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K - The Yellow Jacket; An early 90s Sun Hill fanfic
Topic Started: Aug 19 2017, 11:23 PM (235 Views)
Trystan
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Hi all,
here is a fanfic I started years ago, only finished recently. I will post it in chapters as it is a little longer than the rest here. Let me know if there is a problem with the rating I gave it, but there is nothing risqué in it. I was never a fan of the soapie era of The Bill, just because it looked awkward on the screen... But in writing, I have no real problem with it. I created a fictional (or should that be fictional fictional?) WPC (as they were in 1992) and threw her into the mix. Sorry about the formatting, but it won't let me bold or italicise what is already written.

Anyway, enjoy.

1.

Statement of James Edwards, owner of JE Jewellery, Broad Place, Sun Hill. Statement taken at the scene, 08:37, 14th November 1992:

I arrived at work at the usual time of eight AM. It takes me a little time to fill the display cases before opening at nine. I was in the back room when I heard the glass shatter and thinking it was an accident outside, I went to the front of the shop to investigate. There were three of them in the shop…teenagers by the sound of them. They were shouting and I realised that one of them was pointing a gun at me. It was pretty clear what they wanted to do and I wasn’t going to argue with them. Another of the boys had a baseball bat. I was made to empty the display cases and then one of the boys accompanied me to the back of the shop to the safe. There were no takings in there as I bank daily, but there was some antique jewellery I was valuing for a client. I was then tied up and left in the shop. I didn’t get a good look at them as they were wearing balaclavas and dark clothes…nothing distinctive.
Statement Ends.


Cathy Marshall and Polly Page gazed across the crowded A&E waiting area at their colleague, who was sitting alone on a bench against the wall, staring at nothing. Sophie Butcher was still wearing her fluorescent yellow police jacket over her uniform, undone, but with spots of blood visible down the front. She was holding a second yellow jacket and the bloodstain on it stood out in stark contrast to the bright yellow of the garment, dark and obviously from no superficial wound. Cathy’s gaze shifted to the young constable’s hands, the knuckles white as she clutched the garment to her on her lap. Looking up, Cathy saw Sophie’s normally neat hair dishevelled and falling out of its customary bun and remaining in a messy ponytail. Her face was white with shock and the forgotten smear of blood on her cheek only accentuated the gauntness of her face. Sophie’s hat and bag lay forgotten on the seat beside her.
The whole of Sun Hill’s A Relief had been virtually stopped in their tracks by the incident. PC Barry Stringer and WPC Sophie Butcher had been on point duty at some broken lights on Lassa Street, a job both constables had done many a time. Barry was in the road at the lights directing traffic, Sophie was further up the road, warning people of the changed conditions ahead. The morning was foggy and visibility was poor and the red Ford Sierra careered out onto the road, ignoring Sophie’s warnings to slow down. As they sped past, Sophie radioed the station about the gang of youths out for a joyride. She had heard nothing over the PR regarding a stolen vehicle, so chances were it hadn’t been missed by its owner as yet. Sophie was still on the radio when she heard the crack of a gunshot ring out just metres away from where she was standing. Sophie turned in time to see Barry hit the ground and she knew that everyone on the relief in possession of a radio would have heard the shot. There was a pause, then Sophie’s urgent, almost panicked voice was heard urgently requesting an ambulance, shouting the words ‘officer down!’ as she ran to her fallen colleague.
WPCs Cathy Marshall and Polly Page had been the closest to St Hugh’s Hospital when Sophie informed the station that she’d arrived there, so Cathy and Polly had been ordered to wait for Sophie. Besides Barry Stringer, they were Sophie’s closest friends on the Relief. The two had also been ordered to report on Barry’s condition.

“Come on,” Cathy muttered to Polly and the two women made their way slowly across the room to Sophie. No one was paying the distressed young woman any heed, which angered Cathy as it was obvious Sophie was in shock and needed attention. Polly followed a little behind Cathy.

“Sophie?” Cathy’s voice was gentle.

“I…I really hate this job sometimes,” Sophie whispered, looking up at Cathy. Putting a hand on Sophie’s shoulder as she sat next to her, Cathy could feel the younger woman trembling. Polly moved Sophie’s bag and hat and sat on the other side of her. Cathy made no attempt to take Barry’s jacket from Sophie, it was unlikely she would have been able to as Sophie was clutching it too tightly. Polly wondered if Sophie realised how tightly she was gripping the garment.

