A Game Of Odds Chap.14

Jul 07, 2008 17:47

Title: A Game Of Odds Chap. 13
Rating: Blue Cortina for language.
Author: liquorishflame
Spoilers: Up until 2.8 for LOM. and series 1 for NT.
Chap. Summary: Things go from bad to worse.
A/N: Ubeated. So, I was going to post on Thursday, tra la la, and then, I realised it was Friday. AND I was going away for the weekend. Truly, I am a dunce. TO make up for it, the next chapter will be posted promptly on Wed.
Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven, Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten, Chapter Eleven, Chapter Twelve, Chapter Thirteen


Sandra drummed her fingers against the steering wheel of her car, waiting impatiently. Her mobile phone rang, and grumbling, she answered it.

'Pullman.'

'Guv'nor, where are you?'

'I'm outside DCI Tylers house, Gerry.' she snapped.

'Oh..all right....er...why?'

'Oh well, I'm watching him prance around in his underwear to "Son of A Preacher Man".'

There was a hiss of static as Gerry paused on the other line. Then:

'Are you stalking him?'

'No I'm not stalking him! I'm following Hunt!'

'So, you're stalking Hunt, at Tyler's place? Didn't know you were so kinky.'

There was a chuckle at the other end, wait, several chuckles.

'Gerry...' she said, a note of warning in her voice.

'Er...yes Guv'nor?'

'Is anyone there with you?'

'Well.. just Jack. And Brian. Well and Clarke too.'

'I see.' she said frostily.

'See, we're over at Brians having a nightcap-'

'Oh shut it! I have to talk to him.'

'Brian?'

'Hunt.' She opened her glove compartment and grabbed at a pack of gum, pulling out a strip and chewing on it viciously. 'Of course.'

'Ma'am, are you sure that's a good idea?'

'I don't care if it is, or it isn't, and even if it isn't, I'm not about to listen to advice from you!' She snapped her mobile shut, even more annoyed. She knew what she was doing, didn't she? She was going to explain to Gene why she'd done what she did, and then he'd....

Well face it, he'd still be pissed off at her. She sighed, resisting the urge to bash her head against the car horn. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but bringing Gene to the team had done nothing but impede the case...Mostly because of the strange connection between him and Sam Tyler. What was it between those two anyway? Maybe she should talk to Tyler after this.

Just then, she saw Gene walking out of the apartment, holding a hanky to his face. She got out, closing the car door behind her.

'You can't hide from me Gene, come on.'

He snorted. 'Watch me.'

'Gene...' He kept walking.

'Gene!' she grabbed his arm and spun him around, biting her lip when she noticed his bloody nose. He glared at her, daring her to say anything about it.

'What?! What more do you want from me?!?'

'Look, I'm sorry, all right? I'm sorry, but they heard the tape! They heard the bloody tape!'

He turned away and kept walking, but she kept up with him.

'I'm not saying I'm agreeing with them. What's done is done-'

'No its not, never is.' he interrupted. 'People say "the past" like it's something dead and buried. But the past's alive Vic. It comes for you when you least expect it an' kicks you in the bullocks. Like Sam Tyler...'

'What?'

He looked away, staring off into space.

'Sam Tyler...was my DI...in Manchester. Thirty three years ago.' He looked back, as if waiting for her to comment, but all she could think of was: Whaaat? and feeling like she wanted to laugh and scream at the same time. She did neither.

'Gene...think carefully. How could that be possible?'

He bared his teeth in frustration.

'I don't know! I don't bloody know. It's mad, it's just a mad thing, but it's him. Walks like him, talks like him...he even knows me.'

'Maybe he's read up on you?'

'No, it's him, it'shim. Here to haunt me, making me own up to my sins.'

'What do you mean "haunting you"?'

'Thirty three years ago, I lost everything I ever gave a damn about. I blamed him for it, told him so. But I was the one cocked it all up. My idea, my responsibility. I had the world in my hands, and I pissed it all away.'

