We Could Be Heroes
Chapter 6
DS Derek Litton was already in the office when the others started arriving. DI Carling, and Terry arrived next, sitting down at their desks.
"Trying to impress the Guv then Litton?" Carling wasn't sure about Litton, he'd been very quiet since he'd arrived. Perhaps just keeping his head down, but he watched everything, said nothing. Their history went back quite a way, not all of it good. Terry was also keeping eye on Litton, call it gut feeling.
"No, getting up to date on Markham, Ray. I like to do my homework" was the snide reply. Yeah right, Carling thought.
DI Alex Drake appeared, and sat straight down at her desk, nodding good morning. Carling thought she looked dreadful, blimey he thought she's either been at it all night with the Guv, or going down with something.
The main swing doors thundered open, DCI Gene Hunt followed, going straight to his office, slamming door behind him. They all looked at each other, except Drake whose eyes could only follow Hunt. Oh bloody hell, thought Carling, they've had another row, nothing changes, wish they'd just sort themselves out.
Hunt sat at his desk, already there was a crystal glass with a Scotch in it. He looked out to the main office, he watched Bols, his mind, and heart racing. Bols looked up, having that feeling she was being watched. Their eyes met, and said so much. They both wanted to be elsewhere, together. Hunt finished the Scotch, right focus Gene Genie, he thought, walking into main office.
"Right listen up everyone. Markham has been in custody overnight, so we can't keep him here much longer, without allowing phone call, brief, charging him." He said sarcastically .
I'm going to have a chat before brief gets here"
"Is that wise Guv?" Drake asked
"What, you don't trust me Bols?"
"It's not that Guv, it's just..." Hunt cut her off.
"We have proof Markham's been meeting Keats, and Keats meeting up with Layton, so they all must be connected somehow. We need to find out why Keats has gone over to the other side, what his part is, what they're planning. Can't for one moment think it's anything good. We've drugs, cash, and lists of maybe drop off points, from the house"
"I'm working my way through the drop off points Guv" said Carling, Hunt nodded.
"Also ID from Taylor re the guns in PO blag, so we do have enough to charge him, but I want the sharks, not the bloody mackerel!"
"It's sprats, and mackerel Guv" Christ, Hunt thought, so picky, Bols did piss him off sometimes!
"Can I sit in on this Guv" Litton piped up.
"Why not" Hunt thought, be chance to see if Litton really was a member of his team, or just a bystander. Carling wasn't at all happy with that decision.
"Guv, can I have a word"
"Spit it out Carling"
"In private Guv"
Hunt lifted his arm pointing the way to the office. They both entered closing the door behind them, pulled the blind.
Litton's face changed dramatically, eyes darkening, lips tightening, which didn't go unnoticed by Drake. Drake hadn't had much to do with Litton, but knew he was more slippery than an eel, and something was niggling her about him.
"Guv, I'm not happy with Litton sitting in on Markham. Something is bothering me about Litton"
"Me too Raymondo, but I need to confirm what my guts are telling me" Carling was relieved, the Guv had the same gut feelings.
"He's been too quiet, he's up to something. Why's he here? Check on me, report back somewhere? I can smell shit every time he's around"
"It's Paco Rabanne Guv" they both laughed.
There was a knock on the office door.
"Yes" Hunt said. Drake stuck her head round the door, entering, closing door behind her.
"My instincts are telling me Litton is trouble Guv" Hunt, and Carling looked at each other, they couldn't all be wrong.
"What?" Said Drake.
"That's exactly what we've just been talking about Bols, keep it to ourselves"
"Right, go get Markham Raymondo, the days fun begins"
"Come with me Litton" Hunt said going through main doors. Carling was walking up corridor with the cuffed Markham. Carling shoved Markham into interview room.
"Get your hands off me" Markham snapped at Carling. Hunt, and Litton joining the party.
"I'll just be next door Guv" Hunt nodded to Carling.
"Do I have to wear these? I want a phone call, and a brief. You can't keep me here like this Hunt" Markham said, annoyed.
"I can do what I bloody like, I'm the law round here, in case you've forgotten!" Hunt said with assured arsehole authority.
"Not for much longer Hunt" Markham said, under his breath, looking at Litton. He wasn't expecting him to be involved in the interview.
"Anyway the phones aren't working, and your brief has been delayed." Very clever, you bastard, Markham thought, and dreaded what might be coming next.
"Now we have enough to charge you Markham, supplying drugs, and guns as starters, but I want the main course, I want Keats. What is he in all this?"
"I don't know what you're talking about Hunt" How did Hunt know about Keats, that worried Markham.
Hunt stood up, walking round to Markham.
"You can make this easy, or difficult... Keats?" Hunt barked.
