Introduction to set the scene.
7-year old Elizabeth "Eliza" Strickland had had her coco pops and brushed her teeth, and now sat in her Frozen Pyjamas drawing at the dining table in the open-plan kitchen diner, whilst Robert frantically searched for her school uniform. Victoria was at a 3-day medical conference in Edinburgh, so Robert had decided to forgo breakfast club and get into work late to make this morning less hectic but it had failed.
"Daddy, it's the holidays" Eliza giggled as Robert passed her a vest, knickers, a white polo shirt, school skirt and tights. Rob muttered a shit which he hoped Eliza hadn't heard. Why hadn't Vicky reminded him? No that was unfair, he should of remembered. When he became a father again at 51 (Vicky had been 42), he'd promise himself he would be around for all the day-to-day he'd missed out on with Hermione and Rufus, but dates weren't his specialty, he relied far to heavily on his work calendar.
"Right" Rob sighed swapping the uniform for a pink polka-dot dress and grey leggings that were in the clean laundry basket "I forgot so you'll have to come and visit Daddy's work". It wasn't technically allowed, but he couldn't think of a better option. Both of his other children did not live locally, 27 year-old Hermione was now a English teacher in Reading and 25 year old Rufus was himself a police sergeant in a different part of London, and the last time he checked babysitters needed more than 2 minutes warning.
"Can I bring my drawing stuff, please?"
"Of course, you get changed, and I'll go and get a bag"
Ten minutes later Rob had brushed Eliza's long brown hair, helped her with her socks and shoes, located Peppa Pig and snacks and finally gotten his daughter plus a massive backpack into the car. Why did kids need so much stuff he'd never know?
"Where is your work?" Eliza asked inquisitively.
"It's about half an hour away, give or take London traffic" Rob laughed, to the bewilderment of Eliza. Mummy and Mimi were funny, Roo and Uncle Stephen were very funny, Daddy not so much. "We can play I spy on the way. I spy with my little eye something beginning with T"
Robert had estimated right it had 34 minutes to get to the Police station, it was now 5 minutes to 9 which wasn't bad considering.
"Right, hold onto my hand" Rob said as arrived at the passenger side of the car.
"Are you sure this is a police station? I can't hear any nee-naw's, nee-naw, nee-naw nee-naw!" Eliza, reached out a grabbed her father's hand, "I can't even see any, can I see one later, pleeeease".
"I'll see what I can do" Rob replied laughing as they started walking.
"Everything alright sir?" Liam the young copper at the front desk asked looking up at Robert and then down to Eliza.
"Yes, thank you" Rob replied. He knew bringing his child into work with him wasn't strictly protocol but as an Assistant Commissioner no one was going to challenge him. Since, his promotion he was the highest ranking officer within a 10 mile radius. He was meant to oversee two DAC's but only oversaw one and thus carried out the duties of the other himself. Any attempt to save money, although he didn't mind as he still got to oversee his favourite team.
"The commissioner's PA rang to say he's dropping in this morning sir, before the inspection next week" Liam said slightly sheepishly as he stared at the pair.
"Oh right, thanks" of course he would be visiting today "please call me when he arrives not my PA straight through to my office, do you know the extension?" Though Rob remained calm it was obvious why he wanted warning.
"Yes sir" Liam didn't want to say that it was underlined in red on the extension sheet, with the words, only in emergencies. However, this was by request and probably technically a type of emergency. Liam, looked equally terrified and excited he'd only been on the job 4 months and only spoke the anyone higher than his sergeant when he did an odd day on the reception, so to be given a special job by the AC was incredible.
"Daddy, I want to press the lift button which number should I press?" Eliza inquired. Rob was just about the say that his office was on floor 4, when he had an idea.
"Press the bottom one, we need to go and visit one of the units" UCOS could babysit, Sandra would kill him and Vicky would definitely kill him, but it was better than being reprimanded by the commissioner...probably.