Mistaken Identity
by Penny

"Ow.Will you sit still?! Do you know what you 're doing."
Mark Harris asked from under his friend.
"Yeah I seen me Dad driving before. Lucky we picked an
automatic. Don't have to worry about gears or nuffing"
replied Terry Warner.


Terry was seated on his friend's lap so that he could see
over the bonnet of the bronze Mercedes Benz, which he and
Mark had stolen a few minutes before. They had spotted the
car parked at the Bridge Street end of  Shadwell Street
with the keys still in the ignition but the doors locked.

"It's like they want us to break into it." Mark's face
lit-up when he spotted the keys in the ignition.
 This will be easy." Mark at the age of 12 years old had a
Juvenile Crime record, for mixed offences mostly relating
to break enter and stealing. Terry,  on the other hand, had
only a few offences to his name and this was his first
major offence.

"Like taking candy from a baby." Mark said, as the Bronze
sedan jerked its way down Shadwell Street, past the flats
where they both lived, in the direction of the Parsons
Field development site.

They were so busy concentrating on the road and trying to
drive that they didn't notice an electrician's transit van
reversing out of the construction entrance site until it
was too late and both vehicles collided into each other. As
the Mercedes had been travelling at a speed of 45 mph, it
hit the van at quite a force, causing Terry to be thrown
through the windscreen. Mark was stopped by the steering
wheel, receiving various injuries.

"Did you hear that bang?"Tony asked George, the latter
licking chocolate and cream off his fingers. Tony and
George in  Sierra Oscar 1 had stopped in Bridge street for
their elevenses. "Sounded like an MTA to me."

"Yeah That's what I thought" George replied between
mouthfuls of eclair and sips of tea. "Shall we go and see?

Tony started up the Rover. Once they where in motion George
switched on the siren and lights. He spun the car into a
tight
u-turn into the face of on coming traffic and sped back up
Bridge Street  turning sharply into Shad well Street. The
construction site was only a few yards from the end of the
street and had been fenced off by the council at the start
of work. It therefore made it impossible for anyone
reversing out of the site to be able to see anything
approaching properly until their vehicle had cleared the
parked cars which lined the street daily.

They quickly arrived at the accident scene.  A small crowd
of people had started to gather. Passers-by, the foreman
and his work mates.

"We've rung for an ambulance,"called one of the site
workers. "I have my cell phone handy"

"Cheers mate" replied George while surveying the damage.

"They said they would be about 10 minutes. I rang just
after it happened."

"Are you the owner of this van?"asked Tony.

"No mate. He's still in his van. His name's Gary Harding.
Just finished doing a job here and was on his way home for
his lunch."

George found Gary Harding slumped over his steering wheel,
with blood running down the side of his face.  He had hit
his head against the windscreen.

"Excuse me mate. Are you allright? asked George opening the
door of the van.

"Oh Gawd, Me head. What the hell was that, a Sherman Tank?"

"No, two boys in a stolen Mercedes Benz sedan."

"Huh. You could've fooled me."

The impact of the collision had caused a great deal of
damage to the car, but minimal damage to the van. Tony was
bending over Terry trying desperately to revive the lad
with the help of one
of the site workers.

"Any sign of that ambulance yet, George?" he asked in
between mouth to mouth. "If they don't hurry up, he'll be
gone."

"Its just coming now." George called.

The ambulance approached from the other end of Shadwell
Street, so that it came in from the rear. The two
paramedics alighted from their vehicle  and hurried to the
accident scene.

"We'll take over now". The female paramedic moved Tony
aside. Her partner began setting up the
equipment. Tony stood on the pavement catching his breath
as the second ambulance arrived.  Terry Warner was
transported off to St Hugh's in the first one. George stood
giving the Mercedes the once over.

"Here Tone, did you notice this crack here in the roof.?"
he asked

"What crack? Show me, I've been too busy to notice
anything." replied Tony  while wiping the sweat from his
brow with a handkerchief.

George was pointing to a crack on the roof of the Benz
which was less than a 1/4 of an inch thick but went the
width of the roof. Both stood staring as it as the second
ambulance left the scene and a tow-truck arrived.

"You thinking what I'm thinking, Tone" asked George sliding
a fingernail into the gap. "I think we have a ringer here"

I'll run a PNC check ." said Tony reaching for his portable
radio.

