CHAPTER 5.

"Please, let me stay. I can help," Francesca pleaded.

"No," replied Thatcher, abruptly. "Too dangerous."

"You've gotta get Candy and Dominic here to safety, Frannie," added Ray quickly before the two women could start bickering again. "It's an important job, they're key witnesses. Here, take my car."

A smile danced at the corners of Francesca's mouth as she took Ray's keys from him. It was a very important job; they were trusting her to do this and Ray was trusting her with his car too. This was a great opportunity to prove herself. "Of course," she nodded seriously. "I'll take them straight to the station."

"Please ensure that Candy is examined by a doctor," said Fraser. "She doesn't appear to have a concussion, but she still seems very confused. It's concerning."

"She's an airhead, Fraser," said Meg, snarkily. "She's permanently confused."

"Don't worry, Frase," smiled Francesca, "I'll take care of everything."

"OK, so Detective's Huey and Dewey are organising the operation from the outside," said Welsh walking over to join them. "They're on their way now with backup, but Dankworth is due any minute. Constable, come with me. Detective, get into your position."

"Er, can we go over the plan again, please?" asked Turnbull, nervously.

"There's no time!" exclaimed Meg in despair. "Just follow my lead. We're just ordinary people enjoying an evening of bowling."

Turnbull nodded profusely and picked up a bowling ball. He wasn't good at undercover and he'd broken into a sweat already. His job was to protect the civilians, even though they were criminals. He took that responsibility very seriously.

Meg looked at Manny, Amy-Jo and Stewie. They were going to act like a group of friends out for a social evening and only get involved if there was any trouble. Everyone understood the plan and the consequences if they didn't go along with it.

"In ten minutes this place will be surrounded by my people," Welsh spoke directly to Karl now. "You try any funny business and the deal's off, got it?"

"Loud and clear," replied Karl. He was nervous. Really nervous; Dankworth terrified him. They'd met once only to make the final arrangements and the mobster had been accompanied by two heavily armed bodyguards. If Dankworth suspected for a moment that he was being double crossed tonight, Karl knew he'd be dead before these cops could do anything about it.

"It's time, Sir," said Fraser.

"Good luck, Constable," replied Welsh and Fraser nodded.

Fraser had volunteered to act as Karl's associate and hand over the loot. In reality they'd filled the holdalls with bowling balls, but hopefully it would all be over before Dankworth realised that. Karl had his gun tucked into his belt in full view, but the barrel was empty. Ray and Welsh had reloaded two of the other guns and had taken up cover positions. Fraser, of course, had refused the option of a gun and Inspector Thatcher had done the same, although secretly she was regretting it now. She knew Fraser would be disappointed in her if she agreed to carry a gun without having filed the proper paperwork, even under these circumstances.

Suddenly the door burst open and Walter J Dankworth walked into the bowling alley like he owned it. He was flanked on either side by the same two guys that Karl had seen him with before. They were both well over six feet tall and almost as wide. They were in expensive dark suits and each wore a shoulder holster containing a high spec gun complete with silencer which they made sure everyone could see.

"Hi, Karl. It's good to see you again," began Dankworth with a smarmy smile. "I trust everything went smoothly?" He surveyed his surroundings and noticed the group bowling in Lane four. "I thought you said this place would be closed," he said.

"They're just finishing a game; they haven't given us any trouble." replied Karl, trying to sound confident. "The job went to plan. It was all there, just like you said it would be."

"My sources are very reliable," replied Dankworth.

Karl turned to Fraser and nodded towards the two large holdalls. Fraser dutifully played his part, picking up the heavy bags and offering them to Dankworth.

Dankworth clicked his fingers and one of his bodyguards stepped forward and took the bags.

"I suppose you'd like your money, now?" asked Dankworth, casually.

"Um, um…" stammered Karl.

Dankworth laughed. "Don't look so nervous," he said. "Anything you've heard about me is untrue," he added. "I'm a fair man. I pay a fair price."

"S…sorry," replied Karl. He'd heard a lot about Dankworth and very little of it was to do with fairness. He wished he'd done more research before he'd told his old friend that they'd do this job. Well it was too late now. He just hoped these cops really did have his back. "I want to get out of here, that's all," he said, trying to hurry the proceedings along.

"So do I," nodded Dankworth in agreement. "Riggs, pay the man."

Karl tried to breathe as the burly man to Dankworth's left reached into his pocket.

