We Could Be Heroes
Chapter 7
George came downstairs early to find Gene, and Alex snuggled on the bench seat in the corner. Gene was awake, he just grinned, winked at George. They looked so right together George thought. He'd spent many a night with Gene, and a bottle of Scotch, as company. George was the only one Gene had spoken to about his true feelings for Alex, George understood, he knew what Sam, and Annie went through to be together.
"Can you sort some coffee, grub George"
"Already on it"
Gene picked up the radio "Carling"
"Here Guv"
"Breakfast?"
"Nice one Guv" Carling nudged Terry, they'd taken it in turns get some kip, been a quiet night, after the initial shock.
Suddenly Gene jumped up.
"Cramp, bloody cramp" grasping top of his left thigh. "Argghhhhh shit"
Alex woke to see the Guv, hopping around like a demented rabbit on speed, started laughing uncontrollably, joined by George watching from behind the bar.
"Glad you 2 find it so bloody funny"
The party of laughter was joined by Carling, and Terry. The atmosphere of worry, and fear had been broken. Gene sat on the bench seat, opposite side to Alex. He watched her laughing, laughing so hard tears were running down her face, happy tears. Oh God, how much did Gene love those, so much it hurt.
"Why do we do this?" Gene asked in exasperation.
"Because we're coppers Guv, it's what we do" Carling said, they all nodded, laughing in agreement. George appeared with jugs of coffee, huge tray of bacon, eggs, fried toms, mushrooms, toast, and even chips! They all sat round, filling their plates. Didn't take long for it all to disappear. Even Alex had her fair share!
"Right down to business. Carling, back to office, pick up Litton, take him with you, visit places on that list"
"Oh Guv really, Litton?"
"There is a reason, I want to see if anyone recognises Litton"
George knew it was time to tell Gene about Litton.
"Gene can I have a word?"
"Private?"
"No, I suppose not really. You probably all should know. When I was at Uni, I had mate Tony who dealt in amphetamines, blueys, speed, whatever you want to call it, and yes I took them. But Tony didn't deserve what happened to him. Tony wasn't a big drug dealer, he just supplied few of his mates"
George paused, remembering what he saw, it was still as clear today, as then. Gene could see he was disturbed by what he was trying to recall, and tell.
"Come on George, you're with friends. If it involves Litton we need to know"
"Me, and a mate had arranged to meet Tony down by the park. As we came round the corner, there were 2 guys kicking shit out of him, he was on the ground by his car, they kicked him until he stopped moving, stopped screaming in pain"
George put his head in his hands. Alex put her arm round him. Looked at Gene, then Carling. They were all thinking the same, they all knew what was coming next, they all felt sick to the pits of their stomach.
Pulling himself together George said "One was Litton, the other a taller guy"
"Bevan, the bastard" Carling said angrily. Hunt was fuming inside. Bevan he'd sorted, soon it would be Litton's turn.
"They looked our way, saw us, we ran, terrified they'd catch us, but we knew our way round Uni grounds. We lost them. Thought the nightmare was over, then Litton walked in here the other day"
"I bloody knew there was something, soon as I saw you 2 together. Why the hell didn't you say earlier? Did you go to police? Do you think he's realised it's you?" Hunt rattled off.
"I do think he recognises me, but I'm pretty sure not why yet, or he would of done something about it, and no, never went police, too scared, and it's haunted me every day since"
"Ok, this stays with us, until I've thought it over" Everything was getting a bit tasty round here Hunt thought.
"Terry, go back to office with Raymondo, dig up everything you can on Litton. The tribunal, any links to Keats, any shit you can find, while Litton is out of office"
"Bols, you and me are going after Layton" Words that Alex had wanted to hear since she'd been back, there was a score to settle.
"George, plod will be sitting outside now, until we get these bastards locked up"
"Thanks Gene. Expect your company later"
"Is the Pope catholic?" Hunt smiled.
