Testing

A story on "The Bill"

Penny Jackson
1993


1.

        6 AM: Everyone on C relief began booking off after a long
quiet night and change over was taking place between the
two shifts. "Morning John", Sergeant Lamont greeted a
bleary-eyed John Maitland, shuffling across the car park.
He had handed over to Bob Cryer only minutes before.
"Oh, um, 'morning Chris, busy night ?" he asked, tucking a
newspaper under his arm and thrusting his hands in  his
pockets.
"Nah, more like the Marie Celeste. Only three bodies and
all in before 1130. Pretty easy I'd say".
"Oh good... god. Well I'll see you tomorrow morning then."
"You all right? You're looking pretty much the worse for
wear. Did you get thrown out of bed, mate ?"
"Yeah, Debbie and I had a major row last night, and I ended
up sleeping on the sofa - bed. I'd appreciate it if you
kept this to yourself. You know how gossip spreads in this
nick".
"Yeah, sure mate. Listen, if things get really bad and you
need somewhere to kip, let me know. I've got a spare bed at
home. Mum takes in Lodgers all the time. She does a bit of
B & B. Summer mostly, but I'm sure she'd help a mate out in
time of need".
"Cheers Chris. I'll keep that in mind".
"Yeah, cheers. See you tomorrow" he called while crossing
the car park.

        After passing through the security entrance doors and
along the corridor, Norika Datta headed for the canteen,
where she was meeting June Ackland and Cathy Marshall and
the rest of A relief. Clad in a pair of Levi's and a black
body suit, her figure drew cheers and wolf whistles from
her male colleagues.
"God! Would you listen to that lot !" Moaned June over her
coffee mug.
"Hello June, you ready for this ?" asked Norika while
drawing up a chair.
"Ready as I'll ever be", she replied, draining the last of
her coffee.
"Morning, all. Hello June, Heavy night ?" Asked Cathy
Marshall, sitting herself on the nearest available chair.
"Yeah, I had visiting relatives. The kind that never know
when to go home. They eventually left at One".
The sight of the three girls dressed in their civvies
brought appreciative glances from the nine guys around the
table behind them. Their train of thought was interrupted
by Inspector Trellis standing in the canteen doorway.
"Right, those of you involved in the raid, you're wanted in
the incident room and the rest of you are due back at your
jobs".
"Here Dave, fancy changing places ?" Asked Reg Hollis, cup
of tea in hand. Reg had been assigned to the CAD room with
Polly Page and Inspector Trellis. He had fancied that he'd
see some of the action.
"Not a chance mate, not a chance". Replied Dave Quinan,
admiring Cathy Marshall's Jean-clad backside.

        The incident room was packed to capacity and there was
standing room only. Everyone on the raid had jammed into
the small room taking every seat, desk and whatever else
they could find to sit on. Staff from Sun Hill had been
joined by members of the Central Drug Squad and A relief
from Barton Street.
2.

        Heavy  negotiations had been taking place between  the
three  for  several  weeks  prior with the drug squad doing
most of the organising.
        Norika had been assigned a drug deal / bust. She had to go
undercover as a drug addict and do a  deal in Canley Fields
with a known drug dealer celled Mark Formyle, who was quite
well known to both Barton Street and the Drug Squad. She
was apprehensive at first thinking that she was going it
alone, relieved though when she found that Tony Stamp had
been assigned as her boyfriend and even more relieved when
she found that she would be wired by members of the Drug
Squad. This settled her nerves considerably.
Tony was his usual genial self, chewing gum and itching to
get going.
"Here Norika, if we pull this one off, fancy a pint down at
the Lamb and Flag later ?"
"Oh maybe". She nonchantly replied.
"I'm buying. Go on, you might need one later".
"Oh... I don't know Tony, I'll think about it".
"You got plans already?" He questioned her .
"No, nothing on, just keeping my options open", she replied
Coyly.