“Has anyone seen to you since you’ve been here?” Cathy asked Sophie. She shook her head.

“I…um…I expect they’re a little busy right now.”

“Sophie, you’re in shock. You need to see a doctor too.”

“I wasn’t hurt.”

“Bein’ in shock is just as bad, Soph’,” Polly pointed out. Sophie shot her a look.

“Nothing can be as bad as…” Sophie couldn’t go on. Making to bury her face in Barry’s jacket, she saw the blood and gave an involuntary shudder. If it was possible, Sophie gripped the jacket even more tightly. Polly stood.

“I’ll go and find us a cup of tea, yeah?”
Cathy nodded, smiling faintly and when Polly had gone, Sophie spoke.

“I-I didn’t mean to snap.”

“Polly understands,” Cathy assured her. “We’re all scared for him, Soph’.”

“Yeah.”
Cathy thought of asking Sophie what happened, but thought better of it as it was plain to see that she was in no condition to go through the shooting with anyone.

“Have you heard anything yet, Sophie?”

“No, he…um…it was messy, Cath’. They’ll be working on him for a while.”
Polly returned with the tea, handing one cup to Cathy, she sat beside Sophie.

“No thanks, Pol’,” Sophie muttered when Polly offered the second cup to her.

“It might help,” Polly coaxed gently.

“No honestly, I-I don’t think I could keep it down.”
Polly nodded, understanding. She didn’t feel like it either.

“Sierra Oscar from four six nine, receivin’?”

“Go ahead, Polly,” Sergeant Cryer replied.

“We’ll be leavin’ the hospital in a few minutes, Sarge. They haven’t told us much about Barry’s condition except that he’s critical, but stable.”

“Right, has Sophie given any details about what happened?”

“Not yet, Sarge. She’s in shock.”

“Has she seen a doctor?”

“She’s in with one now, Cathy’s with her.”

“Right. Inspector Monroe wants to see you when you return. Out.”

END Part 1.
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Sazzy
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Oh poor Barry!

This is great! Thank you very much for sharing with us. It was a treat to read a good quality fan fic, its been awhile since I've read any. Cathy Marshall was one of my favourites so an extra treat for me. I really like the idea of creating a new officer, I used to write fanfics but stopped because I enjoyed creating my own characters so adding one of your own seems a very clever way around that.

I will be looking forward to reading the next chapter. :)
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Trystan
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Good quality? Woe, I've never been called that before. Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. I have no shame, so I will just chuck my own creations amongst established ones :-)

Trystan
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Trystan
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PART 2

Statement of Rebecca Morrison, witness to robbery on JE Jewellery, Broad Place, Sun Hill. Statement taken on scene, 08:45, 14th November 1992:

I was walking down Broad Place on my way to work. I work in the clothes shop across the road from the jewellery shop. I heard glass break before I saw what was happening. I looked around, but could only see a red car. I don’t know the model and I didn’t get the registration. It was parked outside the shop and that’s all I remember because I ran to find a phone.
END STATEMENT.

Inspector Andrew Monroe hadn’t expected to see Sophie Butcher back at the station as he’d been told Sophie was to be kept in hospital over night for observation. Cathy Marshall stopped to talk to him while Polly led Sophie into his office.

“What’s she carrying?” Monroe asked as he watched Sophie enter his office.

“It’s Barry’s jacket, sir. She won’t let it go. I thought it was best not to force it from her.”

“Fair enough, but I’ll send Polly to get an evidence bag…it is evidence after all.”
Cathy nodded, remaining silent knowing that the inspector was probably feeling as bad as everyone else about what had happened. Barry Stringer was not only popular with his peers, but with the senior ranks also through his dealings as federation rep.

“Any luck with the joyrides yet, sir?”

“Not yet, Cathy. We’re assuming they’ve abandoned the car by now and I’m hoping they get cocky and try again…stealing another car, I mean. We won’t give up until we’ve found them. Any more word on Stringer’s condition?”

“Critical, but the doctor seems convinced we won’t lose him. I don’t really know much more than that at the moment. The bullet hit him in the chest, narrowly missing his heart…one inch to the left and…” Cathy shrugged.

