite have the reaction she wanted.
"What is your point DI Denton?" Asked Ted. "DS Arnott and DC Fleming are housemates at the present time. There's nothing untoward about any of those texts,".
"Housemates? Is that what they told you?" Lindsey asked a little menacingly before reaching for the other device and pressed play.
The sounds of moaning and gasps filled the room along with the rhythmic squeaking of a piece of furniture. Kate's hand flew to her mouth as she recognised what she was hearing. Her and Steve on his sofa the other night. She dared not look at Steve or more importantly Ted.
"Kate!"
"Oh god, Steve,"
The breathy voices of Steve and Kate were heard coming from the recording device, announcing to everyone in the room, exactly who it was they were listening to having sex.
"Turn that bloody thing off!" Ted snapped quickly, reaching for the device in front of Lindsey.
A heavy silence descended on the room. "Get her out of my sight," demanded Ted as he rose to his feet. "She'll need to be taken to a police station where she's not known," he continued to Steve and Kate. Ted stopped at the door to the interview room. "I'll see the pair of you in my office in fifteen minutes,".
Not wanting to be in the same room as Lindsey for fear of doing something she might regret, Kate kept to her feet and left for her desk. She was soon on the phone arranging where Lindsey would be taken too.
Steve didn't want to share the same space as DI Denton either and was soon following Kate out the door. "Keep an eye on her," he instructed the guard.
It wasn't long before Lindsey was being hauled off. Steve and Kate watched her go. Kate turned to Steve once she had disappeared from sight. "I'm so sorry. I should never have gone to your place that night," Kate apologised. "This is all my fault,".
"Hey," Steve said, gently touching her arm. "It's no one's fault," he continued. "Let me do most of the talking ok? It'll be fine,".
Unfortunately having his financial woes exposed by Lindsey Denton had put Ted in a rather bad mood when he took a seat at his desk, Steve and Kate were stood before him awkwardly.
"It's not what you think, sir," Steve started to explain.
"No?" quizzed Ted. "That wasn't you and DC Fleming getting way more acquainted with each other than partners should be?".
"Well yes it was, sir," Steve admitted,"but it could be worse,".
"How could it be worse DS Arnott?".
"It could have been me and DI Denton you were listening to," Steve joked.
Kate looked aghast at her partner not quite believing that Steve would be stupid enough to say something like that when the gaffer was clearly in a very bad mood. She shouldn't have gone along with his plan to let him do the talking.
"Are you trying to be funny fella?" Ted asked, the anger clearly evident in his voice, "because I would seriously rethink that idea,". Steve realised he'd said the wrong thing and was instantly contrite. "I am seriously disappointed in the pair of you," he admonished the officers in front of him. "You know it's against the rules. It really doesn't look good for AC-12 or me for that matter to have two anti-corruption officers flouting them,".
"With all due respect, sir, I've only done what you told me to do," Steve countered. "You suggested I needed to find a girlfriend on our first trip to a pub. And only the other night, you said I needed a good woman to keep me on the right path," he continued when Ted remained silent. "It just happens that that woman is Kate. That tape made what we have feel dirty, but it's anything but that. I'm in love with Kate. Have been since I first set eyes in her,".
"You telling the truth son?" Ted asked although he already knew the answer, "because Kate is looking a little shocked over there,". Steve turned towards Kate unsure why she was shocked.
"It's just the first time Steve's said he loves me, sir, is all," Kate explained, blushing a little. "I feel the same way," she added.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph," Ted muttered to himself at their declarations. He wasn't one for all this soppy stuff, although he was pleased that this seemed to be a serious relationship and not a one night stand. He was rather old fashioned that way. "Right!" He said decisively, "let me worry about how we deal with….. this," he said moving his finger between Steve and Kate. "In the mean time you will stay in your new flat DC Fleming. No more housemates,".
"Yes, sir," Steve and Kate replied in unison.
"And for the love of god you will make sure that Lindsey Denton is found guilty. That woman is really starting to piss me off,".
"Sir," Steve and Kate again replied in unison.
"Dismissed,".
Once out of Ted's office, Kate quickly took Steve's hand and pulled him into the small kitchenette area where they had a bit of privacy. "What the hell was that joke about you and Lindsey Denton?".
"Sorry. Really silly thing to say," Steve apologised.
"Yep" Kate agreed quickly. "You don't want to shag her though, do you?".
"God no!" Steve admitted pulling a face at the thought of him and Lindsey together. "Please don't get mad about it. I don't want our first fight to be about this," he begged.
"Who said I'm mad?".
"You're not?".
"How can I be after you said you loved me?" she asked shyly. "You did mean that didn't you?". Steve nodded, smiling. "Telling the gaffer first is a little unusual," she teased. Steve's smile got bigger as he chuckled.
"You free tonight?" Steve asked.
They were interrupted by Dot who had seen them slip off together, before Kate had chance to answer. "Hey!" he said as he approached them before dropping his voice low and looking around conspiratorially.. "Word around the office is that the Arnott's have made a sex tape,".
"Fuck off, Dot!" Steve retorted angrily although slightly worried about where this rumour had come from. He was going to have to make sure that that tape was destroyed.
"Don't be like that!" Dot replied. "My estimation of you has actually gone up if it's true," he admitted. Steve rolled his eyes at Kate. "How does one get a copy?".
"Steve!" Kate warned as she placed a calming arm over his as Steve went to hit Dot. "He's not worth it," she said before turning her attention to Dot. "Do you honestly think Hastings would still let us be here if we'd done that?" She challenged.
"Shame. I didn't think Steve here would be up for something like that. You however…maybe. If you want to make one, I'd be happy to assist,".
"Fuck off, Dot!" Kate repeated Steve's earlier comment and Dot knew he'd succeeded in annoying the pair of them and departed gleefully. "Now where were we?".
"Can't remember," Steve sulked. "That twat has completely ruined the moment.
"Don't let him!" Kate retorted. "I think you were about to ask me out on a date," she reminded him.
"Well it does seem like it's the right time. I mean after already admitting how we feel about each other and everything,".
"It does seem like we are doing things backwards doesn't it?" Kate admitted. "But yes I'm free tonight,".
"Excellent. I'll pick you up about seven," Steve arranged before they headed back to their desks and got on with their work.