        DCI Jack Meadows took his place next to the white board as
everyone filed in taking seats where they could.
"Right you lot, settle down".  Hush fell over the room.
"What we have is not just one target but four. We are
joined by members of the Drug Squad and Barton Street, as
the targets have also been working on their mannors.
"Our first target is one Mark Formyle, to whom Norika Datta
and Tony Stamp have been assigned."
"You lucky man, Tony !" Came a voice from the back of the
room.
"Watch him Norika, He's wicked." Said Dave Quinnan, joking
with George Garfield. "He'll lead you astray !"
"Oh, and you're an authority are you Dave ?" June remarked.
A blush spread across his face as he smiled sheepishly at
the girls.
"Can we carry on please ?" An annoyed expression crossed
Jack Meadows' face,
"Yes, sorry sir." replied Dave staring at his feet.
"As I was saying before, Mark Formyle has previous form for
drugs but is only a minor dealer but is no doubt involved".
        Heads turned to view the photo being stuck on the white
board by Donna Harris, the Collator.

        For the next half an hour everybody managed to pay
attention to the remainder of the briefing. Various people
had been assigned to different targets. Steve Loxton and
Chris Ryan from Barton Street had been assigned to tail
Nicky Parker.
"Sierra Oscar from Three-Six-Three, Receiving ?"
"Sierra Oscar receiving, go ahead Steve", answered Reg
Hollis.
"Reg, tell DCI Meadows we've got movement".
"Er... hold tight mate, I'll get him for you." Reg turned
in his seat to get the thumbs up from Inspector Trellis,
then barrelled straight out of the CAD room into the
incident room.
"Excuse me, sir." Panted Reg, leaning on he doorway.
3.

"Yes, Hollis ?"
"Steve Loxton just radioed in. They've got movement and
want to know what to do next."
"Frank, you take over. I'll only be a minute."
Meadows hurried out of the room with Reg close behind.
Charging into the CAD Room, he reached the nearest headset.
"DCI Meadows here Steve. Stay with him and keep us tabbed.
I want to know his every movement but whatever you do,
don't show out."
"Got it sir. We're right with him."
"Well, you heard what the man said." Chris Ryan buckled up
and started the car.

"Sierra Oscar for three-six-three, receiving ?"
"Sierra Oscar receiving. Go ahead Steve." Answered Polly
Page.
"Suspect is leaving Skillett Stand and is heading North
along Driscoll Road... Hold on, he's turned into Hornby
Place, heading East. Now doing a left into Dorney Road, the
North End near Tunbury Gardens."
A moments silence filled the small room.
"He's now on foot and crossing Dorney Road heading into
Vinson's Motors."
"Spell it please."
"Sorry Reg, what was that ? A lorry passed and I didn't
receive your last transmission."
"Would you spell it please ?"
"Victor, India, November, Sierra, Oscar, November, Sierra."
"Got it. Cheers Steve."
Reg took a copy of the latest transmission to the incident
room.
"Yes Hollis, what is it ?" Asked Frank Burnside.
"Ah, excuse me sir, Parker has located himself at Vinson's
Motors."
"Vinson's Motors ?"
"Yes sir, Loxton and Ryan are there now."
"Right- Oh, we had better nail this lot on to the floor."

        Norika and Tony had been teamed up with DS Jeff Harris and
DC Paul Jones from the Drug Squad. Jones, equipped with a
camera and telephoto lens was positioned out of sight
behind a tree located across the road from Canley Fields,
where he could not be seen. She had been selected as a
buyer and had organised a meeting with Mark in Canley
Fields. A Briefing had already taken place earlier in the
incident room.
"OK Norika, you're to meet him over there by that big tree
in the middle of the park. If he starts getting edgy about
Tony, have you got your story straight ?"
"Tony is my boyfriend. He's come with me because he fancies
a bit of the action."
"Tony, you have to act like a user, get a bit edgy like,
yeah ?"
"Yeah, not a problem."
Paul Jones fiddled with the camera hanging from his neck.
Another was sitting on the seat next to him.
"Well, I'm ready for action!"

4.