"Sierra Oscar 1 to Sierra Oscar"

"Yes Tony". replied Reg Hollis .

"Reg could you do  a PNC check on a bronze Mercedes Benz
sedan registration number Yankee
Seven Six Seven Kilo Charlie Tango."

"Hang on a minute Tone"
..
"Tone the registered keeper is a Mr William George Barrett,
45 London Rd Maidstone Kent. Reported missing to Maidstone
Police 5 days ago.

"Ta Reg" Tony snapped off his radio.

"Here mate," came a yell from the tow-truck."Which one do
you want moved?"

"Oh.... yeah, the transit van. Traffic division will
collect the other one."

Just then Panda 2 appeared with Gary and Norika.

"Do you want us to wait, George for Traffic to arrive?"
asked Gary while leaning out of the driver's window.

"Please. We've got to get to St.Hughes to check on the
accident victim."

Gary and Norika didn't have much of a wait as a tow-truck
from the traffic division arrived 10 minutes after George
and Tony had left for St Hughes.

"Morning Sarge" Norika greeted the Sergeant from Traffic.

"Morning. Sergeant Brian Reece. I understand this possibly
could be a Ringer?" he answered.

"Yes Sir. George Garfield spotted this crack on the roof at
exactly the spot where a welding job would have been done."
Gary moved forward to demonstrate his theory.

"Well done. This could be the start of something big. Is
there much of this about here?"

"Yes Sir, although we have yet been unable to track
anything down. They seem to be on top of us. Like they were
one jump ahead." replied Norika.

"Hm Probably have scanners"

Tony and George arrived at St Hughes as Terry Warner was
rushed from Casualty to Surgery. A nurse hurried out to
greet them.

"Do you know his details" asked Nurse Leslie Jones.

"His name's Terry Warner, aged 11 years of age. He was
seated on his mate's lap while driving the car. Probably in
order to see over the bonnet." replied George.

"Any next of kin?"

"His parents are separated. Father lives in Glasgow. Mother
can't be contacted. We've sent a car around to his
address."

"And the other boy?"

"Is Mark Harris. A bang on the head which may need
stitches. We managed to contact an older sister.Both live
in the flats on Shadwell Street, got together at school
when they went, and they are both known to us, Mark more
than Terry."

They followed her up the corridor through the hospital, to
the waiting area, where they came across Tracey, Mark's
older sister.

"What's he done now?" she asked, with a very defensive
expression on her face.

"Crashed a stolen car. Only he wasn't driving it." replied
Tony.

"Eh, pardon? What do you mean, he wasn't driving it. Who
was?"

"A boy by the name of Terry Warner. You know him?"

"No I don't" she replied with a puzzled expression on her
face."I do know most of Mark's cronies but him I don't
know."

"Well he lives at the flats"

"I still don't know him then. Must be a new mate."

Presently a doctor approached.

"Miss Harris. I'm Dr Brady. Mark is fine, a bang on the
head where it hit on the steering wheel . We will be
keeping him in overnight for observation in case of
concussion. We should be releasing him lunch-time
tomorrow."

"Thank you Doctor." she  replied gratefully.

"About the other boy Terry Warren. It's not looking good
I'm afraid. Head and internal injuries.
 He's in Surgery now. Any sign of a parent?"

"No, sorry, nothing. We sent a car over to his house but
no-one was home. We can't seem to locate the mother. A
neighbour said she went out early yesterday morning and
hasn't been seen since. We're trying to locate the father.
Apparently he lives in Glasgow."

"Excuse me Doctor, there's been a change" Nurse Jones
appeared at their sides"I'm sorry but he didn't makeit.
Died during surgery."

"Now this changes everything. I think we'd better have a
word to Mark"

Two  miles from the hospital, Steve Loxton had made an
arrest and had returned to Sun Hill.

"All right, Allright, Quit pushing. I can walk. Got legs
haven't I?" snapped the tall blonde girl  at Steve.

Matt Boyden glanced up from the paperwork he was completing
and managed to sneak an appreciative glance.

"Karen Davis, Sarge. Picked her up for soliciting. She
claims she was waiting for her lunch partner to arrive." He
pushed her forward slightly.

"Soliciting?" She retorted" I never. Been straight for 6
years. Got  me kids to think of. I was meeting a friend for
lunch."

"To me it looked like she was doing business."

