Past Imperfect?
Jack was at a loss. He had no idea how he was going to find anything a miss in Ted's records. He knew that wasn't exactly what Sandra had asked him to do but he had a feeling the attack on Ted and Pat was just the tip of the iceberg. Sighing heavily, he began to wonder once again if he was too old to be doing what he was. He knew Clarky and the younger officers would be so much quicker than he was, at almost 80 he was not just the father figure on the team, but more the grandfather. They teased Sasha that she was the baby but he really did feel like he was a dinosaur in a world that had begun to pass him by.
"Jack?" He looked up to see Sasha walk into the office. "Where is everyone?"
Jack looked around. "Gerry and Sandra are at the hospital. Kelly is home, so I think they are going to talk to her. Steve has gone to talk to that young DS in MIU. Devlin? The one the young girls smile at, married to the CPS girl."
"Matt Devlin. He's a good copper." She handed him a mug of tea. "Been here years now." She frowned slightly. "Jack, what are you worried about?"
"Ted has been a copper since he was in his 20s." He sighed. "A long time, but still not as long as me. I know we aren't still technically coppers. I can't help but think if it had been me attacked, or Brian we'd be dead."
"Well, it wasn't you."
"Part of me wishes it was." Jack sighed. "Oh, don't look at me like that. Ted is younger, has a husband, a daughter. A life. I'm just a sad, bitter old man who is waiting for the Grim Reaper."
"Sad and bitter is not how I would ever describe you." She smiled as Danny burst into the room, almost running to the computer on his desk. Sasha and Jack looked at him in disbelief for a moment as Brian joined them.
"What are you two up to?"
"Ted's ex-partner."
"He's been with Pat for years!" Jack snapped.
"Not that sort of partner. Police partner." Brian answered as he cleaned his glasses. "He was done for being a corrupt copper back in the mid 1990s. David John Smith. Former DI in the Trident Unit. He was on the take. A dirty copper."
"Oh." Sasha folded her arms. "How do you know this?"
"I asked." Brian settled into his seat. "It was Danny who put two and two together."
"And better not be making 5!" They looked as Sandra marched into the room. Gerry skulked in behind her.
"Look." Gerry huffed as he headed to his desk. "Kelly thinks her dad was targeted for more than just the fact he is married to a bloke. The lads might be onto something."
"Kelly thinks it wasn't a homophobic attack?" Sasha asked as Steve joined them.
"Bloody 'ell, its like Piccadilly Circus in 'ere today." Jack huffed as Sandra motioned for them to go to the chairs that faced the white board they used for their own cases. Gerry felt sick as he remembered seeing his friend barely cling to life in the ICU bed. He knew the doctors were suspecting brain damage but unless - until he woke up Gerry corrected himself they had no way of really knowing. He sat in his customary chair as he waited to hear what Danny and Brian had discovered.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Kelly walked into the room where Pat was sat holding her Dad's hand. Ted looked impossibly frail as he laid in the bed. Kelly bit her lip, determined not to cry. Pat looked up to see her watching them.
"Sit down Lovely."
"OK." Kelly felt she was on autopilot. The conversation she had with Sandra and Gerry still fresh in her mind. Pat smiled slightly. "Doctors said the scan results will be back soon. Takes about an hour."
"Yeah." Pat nodded. "Look, I."
"This was a planned attack on Dad. He was the target. I think if you hadn't been there it still would have happened. If he had been having a drink with Steve or the other lads it still would have happened."
"I dunno luv."
"I think I do. I'm not saying this because I know you are blaming yourself. He is out of prison and you know how dangerous he was when I was little." Kelly held his hand. Pat shrugged looking away for a moment. "And he is out of prison. I checked. David Smith is out and there is nothing to stop 'im coming after Dad."
xxxxxxxx