Hunt, and Drake watched the warehouse from a distant rooftop, Markham hadn't lied. They saw Layton arrive, but there were several other bods coming, and going, obvious some were tooled up. They needed to get into warehouse, but also needed back up, much as Hunt hated to admit it. They needed some armed bastards.
"Carling" Hunt called on the radio.
"Yes Guv"
"Think we need help here, armed bastard help"
"Roger that, we've finished anyway. No one wants to talk, no surprise really"
"Bring Terry too, and couple plonk cars, radio me when you're in position, blocking the road out"
"Will do Guv" Carling was happy, some scum bag bashing action loomed.
Hunt, and Drake waited round corner from warehouse, in the Merc. Carling, Litton, Terry, and couple plonk motors turned up blocking road out of Industrial Estate.
Carling had stopped Litton, trying to make phone call on way out of office
"We don't have bloody time" Carling snapped, but his guts told him Litton was up to no good. Carling wasn't going to risk failing to listen to what his copper instinct was telling him.
"Right listen up. Channel 6 everyone. Ok?"
"Yes Guv, came back all the radios"
"Myself, Carling, Drake, and Litton front. Terry, with one lot of plods, round back. Other plods stay put, whatever, clear up anyone trying to get away. Ok?"
"Roger that Guv" came back all the replies.
They all took up their positions. Hunt wasn't entirely happy Litton was here, let alone armed, but more rope to hang the bastard hopefully. Slowly, slowly, catchy bent bastard he thought.
"Everyone ready?"
"Yes Guv" they all replied
"Go, Go, Go" Hunt barked, down the radio. Carling shouldered the locked wooden door open.
"Police, hands where we can see them, you're surrounded by armed bastards" Hunt growled.
2 shots rang out. They all took cover. Hunt took the culprit out with a single shot to the shoulder.
"Next" Hunt growled. The rest put their guns down. A figure at the back legged it, heading to the left hand corner of warehouse, hidden by crates.
"I've got 'em Guv" Carling said, in pursuit. Terry, and plod arrived through the back entrance, on the opposite side.
"Cuff 'em all Terry, and call ambulance for the one down" said Hunt
"Layton is mine Guv" said Drake through gritted teeth.
"We meet again Layton" she said, cuffing him, pushing him onto one of the crates.
"We've got unfinished business"
The crates were full of drugs, and shooters. Nice haul, Hunt thought. Hunt suddenly realised bloody Litton was missing. Carling returned, knackered, out of breath.
"Lost them Guv, sorry. But I know who it was" Carling puffed, Hunt had his suspicions!
"Where's Litton?"
"Here Guv" Litton replied, coming back from direction Carling had just come from. Carling, and Hunt looked at each other, their looks said it all. Neither trusted that slimey git.
"Just looking for any others" Litton said. Hunt shoved Litton against the warehouse wall.
"You don't do anything on your own, got it?"
"Ok, ok, Guv" Litton replied sneering, knowing his job had been done, not thinking he'd also been well and truly stitched up..
All the cars headed back to base, scum cuffed, and on board. They had more than enough to lock up Layton for a while, question him. Everyone was silent in the cars on the way back, all with their own thoughts.
Back in the office, Hunt called Carling, and Drake into his office. The Scotch came out of the filing cabinet. Hunt sat at his desk. The office door was shut, blinds pulled.
"Good work today, nice haul. We need to question Layton, without a brief" Hunt took slug of Scotch.
"Guv, I think it was Keats that legged it" Carling said, enjoying the burn of the Scotch, he needed that. Hunt nodded, his suspicions confirmed.
"Guv I'm confused as to why Keats is involved in all this. Good cop, gone bad?" Drake questioned. Although he was never a bloody good cop they all thought.
"Do you think Litton helped Keats escape Raymondo" Hunt said enquiring, knowing the answer.
"I didn't see him Guv, but he did disappear, and then came back from that direction" Carling replied, thinking he wouldn't put anything past that snake.
