So, this was going to be the chapter with the great reveal of the events in Venezuela, but it ended up being much longer than I intended, so that'll have to wait until next chapter. Sorry, not sorry. :P
Thanks to Jess for your reviews! I hope the easter bunny brings you lots of chocolate! :)
Smithy had been rushed straight to the accident and emergency department at St Hugh's hospital, Gina going with him in the ambulance. She huffed, frustrated, wishing she'd seen more of the man yesterday. She'd gotten a good look at him though, the only person other than Smithy to have and had the description circulated as they left in the ambulance. Someone annoyed by her undercover job; that was what she'd told Smithy, but she'd eat her cigarette whole if that was the truth; why go for Smithy if it was? He'd had to have followed him to be able to get him alone like that, maybe he'd even followed him home last night. Was this connected to what had happened to Bruce? If so, how did Andrea fit into it, and what was it all about? Gina Gold twisted her hands as she paced the cubical.
"Gina!"
Pained voice startled her, and she went to him where he was strapped to the spinal board, head in a brace, immobilised.
"I'm here," she said, gripping his hand.
"Where's Andrea?"
He'd asked that every few minutes; she was beginning to wonder if he had concussion.
"I've got some of the others looking for her, Smithy. They'll find her."
"He said he'd hurt her," Smithy said, and closed his eyes, tears running down his face; she wasn't sure if they were tears of pain or fear. "He said if he thought this was bad, wait and see what he did to her."
"They'll find her, Smithy," she said firmly. "You know your officers, they'll keep her safe."
"Will they? You heard what they've been saying ever since Malcolm was attacked."
"That doesn't mean they want to see her hurt. You know that. I'll see that they find her."
The curtain around his bed was wrenched open and Sam came in, her expression one of utter alarm.
"What's happened? I just got out of court, and Honey told me, I came straight here."
"Yvonne said someone asked for help as they were going to a shout," Gina said. "A woman, she must have been part of it. She said someone had broken into her flat, Smithy went with her and left Yvonne to the shout. Two guys jumped him."
"They lured him there on purpose?"
"Andrea!"
Sam's pale eyebrows knitted. "What?"
"We went to the pub last night," Gina said. "Andrea was there with a man. He was pulling her around, actually quite aggressively. Smithy intervened, and he left. She told him he was someone unhappy with what was in the papers, but he was there today, watching. So obviously that wasn't the truth."
"Oh," Sam said, drawing the word out, her face paling.
"What?" Gina said, and even Smithy picked up on Sam's tone, straining his eyes to see her.
"She left me a message. On my desk phone, I mean. She left it last night, but I only got it this morning. She didn't say much, just that she wanted to talk about what happened to Bruce. I was going to see her after court, but…" She gestured to Smithy and swallowed hard. "I guess I'd better make it a priority."
"I've got Sheelagh and Tony out actively looking," Gina said. "Why don't you check in with them? Smithy said the bloke directly threatened her."
"I'll do that," Sam said. "Don't worry, Smithy, we'll find her."
"Please," he said, and coughed, feeling as if he was being stabbed. "Keep her safe."
If ever there was a love-struck man….Sam caught Gina's eye, and knew she was thinking the exact same thing.
"I'll keep in touch," Sam said, and left, pulling out her phone to call Tony.
Sam met Tony and Sheelagh at Andrea's house and approached as they were knocking at the door. Sheelagh turned as she heard Sam's footsteps and flung her arms.
"We've been knocking for the past five minutes, Serge, she's not answering."
"No noise either," Tony said, and turned away from the door.
"Unless he's in there with her," Sam said and the three heard another door open and looked to the source of the noise. Andrea's elderly neighbour poked his head out, leaning heavily on his walking stick.
"What's all the noise about?" he said.
"DS Nixon," Sam said, showing him her warrant card. "PC's Stamp and Murphy, Sun Hill. Have you seen Andrea?"
"Not since last night," he said. "Surely she's not in more trouble with you? I mean, she's a nice girl, but I don't know what she was thinking."
"When did you see her last night?"
"About seven? She was in the garden. I heard her scream, that was why I went outside."
