Well, we know where Gene is, we know where Sam is, we know where Chris and Ray wont be… Let's see how Gene takes it…
Chapter 2
"What in the hell?!" the Gene Genie muttered for the umpteenth time when he got to A Division. He headed up the stairs to the entrance after passing several cars that looked less like squad cars but Jam Sandwiches! Gone where the half dozen bicycles, instead several bright yellow motorbikes where propped up and chained in their ranks. He'd even noticed the graffiti had changed. He didn't know who Wayne Ronnie was, but he didn't play for City and that's all he cared about! Walking through the main entrance of A Division he noticed how, white everything was. It was less the domain of Phyllis, more hotel entrance.
Gene stormed up the stairs, determined that where he reached CID the cigarette smoke would come as rolling mist on the ceiling and the dank smell of paperwork would fill his lungs.
He was almost blinded by the light.
Gene blinked. Then screwed up his eyes. "Hell and…" He whispered, trailing off as he realised inadvertently he'd attracted the attention of the whole department. "DC Mark Swift." One fresh-faced lad said to Gene offering a hand. Gene looked at it as if it would bite him and Mark awkwardly brought his hand back to his side. "They said you'd been in an accident, sir?" Mark questioned and Gene just stared. This was not his department. "The WPC on beat said you where in a bad way…" Mark trailed off; Gene's stare could have boiled blood.
"I dunno who the sodding hell you think you all are. But this is my department." Gene said in a low whisper that made heads turn. "So you can drop the sick joke, and tell those Plonks to go back to the next floor." Gene said waving a hand towards several female detectives.
"Take it easy sir; we'll get one of the medical staff to take a look at you." One of the females said and Gene lost it. Taking a swing at Mark with his fist, Mark dodged lightly, the second blow Gene aimed though hit home with a crack of bones.
"You bastard!" Mark spluttered, but Gene didn't abate raising his fists again to strike.
Gene spotted a man walk out an office in the corner. The man commanded the room with such a presence that even Gene took notice. This was clearly the man 'in charge'. Gene crossed the whole of CID towards the man in five strides.
"Surprise me, what year's it supposed to be?" Gene grunted and before bothering to wait for the reply grabbed the man by the lapels and dragged him into a corner where his office would have been.
"I don't care if you all think I've got concussion, but I don't give a tart's furry cup if half my brains are falling out, this is my kingdom, so stop acting like king of the jungle." Gene said slamming the man against the wall. "And who," Gene said enforcing the point by slamming him into the wall again, "The bloody hell are you?"
The man looked coolly into Gene's eyes.
"Sam Tyler, your DCI and it's 2007." Sam said grabbing Gene's wrists and in a flamboyant show pinned Gene against the wall face first. "Better start acting nice, sir, or you will be answering to internal affairs." Sam whispered in Gene's ear before letting go. Gene rubbed his wrists as Sam disappeared over the other side of the office.
His eyes followed Sam for a moment but then Gene noticed something that required a little more of his attention. The girl who he had ran into, dark haired and dressed in a suit, walked into the office space and spotting Gene headed over.
"Err, sorry again love." Gene muttered as she approached.
"DI Maya Roy, sir." Maya said in level tones, Gene almost hoped she hadn't seen the little incident with Sam just then, but he wasn't going to hope for anything right now.
Gene took another long look at the office. Gone where the piles of files, two ashtrays per desk and chewing gum in every bin. There where cream coloured TV screens on every desk and the whole thing felt less like a CID and more like the flight deck of the Enterprise. The whole room had an antiseptic taste about it and Gene wondered how anyone could work in a set from Doctor Who. It had to be some sort of joke it had to be.
Maya went over to talk to Sam quietly and after a minute Sam walked over to Gene. "Right, you are senior officer, for now so I'm leaving you in charge. I have better things to do than have punch-ups with new DI's." Sam said voice like gravel. Maya trailed after Sam as he left and Gene suddenly felt very self-conscious. I could murder a fag, Gene thought and tapped his pocket down for a packet and a lighter. He took out a cigarette and began to light up, "Sir," Said one of the female detectives, "No Smoking, ban came in last week." And Gene felt like screaming. Gene caught Mark's eye, he still didn't look happy, the puff, couldn't he take a punch? "Shall we begin?" Mark said levelling.
This already wasn't going well.
To be continued, obviously… let me know what you think so far.