Without warning Kings legs buckled and he fell to his hands and knees, but even they could no longer take his weight as he collapsed onto his side, knocking the last of his breath from him as his eyes flickered and closed. At last the darkness came and took the nightmare away.
2
Nine months later
King sat in front of his computer inputting yet another crime report into the Mets CRIS system, feeling as bored and frustrated as hed felt for the last few weeks. At first hed been happy just to be back at work instead of climbing the walls in the hospital and then in the small flat he shared with his partner, Sara Taylor, a fellow police officer also based in Newham Borough. But now being stuck in an office was more than he could bear and he was longing for the streets. He was still treated as something of a hero after what had happened, but he knew that reputations didnt last long in the police and if he didnt make it back to the streets soon his peers would start to consider him as little more than a civvy police slang for a civilian employee who was no longer capable of the task of being an officer. He had to get back in the action, even if it meant lying about his true physical and mental state even if it meant not telling anyone about the nightmares that plagued most of his sleeping hours.
The phone on the opposite desk rang loudly and made him jump. He hoped no one had noticed as he watched the civvy speak curtly into the phone before quickly hanging up and looking across the computer screens in his direction.
Apparently the Chief Superintendent will see you now, Jack, she told him, smiling. He smiled back and practically leapt from his chair. This could be the call hed been waiting for the green light to return to the streets.
As he hurried through the main CID office he almost bumped into Detective Sergeant Frank Marino coming from the other direction. Frank grabbed hold of his arm to steady them both.
Whats the big hurry? Marino asked with a smile.
Sorry, Frank, King apologized. I just got a shout to go see Gerrard. I might be getting the OK to return to full duties.
The smile slipped from Marinos face. Full duties? You sure youre ready for that? What happened to you was he struggled to find the words.
Im fine, King tried to reassure him. Back and shoulders still a little stiff and sore, but nothing I cant handle.
Its not the physical stuff Im concerned about, Marino told him. There was a silence for a few seconds. That was a tough situation you had to cope with. Fortunately the sort of thing not many of us will ever experience. It can leave scars no one else can see.
Im fine, King answered again and tried to smile, but couldnt.
They watched each other for what seemed a long time until Marino interrupted their silent conversation. Tough trial too. Wanker of a defence barrister grilling you for more than two days looking for holes.
Yeah, well, he was wasting his time, King answered the bitterness still thick in his voice.
Yes he was, Marino agreed. Ive never seen a cop as young as you handle something like that as well as you did.
King nodded, looking a little embarrassed before replying. Thanks. I just did what I had to do.
Marino watched him for a few seconds. Youre a good cop, Jack, you know. You had a lot of good results before Real good arrests. Not easy to gain the respect and trust of other cops when youre on accelerated promotion but you have. If you want to go the way of the CID I can make it happen. A couple more months flying the Crime Desk then we can get you on a plain-clothed squad and look to get you into a trainee detective slot as soon as we can. Its a good option, Jack.
King took a deep breath before answering. I appreciate the offer, Frank but I need the streets. Walking around out there in uniform makes me feel makes me feel good. I missed it, you know. I need it.
Marino gently let go of his arm. OK then. Good luck, but if youre not ready, or if you change your mind once youre back out there youre welcome back here any time.
Thanks, he replied. Anyway, mustnt keep Superintendent Gerrard waiting.
No. Of course not, Marino agreed and watched King head off across the office.
King walked so fast through the station that several times he almost broke into a jog, nodding quick hellos to people he knew and some he didnt until hed climbed to the top floor of the station and reached Gerrards door. He took a deep breath and knocked, resting his hand on the handle in anticipation of a swift reply. He wasnt disappointed as almost immediately he heard Gerrards voice calling him inside.
As soon as he entered he was greeted by the usual sight of Gerrard sitting straight-backed behind his desk as Inspector Joanne Johnston stood to the side. Jack knew it would be Gerrard doing the talking, but was in little doubt who was really in charge. Johnston had a fearsome reputation as being a ruthless self-promoter destined for the top prepared to stab anyone in the back who got in her way, including Gerrard. Her appearance was, as ever, immaculate; her uniform tailored at her own expense to best show off her athletic, thirty-three-year-old body, her brown hair cut into a short pixie style to best frame her pretty face. Looks that had already lulled more than a few male colleagues to drop their guard only to be crushed. A reputation that had already earned her the nickname of the Poisonous Pixie at Bramshill Staff College.
Ah, Jack, Gerrard smiled. Please take a seat.
Thank you, sir, King replied, sitting in one of the two chairs that faced Gerrard.
Gerrard looked down at the obligatory file that lay open on his desk and then back to King, looking as serious as King could remember seeing him. Inspector Johnston and I were just having a chat with HR about yourself going over your latest medical reports, psychological reports, that sort of thing something we need to do before considering anyone for full duties. Fortunately its not like the old days when wed have just patched you up and slung you back out on the streets. Times have changed. Things have moved on for the better.
King didnt agree. Being patched up and slung out sounded perfect to him. Talking to psychiatrists hadnt taken away his nightmares, but perhaps the streets could. I understand, he managed to reply.
However, Gerrard smiled again, having taken everything into consideration, we have decided to allow you to return to full duties.
King felt his heart soar with excited relief, but his stomach knotted with anxiety. He told himself it was nothing that it was to be expected after everything that had happened. Gerrard must have seen something in his face.
Are you all right, Jack? he asked.
He recovered quickly. Sorry, yes, Im fine. Just excited.
Good, Gerrard beamed again. Now, having completed your sergeants course while recovering on light duties, youll no doubt be looking for more of a leadership role.
It hadnt been something King had thought about other people to look after as well as himself but it wasnt enough of a fly in the ointment to put him off returning to the streets. Ideally, he lied.