"She screamed? Why?"
"Oh, her gate was slamming in the wind," he said. "She said the noise startled her. I've always thought she should have got a padlock on it, and I told her that. If she learnt anything working with you lot, it should have been basic home safety."
"What's your name?"
"Bill Carter."
"Mr Carter, have you seen anyone hanging around? Maybe a man, early thirties, about six-three, dark hair?"
Bill thought, then shook his head. "No, nobody like that. There was that shouty Scottish guy who kept coming around to hammer on her door and yell at her, but I haven't seen him in a few days. Look, what's this about? She isn't in more trouble, is she?"
"No, Mr Cater, but she might be in danger. It's important that we find her. She might be alone or she might be in company, and that person could be very dangerous."
"This man you described? Look, as I've said, I haven't seen anyone like that, but I've got a key to her house. Does that help?"
"Why do you have a key?"
"She gave me one a while ago. She got locked out and nobody had a spare. She asked me to keep one when she had the locks changed."
"Well thanks. That would be very helpful."
"Wait here," said Bill, and he went back inside, leaving the door ajar. He returned a few minutes later, holding a set of keys with a fish keyring. "Here you are. Took me a while to remember where I put them."
"Thanks, Mr Carter. Please wait inside. We'll come and speak to you again."
The old man went back inside without another word. Sam turned to the other two, spinning the keys on her finger.
"Serge, if he's in there, he could do anything to her if he hears us coming in before we could get to them."
"I know, Tony, but I think it's a risk we're going to have to take," she said, and walked to the door.
She unlocked the top lock, and slid the key into the deadlock, turning it and the door opened noiselessly. Sam looked over her shoulder at the other two officers, who were standing with their batons extended and ready. She poked her head in.
"Andrea! It's Sam. Are you here?"
Only silence met them. Sam pushed the door open further and stepped inside.
"I'm coming in. I have Sheelagh and Tony with me."
Tony and Sheelagh followed Sam in, and at her nod, went to search the rooms of the house. The kitchen was open to the sitting room, so it was clear to see she wasn't there. She heard Tony and Sheelagh shout clear as they went through both bedrooms and the bathroom, and cast an experienced eye around the kitchen and sitting room. No signs of a struggle, nothing to indicate anything untoward had happened.
"Nothing, Serge," Sheelagh said, joining her in the kitchen.
"Just us and pussycat," Tony said, emerging from the bedroom. "Not entirely happy to be woken up."
"Join the club, cat," Sam murmured and the three started as the phone rang. She looked at the other two, and she picked it up, bringing it to her ear. There was silence for a moment, then she heard something like music. She recognised it, and her eyes widened. She beckoned the other two and they leaned in to listen.
"…our, our hearts a-thumping, and you, my brown-eyed girl, you my brown eyed girl…"
The call cut then, and nothing but silence filled the air. Tony looked at the two women.
"I might not be much of a romantic, but even I know that song wasn't written to sound that creepy."
"No," Sam said, and replaced the phone, noticing the flashing of the answering machine. She pressed the button and the automated voice stated the message had been left at three that morning. It played, and it chilled the house.
'"…hey, where did we go? Days where the rains came. Down in the hollow, playin' a new game, laughing and a runnin', hey hey…."
"Looks like we've got ourselves a musician," Sam said dryly. "All right, you two, keep on looking. Maybe try the news office."
"She's left, Serge," Sheelagh said, as they left the house.
"I know," she said, locking the door. "But someone there might have heard from her. It's worth a try anyway. Keep me informed. I'll check back in at the station."
Grace glanced up as the news office door opened, then stood up quickly as Tony and Sheelagh walked in.
"PC Stamp," she said.
"Miss Jones, good afternoon. This is PC Murphy."
"Is it Bruce? Is he…?"
"Still no change in his condition, I'm afraid, but that's not why we're here."
"Oh," said Grace, and sat down. "How can I help you, then?"
"We're looking for Andrea, we were wondering if you might have seen her."
"Andrea?" Grace said, her eyebrows knitting. "She resigned. I thought you knew that."
