Disclaimer: I do not own the copyright for Waking the dead or its characters – all rights belong to the BBC

Content: Heartache, angst, violence,

Rating T –

Hi everyone! Many apologies again on the length of time it has taken to update this …. We are on the home stretch now, so shouldn't be too long before it is finished! I hope that you enjoy this next chapter, would love to hear what you think so please comment and let me know. Once again a huge thank you to everyone who has continued reading and for all those who have reviewed. Your comments and time are very much appreciated. xx

Beyond Grace

Chapter 10

The door to the lab slid open as Spencer entered the noise of which caused Eve to look up from her computer and motion him over.

"Is Boyd here?" Spence opened.

"No, isn't he in his office?"

"He was, then his phone went and he rushed out, I assumed it was you and he was heading here. Damn I need to speak to him."

Eve shrugged. "Sorry Spence, haven't seen him, but have a listen to this would you?"

Spence walked towards the computer screen where Eve was standing, realising as he got closer exactly what Eve had been watching.

"Aww Eve, do I have to watch this again, I hate seeing Grace like that."

"Yes you do, I may be wrong but I think she's trying to tell us something." Spence nodded as Eve began playing the video

Peter, I know that you will be blaming yourself for this, guilt is a strong emotion obviously" (muffled) She turned her gaze away from the camera as if she was speaking to whoever was behind it and softly said "Sorry, okay, yes I'm sorry I'll read it." She continued to camera "I have been told that this will be a final message to you, and that when you receive it you will already know that I am dead." She inhaled heavily closing her eyes for the briefest secondto compose herself. "I warn you that this is just the start, I am the first but I won't be the last. The game is on; you have to find my capturer before they find you. Cat and mouse Boyd ….. DON'T PLA…."

"Okay so what am I listening for?" Spence asked confused.

"Just here" Eve reached over and replayed the file.

"guilt is a strong emotion obviously"

"Yea and …."

"That part was unscripted, we know this because Grace apologises to whoever is behind the camera for not reading what he has told her too. It bothered me, so I slowed down the audio …. Now listen again.

"guilt is a strong emotion ….. (distorted) it's not what it seems."

"I've played it over and over and I don't know now if I am just hearing what I want to hear but to me the distorted word which we originally thought was 'obviously' is in actual fact …."

"It's not what it seems." Spence interrupted.

"Yeah, that's what I hear too."

"What's not what it seems though?

"I'm not sure. Was Grace trying to let Boyd know that she didn't blame him, or that he shouldn't feel guilty?"

"That would be just like Grace, thinking of Boyd even when … Argh it's infuriating the way she is always ….. The way she did always put him first in everything."

"That was just Grace, always thinking of others."

"Always thinking of Boyd you mean, if only he spared her the same courtesy." Spence rubbed his eyes with his hands before continuing. "Anyway the reason I was looking for Boyd is I've found something too. Look at this." Spence placed the file he was holding on top of the bench and opened it drawing Eve's attention to the insert.

"That woman who was shot and killed in the Highgate robbery wasn't just an innocent passer by – she was Quinton Taylor's lover. Apparently she had gone into the jewellery store first to distract the owners preventing them from raising the alarm before it was too late. Anyway the alarm was raised eventually and a unit deployed to the shop, among them was DI Boyd. "

"Did Boyd shoot Quinton's lover?" Eve asked.

"Dunknow, there were a number of shots fired that day but no-one was ever sure from who's gun the fatal bullet came from. The investigation board found that the officers had acted in a justifiable manner and so no further time or resources were wasted in finding out exactly who fired the bullet."

"You wouldn't get away with that now would you?" Eve replied raising her eyebrows in mild surprise.

"Yea I know."

"Guess that explains why Quinton didn't run, watching his lover gunned down like that must have been a shock. Before he realised what was happening it was too late. Would Quinton have known that Boyd was involved though?"

"I don't know, I suppose it's a possibility but that still doesn't explain Grace's involvement."

"Unless …. Spence … you don't think Taylor would have taken Grace to get at Boyd? Boyd took his lover away from him so he takes Boyd's?"

"Yea but Grace is not Boyd's lover is she!"

"No ….. but you can't deny they are unbelievable close. Maybe Taylor assumed they were lovers, or maybe he realised that Grace was the closest person to Boyd therefore the easiest target."