"Just because I happened to be leaning in a car window. I
was just asking the time, I was getting impatient. All you
wanted was to fill your pocket book. Well sorry, you picked
the wrong girl. I want to see Jimmy Carver. He'll sort this
out."

"Yeah Yeah. In time. Address?" asked Matt Boyden.

"I done have to tell you a thing. I'm not saying another
word till I see Jimmy Carver."

"All right put her in Female 2. I'll find Carver."

"That's more like it." Karen smiled to herself as she was
frog-marched into the waiting cell.

"Anything I can get you" asked Polly Page from the doorway.
"Duty Solicitor maybe?"

"No I don't want one. Mind you, a cup of tea and a bite to
eat would be nice. I ain't half starving having missed my
lunch."

Matt Boyden entered the CID room and looked around. "Anyone
see Carver? Only there's a woman  down in the cells looking
for him."

"He's out interviewing. Should be back soon. I'll send down
shall I?" asked Jo Morgan.

"Cheers Jo" he answered.

"Did you try his radio?"

"Yeah but he's not answering. Probably having lunch."

Half an hour later Jim returned to the office.

"Didn't you see Boyden." asked Tosh Lines.

"No,  I avoided the custody area. Why?"

"Well you'd better get down there in a hurry. There's a
woman in the cells claims she knows you. She's refusing to
speak with anyone else." said Jo.

"A woman." he exclaimed."What' s her name?"

"Karen Davis" came the reply.

"Bloody Hell!!" Jim tore out of the CID rooms and ran down
the stairs two at a time scattering people as he went.

"Ah Jim. There you are" remarked Boyden. "I've been trying
to reach you."

"Yes so I heard. So where is she?"

"Sorry Matt, I can't reveal that just yet." Until I find
out what she wants. Its all very complicated."

"Oh I see." He fumbled with the Custody Keys before handing
them over. "There you go."

Jim swung open the cell door.

"About time you got here. I'm running out of fags. Get us
another packet would you? Oh and another cuppa. White and
2" Karen looked up at Jim.

"What do you think this  is, a hotel!" Jim exclaimed.

"No but we could be here a while if you don't get a move
on." she replied, handing him the lunch tray.

Jim shot her  a look, disappeared to the canteen and came
back 10 minutes later.

"Where the Hell did you get to?" she asked, frowning at
him.

"I just went...."

"No I meant earlier. You were supposed to be meeting me for
lunch. Only this pack of cowboys picked me for soliciting.
Huh, do I  look like it? Alright so I wear a short skirt
and high heels but that doesn't mean I'm selling it. I've
been straight for 6 yrs."

"Oh damn. I knew I was supposed to be somewhere today."

'Oh yeah, very conveniently forgot did we? Or couldn't be
bothered." she replied grinding out a cigarette on the
floor with her shoe.

"Look Karen, I'm sorry." he shrugged his shoulders." Its
been it a bit like that lately."

"Save the sentimentality. I'm not in the mood." She paced
around the tiny cell.

"Aren't you supposed to be in Sheffield. Who's' minding the
girls?" A look of concern crossed Jim's face.

"They're at his mother's. Tony's nights this week. Doesn't
get in 'til half seven some mornings."

"I thought  CID didn't do nights."

"On observations they do. Don't you do overtime anymore? Mr
Brownlow put a stop to that again, did he?" She leaned
against the cell wall, her hands in her overcoat pockets.

"So how is Yorkie?"asked Jim, sipping on a cup of tea.

"Who Tony? Oh, he's fine. He's applying for a transfer to
Harrogate. Might just get too. Be closer to my Mum and Dad.
Money would be useful too. Here do we have to stay in this
cell? I'd rather be in an interview room. Couldn't you
square it with somebody? This cell is giving me creeps."

"I'll go and find out. Hang on"

Jim entered the duty inspector's office, only to find him
in conversation  with Jack Meadows.

"What's she doing here?! " Inspector Monroe asked.

"Who, Karen? Well, for starters, she's a former snout of
mine and for seconds, she's Yorkie Smith's other half. Now,
sir, any chance of an interview room? I'm sure the cell
could be used for better purposes."

Andrew Monroe looked astonished. "She's Yorkie Smiths
girlfriend!!!"

No Sir. She's his common-law wife. She was meeting me for
lunch with some information. Now
about that interview room."

"You mean she's a snout" Jack was  flabbergasted"She's
running rings around you mate."

