Chapter 36

Sharing Good News

2 Days Later …

0500 – Hereford, UK

Elvis was sat at the kitchen table nursing a brew, reading yesterday's newspaper. He missed chattering to Georgie in the morning. He knew it irritated her sometimes because she was by no means a morning person. It often amused him how she would glare at him from over the rim of her cup. Those sultry eyes just shy of squinting. He stared longingly at her vacant seat and wished she were looking at him right now. Whilst swallowing down the last of the tea, his mobile began to vibrate on the table top. Bit early. He thought, curiously picking it up and swiping the screen. A text message from an unknown caller? Elvis became motionless. It was as though all time stood still. The words taunting him just as the person who sent it: Where is she?

His jaw clenched and unclenched, breaths becoming deep and measured as he controlled his ire.

Who it this? His thumbs punched back over the keyboard. Two minutes …..ten minutes…

No response … only the remnant of an unknown threat.

Xxxxx

0730 - SAS Garrison – Hereford, UK

"You're thinking Pettigrew yeah, boss?" Spunky asked.

"I know it's Pettigrew!" Elvis said briskly jamming a loaded magazine into his pistol.

"But Georgie is OK?" Jackson said.

"Affirmative. The fucker does not know where she is. He's just tryin to agitate me." Elvis said lifting the gun and rapidly firing off an entire magazine. His groupings were excellent.

Jackson and Spunky shared a concerned glance with each other. Elvis completely ignored them and proceeded to thumb bullets into another magazine. He was beyond agitated, but he was focused and in control. As he emptied a second round Jackson and Spunky watched Spanner approach, his strides pounding the hard-packed earth. He flung his ammo bag onto the bench.

"Someone piss on your leg?" Jackson quipped. Spanner Thompson's expression was cold. Elvis noticed the exchange and looked up. His lieutenant was not happy.

"Wha's goin on?" Elvis asked pointedly, setting his spent pistol down on the bench.

"Toni got a text."

"You are fuckin kiddin me?! When?!" Elvis exclaimed. All three SF mates surrounded Spanner.

"Twenty minutes ago. Same …caller unknown." Spanner said.

"How would Pettigrew have her mobile number?" Jackson asked, looking at Elvis.

"Directing Staff roster." Elvis answered, staring at Spanner.

"Well what did it say?" Spunky asked.

"Bitch."

"That's it? Bitch?" Jackson said.

"That's right. Internal Affairs has now pulled her from the Garrison." Spanner said angrily.

"She is set to testify shortly in Colchester." Elvis said.

"Yeah. First against Adam fucking Jones, then her bloody rapist." Spanner said. "Now I can't even be with her."

"She needs to be on closer protection. Even more so now mate." Elvis said. "Unknown wha' those two wankers are up to. If Pettigrew hadn't fucked up tellin Jones about Toni, we would 'ave zero on him. Can't even prove the texts are from him."

"Who else would they be from?" Spanner asked sardonically as he unzippered his bag.

"Exactly. Adam's cell yielded nothing. No connection to Pettigrew or Evans. Wes Jones only communicated with Pettigrew. The anonymous texts came from a fraudulent account." Elvis said.

"You reckon Pettigrew engineered the account boss?" Spanner asked.

"Could be any one of them." Elvis shrugged. "Adam ain't the one using it now though, he only has access to a landline."

"Do ya know who's name is on the account boss?" Spunky asked.

Elvis laughed. "Midge Drake."

The other three unanimously responded with toothy grins. "You fucking serious?" Jackson said.

"Affirmative."

"Does Midge have an address?" Spunky asked.

"Yeah. A metro station in Bristol."

"Why don't they just have the carrier shut down the account?" Spanner said, palming a magazine into his pistol.

"Want to gather as much intel as possible." Elvis said. "Sooner or later he'll fuck up again."

"Ya don't think it's Evans?" Spanner asked.

"I do not. He's got too much to lose, family and all." Elvis said.

"Should have thought about that before he got involved in this shit." Jackson said.

"Well I for one do not trust him." Spanner said.

"Me neither but we 'ave nothin on him as yet, other than him followin me and Georgie."

"I can't believe they let Pettigrew loose." Spanner said with disgust.