It hadnt been something King had thought about other people to look after as well as himself but it wasnt enough of a fly in the ointment to put him off returning to the streets. Ideally, he lied.
Excellent, Gerrard told him, because theres something thats come up that could be perfect.
Im listening, King encouraged him.
Weve been having a lot of trouble on the Grove Wood Estate this past year or so and, try as they like, the Safer Neighbourhoods Team down there cant seem to get to grips with it. So we, Gerrard glanced at Johnston, have decided to try something new.
Such as? King asked impatiently.
Weve decided to dedicate three constables to the estate on a permanent basis, or at least until theyre no longer required. All have exceptional records and are known for their, shall we say, no-nonsense approach to policing. Your job, should you want it, would be to supervise the team and make sure they understand their parameters. We dont expect you to be walking the beat day after day yourself; after all, you should now be working towards achieving the next rank as you are still very much part of the accelerated promotion scheme.
Id want to be out and about on the estate, King blurted out.
Then I take it you accept the position? Gerrard asked.
Of course, King insisted. Sounds like fun.
Im sure it will be, Gerrard tried to play along, but dont lose sight of your ultimate career objectives. I see this as something to keep you out of harms way until you move forward to the next rank.
I dont need to be kept out of harms way, he argued, suspicious of Gerrards intentions fearful he and Johnston somehow doubted he was ready to return to the world outside.
Of course you dont, Gerrard quickly agreed. Thats not what I meant. What I mean is we need to keep you away from anything that could hinder your future prospects, such as unfounded complaints from the public, for example. They can drag behind your career like an anchor on a speed boat.
Ill be careful, he promised, but Ive only been in the job a couple of years. Im not quite ready for being stuck in an office behind a desk.
Gerrard cleared his voice and managed to remain smiling. Well then, good. Good. Get out there and get it out of your system.
Thank you, sir. I will, he assured them.
Gerrard grew serious again and appeared to look to Johnston for moral support before speaking, moving uncomfortably in his chair as Johnston looked on through her green eyes that shone with intelligence and ambition.
Terrible thing that happened to you, Gerrard finally spoke. Terrible thing that you had to see. King just shrugged, dying inside at the thought of having to discuss it with two people he neither respected nor liked. The young girl the girl you saved eventually spoke to the Murder Investigation Team. She confirmed it was her father whod tried to kill her whod killed the rest of his family. The investigating officers discovered he suspected the mother of having an affair and feared she was going to leave him and take the children with her, so he decided better to kill them all. Turns out she wasnt even seeing anyone else. He just imagined it.
I know, King managed to say. The investigation team told me before the trial.
Yes, Gerrard said, sounding more melancholy than King had ever heard him. I suppose they did. But after such a traumatic experience I was wondering how you felt how you really felt? Never mind what you told the psychiatrist.
Im fine, sir. I just need to get back to work. Proper work.
Very well, Gerrard smiled, seemingly satisfied. As Ive said, youll be taking care of the day-to-day running of the Unit and will report to Inspector Johnston here wholl be overseeing things as a whole.
Fine, King agreed, already rising from his chair, happy hed heard everything he needed to before Johnston stopped him.
Youve been working on the Crime Desk, I understand? Johnston finally spoke her voice accentless and pleasantly toned. Designed to trap the unwary.
Yes, King confirmed, easing back into his chair.
Then are you aware there appears to be a serial offender preying on young children on the estate and surrounding areas? Johnston asked.
I am, King answered.
Not as serious as it could be, thank God, although we take all offences against children, particularly sexual offences, very seriously indeed.
Yes, maam, King went along with her, wondering where she was heading.
Its time he was stopped, she insisted, before he does something even worse.
I understand, King assured.
Good, she smiled slightly showing the tips of her straight white teeth as she turned to Gerrard to let him know shed finished.
You start tomorrow, Gerrard told him. Weve sorted out an office over at Canning Town for you. Its not much, but itll do. Your new team will meet you there in the morning and you can all get acquainted. Im sure youll already know one or two of them.
Probably, King shrugged and headed for the door.
Inspector Johnston will email you a list of the team members before tomorrow, he continued. Give you a chance to look them over.
Make sure you keep me fully informed, Johnston told him, with a trace of a warning in her voice.
Of course, he assured him, guessing that Johnston wouldnt be slow in taking the credit for anything positive they achieved.
And be careful, Gerrard warned him as he headed through the door. I hear the locals occasionally take potshots from the tower blocks at passing police officers with unwanted television sets.
Ill bear that in mind, King smiled as he pushed himself from his seat and headed for the door.
The next morning, shortly after ten, King entered the small office on the second floor of Canning Town Police Station that used to belong to the now reassigned Crime Prevention Officer. His three charges were already there noisily sorting out their new desks and trying to find places to stash the huge amount of kit that every uniformed officer now possessed: body armour, utility belts, riot helmets, normal helmets, flat caps, CS gas, extendable truncheons, fixed truncheons, light jackets, heavy jackets and a seemingly endless number of other items. He knew all three of them by name and sight, although theyd never worked closely. None of them were distracted from their mission to sort out the office when he entered, choosing to acknowledge his presence in a more casual manner.
You must be mad to want to be in charge of this shit posting, PC Davey Brown accused him in his strong Glaswegian accent his hair still cropped exactly as it had been in his days as a Royal Marine before a shoulder injury had forced him to retire when he was only twenty-one. He had a tough, unpleasant-looking face, other than his striking green eyes, all enhanced by a muscular body that made him appear shorter than his five-foot-ten inches. Since joining the Met four years previously, hed established a reputation amongst his peers and the lowlife of Newham that was to be feared. I heard you actually volunteered for this shit, he continued, stuffing his newly acquired drawers with kit.
Maybe, King played it cautiously, heading deeper into the office.