“And Sophie saw it happen?”

“I believe so, but she hasn’t spoken about it yet as she’s still in shock. They wanted to keep her in overnight, but she refused. She can come home with me tonight.”

“Good,” Monroe sighed. “Well, let’s get this over with then you can take her home.”
Cathy nodded, following Inspector Monroe into his office.
Polly was sent to get an evidence bag, and then she was sent back on normal duties. Cathy remained with Sophie, as Sophie was still exhibiting signs of shock and Monroe didn’t want to take any chances. He wished he could put this off, but anything Sophie could tell him about the incident was vital if they were going to catch the joy riders sooner rather than later. It would also help to try and make sense of it all. Barry Stringer was only directing traffic, so why would they shoot him? Why draw that much attention to themselves? They would never have been caught; Sophie and Barry were on foot, so why risk an attempted murder charge? It just didn’t make sense at all. Stringer wasn’t the type to draw enemies to him, but then again, being a copper was all it took these days.

“Is there anything you want before we start, Sophie? Do you want to freshen up?”
Sophie shook her head and Inspector Monroe took a breath, trying to ignore the blood spots that were still visible down the front of her yellow jacket. Cathy was glad that the doctor had cleaned the blood from her cheek at the hospital.

“I know you’ve had a bad shock, Sophie, but I need you to tell me what happened this morning if you’re able. We need to know anything that might help us find the people responsible as soon as possible.”

“I understand, sir, but-but I didn’t really get a good look at the kids in the car. They…”

“I know it’s hard for you at the moment, but any little thing will help. Now, you said kids…so they definitely weren’t adults?”

“Definitely kids…teenagers. They…the car came around the corner from Brinton Road and…and they were speeding, swerving all over the road. I don’t think the driver was really in control of the car.”

“Did you see how many kids were in the car?”

“Four or five I think.”

“You’re doing well, Sophie. Just a few more questions and then Cathy can take you home, all right?”
Sophie nodded, showing a little reluctance. She knew Inspector Monroe was going to ask about Barry.

“What did you do when you saw the car?”

“They ignored my warning to slow down. It was foggy and they wouldn’t have seen that the traffic lights were out. I-I had just started to call the registration in when-when I heard the shot…”

“You managed to get the whole number in, actually. Did you see what happened?”

“No…I-I mean…not really. I was looking the other way while I was calling in the registration. I-I doubt I would have seen it even if I were looking, sir. The…the fog…” Sophie took a breath. “I assumed they’d stop when they saw Barry in the road. When I heard the shot, I turned and…and he was just…just lying in the road. No one even…I-I couldn’t do anything f-for him…he…h-h-he was just…” Sophie burst into tears. She dropped Barry’s jacket and covered her face with her hands. Cathy took her distressed friend into her arms and looked at Inspector Monroe, who was looking down at his desktop, uncomfortable.

“We can do a proper statement some other time,” his voice was quiet as he looked up. “I’m sorry, I had to ask.”

“I know. Sophie wouldn’t have told you if she couldn’t,” Cathy answered.

“This is hard on all of us, Cathy. I know Barry’s a popular officer and I know he and Sophie are close. We…”

“Sir, there’s something you should know,” Cathy interrupted. Sophie was still crying loudly and Cathy doubted her friend was taking in anything of their conversation at all. Feeling guilty about breaking a confidence, Cathy wasn’t saying this lightly and she knew the higher ranks weren’t going to like what she had to say.

“Cathy?” Monroe prompted gently.

“Barry and Sophie…they’re more than just good friends, sir.”

“I see,” Andrew Monroe kept his expression neutral. “How long has this been the case?”

“About six months.”

“I don’t believe this,” he muttered. Monroe made to say something else, but now wasn’t the time.

“Look, book off and take Sophie home. You said she was staying with you tonight?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. She can’t be left alone in this state. We’ll talk tomorrow. Tell Sophie she can take tomorrow sick, but we’ll need a statement soon.”
Cathy nodded before easing Sophie to her feet and leading her out into the corridor.

END PART 2
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Sazzy
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:bravo: This is turning into quite the mystery.... looking forward to part 3.
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Trystan
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PART 3


Transcript of Constable Butcher’s call to CAD, Sun Hill Police Station, 08:46, 14th November 1992:

SO477: Sierra Oscar from 477, receiving?