"As I said, I don't..." was as far as Markham got before Hunt grabbed him by his shirt, pushing him backwards. Chair, and Markham went flying, hitting the floor with a thud.
"Don't piss me off Markham. Keats was seen getting into your car"
Hunt picked up Markham, pinning him to the wall.
"I'm not saying anymore, till I get a brief" Markham said, knowing he was wasting him breath.
Hunt hit Markham so hard, in the ribs, even Litton flinched. Markham hit the floor, like he'd been hit by a truck.
"Ok, ok, I'll give you what you want if I get a brief, and a phone call" Markham sputtered, coughing his words out.
"Pick him up Litton" Hunt said walking out of the interview room. Litton hadn't noticed Hunt had stopped, watching through crack in door made by the hinges, as Litton picked up Markham, brushed him off. Either Litton had gone soft, or there was something else going on.
"Brief's arrived Guv" Drake gestured.
"Ok Bols, can you take over with Litton. Markham wants to spill the beans. I need to go out, with Carling. Don't let Markham go until we get back"
"Where?"
"Cartwright's" Oh bloody great Drake thought, I'm left sorting Markham, with the slime Litton, while they bugger off to the pub. Hunt had something that needed sorting before Markham was released.
Carling, and Hunt got into the Merc.
"This list Guv, don't think it's drop off points , it's all pubs, clubs, restaurants, clip joints, so I'm wondering..."
"Thought they might be" Hunt interrupted.
"The list of phone numbers we found had Cartwright's on it, that's where we're heading"
"Nice one Guv"
"Not for a drink Raymondo" Although one won't hurt, Hunt thought with a smile.
They arrived at Cartwright's.
"Bit early even for you Gene, pints?"
"Large Scotch for me George, pint for Raymondo. It's not a social visit though George" George's face dropped. He knew what this was probably about, it's how Gene would take it, that worried him. Hunt showed George the list of phone numbers.
"Recognise one George?"
"We found this list in a scum bags house, a scum bag we have in custody" Hunt was hoping George wasn't about to blow their friendship, and trust apart.
"I've been paying protection money" Hunt wasn't sure whether to be pleased it was just that, or bloody annoyed George hadn't told him.
"That explains the other list too Guv" Carling said, nodding.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me George" Hunt shouted. George walked round, sat down at a table, near Hunt, and Carling standing at the bar.
"I'm sorry Gene, just thought it would go away if I said nothing. They threatened me too, if I told you, or got you involved they'd torch the place, with me in it. The payments keep going up"
"Bastards!" Hunt barked.
"Any idea who they are? They obviously know the Guv drinks here" Carling asked.
"Does the name Edward Markham mean anything?" Hunt asked.
"No sorry. They just phone, tell me leave the money somewhere each month. They use 3 different places"
"Have you seen anyone?"
"Only at the start, 4 guys came in"
"Would you recognise them from mug shots? When's next payment?"
"In couple of days, and yes definitely"
"Ok, come on Raymondo, let's get back. George, don't worry, we'll sort this. When they phone, you tell me George. I'll bring some mug shots in later" Hunt, and Carling finished their drinks.
"Gene" George said quietly, sounding relieved "thanks"
"No problem, Gene Genie will sort it, and them"
Soon as Hunt, and Carling walked back into the office. Drake approached them.
"Guv, need a word"
"Office, Raymondo, Terry too. Where's the snake Litton"
"He went out Guv"
"You let him go Bols?"
"I didn't see him go" Drake retorted
"Doesn't matter, give the man enough rope..." Hunt said, pondering what the slimy little git was up to. They all entered the office, door shut behind them, blind pulled. Hunt poured them all a Scotch. Bols took one, they did make her head spin, but she was getting the acquired taste!
"Markham admitted the drugs, nothing else Guv. We didn't have enough evidence with the Taylor ID, for the guns, seeing he's now dead. He's going to be charged, bailed. We had to let him go"
"Keats?" Hunt snapped
"Markham just said he'd come for drugs, personal use" Drake said, but hadn't believed it.
"That's bloody bollocks" Carling said.
"Couldn't you get anymore out of him Bols, psychiatry?" Hunt asked.
"Psychology" Bols snapped, one bloody day...
"His brief was there remember? Litton wasn't much help either"
"Ok, don't worry, that will do for now. Carling, and I went Cartwright's to question George, why the phone number of wine bar was on the list we found at Markham's. Protection racket"
"The list we found upstairs is all clubs, pubs, and restaurants, so that all ties in too" Carling added.
"Why didn't George tell you Guv" Bols asked
"Too bloody scared Bolly, threatened to torch the place if we got involved, so this must go no further"
"Shit!" Drake exclaimed
"You haven't Bols, have you?" Hunt said with cheeky grin.