'Gene, look, let's get you home, put your feet up. I'll make you a nice cuppa tea-'

A car suddenly pulled up beside them. Four men jumped out and grabbed Gene, who started to swear and struggle against them, lashing out with heavy fists.

'Oi!' She pulled her gun out of her purse, pointed it at them, being careful not to aim for her former mentor.

'You're under arrest!'

'Don't move copper, or I'll blow you're head off.' The voice in her ear was familiar. She smiled smugly.

'Mr. Fry...if you're going to threaten me, I suggest you use an actual gun, and not the whiteboard pen or whatever it is you're digging into my back.'

'Good point CS Pullman. Lads!'

The men finally had Gene in their grasp, if the worse for wear for it. Two of them looked like they were in excruciating pain, and the other two were nursing a black eye and a crocked nose.

'If she doesn't give me her gun, shoot Mr. Hunt, okay?'

Swearing under her breath, Sandra handed it over.

Sam stared at the static on the tv, hand over his mouth. He'd watched the tape three times before he'd really believed what it was he was seeing.
'Christ Gene...', he murmured, a wave of guilt passing over him. Gene'd tried to explain things, but he hadn't listened, had he? Just gave him a broken nose for his troubles. What a mess.

'Yes Sam, what a mess indeed.'

He looked up quickly.

'You!'

His personal demon, flashing smile straight from a milk advert, tapping her way across the floor like little Red Riding Hood.

'You can't be here!'

'Yes I can Sam. I don't have to play by the rules.'

He pressed his hands over his eyes, shutting them tight as he backed quickly away.

'You can't be here, you can't be! No, I can't see you, I can't!'

'Nobody sees, do they Sam? Nobody see's the truth. Except you.' He felt a little soft hand pat him on the face. He flinched.

'You don't have long, and neither does he. Tick tock Sam. Don't let the clock run down.'

The phone rang.

He flinched into wakefulness, sighing with relief as he realised he'd only been dreaming. As he struggled to get his jangling nerves under control, he picked up the phone.

'DCI Tyler.'

'Tyler,' It was Jack's voice. 'Is CS Pullman there?'

'Sorry Jack, I haven't. Why?'

'...Thought she was at your place.'

Sam looked out the window, but couldn't see anyone outside.

'No, I can't see her. Maybe she changed her mind.' There was an uneasy feeling in the back of his mind, but he pushed it away. Probably still feeling a bit bothered by the dream. 'Listen, I know it's late, but there's something I have to show you.'

'Er, all right. We're all down at having a nightcap at Brians. Bring it over and we'll have a look.'

He paused. Did he really want to show this to everyone? Now?
What choice did he have.

'Great, give me your address, I'll be right there.'

'You should keep your officers on a tighter leash CS Pullman.' Fry tutted as the coppers glared at him, their hands bound tightly behind them . 'We wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for him.' Gene spat at him, making a bloody stain on Fry's shirt.

'You hurt my officer Fry, and I'll make yer life a living hell.'

Fry smirked, wiping at the spit with a tissue. 'Hell is for the little people, who feel the need to believe in little imaginary things God and ethics. I'd rather believe in real things, like money.'

'Money and secrets, eh Fry?' Gene spat, glaring at him through a blackening eye. 'You're swimming in both, ever since you started snatching kids down in Manchester, right? Good money in human trafficking. Especially if it's kids. And if one day you run short, well...there's always little Teddy, isn't there?'

'Only, it's wasn't that easy, was it?' Sandra added.

'Just because he was-' Fry bit off whatever he was going to say.

'Look, just shut it.'

The whole team were glued to the telly. For once, not because of a football match. Clarke seemed somewhat distressed, sneaking glances at Tyler from time to time, a guilty look on his face. Jack and Gerry looked angry, but Brian was merely thoughtful as he frowned at the screen, rubbing his thumb under his chin. For his part, Tyler just sat there, looking down at the ground. As the tape came to the end, Brian pressed pause, and turned to the DCI.

'Hunt left this for you?'

Tyler nodded.