CAD: Go ahead, Sophie.

SO477: Can I have a PNC check on a red Ford Sierra, registration as follows…foxtrot eight seven three gulf lima whiskey? I suspect it’s…
(Pause as a crack is heard.)

CAD: Sophie?

SO477: (Sounds as if she’s running.) Urgent request for an ambulance at the lights on the corner of Lassa Street and Pope Road. Officer down, I repeat, officer down!

CAD: Say again, Sophie?
No reply.

CAD: Sophie, do you copy? What’s the situation?
No reply.

CAD: Sierra Oscar to four seven seven, ambulance on way, out.

After Cathy and Sophie had left the office Inspector Monroe stood, taking the evidence bag from his desk and made his way around to the front of the desk. He looked down and felt a little queasy about having to pick up the blood stained yellow jacket crumpled on the floor at his feet. Steeling himself, Andrew Monroe bent and retrieved the jacket, stuffing it into the evidence bag as quickly as he could. It was evidence after all and anything retrieved from the jacket could lead them closer to the people responsible sooner rather than later. Realising he wasn’t alone, Inspector Monroe turned to see Steve Loxton watching him from the corridor.

“Can I help you, Constable?”
At the sound of Monroe’s voice, Loxton tore his gaze from the bloodied jacket and lifted his eyes to the inspector’s face.

“Um…no sir.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be out in the Area Car?”


“We’ve brought in a body, sir. Any word on Barry?”

“We won’t lose him,” Monroe sealed the bag. “I need you to take this to the property store. It needs labelling before we send it off to forensics.”

“Sir.”

Reluctantly, Steve took the bag and hurried off down the corridor.
Steve Loxton was aware of people stopping and staring as he passed them in the corridor; well aware that they were staring at the contents of the evidence bag he was carrying. Steve wasn’t one to let his emotions get on top of him and he always came across as a bit of a hard man when it came to dealing with the difficult aspects of the job. Like with people, Steve never let himself get too close. The one situation he was always ready to share an opinion on was the injury caused to a colleague by some stupid scrote who was too ungrateful to see that the police of Sun Hill were doing them a favour by locking them up. It wasn’t uncommon to hear Steve loudly voicing opinions on sticking by your mates floating through the corridors of the nick.

“We have to watch each other’s backs above all else,” was one of his favourite lines. So where was Sophie Butcher when Barry was getting shot? Looking the other way, most likely. Steve had always thought of Barry Stringer as bit of a soft touch. For all the good he was doing as Fed. Rep., he wasn’t one for taking the hard line against a scrote who desperately deserved it. Barry was a do-gooder, who insisted on giving everyone a fair go and insisting that old lie ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ Cobblers! All scrotes were guilty until their dodgy briefs managed to rustle up false alibis for them. But, despite all that Barry was a good copper and he got results. He and Barry were mates, Steve and Sophie weren’t. As far as Steve was concerned, Sophie had let his mate down in the worst possible way.
Steve was now passing the interview rooms and he noticed Dave Quinnan with a prisoner. They were just about to enter one of the rooms when the prisoner caught sight of the jacket in the bag. Dave stared at the bag, having heard about the incident by now, as had everyone else.

“Someone done us a favour then?” the prisoner jeered. “I s’pose one less pig on the streets can’t be a bad thing.”
Before he had fully thought about what he was doing, Steve had dropped the bag on the floor and had the man pinned against the wall with his hands around his throat. People watched, shocked, as Steve pushed his red, angry face close to the now frightened prisoner’s.

“Would you care to repeat that?” Steve’s voice was quiet, menacing. Dave Quinnan was tempted to let Steve get on with it, but he caught sight of the Chief Super and that gave him enough incentive to pull Steve off the prisoner. Planting himself between the prisoner and Steve, Dave turned to Steve.

“Save it for the one who shot Barry, yeah?” Dave’s voice was quiet to match Steve’s. “This one’s not worth it.”

Steve looked at Dave, suddenly remembering where he was. Looking along the corridor, he saw the Chief Super disappearing around the corner, presumably on his way to Inspector Monroe’s office. Without a word, Steve picked up the evidence bag and continued on his way.