"I've screwed up, I told Litton you'd gone Cartwright's, to check something out"
"Oh Christ, why on earth" Hunt exclaimed, looking up to the ceiling. He thought for a bit.
"But then, maybe, just maybe, it will uncover his part in this, good plan Bols" Hunt really hoped. They all finished their Scotch.
"Pub, chaps, Bols?"
"Sounds like a plan, work of course Guv" Terry said, with huge grin. He was pleased to be working with Carling, and Drake again.
As they headed off, Litton appeared.
"Going pub?" he asked
"You're not welcome Litton" Hunt said pinning him to the wall, with a bang.
"I want just my team with me. Next time you go out somewhere, during duty hours, you asked me, or DI Drake, got it?"
"Yes"
"Yes what?" Hunt growled, banging him even harder against the wall.
"Yes, Guv" Hunt let him go. Litton straightened his jacket, and tie. He hated Hunt sometimes, well most of the time.
They all bundled into Cartwright's
"2 of your finest George, and bottle decent Red, 2 glasses"
"I'll bring them over"
They all sat in their usual spot in the corner. Hunt making sure he was opposite corner of table to Bols. It helped his concentration. Hunt pulled some mug shots out of his inside pocket. Taylor, Markham, Layton and Keats. Laid them on the table. George came over, putting drinks down. He went white as a sheet, looked at Gene, and without being asked, picked out Layton, and Keats. No one was expecting that line up.
"Are you sure George?" Hunt asked
"As sure as if my life depended on it" and it did Hunt thought. George went back to the bar.
"Bloody hell Guv, well that explains how they knew you were drinking here" Carling said.
Suddenly there was huge bang, and flash of light, bottom of the stairs. They all shot to the floor. Smell of sulphur filled the air.
"Bloody firework, kids?" Carling said. Alex was shaking.
"I doubt it" Hunt said, as bar phone rang.
"Cartwright's" George looked shocked
"Gene, it's for you" George passed received over, knowing it was them.
"Yes" Hunt said cautiously
"Next time it will be a petrol bomb" then the line went dead. Hunt slammed the receiver down. He didn't recognise the voice.
"Bastards" Hunt looked shocked, how did they know George had said anything. He looked at everyone in his team. It then dawned on him.
"Bloody Litton" had he guessed. Hunt threw his glass against the bar wall.
"Are you ok Guv" Carling asked, waiting to duck in case the Guv threw another.
"That was a warning, they know we're onto them, things are getting just a bit tasty round here"
George looked terrified.
"Ok, Raymondo, Terry can you stay in Merc tonight, park out of sight, but so you can see door. Radio me if anyone goes near the steps. George can you give them coffees, some grub"
"No problem"
Carling could guess where the Guv was gonna stay, and it wasn't in a bloody car.
"I'll sleep down here tonight. George can you take Bols to your mates, both stay there tonight" Occasionally Carling got the Guv wrong...
"I'm not going anywhere Gene, this is my home, my livelihood"
"Me neither Guv" Bols said with conviction. But then again, Carling hadn't counted on Drake, he thought smiling...
George came over with flasks of coffee, bacon butties for Carling, and Terry. Every fire extinguisher he could find for Gene.
"That'll do George, thanks" said Carling, Terry agreed. Carling could now see why the Guv liked George, what you saw, was what you got, a decent lad. Carling, and Terry sat in the Merc, just round the corner. Neither was really bothered spending the night in the Merc. They would lay their lives down for the Guv, it was never said, but they both knew it. As normal the Guv was in the frontline, leading from the front, nothing scared him, except his feelings for Bolly, now that terrified him. Neither Carling, or Terry were particularly happy Drake was still there, she was a stubborn bird though, and the safest place to be was always by the Guvs side, and they both thought no doubt she wasn't that far away.
Gene had ordered another bottle of wine. They sat in silence for a while, both looking into their wine, both with their own thoughts running madly round their heads. Gene noticed Bols was shaking.
"Cold?"
"No" Bols said, starting to cry. Earlier had shaken her up.
"Don't cry Bolly Kecks, come here" Bols crying always destroyed Gene, hated seeing her upset, he just wanted to make everything right, that's what he did. Gene lifted his arm up. Bols slid underneath his arm, sat next to him, both sitting at an angle in the corner. Bols rested her head on his chest, she could feel him breathing, his heart beating rapidly. Gene wrapped his arm round her, kissing her hair. Bols always felt safe in Gene's arms, made her feel so content. It took her back to being locked in the safe strong room with him. She thought they were both going to die. But she knew then, that's where she'd want to spend her last seconds, in his arms. Bols drifted off to sleep. Gene thought sleep was overrated anyway, and tonight it was his job to watch over his Bolly. He just wished it was a bit more comfortable, and maybe under a duvet!