        John  Maitland  was  being  accompanied by DS Mick  Morris
 from  the  Drug  Squad,  Greg
Farlow from Barton Street and Barry Stringer.
Their target was Georgie Taylor, a local villain who has
entered the big time with his son Reggie. They had taken
temporary lodgings at the Ivy Ridge Hotel. The
proprietress, Eileen Jenkins had given Frank Burnside a
tip-off to their presence. Frank had been a short term
resident after his divorce, and Eileen had treated him like
a son. She was often called on in her capacity as a minor
snout.
Maitland and his colleagues had been following Georgie and
Reggie from the Ivy Ridge Hotel to the Bath Arms in Lytton
Street.
Other members of the Drug Squad and Barton Street had
joined the others from Sun Hill in their stake out
positions. Steve Loxton had a pair of miniature field
glasses trained on Vinson's Motors, keeping an eye on Nicky
Parker. So far he had been in the untidy, cramped caravan
that was called the office.
"He's been in there for fifteen minutes. What the Hell's he
doing ? Do you think he's seen us ?"
"Hope not." Ryan handed Loxton a half-wrapped chocolate
bar: "Want some ?"
"Yeah, cheers !"

        Nicky Parker stepped out of his Caravan-office some
fifteen minutes later, followed closely by Len Vinson.
Parker turned and shook hands then got into a VW Golf. he
turned out of the yard and into Dorney Road, turning right
into Tunbury Gardens.
"Sierra Oscar from three-six-three ?"
"Yes Steve?" Inspector Trellis answered the transmission.
"Sir, Parker's heading along Tunbury Gardens turning left
into Woolcott Lane. He's in a dark grey VW Gold, PNC Hotel
Seven Three None Charlie Romeo Bravo."
Polly hastily scribbled down the PNC and passed it to a
waiting Donna Harris, who read it en route to the LIO
office.
"Good work Steve. Keep tailing him, but don't show out."
Chris kept back about three car places behind giving both
cover and sight, enabling Steve to concentrate on Parker
and Chris in the London Peak hour traffic.
"Here's hoping he leads us to somebody else."
"Yeah." Replied Chris, braking sharply to avoid a
pedestrian "Sorry Mate !"
Parker ducked and weaved his way through the traffic and
stopped outside the Bath Arms in Lytton Street. They pulled
up about six cars back from the pub, close enough for
sighting.

        Sitting quietly in their car, they watched the comings and
goings at the pub and finally Nicky Taylor with John
Maitland and his group close behind.
"Meadows from Six three, over"
"Jack Meadows here John. Go ahead."
"Looks like there is something going on at the Bath Arms in
Lytton Street. Georgie Taylor and Nicky Parker are there
now, and judging by the motor opposite, Harry Brookes is
here, too. I think we'll need back up. This one we can't
manage by ourselves."
"Okay, I'll see what I can do."

5.

        Norika Datta was shuffling from one foot to the other in
order to keep warm.
"I wish this bloke would hurry up and get here , I'm
freezing."
In an effort to blend in, Tony and Norika had dressed
fairly similarly. Tony had borrowed a leather jacket from
Garry McCann, Norika had on Jimmy Carver's Denim Jacket and
both were wearing jeans. Before leaving Sun Hill, Norika
had been 'wired' by Jenny Smithers of the Drug Squad so
that the transaction could be both overheard and recorded.
Jeff and Paul had been following Mark Formyle for the last
four months without seeing any deals taking place. This was
the opportunity they had been waiting for.

        Presently a small, slightly built, blond-haired man in his
late 20's approached across Canley Fields from where Paul
was staked out.
"Tone, I think this is him".
No answer
"Tone ?" Norika turned around. Tony was nowhere to be seen.
"He's behind the tree taking a leak." Came Jeff's voice in
her ear.
"Hullo, are you Nina ?" Asked Mark Formyle, while looking
around carefully.
Tony came out from behind the tree and hurried out to join
them.
"Yes. You must be Mark"
"Yeah. Who's this ?" He said, taking a step back, ready to
back off.
"Oh it's all right. This is my boyfriend Tony, he was
answering the call of nature." Tony put a protective arm
around Norika's shoulders and gave her a slight squeeze of
affection.
"OK OK" Mark relaxed "Was there any gear in particular you
wanted ? I can get most, but I don't like dealing in large
quantities. Nothing more than about a pound in weight.
After that it gets too obvious, know what I mean ?!"
"Yeah, well I'm after some black to take to a party. We've
got about £200.00, so whatever I can get for this." She
replied, pulling a wad of notes from her jeans pocket.
"I'm certain we can do business." Mark replied,
Reaching into an inside pocket of his overcoat, he produced
a bag of cannabis resin, about two ounces worth.
"Norika, hand him the money. He'll give you the drugs. Tony
will know what to do from there." Jeff's voice whispered in
her ear.
Norika followed his instructions. Stepping back slightly,
she gave mark the money and he handed her  the drugs. "Good
girl!"
 Tony grabbed the dealer and twisted hisarms behind him.
"I'm arresting you on suspicion of possessing and supplying
a controlled substance. You are not obliged to say
anything, but anything you do say may be taken down and
used as evidence." Growled Tony.
Norika heaved a heavy sigh of relief. She was very grateful
for Tony's size 20 presence. In the distance, she saw Jeff
getting out of his car and Paul appear from his cover.
"Keep still mate, you're nicked." Growled Tony.
Mark had dropped the money in shock.
Norika bent down quickly retrieving the money and the
drugs.
Tony quickly handcuffed Mark. Jeff Harris came sprinting
across Canley Fields to join them.
6.

