Defeating The Enemies: Chapter 12 - A Price to Pay Part 2
This chapter is still very much an angst one later one will get better as it nears to a conclusion, the reason for the blackmail is explained but is it really Rupesh behind it all or could it be someone else? A twist included in this i hope its an ok one and i might have been too cruel and that will be some happy times ahead. There also the return of an LOM character towards the end of the chapter.
Please R & R Also any feedback is welcome on this chapter, as it might help me to improve a bit better on in future chapters to come.
While the Quattro was currently being parked in the busy rush hour traffic throughout London, the annoying wait was starting to get on Gene's nerves and leaving the DCI extremely frustrated at the traffic in front "Oi move it yer stupid southern nonces "Gene beeped loudly on the car horn shaking his head in a frustrated mood at the busy traffic in front of his car.
As he sat back comfortably in the driver's seat, glancing a look over at Alex who was sat next to him and was currently continuing to remain silent and still out of the window, she turned and noted Gene's concern for her, eventually deciding to speak out about how she was feeling at that moment, scared, confusement ?
"I'm scared of what will happen.. Just hope this will all be over once and for all" Alex said sighing to herself as she looked on at the window with so many worries playing on her mind. The thoughts of going back to 2008 or 2009 were at that precise moment starting to evaporate from her many thoughts, she didn't want to forget almost everything she knew of in the future, that the one person she would never ever forget.... Molly and she still kept hold of her promise of returning back to her very soon.
The red car was at that exact moment racing at around 80mph through two sets of traffic as it travelled towards the Western Gun Pub, which was only about 10 minutes away in the high street.
In fact both of them were secretly worried about what would happen when Rupesh would eventually turn up at the pub at the precise time he mentioned.
"Thanks for standing by me Gene, for believing me, I thought you would end up staying angry with me forever after what happened this morning"
He cupped her face with his two hands to reassure her that " uggering hell Bolls... please stop going all soppy on me..of course I will always love ya for like a million years and as I've told yer so many times by now I won't leave your side..i'm everywhere always when i'm needed you're my number one priority right now "
They held on to each other's hands tightly as the car then pulled up slowly outside the entrance door of the old fashioned styled pub.
"Take this with yer I'll be able to hear what he's saying on it" Gene gave her an electric recording device that would signal to him, while he would be waiting in the car that Rupesh has admitted to the blackmail.
"Yes Gene I do know what these things can do" she sighed with a slight amused and an annoyed look on her face, in the present day she was always use to using technology like laptops and IPhones that were more clever devices than what people could use in the 1980's.
She climbed out the car and smiled back at him holding his gaze for half a minute before he spoke again.
"Be careful Alex in there... the guy could be capable of anything, also don't forget I'll only be round the corner over there" he looked up towards leaning over to the close the door of the car as she nervously made her way in through the entrance door to the pub.
Gene then drove the Quattro round the corner out of site so that Rupesh wouldn't be able to spot it from the corner of his eye. God he must have felt so anxious, feeling a sweat on his forehead as he sat and paused with his hand on the dashboard tapping his fingers. He wanted this to be over in a matter of an hour no longer, so that he and Alex could get an early night back at her flat. Looking at his watch it was only 8.30pm, in Luigi's Ray and Chris would probably be wondering where the both of them are.
Inside the pub it was extremely busy, packed and loud, she couldn't hear herself think as the sound of laughter and music could be heard from all round the bar, the smells of smoke and strong beer was also very strong floating around in the air. Alex knew that in over 20 years time that smoking would of course be banned in all pubs and restaurants in the UK. As she went to the bar to ask for a drink, a man in his late fifties was smiling drunkenly at her, making attempts to chat her up.
"Alright gorgeous what's a pretty woman like you doin here in this pub on yer own.. let me buy you a drink..what are yer havin" he said while trying to steady himself on the bar stool and searching his trouser pockets for money to pay for the drink. She declined his offer as she leaned over the table of the counter asking the barman politely "Could I have a gin and tonic please"
" Blimey some men never seem to change do they" an instant thought she had, shaking her head laughing quietly which didn't go unnoticed as the bar manager found himself agreeing as his local punter had always seemed to make a right show when women entered the pub.
