"Right everyone; this is the case that we have been working on." Sam stood in front of her officers and explained the case to them.
She explained who was going to go where, placing Smithy and Phil together at one of the rear entrances near the docks.
"Smithy will you be ok to take an active part in the raid?" Sam asked, referring to his wrist.
"Yeah I should be fine Gov'. The cast has been taken off so it's just in a bandage now. It was only a mild fracture." Smithy explained.
SO19 would be placed at every entrance and partnered with all the officers involved.
"Sergeant MacDonald will be back here guiding us along any possible escape routes that we haven't covered. Now Max Green and his associates are very dangerous, so keep your wits about you at all times. I want to see you all down in the yard in about half an hour." Sam said as everyone walked out of the briefing room.
Alex pulled Sam back for a private word.
"Just make sure that you get him please. I don't really care about anyone else, just get Max Green." Alex pleaded.
Sam could see how much getting a result meant to Alex.
"We'll do our best Alex." Sam said as she squeezed Alex a smile.
Down in the yard the officers waited in the vans, cars and mini bus that would be taking them round to the drop off site. Alex was sat in CID with Gina and Jack. In front of them were various maps and other information on the warehouses, docks, and the surrounding area.
Alex paced round the room with the radio in her hand. She was absolutely terrified. Memories of what had happened to Paul came flooding back. They thought that they had planned that raid properly, but Max Green still managed to pull the wool over their eyes.
Gina watched Alex as she paced the floor. She felt really worried about her. Alex had a tendency to keep everything bottled up and not say what was on her mind; even though it was pretty obvious in this case.
"Alex will you sit down, you're making me nervous. Come take the weight off that leg. You know you're not meant to be walking without your crutches." Gina said, trying not to make it sound like a lecture.
Alex looked at Gina, she was about to argue back but thought better of it. Instead she rolled her eyes, sighed and sat down. As she did so, she suddenly felt very tired. The stress of the situation was really getting to her. Mixed with overwhelming anxiety, was the even more over whelming sense of anger.
Gina took hold of Alexs' hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Normally Alex would have pulled away, but because of her close relationship with Gina, she appreciated the support. Alex wasn't the kind of person who believed in showing emotion in public.
"I know that this is difficult, especially since you aren't actively involved in the raid. We will get a result, and hopefully you will see the justice you're looking for." Gina tried to comfort her.
"I know, I know. It's just… it doesn't matter anymore, getting a result I mean. Paul's gone and there's nothing that's going to change that. So I'm going to move on with my life, and hopefully Smithy will help me do that." Alex looked at Gina and smiled.
"Ah, so you spoke to him then." Gina replied.
"You could say that. What do you think Cara will say though?" Alex looked worried.
Before Gina could answer Sams voice came over the radio.
"All units from DI Nixon. Suspect Max Green has just pulled up in a black Astra. Units stand by and go on my signal."
The Superintendent walked into the briefing room and joined the three officers. They sat for a couple of minutes and listened to the running commentary from Sam. Alex sat and traced the map with her fingers as she listened. As far as she could see they had covered every base.
"DI Nixon from 54. A large dark blue van is heading towards the docks. Index number, whisky, uniform, 23, Oscar, Romeo, tango." Smithy said into his radio.
"Ok Smithy, he has just come into our view." Sam replied as she looked through her binoculars.
Alex sat and listened intently. She only wished she was there and could see what was happening for herself.
"Ok Max has just got out of the car. He's now approaching Marcus Black with a large brown leather bag. Marcus has two of his thugs beside him. Can anybody see where that blue van went to? Only it's not Blacks vehicle." Sam asked looking puzzled.
Stuart picked up his radio and replied. "Yeah it's parked round the side of the warehouse. We can just about make it out and no-more. We can't see Black from here Gov', or the deal. Can't we just go a bit closer?" Stuart asked.
"No Stuart. Stay where you are until I say otherwise, we don't want to spook them." Sam ordered. She knew how big headed Stuart could get, especially if he thought he could get a result first.