From their hiding places Ray and Welsh tensed, hoping Karl's 'payment' wasn't going to come from the business end of a concealed weapon. They needn't have worried as Riggs produced a brown envelope stuffed with cash and handed it to Karl.

"Thank you," said Karl. He wished they would just leave now, but deep down he knew Dankworth would want to inspect the merchandise first and he was right.

"McSweeny," said the mobster and clicked his fingers again. The man to his right crouched down and unzipped one of the bags.

"It's not that I don't trust you," smiled Dankworth, "but you do understand that there are a lot of untrustworthy people in this business."

Karl nodded and took a few small steps backwards.

Fraser glanced towards Ray's hiding place and Ray gave a nod. This was it. Things were about to get messy and they were ready.

"Er…boss…" began Dankworth's henchman in disbelief when he saw the contents of the bag. This stupid little guy is trying to rip off Walter J Dankworth!

The next few minutes passed in a blur. Riggs and McSweeny pulled out their guns, but before either of them could get a shot off, they were both taken completely by surprise as Ray and Welsh opened fire. Ray caught Riggs in the shoulder and the large man's gun flew out of his hand as he stumbled to the floor. Welsh's shot caught McSweeny in the leg and he collapsed to his knees.

Dankworth produced his own gun and Fraser quickly pulled Karl to safety as he fired off two shots.

Then suddenly it was all over. Thatcher and Turnbull ran at the incapacitated bodyguards and tackled them to the floor as Ray and Welsh went for Dankworth.

Just as the situation was under control, the doors burst open and Huey and Dewey appeared with Diefenbaker at their heels.

"Gentlemen, so good of you to join us," said Welsh as he and Ray hauled an angry Dankworth to his feet. "You missed all the fun!"

"I told you we shouldn't have left the party early," Dewey said to his partner. Huey shook his head and laughed.

"Oh, look who met us outside," added Dewey. "I guess he was worried about you being late home, Fraser," he added with a smirk.

Diefenbaker went running over to Fraser and started licking his face enthusiastically.

"I'm sorry, Dief," said Fraser. "Although I did tell you not to wait up for me."

Fraser finally persuaded Dief to leave him alone. "Thank you for your assistance," he said to Karl as he was handcuffed by one of the uniformed officers who had now arrived.

"Yeah, I'll talk to the State's Attorney," added Welsh and Karl nodded appreciatively as he was led away.

"That was so exciting!" exclaimed Manny as he was being handcuffed.

Ray looked at Welsh and they both laughed. "He has a point," said Welsh. "This evening certainly took an upturn when the criminals with guns arrived. I'm glad I didn't go to the Captain's Cocktail Soiree."

Ray nodded. "Nice shot, by the way," he said.

"Thank you," replied Welsh. It was so rare for him to be involved in active fieldwork now and it reminded him of how much he hated being behind a desk all day.

"I take it you were aiming for the guy's leg?" queried Ray. Ray's own shot had been way off even though he'd been wearing his glasses. He expected Fraser to insist he visited the range at the earliest opportunity to brush up on his skills.

"Er, no," admitted Welsh. "Chest. You?"

Ray hesitated. "Er, head," he said. "I dunno where Karl got those guns from," he added, trying to pass the blame to the unfamiliar weapons they'd be using.

"Probably from a guy who knows a guy," replied Welsh with a wink.

Fraser walked over with Ray's phone in his hand. "Thank you kindly," he said, handing it back to Ray. "Francesca has been doing some research. This building was once a gentlemen's club frequented by some of Chicago's more dubious citizens in the twenties and thirties."

"So there really could be somethin' behind that wall," pondered Ray.

Fraser nodded. "Francesca also commented on how nice your car is to drive."

"Yeah, well she's not gonna be drivin' it again anytime soon," replied Ray.

"Oh and Sergeant Down took a message from the hospital," added Fraser. "Julie Santini gave birth to a baby girl."

Welsh and Ray couldn't help smiling at that news.

Turnbull stood quietly watching the activity. His heart was still pounding; his fieldwork experience was very limited and he'd just helped in the apprehension of a heavily armed man who was twice his size. This wasn't at all how he'd planned his birthday, but it was the best birthday he'd ever had. He glanced up as Inspector Thatcher walked over to him and Fraser joined them.

"Good work, Constable," said Thatcher, genuinely.

"And Happy Birthday, Turnbull," added Fraser.

THE END