END PART 3
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Sazzy
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:bravo: Great stuff, you have Steve Loxton down to a T!

Looking forward to the next installment.
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Trystan
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Steve is one of my faves, I have to admit. I think there was a lot more going on with him than he let show. Tom Butcher's last episodes as Steve were amazing and I was actually sorry to see him go.

Trystan
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Trystan
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PART 4

Statement by Jonathan Bell, witness. Statement taken on scene, 08:51, 14th November 1992:

I own the flower shop two doors down from the jewellery shop. I was inside the shop when I heard a car…got in early as I had an arrangement to finish for a wedding. I thought it was a little strange when the car stopped outside and didn’t turn off the engine, so I looked out the window and that’s when I saw the lads at the door of the jewellery shop. One of them had a baseball bat and he used that to break through the glass door. I didn’t know whether Mr. Edwards had arrived at work yet, but I called you let anyway. I must have called around the same time as her (indicates another witness, Rebecca Morrison.)

“Do we have the full details of what happened this morning?” Chief Superintendent Brownlow had indeed been on his way to Inspector Monroe’s office.

“Not as yet sir, but we’re working on it. Constable Butcher was still in shock when she returned from the hospital. The doctor wanted to keep her in overnight under observation, but she refused. Cathy Marshall is taking her home to look after her tonight.”

“Was she able to give us anything at all?”

“Not much, I’m afraid. The car…well…we know it was a red Ford Sierra and Sophie did manage to get the registration out over the PR, but we haven’t found it yet. There is a possibility that it was the same one involved in a jewellery store robbery early this morning, but none of the witnesses interviewed so far have been able to come forward with a registration as yet. All Sophie could give us was that there were four or five youths in the car.”

“Is that all?”

“I’m afraid so, sir.”

“Sophie Butcher’s an experienced officer who’s seen a lot in her time. Seeing a fellow officer shot in the line of duty is nothing new to her.”
Inspector Monroe couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing, but he knew Brownlow had a point. Many an officer in Sophie’s position had been able to carry on relatively effectively for the rest of their shift. Most were determined to get back out there and catch those responsible, but this wasn’t your average situation.

“Sir, I think there’s something you should know.”

“I know they’re close friends, Andrew, but…”

“It seems their relationship has gone a little beyond friendship, sir.”

“I don’t follow, Andrew.”
Inspector Monroe gave a mental roll of the eyes.

“I’ve been informed that Stringer and Butcher are seeing each other, sir.”

“I see…and how long has this been going on?”

“Six months, I believe.”

“Did you know of this relationship?”

“I only found out today. I suspect that the relationship isn’t common knowledge among the relief, sir, as Marshall was reluctant to tell me about it.”

“That’s all we need,” Brownlow suddenly burst out. Andrew Monroe stared at him and he forced himself to calm down. “So I assume for the moment that we have two officers down rather than just the one? Do you think we can expect Butcher back at work any time soon?”

“I gave her tomorrow off sick, sir. Even if we put her in CAD or LIO with Donna Harris, I doubt she would be of much use to us. The day after tomorrow, who knows? But if I know Sophie, she will want to be back out there as soon as possible to find whoever was responsible.”

“Surely Stringer and Butcher are aware of the rules?”

“Rules don’t stop it happening, sir. Can you honestly tell me you have never been out with a colleague…or ever fancied one? It happens, sir.”
Charles Brownlow let it ride for now as feelings were still running high in the station. The relief would still be in shock over this senseless attack on their popular colleague for some time. A Relief, for all their faults, was the best of the three reliefs attached to Sun Hill and Brownlow was politician enough not to antagonise them over a set of rules. He had seen Loxton have a go at a prisoner on his way here and when he had seen what Loxton had been carrying, he’d thought better of stepping in and had let Dave Quinnan, a mate, sort it out.

“Right,” Brownlow stood, “let me know when Constable Butcher is ready to give her statement.”
Andrew Monroe didn’t realise how loud his sigh of relief was when Brownlow left the room until he noticed Brownlow’s step falter just outside the door as he left. Monroe held his breath, only releasing it when Brownlow continued on out of sight without another word.

END PART 4
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Trystan
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PART 5

Transcript of a call to CAD, Sun Hill Police Station, 9:01, 14th November 1992:

SO595: Sierra Oscar from five nine five, receiving?