"I'm not sure either Bols, but I want him, more than I want Linda Lovelace handcuffed to my bed" Hunt said with cheeky grin. Bols, thought great, he could of said me! Bols gave Hunt the look that said just that. Bloody hell, my trousers are tight again, Hunt thought. Carling started to feel 3 was a crowd.
There was knock on office door, it was Terry. He entered the office, shutting the door behind him.
"I did some digging Guv"
"Go on" said Hunt hopeful.
"The tribunal never took place"
"The one Keats instigated against Litton?" asked Hunt
"Yup, that's the one. Litton was just demoted. No charges, no investigation, all stopped by Keats"
"Well bugger me sideways. That says it all. Litton is up to his slimey little neck in all this, let off the tribunal, but it still doesn't explain what Keats is up to" Hunt hated Keats, and he knew wherever this was all leading, it wasn't good.
"Right Terry, I'm leaving you in charge of watching Litton"
"It'll be a pleasure Guv" Terry replied smiling.
"Raymondo, Layton to interview room, if you don't mind" Hunt said, sarcastically, smiling. All of them were looking forward to this. Most of all Drake.
The door of the Interview Room burst open, Carling shoving Layton through it with some force. Hunt, Carling and Drake were all sitting in on this one.
"Mob handed then" Layton said, with evil grin.
"Sit down" Hunt barked, pushing him. Layton was still cuffed. There was a tape machine on the table. Hunt looked at Carling, then nodded. Carling picked up the tape machine, dropping it on the floor from height. Drake didn't mind this time, even she was happy not to do this, by the book.
Hunt, and Drake were sat at the table. Carling behind them, leaning against the wall, itching to lay one or 2 on Layton.
"Well Layton, you're going down, we have enough to put you away for a long stretch. Remember what it's like inside?" Hunt lent across the table.
"But we can help, you scratch our back... Keats?" Hunt growled.
"He's staring at me, I don't like it" Layton said calmly, ignoring the mention of Keats. Looking at Carling.
"I'm not playing Layton" Hunt grabbing him by the front of his jacket, picking him up, and throwing him backwards. Layton landing on the chair, snapping the back.
"Raymondo"
Carling moved round the table grabbing Layton, picking him up, pinning him to the wall, then delivering swift forceful blow to his ribs, followed by another, then dropping him back to the floor.
"Keats?" Hunt shouted, banging both fists on the table.
"Ray pick him up" Carling did as the Guv asked, holding Layton against the wall. Layton was struggling now, but mentioning Keats wasn't an option, they'd all come so far. The final demise of Hunt was looming. If Layton could just hold on. Drake got out of her seat, for once she'd been enjoying the show of testosterone from Hunt, and Carling. Walking round to where Carling had Layton, she kept staring at Layton.
"Don't look at me like that, told you before, I don't like it" Layton said quietly.
"I don't care what you like Layton, I owe you this" Drake sent her right knee swiftly into Layton's bollocks, with a sickening crunch. It even made Hunt, and Carling wince. Carling let Layton drop to the floor. Layton felt sick, everywhere hurt. He couldn't take anymore.
"I'll talk, but only to Hunt" Hunt nodded to the others. They both went out, but stood trying to listen through the door. Layton only said a few words to Hunt. Hunt gave him one last back hander sending Layton flying. Hunt opened the door pushing past them both.
"Lock the bastard up Carling"
"Guv you ok?" Hunt wasn't listening. He was raging inside. This all ends now Hunt thought. Carling picked up Layton, who although was broken, was smiling. Carling knew something bad was going down. Hunt had grabbed his coat, his Magnum, and stormed out of the office. Drake went after him, grabbing his arm. Hunt shook her off.
"Guv, stop, what did he say? Talk to me" Drake felt panicked, felt something awful was happening, and couldn't stop it. She'd had these dreams, nightmares recently, not seen Gene in them, but knew in her heart he was involved. Litton had been watching it all, everything was going to plan. They'd all hoped Hunt was too arrogant, too brave not to go on his own.