"Look put her in an interview room and let's see what she
comes up with. It had better be good.Use number 3."

By now a small crowd of interested bystanders had gathered
in the custody area, anxious to see who Karen was. Jim
walked from the womens' cells over to the spare interview
room with Karen in his wake and the crowd parted to let
them through.

"Old Jim sure knows how to pick 'em.Sly dog." Dave Quinan
was giving Karen's legs an appreciative examination.

"Tell me Dave" piped up June. "What's it like going over
the side with a snout?"

"Dunno June. I've never tried." he replied. "Wouldn't mind
it though, especially if they all look like
her."

"Well I think you'd better ask Jim Carver. After all she's
his snout." she grinned widely at Cathy Marshall.

"She what?!" exclaimed Steve Loxton" I had her in this
morning on soliciting."

"Oh Yorkie will be well pleased won't he, June." Cathy
remarked.

"Yorkie? You don't mean Yorkie Smith? Our Yorkie Smith."
said Dave gesturing to Karens' retreating back.

"Yes that tart is his common law wife ."

The colour drained out of Steve and Dave's faces, while
June and Cathy chuckled to themselves, the crowds silently
disolving.

Karen glanced around the room as she settled into the
chair.

"Allright what have you got for me?" asked Jim lighting up
a cigarette."This had better be good"

"Ringers" She sipped on a cup of tea staring at their
faces.

"Pardon?" he replied, chocking on a biscuit crumb.

"I said ringers. Aren't you listening? You know nick a
couple of cars, cut them up, shuffle the various bits
around then bung them back together. 2 goes into 1."

"Yes I do know what ringers are, Karen. Now get to the
point."

"All right, all right. There's a gang been operating in
Sheffield. Tony  has been on observations. Up until
recently they were getting cars local and from across the
borders. Now they want to branch out."

"How?" Jim took a drag on a cigarette and squinted at her
through the smoke.

"Linking up with a gang here in London. Not far off your
patch. Over on the circular, one of those
industrial estates. Got a warehouse and a few lock-ups.
>From what I heard they're rather fancy continentals. You
know Mercs, Beammers, Audis that sort of thing. None of
these coupes or estates.
The more expensive the better."

"Vauxhalls, Fords maybe?" asked Jack.

"Only the top of the range models. None of your cheap
rubbish. Word has it, they were wanting to
link up with an international gang. But how they would
manage that, I wouldn't know."

"Anything else.?"

"There's about fifteen of them in this gang. Mechanics,
welders,spray painters, panel repairers the lot. One
whisper says they're so good you can't tell."

"Any names?"

"A chap going by the name of Garry Willmott is supposed to
be running it."

"Garry Willmott.... that name rings a bell. I'll get Donna
to check it out" Jack left the room clutching a piece of
paper.

"Excuse me Jack but what about those two boys in that
accident this morning. George Garfield said the car looked
like it was broken in two. There was a large crack across
the roof, you could get your thumb nail into." mentioned
Jim.

"Here"called Karen"While you're out there, try these few
names "

Jack rummaged for his notebook and pen "Paul Ridley, Mickey
Lewis, Stevie Norton and Joe Huckstep. Oh and I think Mark
Thompson's involved. That should keep you and Donna busy
for a while. Do you think I can use the phone? I want to
ring Tony's Mum and let her know when I"ll be home."

Karen went off to make her phone call while Jack passed on
the names to Donna.

As Jim stepped out of the interview room, he was confronted
by Frank Burnside.
"Oi ,Jim" he called.

"Yes Guv?"

"I didn't think you had it in you, pulling a tasty piece.
Bit out of your league though, isn't she?"

"I"d keep my eyes to myself, if I were you Guv"

"Why and pass up a chance with that?"

"If you fancy a visit from Yorkie Smith you will. I
wouldn't chance it." replied Jim smugly.

"You what? You are kidding me, aren't you." Frank stared in
disbelief at Karen and Jim returning to the interview room.

"Here Jack" Frank called to Jack Meadows" Who is this bird
with Jimmy Carver? He reckons she's Yorkie Smith's old
lady"

"Not only that,Frank, she's a former snout of Jim's as
well. And a mighty useful one at that.Just gave us a lead
into a gang of ringers operating on the circular. They
could be connected with that stolen Mercedes this morning."

Jack returned to the interview room with Frank standing in
the middle of the corridor, completely lost for words.