"We did. We were just wondering if you've seen her today. Or heard from her?"
"No. No, not since the night Bruce was…well, you know."
"What about any of the others?"
"Nobody's said anything, but feel free to ask," Grace said. "Isn't she answering her phone or anything?"
"That was taken by the DPS after the expose," Tony said. "If she got a new phone, none of us have the number. I guess she didn't give it to any of you."
"No. Well, not to me anyway," Grace said, leading them through to the main officers. "But I didn't know her all that well. This way. Logan's acting editor until we know what's going to happen with Bruce."
Of course he was, Tony thought, rolling his eyes and following Grace to an office. She knocked and Lockwood glanced up, irritated at the interruption, then stood up at the sight of the officers, his face paling.
"Bruce?"
"Still in the ICU," said Tony, taking off his hat. "No change."
"They're looking for Andrea," Grace explained.
Lockwood's brows knitted. "So you came here? She's left, I told you that."
"I remember what you told me, Mr Lockwood, but we have reason to believe that she could have come to some harm."
"Thanks Grace," he said, dismissing her with a wave of his hand which annoyed Tony even more. "Is this connected to what happened to Bruce?"
"Maybe. We can't say for sure yet. Have you seen her or not?"
"No. Not since the day she was here when Bruce was attacked." He looked between the two. "Is she hurt?"
"We're hoping not," said Sheelagh. "But she could have come to some harm. Have you seen anyone hanging around here? A man, about six-three, thirties, dark hair?"
Lockwood thought, then shook his head. "No, nobody like that.
"Have you heard from her at all?"
"No, I haven't anyway, not since she walked out. I don't think anyone has, but feel free to ask. Maybe ask Jenny. They got on quite well."
Jennifer Quy, Tony remembered, who'd been the one to find Bruce, call in the incident.
"She's back at work already?"
"Well, she was offered a few days off, she didn't want to take it. She said she wanted to keep busy. Look, I can get that description circulated, have it in tomorrow's edition first thing."
"Thanks Mr Lockwood," Tony said, replacing his hat. "But I think we'll leave that to our own reliable press and publicity officer, if it's all the same to you."
"Nothing personal," Sheelagh said, as Lockwood's lips tightened. "You can call us though, if you do happen to see her. Jenny's office is?"
"Down there. Third on your right."
His tone was sullen, but he pointed in the direction. The two looked through the glass window of her closed door. She had her head down, headphones on, but looked up when she heard the knock at the door. Tony opened it and she pulled the headphones down, her face draining of colour.
"Bruce?"
"No change," Sheelagh said. "That's not why we're here."
"Oh," Jennifer said, straightening up in her chair. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, from which several strands were escaping. "Is it Andrea? Is she okay?"
"We were hoping you could help us with that. Have you seen her? Heard from her, at all?"
"No, not since the day Bruce was…well, that was the first time we'd seen her in about a week after Bruce exposed her. I did try calling, but she didn't answer any of my messages. I thought she was annoyed at me, but I didn't know he was going to out her like that, none of us did. Or I would have warned her."
"Did you talk to her? The last day she was here?"
"No, she did signal that she'd call me, you know," Jennifer said and made the phone signal with her hand. "She never did though. I figured she had other things on her mind, would be in touch when she wanted to."
"I don't suppose she gave you a new mobile number?"
"Sorry, no."
"Look, Miss Quy," Tony said, "We can't say much, but Andrea could be in very real danger. It's important that we find her. She's not at home and as far as we know, she doesn't have any family in the area."
"No. They're all back in Scotland."
"Do you have any idea where we could find her? Please think carefully."
"Have you tried the allotments?"
The allotments, a large area near the outskirts of Sun Hill, and the last place they would have expected to hear. It must have shown on their faces, for Jennifer shrugged.
"She used to go there when Bruce 'did her head in.' Her words. The irony, huh? Anyway, whenever he annoyed her too much, she'd take her work there. Said she'd rather talk to fruit and vegetables than him. Apparently they made more sense."
"Thanks Miss Quy," Tony said, rising from his seat. "We'll be in touch."