"Same 'ere. The worst they could do was suspend him, and strip him of his rank. I reckon he is proper miffed at the moment." Elvis said lining his loaded magazines up neatly.

"What are ya gonna do boss?" Jackson asked.

"Give him enough fuckin rope to hang himself. It's his choice really." Elvis said picking up his pistol and firing, completely obliterating his intended target.

Xxxxx

1100 – Hoddesdon, UK

"Are you ready Georgiea?" Nonna asked as she watched Georgie don an apron.

"As soon as I get this around me." Georgie said amusingly trying to close the ties behind her.

Nonna laughed. "Come here nipotina, let me help you." She patted Georgie's bump as she moved behind her. "Your son will have long legs like his papa."

Georgie smiled. In her mind she could see the little one curled up inside of her on the sonogram images. She wondered who he would favor and could see a little toddler chasing after his father.

"There. You are ready now. Noi iniziamo, si? We begin." Nonna said.

"Si! I can't wait." Georgie said, eyeing all of the materials Nonna had prepared for her instruction. "Your cannoli taste like a little piece of heaven." She said and Nonna smiled warmly.

"You will surprise Elvis with your baking." She said cheerfully.

"I hope so. He always talks about your wonderful pastries."

"I bake con il mio cuore. With my heart. That is what makes everything so special."

Nonna Sofia began to instruct her on the ingredients for the dough and filling, demonstrating her techniques with gently authority. Georgie was enthralled.

Xxxxx

1600 –

Georgie was sat on the back porch with her legs propped up, wiggling her bare toes as she reveled in her baking accomplishment. She grinned. Cannoli! In a million years she never thought she would develop a passion for baking. She could not wait to tell Elvis. He loved cannoli, especially with pistachios. Her mum will be delighted as well. Georgie had never shown an interest in kitchen duty, let alone baking. Of course, her tours preoccupied most of her time when she was active duty. It was anyone's guess as to what Elvis could be up to at the moment and she did not want to interrupt his work, so she scrolled through her gallery trying to decide which cannoli photo she would send him. Suddenly her mobile rang in her hands. "Shit!" She laughed to herself, startled. It was her heart's desire calling.

"Hey handsome! I can't see ya."

"Nah, a quick call babe. How are ya?"

"I have a surprise for you." She said with excitement in her voice.

"Do ya? I 'ave one for you as well." Elvis said amused.

"For me? ….. Is it the cottage? Go on!"

"Bit of a belated birthday gift but ….. we got the cottage!" Elvis said with zest.

"Elvis!" Seriously?! It's ours?!"

"Aff…ir…ma…tive!"

"New windows and all?"

"Indeed!"

"Ohhhhhh I wish I could hug ya!" She said placing her feet on the ground, wanting to jump up with excitement.

"What, no kiss?" He joked.

"Yes! A kiss as well!" They both laughed.

"When did ya find out?" She asked

"As soon as I hung up with Chloe I rang ya."

"I am so excited!"

"Knew ya would be. It's mad innit? It's like we're on civvy street." He chuckled.

"Yeah." She laughed. "Awww, now for your surprise!"

"Wha' is it?"

"Guess what I did today?"

"Don't know, please tell me though." He said.

"I made cannoli! She gushed.

"You did what!!?"

"I made cannoli! Nonna taught me!"

"George. Seriously!?"

"Yes! They're pretty good if I must say."

"I'm sure they are. Wish I could 'ave one."

"Wish ya could as well. I'll send ya a photo." She said.

"Oh, gonna tease me then?"

"I can freeze some." She laughed.

"Good. Really good. Damn Georgie, cannoli?" She could hear the smile in his voice.

"I know. I shocked myself. Hope this shit settles down so we can get on with our lives." She said.

Elvis pressed his lips together and looked at his watch. 1610. "Sorry, gonna 'ave to go babe, get finished up 'ere." He said, nodding to Spanner across the room.

"OK. Talk later?"

"Definitely. Oh hey, George." He said.

"What luv?"

"How about Gunner."

"Gunner?"

"Yeah. Got a nice ring to it don't ya reckon?"

"For a name?!" She sputtered.

"Yeah."

"Keep thinking Elvis."