"You bitch, you're a bloody slag! I thought I could trust
you." Mark snarled at Norika, attempting to
lunge at her.
"He's all yours Jeff. Take him away before I do him some
harm." Muttered Tony, giving the dealer a rough shove.
Jeff took Mark off to the waiting Panda that had arrived in
the meantime. Paul Jones was leaning nonchantly against
Jeff's green Astra. Tony and Norika ambled back to join
him. The Panda car with Jeff Harris, Mark the dealer and
WPC Suzi Croft driving merged with the afternoon traffic
and disappeared down the street.
"Well done Norika. That was well hard for you. How are you
feeling ?"
"Not real clever." She leaned back against Tony's large
frame. "Hey Tone, I think I will have that drink after
all."
"Yeah great, you're buying."
"Get lost, you are !" She replied, giving him a friendly
punch on the arm.

        The incident room was buzzing with activity. Every
available space was taken up with roladexes, ringing phones
and clattering typewriters. Barbara White from the station
typing pool had three of her staff typing up reports and
notes as they came in. Jim Carver looked up from his notes
as DCI Jack Meadows waled in the room.
"Any joy, Guv ?"he asked, removing the pen from the corner
of his mouth.
"One down, three to go. Norika pulled Mark Formyle."
"Yes !". Jim punched the air with his fist as Jack walked
back out the door. he smiled to himself as he flicked
through the Lazy susan of files in front of him. He had
only been out with about three or four girls since he broke
up with Sonia twelve months ago, and since Norika had split
up with Peter four months ago, he felt that he had left it
long enough to chance his arm again and ask her out.

        After conferring with Inspector Conway, Inspector Trellis
and Barton Street, jack meadows managed to organise enough
people for back up.
"Sierra Oscar from Sierra One Recieving, Over."
"Go ahead John." Paul Trellis manned the two way.
"What's the go ? Any chance of back up ?"
"Sit tight mate. Back up is on its way."
"Sierra One from four-four-one. We are now in position."
Called Tony Roberts from Barton Street.
"Sierra Four from Sierra One."
"Sierra Four receiving."
"What is you present location ?"
"We are in the southern end of Lytton Street. We should be
in view."
Sierra Four with Alistair, Tosh and Tony Roberts came into
view and parked about four cars away on the other side of
the road.
"Sierra Oscar from Sierra One. All in position sir."
"Right. GO GO GO ! "
At Jack Meadows word, everybody jumped from their cars and
ran to their position around the pub to make a forced
entry. Tony Roberts had a sledge hammer in his hands.
"Right, off you go." Alistair gave the word.
7.

        Flying into the pub, people began scattering about
collecting bodies.
Apprehended were Nicky Parker, Georgie Taylor, Georgie's
son Reggie and Harry Brookes.
During the ensuing scuffle, John Maitland was elbowed in
the face while trying to apprehend Harry Brookes.
"Hey skip, you all right ?" Asked George Garfield.
"Yeah, fine." He replied through a blood stained hankie.

        Back at Sun Hill, the divisional surgeon had been
attending to an injured prisoner brought in earlier.
"Excuse me doctor, could you take a look at Sergeant
Maitland please ?" George was propping John up, who was
starting to sag at the knees.
"Here, help me get him on the bed." George and the doctor
swung John onto the examination bed and laid him down.
"Constable, could you get me some ice from the canteen.
Quick as you like."
George took off to the canteen in a hurry.

