So sorry I didn't drop any hints for this chapter but don't worry, things kick up a gear as a misunderstanding causes some unneeded action…
Chapter 10
Sam and Gene, after a busy day, had ended up staying late on in the office as the forensic team had decided to request the detectives' presence for the post mortem report, much to Gene's annoyance, who commented frequently that they all had better things to do than hang around in cold rooms with forensic scientists who couldn't keep office hours. In the end Sam offered Gene a lift home as both Detectives where shattered with no obvious reasons, questioning family and friends where hardly at the top of Gene's 'most strenuous police work' list. But neither detective felt in the mood for getting half-cut down the Pub so it was home, office or bust for both of them. Gene was getting sick already of the fact that he had no Ray to chat about the footy with. No Chris to gently mock, and no Cartwright to wolf-whistle at with the lads after he'd had a pint or five. Not that he was soft or anything. He was coping just fine.
"Can I come in?" Sam asked as Gene got his keys out, ready to bid his DCI g'bye.
"What?" Gene questioned.
What was this guy, a puff?
"In. Y'know, for a chat." Sam asked, slightly confused. Gene gave a yes-grunt and lead Sam inside. Gene threw his coat onto the settee and made to sit down but Sam hovered by the door.
"I'll not stay long. I just wanted to know how you're settling in." Sam asked intently and Gene felt himself flush pink realising his mistake,
At least I didn't say it!
"Fine, I guess." Gene muttered vaguely. Sam didn't look impressed.
"Did you see a doctor about that head of yours?' Sam asked carefully, hoping that Gene wouldn't think he was implying that he was a nutcase.
"I didn't smack my head if that's what you mean, and if you wanna know to truth Sammy-boy I'm getting sick of being looked at as if I've just landed after a holiday on Mars." Gene said as he unscrewed the top off a bottle of recently bought scotch. He wasn't waiting until he woke up to drink scotch again, although he had to admit, he nearly died when he saw the price. But then again most things seemed ten times more expensive than they should be.
"Y'keep telling me this stuff… but the evidence's against you Gene." Sam said and Gene wondered whether that was a rehearsed line that Sam used frequently on suspects.
"But what's your gut feeling Sam?" Gene asked and Sam caught Gene's eye.
He called me Sam, not Sammy-boy, not some sarcastic joke name, just Sam.
Sam mulled his answer over in his mind; Sam had never had much experience with anything like this.
Gut feeling? Was that the only thing this guy valued?
"My feeling is," Sam said and took a breath before continuing, "it's too unbelievable to be fiction." Sam finished and surprised even himself as well as Gene.
Gene opened the door to let his DCI out and Sam turned to face Gene. "I keep thinking Gene, I'm sure I've seen you before."
"Not likely Sam, well, not unless I met you when you where what? Three, four, five?" Gene said and Sam laughed shortly.
"Yeah, I suppose so."
"What's on the menu for today?" Gene said when he found Sam the next morning. He'd slept well for the first time since he'd arrived, well, better than nights before!
"We're going to find Tony Armstrong. Maya spoke to Lucinda's best friend, Amy Howard, seems Tony's one for doing disappearing acts." Sam said and Gene gave a quizzical look.
"Does that make him a suspect?" Gene asked, although debating after he'd said it whether he'd really mean it as a question.
"No, just a pain in the neck." And Gene nearly laughed,
That's not how I'd have phrased it!
Gene found his blood boiling again as Sam parked up painfully neatly in front of a scruffy row of houses. From what Levin had told them yesterday Tony was camping out on the settee of their Uncle's. Gene felt already that it was getting far to complex for him,
So many suspects, so little time.
Sam strode up to front door ahead of Gene. He knocked twice and stepped back, his first mistake. Finally a young male in a tracksuit answered the door and Sam smiled,
"Tony Armstrong?" Sam asked and the man nodded.
"DCI Tyler." Sam said but before he could even introduce his college Tony had knocked him to the ground as he legging it down the street. "What the...!" Sam spluttered as Gene ran past him, swearing.
Picking himself up, Sam quickly caught up with Gene who already seemed out of breath.
"Head him off." Sam said pointing to an alleyway that ran all but parallel to the main street. Gene nodded as he ran hoping that that way was quicker. Sam was just glad he was a runner but he hoped that Tony didn't try something clever and decide to go into one of the houses. Luck, however, was on the detectives as Sam chased Tony round the bend in the road he spotted Gene ahead and Sam was glad he knew this area well. Tony looked back at Sam quickly but wasn't quick enough looking back ahead to see Gene standing in his path. Tony slammed into by far the bigger man of the three and came to a swift halt.
"In a hurry?" Gene asked voiced drenched with sarcasm and Sam although breathing heavily, still smiled.
Next time in The Gene Genie a strangely familiar face cause trouble and headaches for Sam as well as Gene and a voice from 2007 explains his past…
(Reviews for this chapter as with every other are greatly welcomed, cheers for reading guys!)