Within just a couple of hours the main office of CID was crowded with various different police officers, all from the same rank and group as the deceased. It was down to Ray, Chris, Gene and Alex to have them all interviewed to find out just what was going on in the young PC's life to have him killed behind the bar of the Pub CID constantly situated.
"…problems with him at all then?" Chris asked one of the older officers of the group.
"Nah. Never spoke to him really, but he didn't do anything to upset me when we did. Decent bloke. Too young to die really." the officer replied and Chris nodded, taking note of what he said. Shaz smiled at her fiancé as she headed over to Alex's desk, a pile of papers in her arms."Ma'am. I got those records you asked for. Telephone and visitors records." Shaz put them on the desk."Thanks Shaz." Alex briefly looked up before taking the pile and beginning to scan through them. It didn't take her long before she noticed a link between them and a repetitive mention of the name "Lyson." getting up she made her way through all the policemen and into Gene's office.
"You really have a thing about knocking don't ya Bolls." He said, pouring himself another drink.
"Look at this Guv. Jones' was called by the same bloke 20 times over the weekend and the same bloke called on his house a number of times as well. A Lyson?" Alex ignored his comment and slid the paper onto the desk for D.C.I Hunt to look at.
"So he's very popular what about it?" Gene asked wearily.
"Lyson is also known as Graham Lyson - debt collector." she explained and he looked up."So what're you thinkin' Bolls?" he asked downing the rest of his drink.
"I'm thinking that Jones may not have had a problem with his colleagues but maybe he was having problems with cash flow and failed to pay some bills. Lyson got fed up of waiting so had him killed in punishment for not paying the bills." Alex suggested.
"Maybe we should invite Mr Lyson round for a chat." Gene replied.
Graham Lyson was a tall man with a broad upper body. He wore a black suit that seemed free of any dust, hair or anything. He was clean shaven and his hair parted right in the centre.
He was waiting patiently in the interview room when Alex Drake and Gene Hunt entered.
"Graham Lyson I'm D.C.I Gene Hunt this is my colleague D.I Alex Drake." Gene introduced and Graham held out his hand which Gene shrugged off and sat down. Alex however shook his hand politely before sitting too.
"Graham, do you know a William Jones?" Alex asked patiently.
"William Jones? I'm afraid the name doesn't seem to ring a bell." Graham replied calmly, flicking his gaze between the two officers."Well that's not what his phone records seem to suggest. Turns out William has been receiving a lot of calls from you over the past couple of days. Not been paying his bills lately?" Gene asked.
"I'm afraid I don't deal with the telephone calls personally. The company is under the title Lyson so any calls would say they are from me but I assure you I haven't heard of him." Lyson replied."Bollocks. He hasn't been paying his bills do your employee's keep quiet and handle matters themselves? No they come to their boss who apparently has been paying him a series of visits to young William recently as well. There is no point lying to me Graham Lyson because I will find out the truth and you'll be very sorry when I do if you don't act honest with me." Hunt threatened, Alex giving a sideways glance of disapproval.
"Mr Lyson regardless as to whether you personally have been contacting William Jones or whether employee's have been doing it for you as a manager you must have some idea as to what your workers are doing. Do you have any idea who could possibly be heading out to see William if it wasn't you? An employee who has been constantly going in and out of the office. And spending a lot of time on the phone recently?" Alex asked, a lot calmer than her colleague who was now sat back on his chair lighting a cigarette which earned him another disapproving look.
"I'm sorry if I can't be of more help but I honestly don't know anything about him." Lyson still spoke in a calm tone, one not so different from the way he had answered the previous questions. "Has something happened in connection to my business D.I Drake?" He asked."PC William Jones was murdered in the early hours of this morning and the only link we have so far is the fact that your company were very determined to get a hold of him." She explained.
"Oh…well I'm sorry I can't be of more help I really am. I always try my hardest to help with the law I can only apologise that I have nothing that could be of use." Graham apologised.
As another officer escorted Mr Lyson out of the station Alex and Gene headed down the corridor away from the interview room and back to the main offices.
"Well that turfed up a whole lot of nothing." Gene moaned.
"We can't rule him out yet Guv, we have no other suspects and don't you find it a little strange that he doesn't know anything of the one person who his company have constantly contacted one way or another." Alex persisted but Gene didn't reply.
"Look we'll know more when the reports get back from forensics and from the morgue. It might shed some more suspects to light, or even tighten our link with Mr Lyson." She continued."Let's hope so. But for now, I'm thinking it's time for a drink." Gene decided."We can't go to Luigi's Guv. Closed for investigation remember?" Alex pointed out."Bloody hell, quicker this case is closed the better. Looks like drinking at home tonight." Gene sighed.
"Ever the sympathetic one you are aren't you? Police officer dies and your complaining cos' you can't have a drink." Alex laughed.
"Its what I look forward to each day Bolls. A drink in the evening, drinking to forget the days work. Waking up in the morning isn't right without a hangover, or at least some form of headache. What keeps me going." he replied, in a tone that made it unclear as to whether he was joking or not.
"Come to think of it you still owe me a drink." He pointed out and Alex laughed as she understood."Fine then. Drinks on me." She smiled as they turned back into the main office of CID to collect coats."Did I hear that right? Drinks on you eh Ma'am?" Ray asked as he put his own coat on."You can't Ray. You've been going on about that date with, in your words 'that hot bird from the shop' wouldn't wanna miss out on that now would you?" Shaz pointed out.
"Oh yeah. Getting my own action tonight!" He grinned.
"Me and Shaz are going out for dinner tonight. Celebrate 1 year together." Chris commented."Poof." Ray announced.
"Shut up Ray. Congratulations you two. Not long till the wedding now eh Shaz." Alex smiled."Two weeks from now Ma'am. Only got the dress to buy and invites to hand out and we're done." the young female linked arms with Chris happily.
"Looks like its just you 'n' me Bolls." Gene shrugged on his coat and shut the door to his office.
As their superior officers left CID Shaz, Ray and Chris looked to one another.
"Maybe it's a good thing we're all busy tonight. They'll either end up drinking themselves into an argument or into bed. Either way, I for one am glad I'm spending tonight in my own bed, with my own bird. Night!" Ray flashed his colleagues a cheeky grin before exiting too, leaving Shaz and Chris."They deserve happiness." Shaz smiled."Hold up Shazza, they have to stop denying their own feelings first. Can't be long now though." Chris returned the warm smile, kissed his fiancée and they too left the building, flicking the light switch as they did so.