"Great. There's hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of drugs being delivered and none of us can see; all because we're taking the advice of some young Sergeant who thinks she knows best. How do any of us know when the deal has happened or if it's gone wrong…?" Stuart continued to complain to Tony. They had been paired together at the back of a warehouse that was just off the main road.
"Oi, don't judge Alex because you think you're right and she's not. She has worked very hard to catch this guy and even lost her husband because of him. She is a very good officer, one of the best that I know and I trust her judgment." Tony reprimanded him.
Sam could just make out Max and Marcus. Neither looked very happy with the other. Max threw the bag down at Marcus' feet and tried to walk away. Suddenly three or four vans came speeding down from no where. One went straight past Smithy and Phils' car.
"DI Nixon from 54 it looks like we've got quite a problem. A green van has just gone past us at speed and headed towards the docks…"
"Yeah, same here only it's a red one that's gone down." Stuart commented into his radio.
Alex grabbed her radio. "DI Nixon from 56. Send the armed response units in first and be on the look out for guys on the roof tops." Alex reminded them all about what she had told them.
The raid so far was going a little pair shaped. Sam had to think quickly on her feet. She then looked up to see ten guys get out of each van that had just driven down. They were carrying weapons, baseball bats, pipes and a couple had guns. Marcus Black looked as shocked at this as Sam and the other officers did.
"All units go, go, go." Sam shouted into the radio.
As the air filled with sirens, gun fire could be heard from the roof tops. Marcus Blacks thugs picked off the guys who had just jumped out of the vans. One shot hit Max green in the arm. As SO19 jumped into action, most of the gang tried to make a run for it, only to be cornered by more SO19 officers as well as those from Sun Hill.
The officers started cuffing as many guys as they could. Smithy and Phil went to the top of one building in search of the roof top shooters. They were guided by SO19 officers. As they got to the top they saw two guys trying to make a run for it.
"Stop armed police, put down your…" But before the armed officer could finish his warning one of the thugs aimed his gun at them.
He aimed at Smithy and managed to shoot him in the arm. SO19 then aimed their guns at him and shot him dead. His accomplice dived down a flight of stairs and out of sight.
Phil ran towards the stairs where the guy had disappeared but he was long gone. He ran back to where Smithy was lying on the ground. His arm was covered in blood.
"Are you alright?" Phil asked out of breath.
"Yeah I'm fine, but I don't think they like my arm very much." Smithy said as he pointed at the bandage already on his arm from the accident.
Phil laughed and pulled the radio from his pocket. "Sierra Oscar from DS Hunter, ambulance required to Jamaica docks, Sergeant Smith has a gun shot wound to his arm."
On hearing this both Alex and Gina looked worried. Alex felt a sense of déjà vu. This is exactly what happened the day Paul died. Without saying a word both women grabbed their coats and headed down to the car. Alex went as fast as she could on her crutches. The faster she hopped the more her leg hurt. Right now though she didn't care; she just wanted to get to Smithy and make sure he was ok.
Back at the drop off site, or rather what was left of the drop off site, Sam and Phil looked round at the horror they were presented with. So far they had counted six dead and four injured. Stuart approached Sam.
"Any signs of the drugs or money Stuart?" Sam asked.
"I don't think there ever were any drugs Sam. The money's long gone, along with Marcus Black and Max Green. I think Green was set up." Stuart explained.
"How the hell did they get past us?" Sam sighed in frustration. "Do we know where Green or Black headed?"
"No we don't. A couple of units have headed out to look but so far nothing. At the moment we're looking at two options, either Max Green escaped in the commotion or…"
"Or Marcus Black has him." Sam finished. "Thanks Stuart. Keep me up to date." She said as she sent Stuart back to work.
When Stuart left, Phil placed his hand on Sams shoulder. He looked at her and then round about him to see if anyone was looking. He was about to kiss her when she pulled away.
"Have you not heard that there's a time and a place for everything DS Hunter? And this is neither." Sam reprimanded. She then also looked around and softened her tone.
"I was really scared when I heard those shots being fired. I thought I might have lost you." Sam said.