It was darkening by the time the area car pulled up at the allotments. It was utterly freezing and raining lightly. Tony cast his eye around the vast greenery and many sheds. He rubbed his hands together, and began to walk, taking care not to step on anyone's patches. All seemed quiet and still. He stopped abruptly as Sheelagh caught his arm and put a finger to her lips, pointing. He looked in the direction and saw a figure sitting in a chair, their face illuminated by the flickering flames of the metal incinerator. Andrea.
They exchanged another look, this time of relief, and picked their way over. Yards away, Tony stepped on a twig. It snapped loudly and Andrea leapt from the chair, sending it flying backwards.
"Who is it? Who's there?"
The fear in her voice was unmistakable, but so was the chattering of her teeth. Tony stepped into the light of the flames, his hands held up.
"It's me, Tony. Sheelagh's with me."
"We've been looking for you," Sheelagh said, stepping out from behind him. "Jennifer said you might be here."
"Why?"
"You're freezing," Tony said, taking off his own coat and draping it over her shoulders. "How long have you been here?"
It was a kindness, not unexpected of Tony Stamp, just one she hadn't expected him or any of them to extend to her. She swallowed hard, feeling the tension in the air.
"Why were you looking for me? Is Bruce…?"
"No," said Sheelagh and looked at Tony, who shrugged. "It's Smithy."
Andrea swayed and her hands grabbed onto thin air. Tony grabbed her, steadying her, his body warm and solid.
"Is he…?"
"No. But he has been beaten, not like what happened to Bruce, but it's quite bad. He said something about the man from the pub yesterday."
She seemed to change right before their very eyes. She paled, an almost deathlike pallor, and they were sure it had little to do with how cold she was. Hyperventilating, she put a hand to her chest, holding onto Tony to stay upright.
"I want to see him," she said, holding her tight chest. "Please."
"Come on. Breathe slowly," Sheelagh said calmly. "It's just a panic attack."
"Please. I need to see him."
"Who is he, Andrea? Who is this man?"
"I'll tell you," she said. "I'll tell you everything. Please let me see him first."
"Come on," Tony said. "We'll take you to St Hugh's, he'll probably want to see you're okay for himself. And we should get you checked over, you're freezing. How long have you been out here?"
"Don't know," she mumbled as Tony opened the back of the car for her. "I just had to get out of the house. My phone kept ringing. He kept leaving messages."
"Brown eyed-girl?" Sheelagh asked.
Andrea nodded and caught her eye in the rear-view mirror. "How did you know?"
"We went there first to look for you, your neighbour gave us your spare key. The phone rang whilst we were there, and…well. It was one way to make a romantic song sound like a threat."
"That'd be because it was."
Tony didn't start the car, just watched Andrea in the mirror.
"Tell me his name, Andrea. Let me get things rolling, so we can circulate a proper description."
Andrea watched the rain run down the window, staring at her own reflection in the mirror. Everyone looked sinister in a car window's reflection somehow.
"His name is Kit," she said. "Kit Maynard."
Tony and Sheelagh exchanged a look; Tony started the car and Sheelagh pulled her radio to her mouth.
"Sierra Oscar from 661, re the attack on Sergeant Smith, I've confirmation that the suspect's name is Kit Maynard. Repeat, Kit Maynard. 759 and I have found Andrea, currently on-route to St Hugh's, over."
Gina Gold met her officers in A&E, where they were watching the doctor check a quiet, but co-operative Andrea over.
"Where did you find her?" she asked, watching the doctor check her temperature with an in ear thermometer.
"At the allotments," Sheelagh said. "Jennifer Quy gave us the tip off. She was freezing cold, she must have been there for hours. We thought it was best to bring her straight here."
"And she was asking to see Smithy," Tony said.
"What, you told her?"
"Just that he'd been attacked."
"Well, I wish you'd cleared that with me first," Gina said, shooting Andrea a look.
"Ma'am, you know as well as I do that he won't rest easy until he does see her for himself."
She did know that, but thought she'd better keep her opinion about that to herself, at least for the time being. The doctor came out of the cubical, closing the curtain behind him.
"How is she?"
