"Hi boys." Sandra greeted as she walked into the basement where UCOS were stationed.
"Is it snowing?" Gerry asked childishly as he noticed the white dots covering his boss.
"I knew there was a reason I kept you on my team, your top notch detective skills." Sandra replied sarcastically.
"So what I have I missed dug up any dirt on Peter Venetti?" She asked brushing the melting lumps of snow off her shoulders.
"We haven't got him to crack as of yet, Jack is still in the interview room with him now, if you want to take a look, but first tell Brian he has to wear a tux tonight."
Brian looked at Sandra in desperation, his big puppy dog eyes silently pleaded with her to say 'no tracksuits and trainers are totally acceptable at London's most prestigious hotel.'
She sighed. "Come on Brian, this is the Savoy we're talking about. Surely just a few hours in a suit wouldn't kill you? For us?"
He returned his eyes to his laptop screen sulkily. "I'll think about it."
"You don't have to think about it, I'm telling you. You're wearing a tux Brian, whether you like it or not." she replied, taking a harder approach as she considered the embarrassment that would arise from Brian's usual attire. He looked back down at his laptop, having chosen not to say anymore but sulk instead.
"Have you got a bottle of something sorted?" Sandra asked as she walked through to her own office to take her coat off and drop her bag down.
"Yeah, Pete will bring it over as soon as he can." Gerry assured her before taking the £20 note that Sandra was holding out.
"Have you got everything sorted for the present giving later?" Sandra asked the most forgetful member of the team.
"Yes, your worry offends me." Gerry feigned hurt.
"Well I'll remain worried until I know that the contents of your gifts are sensible."
"Sandra, if this present exchange was in the office, then yes we probably would have all chosen joke presents but it is not and none of us want to be embarrassed," Gerry said flashing a cheeky smile.
"Yes but it's the fact the presents are anonymous that gives me cause for concern. I better go see how Jack is getting along; I imagine you two haven't been much help."
"Gerry, maybe but I have," Brian called on the defence as Sandra left the office.
Evening fell over London and not long after, the team arrived at the Savoy in all their finery. Even Brian had managed to scrub up well in his tuxedo. Thankfully the snow had stopped earlier in the day, allowing them all to arrive early, presents in tow. Now they were just waiting for Strickland.
"Nice place, this," Gerry commented between sips of his pint as they waited in the warm, finely decorated foyer.
"I'm sure the food will be even nicer." Brian mumbled knowing that eating was dependent on Strickland's arrival.
"Please don't be fussy Brian." Sandra pleaded, speaking to him like a mother would do when taking her child to a posh restaurant. "I'm sure there'll be something that you'll eat so no moaning."
"Who's paying for all of this?" Jack suddenly asked.
"Yeah, is this coming out of our department budget?" Gerry piped up.
Sandra flashed a smile, knowing that her revelation would shock her boys. "No, Strickland is paying for it out of his own pocket."
At that Gerry about choked on his drink "Well what are we waiting for, we better order the most expensive bottle of champers for us and all the non-alcoholic cocktails on the list for Brian," Gerry said, suddenly feeling very chirpy about tonight's main event. Brian and Jack rubbed their hands with glee and agreed with Gerry's statement.
As Gerry put his hand up to signal the waiter, Sandra pushed it down and hissed "Don't show us up!"
"I'm not, I'm just doing what any normal person would do," Gerry smirked in self-defence. "He's being generous for once, we might as well take advantage,"
"Shut up, he's here," the blonde elbowed Gerry in the ribs as she smiled and waved falsely at their boss who was also dressed in a tuxedo, although he looked much more comfortable in it than Brian did.
"Evening all," he greeted them as he joined their group. "You all look great, shall we get the table?"
"About bloody time, I'm starving," muttered Brian, receiving a glare from Sandra.