        Doctor Linda Thornton had been an old girlfriend of
John's. They went back about 8 years before he married
Debbie. Debbie had come along and snatched John from under
her nose. The relationship had been left very much "up in
the air", nothing actually having been finished or sorted
out between them. Linda lost not only her boyfriend but her
best friend at the same time. Linda had never forgiven
Debbie and often thought about what might have been. This
chance meeting at Sun Hill had brought all the old feelings
back to them both.
"Linda, is that you ?" John peered blearily through his
blood stained hankie at her.
"Hello John, you look like you've been in the wars." She
smiled tenderly at him.
"Yeah sort of. Got an elbow in the face during a raid. How
have you been ?"
"All right, and you ?"
"OK, until now"
"Enough of the socialising. Lets have a look at you."
Linda sat him up and swung his legs off the bed and gently
touched his face. A knock at the door brought them back to
earth.
"Yes ?" She barked
George stuck his head around the door: "The ice Ma'am"
"Thank you George." John replied, reaching out for the ice
and placing it on his nose.
"You had better go to hospital for X-Rays. You might also
have some concussion and you're very likely to have a nasty
headache tomorrow morning. George, is Mr. Monroe on duty ?"
"No ma'am, he's on annual leave. Inspector Trellis is
replacing him."
"Right, could you get him for me ? We are going to need an
ambulance."
"Not an ambulance, I don't want any drama."
"Listen here John, you're going in an ambulance, like it or
not."
"Inspector Trellis, doctor. Garfield tells me you need an
ambulance."
"Sergeant Maitland has got to go to hospital for X-Rays and
observation. He has a broken nose and I suspect concussion
with further damage to the nasal cavity.  Could you arrange
one for me ?"
"I already have doctor, its on the way."
8.

"Ambulance will be here in about ten to fifteen minutes.
Would  you  like a cup of tea  while you wait
?" George's head had reappeared in the doorway.
"Yes please George. White with two sugars."
George disappeared and returned about five minutes later
with two teas.
"Cheers, George. Give us a shout when the ambulance
arrives."
"OK Sarge." George closed the door behind him, leaving John
and Linda together for the first time in eight years.
"So, what's been happening. Its been, what... seven or
eight years ?"
"A bit. Got married and divorced. He couldn't handle it.
You know, working wife earning more money than him. Odd
hours, phone calls day and night, just wasn't cut out to be
a doctors husband, so we got divorced. How's Debbie and the
kids. How many do you have now ?"
"Two, one of each. Things have been rather strained. I'm
the same as you. She's having second thoughts about being a
copper's wife. I often get the feeling she'd rather I had a
proper 9 to 5 job. Be  a dull boring civil servant type. I
couldn't handle that. Too boring for words, shuffling
paper."
George knocked on the door. "Ambulance is here Sarge."
"Cheers, George."
"Can I give a hand, doctor ?"
"No thanks, I can manage. Is Mr. Trellis about ?"
"Yes Ma'am, he's out the front with the ambulance."
Linda half carried John out to the waiting ambulance and
met up with Inspector Trellis.
"I'm going to St. Hugh's with Sergeant Maitland. Any
progress with my other patient ?"
"He's fine, sleeping like a baby."
"Ring me if I'm needed again." She said, handing him here
mobile number.

        Conversation was kept to a minimum during the journey to
St. Hugh's.
"Linda, would you stay until Debbie gets here ? You have
rung her, haven't you ?" John asked on the way to the X-Ray
room.
"No, not yet.I want some time with you before she gets
here. We need to talk. It has been rather a long time. We
have things to sort out. But I can wait until you get back
from X-Ray." They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Dr. Thornton ? I'm Doctor Duncan Maguire. I'll take over
from here. Have you advised his family ?"
"I will shortly, when he returns and is tucked up in bed."
John Maitland was wheeled off to the X-Ray rooms. An hour
later he was propped up in a  bed  with
three large pillows looking extremely sheepish.
"I'm being kept in overnight. Something about possible
concussion. Have you rung Deb ?"
"Not yet, I want to talk to you first."

