The Pair of 'Em
by robspace54
Murder in Suburbia was produced for ITV from 2004 to 2005. This story has been written for entertainment purposes only. The author claims no infringement of any rights of the producers and creators of the TV show.
000
Detective Inspector Kate Ashurst was cerebral, intelligent, and methodical. Detective Sergeant Emma Scribbins was intuitive, street-wise, and impulsive.
Sullivan stared at the personnel folders on his clean desk top. Could these two work together? God knew Middleford CID needed good investigators.
Ash had shown she was very capable in the last few investigations. The work she did with DI Collins on the Waitebridge Case was inspired. Who would have thought the murder was committed with methane gas?
Sullivan stood and went downstairs to look into the bull pen where the detectives worked. Ashurst was typing away on her computer; one thing she was very good at. Not just the typing but her sorting of data, teasing key bits from a pile of dross into useable information. As usual Ash looked all business togged out in sensible black booys and trousers, white blouse, and gray coat; the very image of a non-nonsense investigator.
Sergeant Scribbins was leaning back in her chair twirling a lock of her blonde hair. Her other hand was toying with her tea mug; which was decorated with a pink pony. Scribbins was chewing gum he could tell, the way her jaws worked. If Ashurst was a symbol of efficiency from dress to manner while Scribbins was the polar opposite from her jeans with tattered hems above her scuffed trainers, to the iridescent and shocking pink jumper.
They seemed a very unlikely pair.
Sullivan sighed. Scribbins had just been transferred from Thatchford Substation, where most of her work had been on property vandalism and more recently working undercover with the narcos. Oh she was useful, too useful, after they fingered the drug activities in the college on that side of town. So she needed to be moved after the case was cracked. Wouldn't do to have her real identity fingered by the few street thugs they'd not caught up with.
He sighed. So far Scribbins had been a third wheel on his teams, learning the ropes at headquarters. Perhaps it might be time to let her get her feet actually wet?
Ashurst rose, went to the communal printer and retrieved a page. Sullivan watched as she came back to her desk, read it silently, and then passed it across her desk to Scribbins.
Scribbins took the paper and laughed aloud as she read it. "Oh my God!" Emma exclaimed. "You're joking! Right?"
Her outburst made every other officer in the room stop what they were doing and send a dirty look her way.
Emma looked around the room at the disproving stares. "Sorry I woke you lot up," she answered. "This," she waved the paper, "is a right joke."
Sullivan nodded for the choice just made itself. Perhaps they had all gotten a bit up in the air. Scribbins might just be the one to sort them. Fire and ice? Water and oil? It was worth a try.
Ashurst raised an eyebrow when he stopped by her desk. "Boss."
"Ah yes, DI Ashurst, and DS Scribbins. Morning" He smiled at the two women. "Scribbins how are you finding us?"
"Bit dry, Boss," Scribbins told him. "But I'm the new one here. I expect getting the stink eye."
Ashurst shook her head and frowned.
Sullivan caught Ash's frown but kept his smile in place. Scribbins would learn one way or the other. "Oh, DS we're getting used to you as well," he reminded her.
Her smile vanished. "Sorry Boss."
Sullivan peered down at the paper in Scribbins' hand. "What's this?"
Scribbins grinned. "Office football pool, Boss. I can't believe the choices that some of this lot made." She shook her head. "Right barking if you ask me."
Ashurst sighed.
Okay, Sullivan thought. Here goes. "DI Ashurst I'd like you to work with DS Scribbins, if you would."
"Boss?" Ashurst asked, her eyes gone wide open. "You want me to?"
Sullivan could tell Ash was not happy. "Yes, I do," he said. He dropped a folder on her desk. "Show her the ropes on this one. Follow-up work on the missing person case. Jenny Browning."
Emma crossed her arms and smiled. "Sounds like fun!"
Sullivan nodded. "I'll leave you to it." He turned and walked away figuring it was sink or swim for the pair. He glanced back to see Ashurst looking daggers at his back. He gave her a quick shrug then went back to his office.