Carling arrived back to the office, after locking Layton up.
"Where's the Guv?"
"Gone" said Drake almost in tears.
"Gone where, maam?"
"I don't know" Drake had to think fast. Litton needed to be watched. Guv always said, keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer.
"Terry, Litton you take one car, head Cartwright's" Terry nodded, reading Drake's mind.
"Carling you're with me, we'll go look at the Guv's other haunts"
"Think we should put call out for him maam, APB, anyone spotting the Merc to call in. He won't thank us for it, but I have bad feeling about this"
"Me too, you're right, just do it" Drake felt helpless.
Hunt's mind was racing, his heart pounding, his foot to the floor in the Merc. Keats was setting him up big time. It ended now. Hunt hid his car under the railway bridge. He knew where Keats was hiding, short walk from here. He wanted his visit to be a surprise. Hunt got out his Magnum, checked, loaded. He took out his torch, but decided not to use it until he knew exactly where Keats was. Hunt headed into the old unused tube tunnels.
Keats was waiting. Litton had given him the police issue gun. It was all going to plan. Keats had waited long time for this. He'd used all the others to get his prize. They meant nothing, they'd been fools, Markham, Layton, Litton, greedy fools, followed his orders, expecting wealth. All they would get is prison, and he would get Hunt. Fool proof, he thought, almost laughing out loud. He heard Hunts footsteps, and crawled into the shadows. It was so dark, damp, cold, had a stench of death. There was fire lit right at the end of the tunnel. Hunt headed for the fire, couldn't see anything, or anyone. He was starting to feel uneasy. Suddenly bright flash of light hit his eyes, he was blinded for brief second, that second a shot rang out. Hunt felt burning pain in his chest, he dropped instantly, and heavily, laid motionless.
Keats was ecstatic. Leaping about like a demented demon.
"Yes, yes, I've done it, I've done it. I hate you Hunt, you're done, you're finished" Keats started laughing, an evil, sick laugh. He went through Hunts pockets, taking the car keys, and the Magnum. He was tempted shoot Hunt again, but had plans for the Magnum. Keats laughed, and celebrated with unearthly hollers all the way down the tunnel. Keats leapt into the Merc, now to finish the plan.
Drake, and Carling decided to head Cartwright's, they had no idea where else to look. The Guv had just disappeared. They joined Terry, and Litton. No one felt like drinking, except Litton. George like everyone else had a really bad feeling about this. They all really needed to get some sleep. Carry on the search tomorrow, but their Guv was out there somewhere.
"Think we should all stay the night here, in case any news" Carling suggested, also wanting keep eye on Litton.
"That's ok with me" George was happy to help, he hated Litton around, but felt safe with the others about. Carling, Litton and Terry tried getting comfortable on the bench seats. Litton really just wanted go home, but thought better of suggesting it. Maybe his memories of George would return. Alex went upstairs, laid on the bed fully clothed, drifted off to sleep briefly, the nightmares returned, she screamed. Ray went hurtling up the stairs to where Alex was.
"Alex, are you ok" Alex opened the door, white as a sheet. Ray just held her. He could feel her falling apart. Alex tried to compose herself.
"I've been having these nightmares. A cold, dark, damp place, a place of death. I know they involve the Guv" Alex explained, Ray sat down, feeling shaken.
"Me too, exactly the same nightmares, these are why I came back. I know the Guv is involved" Suddenly the pair of them thought the same. The Guv was in trouble, serious trouble, these nightmares were chilling premonitions. They had to find him.
Hunt was in pain, and so so cold. He couldn't move, just drifting in, and out of consciousness. Bols, Carling, Sam, Chris, Shaz were all in his thoughts, they were all talking at him, but not making sense. Hunt felt this was the end, his life draining from him, Keats had won. There was one voice in his head, that gave him strength to try and fight, Bolly Kecks, he couldn't leave her, now he'd found her again...