"Don't be daft; it'll take more than that to get rid of me." Phil replied.
In the hospital Alex approached the cubicle where Smithy was having his wound attended to. As she pulled the curtain back, Smithy looked up. He had his shirt off and the nurse was just finishing cleaning the blood from his arm.
At first they just looked at each other and then Alex smiled and quietly laughed. She sat down on the bed beside him. She looked at his arm and felt a surge of guilt.
"Are you ok Smithy?" She asked.
"Yeah I'm fine. I've had worse done to me." He replied and then winced in pain.
"We're a right pair, aren't we? It's not been one of our best weeks." Alex said.
"I don't know; Apart from the fact that I've been shot and in a car accident this week, I've got the best looking girl in Sun Hill nic as my girlfriend." Smithy said as he wriggled his eyebrow.
Alex smiled. "Oh is that right?" She replied.
"Yeah it is; and I would like to know if the best looking girl in the station would like to come out to dinner tonight?" He asked.
"Well we'll see what the doctor says. If you're aloud to, then she says yes."
The nurse just smiled at the conversation between them. They were interrupted when Gina came over to them.
"Can't take you pair anywhere can I?" She said as she placed her stuff on a chair.
She looked at his arm and shook her head. "I hope that isn't as bad as it looks." She said looking worried.
"No it's just a scratch." He said trying to look brave but then winced again as the nurse bandaged the wound.
Alex smiled. "Wimp, are you a man or a mouse?"
Smithy looked and thought for a minute. "A mouse. See I need a good woman behind me."
Alex mock scowled. "Depends on what you mean by that." She smiled when she saw the look of horror on his face.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that… I meant… never mind." Smithy said, digging a hole for himself.
Gina tried to stifle a laugh and Alex gave him a cheeky smile. Gina knew that Alex and Smithys' relationship would prove interesting. Each was just as bad as the other.
Smithys' injury was only superficial so he was aloud home after his wound was dealt with. On their way down to the car Alex was starting to struggle a bit. The pain in her leg was getting to her now. She hadn't noticed it so much before. Smithy helped the best he could.
"Maybe you two should consider going home. I'll contact you if there are any developments, but until then Alex you should get some rest." Gina added when she saw Alexs' look of protest.
"Fine Gina you win, this time. I'm too tired to argue." She replied as she got into the car.
They went back to Alexs' house for a while. Smithy was enjoying playing with Molly and Cara. They were playing snap. Alex went upstairs to get the baby. She walked quietly back down and stood in the doorway. She smiled as the three argued about who was cheating. Molly and Cara had known Smithy since they were born, so to them he was just a big play mate.
"Oi Smithy, if my girls say you're cheating then you are." Alex said.
Smithy held his hands up in defeat. Suddenly he felt his stomach grumble.
"I'm hungry. Who fancies a chippie?" He said.
"That would be very nice." Alex replied.
Smithy headed off in the car to get their tea. Whilst he was gone Alex took the opportunity to tell Cara about her relationship with Smithy. She took it a lot better than Alex had imagined.
"I don't expect you to be on your own forever mum. Anyway, I like Smithy. He's really good fun." Cara said.
"You know, for a thirteen year old you're very grown up. Your aunt and I couldn't get used to the idea of your Grandma being with someone else after your Granddad died. We're fine about it now but we weren't keen on it at the time." Alex explained.
"How long is it since Granddad died?" Cara asked.
"About five years now. Still can't believe he's gone. Your Granddad and I didn't always get on but I still miss him."
At that moment Gina walked in through the back door. Cara went over to her and gave her a big hug.
"Hey Gina. Is that you finished for the night?" Alex asked.
"Yeah, I thought that was one shift that would never end. Just thought I'd come round and see how you are doing." Gina said as she eased herself into a chair.
"Yeah good thanks. Smithy has just gone out to get us a chippie. You gonna stay for something to eat?" Alex asked.
"Why not. I haven't got much in my cupboards anyway." Gina replied as she helped Alex clear the table.
And almost as if on queue Smithy walked through the door with a large bag of food.