"We need to talk to Boyd."

Spence reached into his pocket and took out his mobile quickly dialling Boyd's number.

'You have reached the voice mail of DSI Boyd, I'm sorry I can't take your call right now, but please leave your number and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.'

"Boyd its Spence ring me straight away please …. it's urgent."

"That's strange." Spence continued turning to Eve. "Boyd never has his mobile phone off."

"You said he left right after being on the phone yea?"

"Yea, I was waiting until he finished, but then my phone rang in the meantime. While I was still on the call he got up and almost ran out of the building."

"And he didn't say anything?"

"No, nothing at all, that's why I thought he was only coming here."

"We need to know who that call was from Spence."

As they entered the bullpen Spence went straight to his desk, lifting the receiver from the telephone he began dialling.

"Yes hi this is DI Spencer Jordan Cold Case Unit, I need a trace on the last telephone number that called DSI Boyd's mobile please. Yes his number is 077009056423. Thanks, as quick as you can eh?"

He got up from his chair and walked into Boyd's office were Eve was standing.

"Looks like he did just up and leave in a hurry, his computer isn't even locked." She said looking up and motioning towards the laptop sitting on Boyd's desk. Papers and files were strewn across the work space as he left them.

The sound of Spence's telephone ringing in the bullpen startled them. Spence walked towards Boyd's desk and lifted his phone before transferring the call through.

"DI Jordan … Yes, Yes I did ….. I'm sorry could you repeat that ….Are you sure? What time was this at? ….. Okay thanks." Spence sat heavily into Boyd's chair as he replaced the receiver rubbing his hands over his face.

"What is it?"

"The call …. it was made from Grace's mobile."

"Meaning Taylor ….."

"Yea Taylor, and Boyd's God knows where, but you bet your ass he's looking for him. I don't have a good feeling about this Eve."

"No, me neither." Eve replied wearily.

No-one watching the black Audi drive aggressively through the busy London traffic would have suspected the turmoil the driver was going through. His emotions were being pummelled from every thought that was currently racing through his mind. The pain and darkness of the last few days, the fear that had encompassed him had briefly found respite at the sound of her voice, only to be replaced by the panic of not reaching her in time or not figuring out what the hell Taylor was doing before it was too late. One thing he knew for certain was that he wasn't thinking straight, that he did know. He should have called this in, he should have told Spence and Eve where he was going, so many procedures he knew that he should have followed, but he couldn't take the risk of anything happening to Grace. He couldn't bear it if something he did or didn't do lead to her death and the fear that he was going to somehow screw this up was tormenting him.

Boyd's heart began to beat harder as he pulled up outside the grey imposing building that cast a dark and eerie shadow over the industrial estate. He could feel the beads of sweat resting on his forehead as he opened the glove compartment and lifted out his police issue gun. He hated carrying a weapon, usually it was Spence, or in previous times, Stella and Mel who were the fire arms experts, however today he had a foreboding feeling that he was going to need it.

Slowly he stepped out of the car and walked towards the big steel doors which slid open with ease, the adrenalin surging through his body as he entered. His eyes adjusted to the darkened area, the large open space littered with pieces of dismantled machinery and broken furniture. The musty damp catching his throat as he proceeded through the building trying to get his bearings.

"Grace, Grace can you hear me?" He shouted into the emptiness, his deep voice echoed around the hollow space.

He moved cautiously towards large double doors situated at the end of the rectangular room. As he approached he reached to reassure himself that his gun was within easy reach. The door led into a corridor which had further doors leading of it.

They could be anywhere. He knew that Taylor had the advantage; he could appear at any moment from either one of these rooms and shoot him before he even had a chance to blink. Slowly and as quietly as he could he made his way down the long narrow corridor listening carefully outside each room as he passed. A sudden noise ahead of him made his heart rate surge as he quickly leaned into the wall trying to determine exactly which room it came from. He edged his way along, back pressed towards the coldness of the concrete before stopping at the door frame, listening carefully for any noise that would confirm movement inside. He swallowed hard as the unmistakeable sound of footsteps resounded from behind the wooden barrier. Closing his eyes he took a long steadying breath. He wasn't a religious man, but in that moment for reasons that even he couldn't even explain he found himself whispering a prayer that whatever happened in the next few moments wouldn't lead to Grace being harmed.

