Chapter Eighteen – Caught Red-Handed

Kate looked up as Nick walked through the door, into the kitchen, and shivered slightly as cold air seeped through before he closed the door behind him. She clumsily got out of the sofa, next to the sparkling fire, with a blanket draped over her shoulders.

"Hello handsome," she said softly with a smile as they met halfway, in the doorway to the kitchen.

"Hello," Nick returned with a smile of his own before hugging his wife gently.

"What did Claude have to say?" Kate asked half-amused as she recalled her earlier phone conversation with a furious Sergeant Blaketon where he claimed Greengrass was at fault for the recent road accident.

Nick chuckled lightly. "He accused Blaketon for misuse of authority and for falsely accusing a villager of misconduct," he said.

"I would have liked to see the look on the sergeant's face," Kate replied with a laugh.

"It became even better when old Jeremiah Wood came speeding out in his old Land Rover and explained that he'd had lost several sheep during the night before," Nick let on.

Kate made a face. "So it was his sheep that caused the accident?" she asked.

Nick nodded mischievously. "Have you heard anything from James about how the driver and passenger fared?" he said.

"No, I don't know," Kate said as she shook her head and a look of annoyance spread over her face. "He's keeping me out of the loop," she added.

"Maybe he wants you to take it easy for a while," Nick suggested. "Personally I think that's a good idea," he quipped.

Kate narrowed her eyes and turned to glare at him, her arms crossed over her chest. "I'm no invalid. The way you two are going on one might think I'm seriously ill," she returned.

Nick sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Fine, I know, you're only pregnant," he admitted. "But…"

"No buts, Constable Rowan," Kate returned sternly, eyeing him as he went to put the kettle on.

The corner of his mouth curled upwards but he said nothing as he knew Kate couldn't see his face while standing next to the table so far behind him. He sobered up as he heard her coming closer, a neutral expression suddenly on his face.

Kate walked over to retrieve her medical bag, which stood next to the door to the police section of the house. She put it on the counter and rummaged through it.

Nick raised an eyebrow as he cast a glance over his shoulder. He put the kettle on the stove and then turned to face his wife. "Kate, what are you doing?" he asked.

"Why don't you sit down at the table, love," she said by way of answer as she retrieved a fresh bandage, a bottle and some gauge from her bag. "You forgot something this morning," she reminded him and nodded at his hand.

Nick, who had taken a place at the kitchen table looked down at his bandaged hand. "I didn't want to wake you," he reasoned.

"I was already awake, remember?" Kate returned softly. "I went down to answer the phone because you threw the bedcovers over your head. I had the pleasure of speaking with Blaketon."

"Sorry about that, but you'd already gone back to sleep when I had finished getting dressed. I didn't want to wake you again," Nick reasoned. "It's just a cut, Kate."

Kate frowned and sat down next to him, taking his injured hand into her own as she began to peel away the bandage. "It's a cut that could get infected if not taken proper care of," she scolded.

"Now who is it that's being overprotective?" Nick asked, pursing his lips together as the cut became submitted to the cold air.

Kate responded by dabbing the exposed flesh with a cold saturation in order to clean it.

"Ow!" Nick protested with a grimace.

"I'm so sorry," Kate said but she didn't sound a bit apologizing.

"You did it on purpose," he exclaimed.

"Don't be ridiculous, love," she said innocently as there was a soft knock on the door.

Nick straightened in the chair, ready to go and see who it could be.

"Come in!" Kate hollered with a firm grip of Nick's wrist.

The doorknob twisted around and Dr. James Radcliffe walked through the door.

"Hello, James," Kate greeted as her colleague put down his medical bag inside the door and removed his hat and coat.

"Hello, Kate, Nick," he said.

"How are they?" Kate asked, wondering about the people in the car who crashed into a fence in order to avoid colliding with a dozen of loose sheep.

James sighed as he walked up to them and sat down opposite Nick, next to Kate, at the kitchen table. "The driver hit the steering wheel rather hard, he's broken a few ribs and the passenger, his son, is bruised and battered. They'll be admitted for at least a few days back at Ashfordly General," he explained.

"Thanks for helping out, James, but you really needn't too," Kate said politely. "I could have gone myself."

"Don't be so stubborn, Kate, I was awake and had nothing better to do. Besides, you need a little bit of rest," James reasoned kindly.

Nick grimaced as Kate dabbed the cut once again. "Don't argue with her right now, James," he said through clenched teeth.

"Don't be such a baby, Nick," Kate said mildly annoyed as she let go of his hand.