CAD: Go ahead, Tony.

SO595: Norika and I have finished the statements at the jewellery shop. No one was able to give us a description of the kids as they were wearing balaclavas and dark clothes. We can confirm that one of them was carrying a gun and another had a baseball bat.

CAD: Right, any word on the car they were driving?

SO595: Just that it was a red car. No one managed to get the registration or the make of the car that they were driving. The owner of the shop said one of the kids could have been over eighteen years old.

CAD: Thanks, Tony. I want you to take a drive around and see if you can spot the car or any of the kids involved. You never know, you might get lucky.

SO595: Luckier than some have been today.
END TRANSMISSION

The usual pub gathering after the shift was a muted affair as no one really felt like being there, but no one really wanted to go home either. The eight officers sitting around the table nursing their drinks were each lost in their own thoughts. The landlord watched them as he wiped down the bar, thinking that even though it was a quiet afternoon, it wasn’t like the Sun Hill mob to be so subdued. A few of the regulars weren’t here either, so the landlord guessed something might have happened and a few of them had more than the average bad day.

“Has anyone heard anything more on Barry’s condition?” George Garfield was the first one to speak. There was a general mutter of ‘no’ around the table.

“The only person who knows isn’t here to tell us,” Steve Loxton sulked. Tony Stamp glared at him, but Steve didn’t see the glare, as he was too busy scowling into his own drink.

“It would be a bit of a shock to see someone gunned down in front of you, so I can understand why she isn’t here,” Norika Datta said.

“I heard that Sophie wasn’t in a good way when Cathy brought her back to the nick,” Reg Hollis threw in. “I mean, she was still carrying Barry’s jacket and she…” Reg broke off when he saw people staring at him. That was enough for Steve Loxton.

“Don’t talk to me about that damn jacket!” he shot back. “I was made to take it to the property store. I had to walk through the nick with everyone staring at it. How do you think that made me feel? How could Monroe…” Steve stopped, fighting to control his outburst. “How does Sophie get off so lightly when-when…”

“When what, exactly?” June Ackland challenged him.

“Well…what was she doing when it happened?”

“She was directing traffic, as she had been doing all morning, Steve. You’ve done point duty before, so you know it’s easier to have someone in the road directing and someone a little further back warning people of the changed conditions.”

“I was in CAD,” Sue Ford added, “and Sophie would have been in sight of Barry because she called in the registration of the car seconds before Barry was shot. She would have seen it happen.”

“Then why didn’t she do something!”

“Like what, Steve? Jump in front of Barry and take the bullet for him?” Dave Quinnan was half joking in order to try and lighten the mood. No one wanted to have to go through one of Steve’s rants about looking after your mates right now.

“She couldn’t know it was going to happen, Steve. For all she knew it was just some kids out for a joy ride in a stolen car. No one here expects you to take a bullet for them…or is this different because it’s Sophie?”

Steve returned Dave’s level gaze. It was a well-known fact that there was no love lost between Steve Loxton and Sophie Butcher. No one knew what the problem was, exactly, but they were certain that it started with Steve. Others put it down to the fact that there was a personality clash, but the two still had to work together.
Sophie Butcher wasn’t one to give her personal feelings away whilst at work. Although she had loosened up a fair bit since she started at Sun Hill, she still somehow managed to keep her personal life and working life separate. If something was bothering her, she rarely let it interfere with her working day, even though she had made some close friends on her relief, Barry Stringer being a prime example, she still seemed distant from her colleagues. No one really let it bother them as it was just Sophie’s way, and she was friendly enough to everyone, but there was no doubt that she was a good copper who could never stand accused of letting her mates down…no matter what Steve Loxton thought.

“Poor Sophie,” Reg muttered. “You know she and Barry are close. It must be terrible to see someone you…”

“Yeah all right, Reg, we get the picture,” George cut in. Tony Stamp bit his lip. Oh well, they were going to find out soon enough anyway.

“Actually Reg, there’s a bit more to it than that.”
Everyone looked at Tony.

“Do you mean…” Dave stopped.

“Barry and Sophie are more than friends.”

“What?” June couldn’t believe it.

“They’ve been seeing each other…yes.”
Everyone was silent for a moment while they took in the news.