She attempted to ignore more of his chat up lines while he was trying to impress her but to no avail as she had more concerns to be worried about, the main one being when Rupesh would finally turn up.
As time passed on, the wait was becoming even more anxious, but as she sat by the main bar looking tipsy, realising Gene would not be best pleased to see her drunk while they were trying to nab Malenga. However all of sudden she felt a light, soft tap on the shoulder, turning round to see to him standing there surprised, wearing different clothes this time, a red woolly jumper and blue denim trousers, hair was more scraggy and messy this time.
"I'm sorry I'm late there was a lot of business deals I had to finalise, so you made it then as I expected you to"
"Yeah that's right" she wasn't sure of what to say, trying to be careful of raising a possible suspicion from him as he sat down next to her. Finding it difficult to start a conversation she eventually decided to talk about her daughter "To tell you the truth , I always think about Molly every day since I arrived here , always wishing that I never took that call to the hostage situation that day Layton shot me"
"Layton?"
"So why do you want me to trust you?" she asked looking seriously.
"Because of them"
"Who..?"
"Your colleagues they've been lying about nearly everything.. said I was charged in India for deception.. I'm not that kind of man to do anything like that..I'm honest and trustworthy" his body posture was starting to shake out of control and oddly.
As she sat listening to every word, taking it all in she slowly realised that any of his claims were making any sense, especially when he claimed they were shouting for him from outside to leave her and the other copper alone. Realising that maybe this man could be suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder.
"He told me to blackmail you, offered so much money, said it would be a great plan to lure you away from DCI Hunt...I'm not making this up" making the surprise, shocking confession that rocked her, who had told him to mention Molly?
Gene made his way over to the window using his hands to look in to see what was taking so long in getting Rupesh to confess; back in the Quattro he had heard some of their conversation himself. "Blimey this guy is bloody nuts with stupid nonsense he's goin on about" his immediate thought was of the Indian born man. He finally spotted the both of them in the corner by the bar chatting. Making his way inside and over to their current sitting area. Standing tall with his arms crossed leaning forward to speak.
"Right we're off I'm not waiting any longer, come on you're coming with us, Snoopy Loopy" grabbing Rupesh by his jacket and dragging him outside on to wet pavement floor while most of the punters looked on.
Alex followed on behind worried of what the DCI might do and patience was getting the better of him.
"oh do we have to do this out here , Gene don't hurt him, he said he's mixed up and confused, told me that someone had offered him money to blackmail me"
"What?..Are yer saying that someone else did all this then to split us up..Did he say who it was..?"
"No, It certainly looks that way.. but we'll need to get the name of this man he keeps telling me about"
They made their way to the Quattro on the other side of the quiet lonely road. Alex opted to sit in the back seat with a frightened and disturbed Rupesh. 'This is bloody ridiculous Bolls he's only gonna tell yer more soddin lies like he already has been for the past hour, he's wasting our time" The car started up and then took off down the road going through the shopping area of East London at night time, the street lamps lit brightly. "Where we goin then I don't wanna be drivin the Quattro all bloody night" Gene asked, waiting to see what her idea was.
"By Victoria Park" Alex replied, as silence fell in the car as it drove further on throughout the dark streets. Rupesh sat up having calmed down, glancing a brief smile towards the DI, which she acknowledged. The Quattro then came to a sudden screeching stop as Gene climbed out wanting a word. Alex was next to climb out from the passenger seats.
"Why did you stop the car?' she stood leaning backwards against the side of the car with her arms folded.
"Are yer sure he's telling the truth because I get the feeling he's leading us on a soddin merry go round here.. Example he tells yer that you can trust him more than me and next when you see him for the first time he' looks like he's gone off his rocker"
"Gene I've seen this before..with a former friend of mine who I use to work with she had the same symptoms, talk of some bad and good friends that I never even go to meet ..."
" Alright..just don't take too bloody long as I'll need a piss in a minute"
"Do you have to mention that" Alex said looking quite annoyed.
He walked over to sit the driver's seat putting some music on. As Alex walked with Rupesh over to sit on the bench, the man was still looking a bit shifty and nervous.
"Why didn't you mention all this on the phone today?"