'And you don't remember any of this?'

'No, nothing.' Tyler shook his head again.

'It'd mean a lot if you could.' Gerry said cautiously. Tyler stood, pacing back and forth.

'Don't you think I've been trying? If I could flip a switch in my head, I'd do it, but I don't know how!'

'Easy son, easy.' Jack cautioned.

They watched warily as the DCI sat down in a empty chair.

'You know, I remember waking up in the hospital...after my coma...the way it felt, the way it smelled...It was like my body didn't belong to me, it felt.. heavy... strange. Every day was a struggle to make it mine again, to eat by myself, to walk, to button up my jacket. It was the struggle that made it worth while. It gave me something to reach for, something to achieve. It made me feel alive.'

He brought his thumb up to his face, worrying at a hangnail with his teeth.

'And then one day, I was cured. All better, go on home that's a love.' He gave a small laugh that sounded like a cough.

'Strange how being well made me feel worse.'

The room became uncomfortably silent as the men all exchanged looks over Tyler's head. Clarke cleared his throat.

'You can't remember anything about the hospital sir?'Tyler shook his head.

'Nothing except the name. The Hyde Health Centre For Children.'

'Founded by Doctor Frank Morgan you know.' Brian said, nodding, his movement frozen by Sam turning towards with checked fury.

'...What did you say?'

'Doctor Morgan...he's been long time friends of the Pennywise family. Gave em' the money to build the place.'

Jack looked carefully at Sam. 'Does that mean anything to you?'

'...My...doctor, at the hospital, that was his name.' He leaned forwards.

'Tell me about him.' Brian nodded his head, settling back in his chair.

'Doctor Frank Morgan Jr., P.H.D. M.D., 1981 and 1990, semi-retired to Spain. He's named after his father, originally from Hyde, Manchester, which is where the hospital got it's name. In 1973, he succeeded DCI Gene Hunt as the new DCI of Manchester-Salford CID.'

Tyler stood again.

'Shit! It's all connected, isn't it.'

Gerry shook his head firmly.

'Nah, no way..probably a coincidence that DCI Morgan took over in Manchester and his family's connected to the Pennywises, and his son supplied the money to build their hospital...er....all right, I think there might be a connection.'

'Can we contact the Morgan's?' Jack asked. Brian shook his head.

'The fathers dead, and the son's gone off to Spain. Indefinite leave.' DCI Tyler was getting more and more agitated by all this.

'If only I could remember!' he said, kicking at his chair.

'Oi! Just because you can't remember where you put your brains, don't take it out on me furniture!' Brian complained.

'Why don't you try hypnosis?' said Esther Lane, entering the room with a plate of sandwiches. She gave it to Jack, who put it carefully on the table.

'Hypnosis?'

'Ummhm. That's what my friend Gillian did when she couldn't remember where she left her wedding ring. Went to a hypnotherapist and she could see it, clear as a bell, right on top of the fridge where she'd left it when she was cleaning up.'

'Hypnosis? Hypnosis...' Brian said thoughtfully. He looked to Tyler, who grimaced.

'Why don't I like that look?'

'Just because he was what Mr. Fry?' Sandra said cautiously.

Fry gave her a sly smile.

'Oh I'm sorry, but just because we've got you in our car and all, it doesn't mean that I'm going to spill all my plans. That would be a stupid mistake, wouldn't it? Classic villain mistake: get the heroes where you want them and then go on and on about your plans-' He was cut off by a vicious kick to the face from Sandra's high heeled boots.

'Not like the mistake of nattering on and on about nothing!' she shot out, throwing herself forward at Fry. She managed to pin him with a knee while Gene struggled with one of the unnamed men who'd captured them. Fry writhed and snarled under her.

'Get off me you slag!'

'Oh make me, you pathetic wanker.'

Grabbing her foot, he twisted and heaved her off, throwing her against the car door, which fell open to her shock.

'Vic!'

Chapter 15

gene, sam, newtricks, blue cortina

Previous post Next post
Up