"Well,Karen. You've come up a winner. Yorkie will be well
proud."Jack said. "All of those names checked out."

Their conversation was soon interrupted by a knock on the
door.

"Excuse me, Mr Meadows, but there's a Sergeant Brian Reece
from Traffic Division on the phone wanting to speak to you.
Says its about this morning's accident."

"Thanks Michelle." he replied, while half way to the CAD
Room. As he entered, Matt Boyden handed him a pair of
headphones.

"Jack Meadows"

"Brian Reece here. Regarding that accident  this morning on
Shadwell Street. Our investigators have discovered that
although they were only going 45 mph, it was just fast
enough for the impact to cause the damage that it did.
This Benz was definitely one of your ringers. Maidstone
Police have just sent a car round to speak with Mr Barrett
half an hour ago. I"ll let you know if we get any news.
Hold on just a minute. I've been given some more
information. Its seems our Mr Barrett was in Royal
Tunbridge Wells at a building site just out of town when
his car was stolen. He is the General Manager of a building
firm in the Kent area who are based at Sevenoaks. Had to
get a train back home."

"Anything significant we should know about the car?"

"It was only about 6 months old, hardly run-in and was
white in colour when originally purchased. Fitted with a CD
player and car-phone. This one must have been a rush job as
they've only used two coast of bronze paint instead of 3.
Oh and they forgot to change the plates on this one"

"The plates?" Jack asked.

"Yes. What they usually do is change the registration
plates, as well as the engine plates. On this one
they didn't bother."

At that very moment a man stepped into the front office.

"Excuse me,Miss. I want to report my car stolen. Its a 1997
bronze Mercedes Benz sedan."

"Do you have your MOT or registration papers with you,
Sir?" asked Polly  preparing to take down the details.

"Well no I don't. I've only just bought it and the previous
owner hasn't sent them to me yet."

Matt Boyden was standing 5 feet away from Polly at the
filing cabinets and was listening in on the  conversation.
He approached the counter.

"Excuse me,Polly, I'll take this from here. Now sir your
name is" Matt picked up the note book on the counter ready
to take down the details.

"Chris Stevens, sorry Christopher David Stephens, 27 Bridge
Mews, Shadwell Street, Sun Hill"

"And the registration of this car. Do you know it.?"

"Y767 something. Like I said. I only bought it five days
ago. I bought it  with the leftover money from a recent
moderate Lottery win."

"Polly, I think you'd better get Jim Carver. He'll be
interested in this."

Polly crossed over to the interview rooms and knocked on
door 3.

"Excuse me, Mr Meadows. Can I speak to Jim Carver ,please?"

"Yes, hang on" his reply was accompanied by the scraping of
a chair.

Jim stepped out into the corridor. "Yes Polly, What is it."

"There's a man at front office. Says he wants to report his
car stolen. A 1997 Bronze Mercedes Sedan" she replied in
lowered tones.

The door to the interview room swung open."Did I hear that
right?" asked Jack Meadows. stepping into the corridor and
leaving the door open."I think we'd better talk to him.
Hadn't we Jim"

"Here, do you still need me? Only I want to get home before
6 pm." asked Karen.

"You can go whenever you feel like it. You've been a
marvellous help. Give our regards to Yorkie." Jim pressed a
£20 note into her hand."Buy the girls something from their
Uncle Jim. I'll be up for a visit soon."

"You'd better do. Our Katie keeps asking for you. Ta Ra
then." she kissed Jim on the cheek in passing.

Jack Meadows stood watching this little scene with a
bemused expression on his face.

"Katie , Karen's eldest is my God-daughter."

"Right Polly."  This bloke?" asked Jack. Chris Stephens is
it.?"

"Yes that's right. Is it about my car? Have you found it
yet?" He followed them into an interview room.

"Yes we  certainly have ....In several pieces, as a matter
of fact."

"I knew it would be trashed. How bad is it? Carole will go
spare." He sunk his face into his hands.

"Actually its worse. Its a ringer. Where did you buy it
from?" asked Jim.

"Vinsons Motors. You know the one, up on Dorney Road. They
had a good selection about 12 I think. I picked it because
it was nearly new and I knew the wife would like the
colour."

Jack stared at Jim who was grinning back at him widely.

"Bingo. We've got 'em," said Jim. "Lamb and Flag later?"

"Your snout came good after all. You'd better make that
visit and tell her the good news"

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