"He said that if I convinced you to believe me, that with you out the way he would try to kill Gene.... he sounds sick minded"
"Rupesh...are we talking about Jack Finnegan here..."
He nodded in agreement "Him and a detective from Fenchurch West"
"Who?"
"DI Foster "
Alex sat in shock, she had only met DI Foster only once when both detectives from Fenchurch's two police stations were investigating a murder plot to kill a local politician , she realised that she had better go and warn the DCI. She got up to run over to the car but to her shock it was gone and so was Gene Hunt, his police badge was on the grass still intact. As she got down to pick up, she was overcome with emotion. "This is all my fault, please let him be okay"
This had been Jack Finnegan's plan, with help from Foster all along to get rid of the two detectives once and for all. A few months ago while the former criminal had only been released from prison he had managed to come across one of Alex Drake's tapes that had somehow dropped on the floor in a cafe which he picked up, being curious as to what was on it. Taking it home he put it on the stereo and listened on with interest to her talk of the future and feelings for her boss. After that he wanted to cause as much damage as possible for her even though he'd only seen a glimpse of her eating a slice of toast and having coffee with Shaz in the cafe. Of course this meant that none of these men were from the future, which felt like a disappointment for her
"What's wrong Alex" Rupesh asked standing behind her.
"You're bloody friend Finnegan's has kidnapped my boyfriend and now I fear something bad is about to happen...just leave me alone" pushing him away as she ran off crying in to the dark night.
Chris and Ray arrived back at the station at 8.45pm unaware of what had happened. "Where's the Guv" the DS asked looking in to the main office only to see it remaining empty.
Viv walked in next, with news. "I can't get hold of DCI Hunt and DI Drake...he was talking to me saying that they wouldn't be long ....then the radio went dead"
They couldn't understand what possibly might have happened but at the same time they beginning to fear the worse about the safety of their two colleagues.
"Right you coming then Chris"
"Oh Ray come on i promised Shaz an early vening in watching the tv"
"Tough now get yer coat were going to try and find the Guv and Drake"
Chris moaned but followed on behind Ray as they ran the corridors of the police station. Ray was hiding a fear in the pit of his stomach that Jack Finnegan had some part in this.
"Alex wait up... please" Rupesh was trying to keep up with her, he was also feeling pretty scared too and he needed someone with him in case he went off the rails again.
"I'll help you try to find him..I can see you love him very much" he panted collapsing on the floor. She ran back over to him to check on his condition helping him up to seat on another bench.
"How I can trust you after all those things you said...how do I know that you might even be wired up and he's been listening to every word me and DCI Hunt have said"
"He's not I promise you.. He phoned me after the incident with your fellow detectives... he was the one that said to meet me in the pub and for me to feed more lies"
"But how can you though... you should be being treated in hospital for this condition..it plays on people's minds "
He didn't know but found himself agreeing that once they found the missing DCI that he would admit himself in to hospital She turned her head to see if there was any police phone boxes there was bound to be some . Unbeknown to Alex however, he was hiding something in his pocket and fiddling with it very much." I'm sorry I have to do this" closing his eyes tightly not wanting to see what was about to happen within the next few seconds.
As their car raced through the streets, Ray looked out the window to see if he could spot them but had no luck in doing so. "I knew this was a bad idea by the Guv.. dunno what Rupesh is capable of"
The car came to a roaring stop when they spotted an injured Alex lying in the floor.
"Oh My God is that Drake... Chris call an ambulance now tell them where in Morris Alley Road" Chris contacted Viv over the radio letting him know what had happened and told him to contact the ambulance service.
Ray ran over to the footpath where she was and he looked visibly emotional seeing his DI in a bad way he kneeled down to comfort her.
"Ray is that you I can't feel anything in my legs ?" her eyes half woke as she had recognised his voice.
"What happened? Where's the Guv... did Rupesh that bloody psycho do this to you?" trying to hide his emotions from boiling over.
"Yes we were talking one minute...... then he stabbed me... saying he looked forward to seeing me again, I guess he must have run off"
"Bloody bastard... don't worry we'll find him and bring him to justice"
"If you find the Guv tell him that I love him very much"
"No you can tell him yourself when we find him and you're not gonna die on us Drake we wouldn't cope without you and the Guv will be distraught" he held her lifeless body in his arms.