        Linda got up and left the room. Debbie arrived half an
hour later, with two small children in tow.
"I see what you mean. Did you notice that she never even
bothered to say hello to me." Said Linda after Debbie and
the children had left, "She knows I can't stand her
anymore. Listen, I don't want you throwing your marriage
away just because of a chance meeting  with  me.  Anyway,
I've  got  to
9.

go. My surgery is from 9.30 AM. I'll call in about nine
tomorrow."
"Yeah OK." He leaned back against the pillows while
watching her leave the room.

        Back at Sun Hill, the place was buzzing with activity. Bob
Cryer was busy in the custody area with the morning's
arrests. Without John, the workload had doubled.
Alec Peters passed through on the way to the property
office.
"This place is like Piccadilly." He groaned.
Inspector Trellis stepped out of his room. The noise had
got to him. "Right, that's enough ! This isn't Victoria
station. Can  you keep it down ?"
A hush descended rapidly over the custody area as people
looked at Inspector Trellis in surprise. "Didn't we get out
of the wrong side of bed." Said Polly after he had returned
to his office.
"Excuse me, sir." Bob Cryer called out above the din. "Any
more news on John Maitland ?"
"Yes, Dr. Thornton stopped by to look in on the other
patient. He's in overnight for observation and being
released tomorrow. Should be back at work friday. all being
well."
"Any chance of an extra pair of hands ? We're really
pushed."
"I'll see what I can manage."
He headed upstairs to Chief Inspector Conway's office.

"Excuse me sir ?"
"Yes, Paul ?"
"We need an extra sergeant, John Maitland will be off work
until at least friday, maybe longer. Any ideas ?"
"How about Cathy Marshall ? She's qualified, helped out on
B relief a couple of times."
"She'd probably relish the HDA. I'll let her and Bob Cryer
know."

        He found the din had settled down to a dull roar as he
headed back to the custody area.
"Bob, have you seen Cathy Marshall ? Mr. Conway suggested
we use her as John's replacement."
"Possibly in the canteen. I think I saw her heading there
with Dave Quinnan about 10 minutes ago."

        The canteen was packed with people discussing the morning
raid while writing up their notes.
"Excuse me Cathy, got a minute ?" He asked
"Yes sir, is something wrong ?"
"We need your valuable skills. Sergeant Maitland will be
off work for at least a week. Chief Inspector Conway
thought you might be interested in taking his place as
acting sergeant."
"Well, I don't know sir." She hesitated in replying,
glancing at her co-workers.
"Don't worry about that lot. I'll have a word to them. Oh,
and make sure you put in for any Higher Duty Allowance."
"Yes, thank you sir." She smiled broadly at his reply.
Inspector Trellis had a few words with the large group
seated around the two tables.
"Cathy Marshall will be standing in for Sergeant Maitland,
who will be off for about a week. Now does anyone have a
problem with that ?"
"No, sir." Came the chorus of replies.
"Excuse me sir, will he be all right ?" Piped up George
Garfield.
10.

"He should be. Got an elbow to the nose. You've  got  two
hours before this  shift  ends and I  want
 your notes on my desk before you leave. Now get a move on,
the incident room is waiting on you."
"Yes sir." Came an even smaller chorus, followed by a
clatter of chairs. Congratulations were handed to Cathy
with some gentle ribbing.
"Here Cath, are you sure you didn't volunteer for this ?"
Dave Quinan asked her, elbowing Barry Stringer in the ribs.
"No, I had no idea. Well, you lot heard what the man said,
lets get a move on." She replied, asserting her authority,
hiding a smile. June Ackland winked at her in passing.
"well done !" She mouthed.

        Jim Carver was madly typing up his notes on a small manual
typewriter from the pool, when he decided on a break and a
fresh coffee. As he stepped out of the incident room, he
almost ran into a group heading to the Lamb and Flag for
celebratory drinks.
"Norika !" He called out to her before she disappeared down
the corridor.
"Oh yes Jim, Your jacket, I nearly forgot. Almost took it
home with me."
"That was a brilliant effort this morning.   Really well
done. Look, I was wondering if you would join me for a
drink later." He tentatively asked.
"Oh thanks Jim, I'd love to, but Tony asked me earlier.
Maybe some other time, sorry." She replied, edging back
down the hall.
"Yeah OK, Later." He mumbled his reply to no-one in
particular, watching her retreating back disappear out of
sight with a down cast expression. "Yeah later."
=======
feedback to wackojacko45@hotmail.com