"She'll be fine. She might not have been if she was out there much longer though."
"Do you need to admit her?"
"Just as a precaution," he said. "I think we're just looking at a mild case of hypothermia, but I'd be happier if she was monitored overnight. I'll just get a nurse to set up some fluids whilst we wait for a bed to free up."
"She's asked to see someone," said the Inspector. "On another ward. Can I take her?"
"When the fluids are set up," he said. "I'll get that done as soon as possible. Sorry, I need to get on."
He rushed away, with the air of a harried emergency medicine doctor. Gina opened the curtain and stepped in. Andrea, head resting on the hospital trolley, jerked up, blinking. She was still wearing Tony's coat, and looked like a child playing dress up.
"Smithy?"
"He'll be okay," she said. "He has concussion, cuts and bruises, a broken arm and an abdominal hematoma, but he'll be okay. He just needs to rest up."
"Can I see him?" she said and went to slide off the bed. The Inspector pushed her back on.
"You can, when they've finished seeing to you. I won't pretend I'm happy about it, but he wants to see you too." She bent down and looked into Andrea's face. "No more messing around, Andrea. Who is this Kit? What's his beef with you?"
"Officer, you're going to have to save any questioning until the doctor says she's fit for it," a nurse said, stepping into the cubical. "Would you mind stepping back? I need to set this up."
"I will tell you," Andrea said. "Everything."
She flinched as the nurse slid a cannula into her hand. She disposed of the needle in the yellow bin and threw a sharp look at the Inspector.
"I said when she's declared fit, officer. If you'd be so kind to step outside and let me see to my patient in private?"
"I'll tell him you're fine," she said. "He asked me to come and check,"
She wouldn't have if he hadn't, that much was clear from her short tone. Andrea watched her go and the nurse put a gown on her lap. She said something, but Andrea couldn't hear the words. It looked like she was telling her to get changed. She looked at her expectantly, but Andrea stared straight through her. The nurse sighed.
"Come on," she said. "Let's get this off you."
She slid Tony's coat from her shoulders and helped her off with the rest of her clothes and into the gown. Andrea didn't speak until she'd set the fluids up and hung them on the line.
"Can I see my friend now? Please? Dale Smith, I'm not sure what ward he's on."
"Ah, yes, the doctor did mention," she said. "I'll have to find out for you. Where he is, I mean. And I'll take you up. Then you really must rest."
"I'll rest easier if I see him."
They made her go up in a wheelchair. Andrea had argued, said it was unnecessary, but had been sternly told by the nurse that she went up in the chair or not at all. So, with Tony pushing the chair himself, the nurse pushing along the IV fluids, and under layers of warm blankets, she was taken up to the third floor and into a ward. Sheelagh pushed open a door and held it open for them. Gina was still sitting by Smithy's bedside, and rose when they came in. she didn't look particularly pleased to see her, but stepped back out of respect for Smithy, allowing Tony to park the chair close to the bedside.
Even from there, Andrea could see his bruised face, and the arm set in a heavy cast. She swallowed her gasp, willing away the tears to no avail. She touched his hand and he started, opening his eyes, though he could only manage to open one; the other was swollen and black. He was relieved, though, and smiled or at least tried to.
"I'm sorry, Smithy. I'm so sorry."
She laid her head on his hand, clutching it tightly. He reached his good arm around, the act paining him, but managed to rub her shoulder.
"It's okay. I'm going to be fine," he said.
Gina watched the scene, fighting the urge to drag her away. If she'd told them about Kit when she and Sam had spoken to her, this all could have been avoided. She had a feeling Smithy wouldn't agree if she pointed that out, though, so decided not to say it, not to him. She would be another matter, though, in their interview. He looked over at her and mouthed, "thank you."
Her expression mellowed and she nodded. She was relieved when the nurse said it was time for the both of them to get some rest. Andrea turned to look at Smithy as Tony pushed her chair back out of the room. He was watching her leave and smiled at her like he hadn't since he found out. She'd better commit it to her memory, because after they all heard what she had to say tomorrow, she'd be lucky if he ever wanted to see her again, let alone smile.