Slowly he reached inside his jacket and retrieved his gun, and as he took another long deep breath he felt his foot impact with the door as he violently kicked it open.

"TAYLOR!"

Boyd felt his stomach turn at the sight her frail helpless form sat huddled in the corner of the room her legs pulled up tight against her, arms wrapped around them, the look of fear in her eyes as they locked with his. Those blue eyes that had once sparkled now only exposed the sheer terror that was flooding through her body. Grace Foley was convinced she was going to die. Taylor had told her as much, and she had no reason to doubt him. Her face already displayed the result of his previous handiwork. Her left eye almost closed from the brutal punch she had received when trying to warn the team not to play Taylor's game. Her top lip swollen and bruised, her ribs aching from the boot that was forcibly applied to them when she initially refused to record the video. He had almost broken her, until she had heard Boyd's voice. She knew that he would come for her. Once he knew that she was still alive he wouldn't leave her, he would never leave her. Part of her was filled with relief at this knowledge, however a bigger part of her wished he had of let her go. Taylor wanted Boyd dead, and he had used her as a pawn in his game. She had tried to warn Boyd not to play, tried to tell him to let her go, but deep down she knew he wasn't that kind of man. He would never walk away from her.

Boyd pointed his gun towards Taylor who was standing yards from him, his own gun pointed towards the head of Grace. Without dropping his gaze from Taylor he spoke to her.

"It's okay Grace, you're gonna be okay….. Taylor …. drop your weapon, it's over."

"Who the hell do you think you are telling me it's over Boyd huh? It's not over, it's only just begun."

"I'm warning you, I will shoot, without hesitation." Boyd continued.

"Yeah just like you did before, when you shot Susie, you murderous scum."

"I never ….."

"Look save your breath, I know it was you. I've spent years dreaming of this day when I can finally take my revenge. You stole Susie from me, you made me watch the woman that I love breathe her last breath and now it's my turn to repay the favour. I'm gonna enjoy making you watch the woman you love die."

"What? You don't think …. Grace and I are not in a relationship, we're colleagues. You've got it wrong."

"On the contrary Boyd, I've watched you, seen you together. Whether you choose to believe it or not, you are more than work colleagues."

"You're deluded, now put the gun down …. I'm not going to ask you again Taylor."

"So you mean to tell me if I pull this trigger you won't try to save her." Taylor replied cocking his gun as he did so.

"I swear Taylor ….."

Eve slowly lifted the notepad that was thrown on Boyd's desk and held it towards the light. Quickly she got up and started searching Boyd's desk.

"What are you doing?" Spence enquired.

"Just trying an old trick ….. can you see a pencil anywhere?"

"Here check his drawer." Spencer said opening the top right hand drawer and displacing its contents until he found the object of intent. Passing it to Eve he watched as she used the shallow angle to scribble carefully over the indentations in the notepad.

"Bingo!" she said as she passed the notepad to Spence revealing the message underneath.

'Kempton Indus Est'

"Eve you genius, that's got to be it. Come on …. I'll call for back up on the way."

"You swear what Boyd …. You swear you'll kill me? Maybe so, but not until I kill her first!"

It happened so fast Boyd didn't have time to think. As soon as he saw Taylor turn his gaze away from him and look towards Grace, he knew. Everything within him knew what Taylor was going to do. Everything within him was silently screaming for Grace to get out of the way. His heart thumped against his chest as his mind taunted him with Taylor's words.

"I'm gonna enjoy making you watch the woman you love die."

He couldn't tell which came first, the sound of Taylor pulling the trigger, the sound of his own voice calling her name, or his swift movement towards her.

"GRACE!"

Without thought or fear for himself he leapt in front of her. His eyes impulsively closing as he felt the burn in his chest as the bullet entered him. It's warm, agonising burn causing him to immediately gasp for air as he fell hard onto the surface beneath. Blood soaked through his shirt, and spilled onto the ground beside him. His chest heaved heavily as his lungs struggled to function under the pressure bearing down on them. Darkness engulfed him as his eyes once again closed.

He heard his breath rattle in his throat, heard Grace's heart-wrenching cry, and then heard another gunshot echo in the black emptiness.

TBC