“How long’s this been going on?” George finally asked.

“Six months,” Tony told them.

“Six months!” Dave exploded. “How come we never knew?”

“They didn’t want anyone to know. Sophie told Cathy, Barry told me and we were sworn to secrecy.”

“But…” Dave was almost speechless. “Barry, the dark horse.”

“We would have noticed something,” June picked up where Dave left off. “I mean…they’ve never shown any sign of it at work…or here after work, come to think of it. There’s never been a look or a touch or-or anything.”

“Well there has, but because we’ve known they’ve been close friends for a while we’ve never noticed anything different in their behaviour towards each other,” Tony couldn’t help being amused by his colleagues’ reaction.

“I joked to Sophie about her fancying Barry last week and she just laughed it off,” Norika said.

“Well the joke was on you then,” Steve sneered. “We can’t have our Sophie being unprofessional, can we!”

“Leave it, Steve, we don’t need this right now,” Tony warned him. Steve got up and left without another word.

END PART 5
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Sazzy
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I am really enjoying this, looking forward to the next chapter Trystan!
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Trystan
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Cheers for that. Here it is :)

PART 6

Transcript of a call to CAD, Sun Hill Police Station, 11:40, 14th November 1992:

SO218: Sierra Oscar from two one eight, receiving?

CAD: Receiving, George.

SO218: I’ve found an abandoned red Ford Sierra in Barrow Lane. The registration matches the one given by Sophie earlier. The keys are still in the ignition.

CAD: Is there anyone with the car, George?

SO218: No, I think it’s been here a while, Sarge.

CAD: Right, stay with the car. I’m sending SOCO to your location.

SO218: Right Sarge, is there any news on Barry?

CAD: Nothing new, George. Sorry.

SO218: Thanks…out.

It took Cathy Marshall a long time to get to sleep as she could hear Sophie tossing and turning in the spare room. Sophie was muttering in her uneasy sleep, though Cathy could not make out what she was saying. Cathy guessed that Sophie would be reliving the events of that morning in her dreams.

Sophie hadn’t wanted to talk about the shooting that morning and Cathy couldn’t blame her. The younger woman had been in deep shock, but had seemed more lucid by the time they arrived back at Cathy’s flat. Cathy hadn’t wanted to push Sophie into talking; she had known Sophie since Sophie was five years old and she knew it was better to wait until Sophie was ready to talk. Sophie was grateful that Cathy had not pushed her into talking also.

After lunch, of which Sophie ate little, the two women just watched the afternoon rubbish on television, which seemed to provide a welcome distraction for Sophie. Cathy had managed to get Sophie to eat a proper dinner even though she had little appetite herself.

Every time Cathy closed her eyes, she could see Barry’s bloodstained yellow police jacket. She couldn’t get the image out of her head no matter how hard she tried, though it must be ten times worse for Sophie. Cathy had always liked Barry. He was someone you could rely on in a tight squeeze, a good solid officer there to watch your back, Barry had always been a good friend to her. He was a good listener, sympathetic and ready with a joke should the tension need easing and although she couldn’t see in Barry what Sophie did, she could well understand why the normally reluctant Sophie loved him as she did.

Everyone had been so relieved when Barry had taken over as Fed. Rep. from Reg Hollis. The fact that Barry could see reason was a big help, not to mention the fact that his mere presence in the room didn’t antagonise everyone and it helped that he was popular as a person. People found that they could relate to him and he was definitely easier to talk to than Reg.

Cathy sighed as Sophie let out a cry and her hand thumped against the wall. Getting out of bed, Cathy pulled on her bathrobe and padded to the spare room next door. Cathy stood in the open doorway and watched her friend. Despite her restlessness, Sophie seemed to be sleeping still.
It had been obvious to Cathy early on that Barry would be perfect for Sophie, even though the two had some personality traits that were completely opposite. Where Barry generally let nothing get to him, Sophie had times where she let a situation get the better of her. Barry was easily distracted, where Sophie had a high level of concentration. Sophie was stubborn as a mule, where Barry was easygoing. Yet, despite all this, the two had hit it off right away and had become close friends and while Cathy had seen the spark between the two, Sophie remained adamant that she would never go out with a colleague. Cathy was glad that Barry Stringer was a very patient man.