James looked over at the angry red cut in Nick's palm. It was fairly deep and slightly swollen. "That must have hurt," the doctor said.

"Not so much then," Nick replied sullenly.

"You're lucky he only cut through your hand," James said sincerely.

"I don't want to talk about it," Kate spoke up, the slight edge in her voice from before gone and replaced by concern.

"I didn't really fancy you walking around on the roof of the church either," Nick returned, eyeing his wife.

"I only walked up a ladder, tended to a patient and then walked down again," Kate returned. "You, on the other hand, could have been sliced in two," she added sternly returning the slightly disapproving look she was receiving from her husband.

Nick turned his injured hand back and forth, his lips turning into a thin line of displeasure. He then looked directly at Kate's colleague. "Tea, James?" he asked.

James looked at him and then nodded. "I'll grab a cup," he said and rose from the chair, not wanting to be in the way.

Kate sighed seeing her colleague out of the corner of her eye as he reached for three cups and returned to the table. She gently applied a fresh bandage on Nick's hand and turned to look him in the eyes as James walked away again to get the kettle. "I'm sorry, love," she apologized.

OOOOOO

DI Shiner walked through the door to Ashfordly Police Station in a splendid mood despite the early morning hour. The late night raid back in Whitby had been nothing but a success. Charlie Chadwick had been apprehended, several crates of toys had been taken into custody and searched for any type of drugs. LSD and cocaine had been found almost immediately when the dolls had been taken apart. Mary McMara had been brought into custody in Ashfordly and placed in a cell opposite the two members of the antiques gang previously apprehended.

The three police officers manning the station looked up from their respective desks as the senior CID officer walked into the duty room.

"PC Bradley, why am I not surprised to see you here?" the DI asked curiously as he watched the plain clothed officer.

Mike merely nodded.

"I came to congratulate you all on a well performed act of policing," he praised as two lower ranking CID officers walked through the door, heading toward the custody section.

"Charlie Chadwick and his cohorts will be leaving you now. They are my sole responsibility. We'll travel in convoy to London where the charges will be brought," he informed.

"What about Miss McMara?" Bellamy asked carefully.

"Based on what you've managed to get out of her during the interrogation she might turn out useful during the hearing sessions. However, I'll leave her here for the moment and let you sort out everything," Shiner said.

"Yes, sir," Mike said.

Alf leaned forward in his chair, turning slightly to face the DI. "Any news about Ted Jones's whereabouts?" he asked.

"Still on the run I'm afraid," Shiner returned. "Anyway I'll leave you to it for the time being. I have my hands full with these guys," he added as the members of the antiques gang was brought out from custody and carefully guarded by the DC's as they walked out of the station.

"Once again, a well performed job by all of you and…" he paused to focus on Mike alone. "Constable Bradley, I'm pleased to see that your hunch played out well."

"Thank you, sir," Mike replied humbly.

OOOOOO

Albert Alsop was fuming as he walked into the post office after hearing that Claude Greengrass had managed to get a small fortune out of his newly funded cheese business. Just outside the man had had the guts to wave at him with a bunch of paper money in his hand and a large grin on his face. It just wasn't fair since Albert had fought long and hard to get his farm to be productive and give income.

"Have you managed to find something on him yet?" he asked Oscar by way of greeting.

The former police sergeant shook his head. "Forget it Albert, it seems Claude hasn't done anything illegal. He just happened to get it all right this time," he explained kindly.

"I don't believe it," Alsop mumbled.

"I'm afraid I can't help you," Oscar let on.

The goat farmer huffed. "Well then, thanks for nothing," he said dejectedly and turned on his heels.

Oscar made a face as he watched the man walk out, meeting Alf Ventress in the door.

"Alf," Blaketon acknowledged cunningly. "How did it go yesterday?"

"I'd say it went fairly well," he replied. "There will be no more antique thefts in the area."

"That's good to know now that his lordship's hunt is coming up," Oscar said. "By the way, who's manning the station now that DI Shiner has left?"

Alf chuckled lightly. "I'll take care of things till Nick is better," he assured his old colleague.

"And division is going along with that?" he asked skeptically. "Nick has yet to awaken and, sadly, there's a possibility that he never will. The division is going to be forced to send a replacement."

"Have a little faith, Oscar," Alf replied. "What's with Alsop anyway?" he asked, effectively closing the subject at hand.

Blaketon took a deep breath. "Can't seem to let go of Claude's success," he muttered.

OOOOOO

To be continued

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