Franklin was to be kept in overnight for observation. Arrangements had already been made for his wife to be collected and brought to the hospital. They all promised to come back and visit again as soon as they could.
◆◆◆
As they headed back to the car park, Steve Bull fell in beside Copeland. “What happened to Sandra Dawson? She was on the floor when we arrived. Was she hurt?” With all the excitement since then, Steve had almost forgotten about her.
“She’s fine. Like the seasoned old pro that she is, she dived on the floor as soon as Winston pointed the gun at her.”
“That’s a relief,” Bull said.
“She’s been asking about you, you know.”
“Really?”
“Yep. I reckon you’re in there, sunshine.”
“Fuck off.”
“No, I’m serious. I don’t even think she’d charge you.”
Surprising a shudder, Bull quickly changed the subject. “What about the second shot?” he asked. “Was anyone else hurt?”
George shook his head. “Thankfully it went wild and just took a chunk out of a wall.”
“Thank God.”
George was suddenly sombre. “We’ve had a couple of close calls tonight.”
“Tell me about it,” Bull said with feeling.
“I’m glad you got the bastard though, Steve. What he did to that poor girl was downright evil.”
◆◆◆
“Right, pay attention,” Tyler instructed. He was all business as the team gathered around him in the hospital car park. “Now he’s in custody, I want Winston’s flat under our control as soon as possible. There will be a briefing at Arbour Square in forty-five minutes. Do not be late.” Without another word, Jack turned around and climbed into the back of the Omega.
Kelly Flowers lingered as she walked past the car, smiling down at Jack. He gave her a small wave in return. Dillon, who was just getting in, noticed the gooey-eyed look she gave Tyler. He rolled his eyes and grinned to himself. “I can’t think why, but I reckon young Kelly has got the hots for you, Jack,” he said, turning to face his friend.
“Don’t be silly,” Jack said.
“When we arrived, she made it very obvious that she’d been worried about you, but she didn’t even ask me and Steve if we were okay. I don’t think she even noticed we were there. I’m telling you, mate, the girl fancies you something rotten.”
“You’re imagining it,” Tyler said, dismissively. Nonetheless, now that he thought about it, she had seemed rather pleased to see him.
Dillon raised a knowing eyebrow and smiled. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t pretend otherwise.”
Jack was about to tell Dillon to mind his own business when Steve slipped into the driver’s seat, stopping the conversation dead. He noticed the unusual silence at once. “I’m not interrupting anything am I?” he enquired casually.
“No,” Tyler said firmly.
“Yes,” Dillon said at the same time.
The two men looked at each other and began to laugh. Bull shrugged and started the car. He had long since quit trying to understand this pair.
CHAPTER 16
Tuesday 2nd November 1999
It was six-fifty-five a.m., and Jack had just finished updating his decision log. It had taken some pretty creative writing to justify the pursuit of Winston and all the carnage that had ensued. Still, they had got their man, and hopefully, that would be considered when the investigation was dissected and his operational decisions were reviewed.
The door to his Arbour Square office opened a fraction and Julia Prestwick, one of the HOLMES team, cautiously popped her head into the room.
Jack stared enquiringly at her through bleary eyes.
“Morning, sir,” she said softly. “I hope I’m not bothering you. I know you’ve been up all night and I thought you might appreciate this.” She produced a cup of steaming hot coffee. “It’s only instant,” she said, apologetically.
Jack rubbed at his neck, which was stiff from where he’d been slouching over his desk for so long. “Instant’s fine, Julia,” he croaked, feeling as though his tongue had morphed into sandpaper. He managed a feeble smile as she put the cup down in front of him. “Thank you, sweetheart,” he said. “You’re a lifesaver.”
Julia’s face lit up. She waited expectantly while he took his first sip, and then beamed when he nodded his approval.
Tyler studied the sway of her hips as she glided out of the office, moving with the grace of a model on the catwalk. No wonder every single bloke in the building – and a couple of the married ones, from what he had heard – was trying their damnedest to get into her knickers.
She stopped at the door, smiling again. “Call me if you need anything else.” Julia was a terrible flirt, and she had an ability to make even a simple statement appear incredibly suggestive – another reason why she had so many admirers.
Dillon and Flowers passed Julia on her way out. Closing the door behind him, Dillon flopped down in one of the chairs opposite Jack’s desk, closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. He looked all done in.
Kelly appeared equally exhausted as she sat down next to him. Stifling a yawn, she gave the coffee in Jack’s hand a covetous glance.
After leaving the hospital, Jack’s team had regrouped at Arbour Square to prepare for the next phase of the operation. Jack had liaised with Newham Borough, who had reluctantly provided two uniforms to guard Winston’s flat until a warrant was obtained, a necessary precaution in case the local scumbags tried to sneak in and remove any incriminating evidence before the murder team got their act together.
Paul Evans had been tasked to wake up a friendly magistrate and get the warrant signed off. Charlie White was given the job of sorting out an armed guard for Winston and liaising with Witness Protection over Sandra Dawson.
Murray, who was also an Advance Exhibits Officer, had been dispatched to the hospital to seize all of Winston’s clothing and belongings as evidence.
Copeland had arranged a full
