Disclaimer: I do not own the copyright for Waking the dead or its characters – all rights belong to the BBC
Content: Heartache, angst, friendship
Rating T
Once again thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I really hope you are enjoying (if that's the right turn of phrase) my story. If you would like to I would love you to leave a review. Thank you x
Beyond Grace
Chapter 3
Boyd steeled himself before entering the CCHQ. He had spent the last hour and a half trying to convince the Commissioner why they were the best people to investigate Grace's murder. The Commissioner was not as convinced.
"No way Boyd, absolutely not. It's out of the question."
"Sir with all due respect, no-one knows Grace like we do."
"That's the point, you are too close. There has to be …"
"YES SIR ….." Boyd's tone was abrupt and raised more than what was deemed to be respectful of the other man's rank. He knew he was overstepping the mark "that is EXCATLY the point. We know her inside and out. We know the cases she has worked on over these last ten years, and what her current work load is. We know the things she likes to do in her spare time, who her friends are. We even know what she has for breakfast! Please sir just let us do this one last thing or her." Boyd's eyes moved rapidly as he tried to decipher what was going through the commissioner's mind.
"Peter, I just don't think its poss…."
"Sir, I let Grace down many times during our careers together. Please, I don't ….." he sighed and lowered his head before engaging the man's attention again "I can't let her down now."
The commissioner could see from Boyd's face the determination to catch whoever had committed this terrible act. He knew if anyone would bring them to justice it would be Boyd. Standing up from behind the oversized desk where he had been sitting he walked towards the window overlooking London city. Exhaling loudly he spun around to face Boyd. "Okay Boyd, against my better judgement I am going to give you a chance and allow you to at least begin the initial investigation."
"Thank You Sir." Boyd was physically relieved.
"Don't thank me Peter; just make sure that I don't live to regret this. You do everything by the book on this one understand. No screwing this up, achieving results by underhanded means – everything above board okay?"
"Yes Sir"
"I mean it I have heard the rumours about what goes on at CCHQ, if I get a sniff of anything….."
"Don't worry commissioner, trust me. Thank you sir" Boyd rose from his chair, lifted the photograph of the desk and made for the door.
"Seriously Boyd if I hear of one instance of mistreatment." Boyd stopped and glanced over his shoulder with a hardened stare.
"You won't sir" before adding under his breath as he left "It'll be hard for them to complain about anything when I've finished with them.
"Spence, can you go and get Eve from the lab for me please"
"I thought you were in meetings all day"
"Change of plan, now just do as I ask PLEASE." Boyd's voice was brasher that he had intended. He felt sick. The team had been through so much over this last year. After Sarah's death and his consequent acquittal over any involvement his reinstatement had been a welcome relief to everyone. Things were slowly getting back to some semblance of normality and now they were faced with the unimaginable.
His reluctance to leave his office was tangible, like a physical force bearing down upon his body defying him to get up. He glanced into Graces office
"What do I do Grace, please help me. You were always the one who was good at this stuff" The unanswered prayer was swallowed up in the bleakness.
Spence and Eve had assembled themselves and were sitting at the conference table in the middle of the room. From his office he could hear them chatter about their weekend, everything sounding so light and normal. Boyd knew he was going to crush them but he couldn't put if of any longer, he had to let them know.
"You look terrible Boyd." Only Eve could get away with saying that to him without it sounding like a criticism. Boyd stood at the end of the table gripping it tightly for support. His gaze averted downward as he searched for whatever strength he had left within him.
"Erm …. I'm ….. I …." He was faltering over his words already. "I don't really know what to say … how to say … I'm not very good at this sort of stuff" he began.
"Where's Grace when you need her?" Eve laughed "she'd soon sort you out with what to say." Boyd felt his heart sink at the mention of her name. "That's just it, she's, she's not here" His voice was barely audible and yet inside he was screaming.
"What do you mean, is she taking leave, – she's ok isn't she, I mean she's not sick again or resigned?" Spence sat upright.
"It's erm its worse than that I'm afraid" Boyd's head dropped again unable to look his colleagues in the eye. The pain that was etched on his face filled the two juniors with fear.
"Boyd you're scaring me now – what is it?" They knew whatever was coming next wasn't going to be good. It seemed an eternity before Boyd continued slowly his voice shaking with emotion.
"I received a photograph through the post today. This picture showed a person who had been beaten and had a gunshot wound to their head." He hesitated unable to make the words form in his mouth until finally he managed "…It was Grace."
The gasped intake of air was immediate and the silence that followed deafening. Shock and confusion reigned on the faces of both Spence and Eve as they attempted to process what Boyd had just told them.
It was Grace
Three words that made time stand still, three words that in a moment had changed everything in them.
"I'm sorry WHAT? Did you just say …..? No, I don't believe you, not her, not Grace." Eve broke the silence wiping away the tears now streaming down her face searching Boyd's for any sign that this was not real, but the harsh truth was plain for all to see. As she caught his eye it was clear that he was completely serious. She could see the tears well up in him, masking the look of despair and anguish that lay behind his eyes.
"Who did it Boyd, what the hell happened?" Spence spoke angrily which led Boyd to believe that somehow the young DI thought he had been some way involved.
"I dunknow Spence" Boyd whispered shaking his head.
"Not good enough, you must know something. What are you holding back Boyd, we deserve to know."
Boyd's pain had succumbed to the anger that was raging inside of him. He lurched forward towards Spence unable to calm the beast that now raged within him.
"I SAID I DON'T KNOW SPENCE, don't you think if I did I wouldn't be there now beating the living crap out of him" He screamed in his face.
"Both of you stop it!" Eve shouted holding her hands over her ears. "Grace is dead." The brutal reality of her words stopped the two men in their tracks.
Turning towards Boyd she continued "Can I see the photo?"
"Yes, yes of course." He was surprised at how unexpected he found that question to be even though he knew she had to have sight of it. "I have to warn you though, once you look at this image there is no going back, it will stay with you, probably for the rest of your life." She nodded in acceptance.
"There might be something to give us an idea as to what happened. I'd like to see if I can help in some way." Boyd reached out and touched her arm, squeezing gently he smiled. "I know, thank you."
"Do we have any leads?" now Spence had calmed down, he could see that Boyd was hurting and his tone was more subdued than before.
"No, nothing. I have spoken to the Commisisoner and he has agreed to let us investigate this but we have got to do it by the book. They are going to be all over us, watching our every move. If we don't get a result soon they will take us off the case."
"We better crack on then."
"Yes Eve, we better. Ok Spence, I want you to go through everything Grace has been working on recently. Also have a look at anyone who may have been released from prison say within the last year especially the ones that Grace had particular involvement in. Eve we'll start by trawling this photo for anything that may tell us who took her or where she is. I'll follow you to the lab; you may need to get yourself a drink for this."
Boyd closed the door to his office and breathed deeply. He was surprised at how he had spoken with control and authority. Right now he felt anything but in control. He knew that the team would pull out all the stops to find Grace but there appeared to be absolutely nothing to go on. He could see the grief and confusion on their faces and he knew he had let his guard down enough that they could see the pain that was threatening to destroy him. "I will spend the rest of my life trying to find you Grace if I have to" He resolved "but find you I will."
TBC