A few moments later the ambulance noises started ringing out, flashing it lights as it approached to their current location. Chris kneeled down besides Ray looking down sadly. Her eyes kept flickering open as the ambulance men came over with a stretcher, the DC and DS helped lift her on to the stretcher. As it was then put in the back of the small ambulance.
"I'll go with her to the hospital Chris.... go and tell Shaz what's happened.. you need to be both there for each other"
As the ambulance took off from the footpath, it made its way back down the road. Ray bit his nails nervously as he couldn't stop fearing scared and upset over the pale DI. "How is she?"
The ambulance doctor looked up at him with a concerned look as he noticed the bleeding from the abdomen looked to be getting much worse than expected.
"Not too good I'm afraid she's lost a lot of blood and she'll need to be rushed for an emergency surgery to stop the bleeding from the stomach" he pointed out.
"Save her for Christ's sake.... please"
"We'll try and do everything we can" he put a reassuring hand on Ray's shoulder as he continued looking downwards at the now unconscious female colleague.
The day after a small white van appeared in the streets of Manchester, in broad daylight and was speeding up to the Police Station and seemed to dump someone from the back of the van on to the cold pavement. Gene lay half dozed flat out as people stood watching him as he went to stand up to get his balance right.
"Guv what are you doin here?" the sound of a familiar voice who asked him as he looked up to see Annie in a smart blue top, black jeans and medium length hair , looking on with deep concern for her former boss, who was looking more confused as to where he had been dumped. She helped him up, as he limped over to sit on the steps to the entrance of the station.
"Annie what the hell you doin?"
"I should be asking you the same thing, thought you were enjoying being in London from what I've heard DCI Litton mention in The Railway Arms"
"Yeah I am, Chris fell in love with Shaz and I met someone as well and we both fell in love with each other..Poor Raymondo still single, no bird will go near him" Displaying a brief smile across his lips.
"Who did you meet?"
"Alex Drake, from the moment she walked in to my life I knew she was the one for me.. Just kept it to myself not telling anyone mainly I was being a right prat"
"How come you've ended up here back in Hyde then?"
"Hyde?.." Gene seemed to be surprised turning round looking to see the familiar steps he had always been use to walking up for the past 10 years
" I was with Alex in the Quattro and we were going to arrest this guy we believed that was blackmailing her then something happened and the last thing I can remember was being knocked in the back of the head and blanking out.. and now am back on the old stomping ground not sure of what to do next"
While the busy crowds of people rushed past the station they themselves chose to sit in silence as Annie tried to comfort an emotional Gene as he feared the worse had happened to the woman he loved.
Gene was starting to think that he might be losing confidence and determination to bring down the person behind the blackmail. "Don't think I can do this anymore Annie" he sighed while looking deep into space.
" Guv Forgive me for doing this but this is a wakeup call for you... that you really need" Annie then turned to give him a hard slap on the side of his face leaving Gene to nurse his sore jaw.
"Owww... what was that for....taking years of frustration out then against the Manc Lion are yer?" he said not looking quite happy while still rubbing his jaw.
"Nope not really that slap was for you being too selfish and giving up on everything too early, how's your jaw by the way?"
"Thanks for asking....I'll let yer know when I can feel me gob again"
"Yer know what Sam would say..Guv if he was here right now...he'd say never give up on this at all.. try and get back to Alex, Chris and Ray, fight against this person who's done this to you.. show em you're still the Gene Genie that we've always managed to get use to "
As they went to walk up the steps, Gene was about to say goodbye but she asked if he wanted to make a phone call to the police station that he worked in down in London.
"Might as well... they'll be worried about me" It seemed a bit strange for him to walk back in to the entrance, Annie herself had continued working there she was now a DC having been promoted after talking down a suspect in a kidnapping case. Phyllis was not there on reception, she had only recently retired. Annie passed him the red telephone as he dialled the number. The news that he was told, left him crying in Annie's arms, Alex was in a coma and the doctors were keeping a close eye on her condition overnight.
"I've gotta get back to London right away Annie, Alex is in a coma"
Thanks to HuntsGirl for beta reading this chapter.
I've also extended this fanfic by another 3-4 more chapters. Chapter 13 will be less angsty.