When Sophie finally gave in and said that she would give the relationship a go, Cathy had been overjoyed and when Sophie had asked her best friend if she was making a mistake, Cathy could have shaken her in frustration. True, Sophie had had a nasty experience with a colleague in the past, but Barry wasn’t the same sort of man. He wasn’t a rapist for a start. Cathy knew that Sophie had not yet told Barry how, as a probationer, she was followed home by a DI in her nick and raped in a park just next to where she lived. He had been on at Sophie for months to go out with him and her constant refusal finally made him do the unthinkable…at least…that was his take on it. She had also never told Barry how, as a result of the rape, she had given birth to a stillborn son. This had been the reason why Sophie shied away from people and it had been the reason why she had vowed never to go out with a colleague. Of course, Sophie hadn’t counted on meeting someone like Barry Stringer. In the six months they had been together, their relationship had gone from strength to strength and it was evident that the two were made for each other. Barry and Sophie had decided against telling their colleagues of their relationship, partly because of the no relationship rule (though never really enforced) and partly because of some unwanted attention they might receive, like from Steve Loxton for instance. Sophie and Steve…

Cathy’s musings were interrupted when Sophie let out a scream, propelled awake from some nightmare. She was almost flung off the bed as she sat bolt upright, her breath coming in short sharp gasps. Cathy sat on the bed and rested her hands on the younger woman’s shoulders. Sophie felt as stiff as a board as she sat there, so Cathy smoothed Sophie’s hair back from her damp face. The gentle touch to her face seemed to bring Sophie back to the present and she looked at Cathy, her bottom lip quivering.

“Soph’?”

Sophie burst into tears and Cathy held her tightly, rocking her as she cried. Cathy recalled an eleven-year-old Sophie Butcher waking in the middle of the night from some nightmare after her sister’s death, something for which Mary Butcher blamed her eldest daughter for to this day. The young Sophie would often find herself locked out of the house as punishment and it had been lucky that Cathy only lived two doors down from the Butchers’. She would often find Sophie on her doorstep looking for a place to stay.

“Just let it go, Sophie, good girl. He’s going to be all right, you know that.”
After a while, Sophie cried herself back to sleep and laying her gently back down, Cathy waited until she was sure Sophie was sleeping soundly before going back to bed.
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Sazzy
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Great struff - I think we all need a Cathy Marshall in our lives!
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Trystan
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I miss Cathy. She was a great character and it's a shame that I haven't seen Lynn Miller in anything else over here.

Trystan
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Trystan
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PART 7

Transcript of a call to CAD, Sun Hill Police Station, 04:30, 15th November 1992:

SO105: Sierra Oscar from one zero five, receiving?

CAD: Receiving, Woody.

SO105: Re the domestic at number thirteen Bevan House on the Jasmine Allen, there are reports of a gun being found on the premises.

CAD: Do you need backup?

SO105: No, we have the gun and we’re bringing the father and son in now, over.

The girl with the long, blonde hair standing in the corridor with her hand and face pressed to the glass of the intensive care room looked so lonely. The man watching her from across the corridor thought she looked too young to be a police officer. As he approached her, something in her eyes told him she was older than she appeared.

Sophie took a startled step back from the window when she felt someone rest a hand lightly on her left shoulder. Turning, she saw a tall man smiling at her.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
Sophie smiled faintly, relaxing. It didn’t take a genius to work out that this man was Barry’s father. Not only did Barry look like his dad, he sounded like him also.

“You must be Sophie,” the man continued when Sophie didn’t speak.

“Sorry…um…yes.”
The man smiled, holding out his hand. Sophie shook it.

“I’m Tom, Barry’s dad. I’m pleased to meet you at last, having heard so much about you.”
Sophie blushed.

“I’m sorry we had to meet like this, Tom. Barry and I are…were going to come up and see you this weekend, but-“ Sophie stopped.

“Come on in,” Tom said quietly. “Barry’s mum will be back in a minute and she’s been dying to meet you also.”
Tom opened the door and Sophie hesitated.

“How’s he doing, Tom?”

“He’s doing fine, Sophie. It’s going to be touch and go these first few days, but we aren’t going to lose him. The doctor is confident that he will make a full recovery.”

END PART 7
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