Twenty Four

Jo simpered as she watched Adams drive off and leave her to face the music on her own. She entered the precinct and walked quickly towards her desk, unaware that she was being watched. “Logan my office” she glanced at the tall grey haired man then sighed “Where the hell is Adams?” he added on noticing his absence, Jo frowned up at him

“He’s checking out some leads on the Gonzales case”

“Oh is that a fact?”

“Yeah that’s where we’ve been all day following up leads”

Her boss narrowed his eyes, “Fine I’ll expect the notes on my desk by the end of the week!”

Jo smiled to herself, she always had been able to lie her head off, and the amount of times she had gotten Hollie into trouble covering up her lies didn’t bare thinking about.

She walked back to her desk feeling mighty proud of herself. “Logan where’s Adams?” she looked up to find Jim King staring down on her. “Checking leads”

“What leads?”

“Just leads”

“What on the Ingebrigtsen case?”

“Might be”

“Well what leads are those?”

“Why are you so interested King?”

“I worked on the case I thought I could help”

“I doubt it”

“What makes you say that?”

“I just doubt it”

“So have you found out anything interesting?”

“Nothing new” she found herself lying once again.

The man hovered as he contemplated his next move and decided against it, which had Jo wondering just what was going on with him.

Mark looked stunned. “Ben” he said hastily, Adams closed the door to his apartment. “Put the kettle on buddy, I need some male company” Mark’s hands trembled as he turned to the kettle. “So what’s Jo done now?” Adams sat down at the breakfast bar and watched his friend bring down two mugs. “She’s driving me goddamn crazy; she’s off on a crusade”

Mark turned to him. “Oh and what crusade’s that?” he inquired staring nervously passed him to the door, any minute now and Ingebrigtsen would appear. “She’s got it into her head that some guy is innocent” Adams said as he two turned to the door. “What is it? Read you are looking mighty guilty about something” Mark handed him his coffee.

“I’m fine honest”

The penny dropped, “Oh God! You’ve got some broad here haven’t you? Why didn’t you just say I’d have gone” said Adams as he got up from the stool. “I’ll go leave you two in peace” Mark begun to relax “Sorry” Adams continued speaking as he made his way from the kitchen.

Christian, now dressed entered the kitchen drying his hair with a hand towel “Wow that shower’s something else man” he said on entering, two pairs of eyes locked together. “Holy shit!” he cried as he dropped the towel and bolted for the door.

Adams drew out his gun and gave chase.

“Christ” cursed Mark as he went after both of them

“Get outa the way!” yelled Christian as he run downstairs.

“Move!” ordered Adams.

Christian gained pace but stopped abruptly on seeing his only means of escape blocked. ‘Shit shit shit’ he panicked “Okay okay you got me” he said suddenly.

Adams raised his gun and continued downstairs at a slower pace.

“Put your hands on your head”

Christian obeyed but had a plan which he put into action as soon as Adams neared.

“Ben” they heard Mark’s voice and with Adams momentarily distracted, Christian was able to free himself and catch hold of the unsuspecting Adams, throw him against the wall and punch him twice before taking off back upstairs. Mark moved swiftly to the side when he neared him.

Adams, having recovered enough set off in pursuit once again.

“Ben Ben calm down” yelled Mark as he to rushed upstairs.

Christian was about two flights ahead by now “Wow! Sorry Ma’am” he yelled as the older woman lost her footing and fell.

“Move move move” Adams yelled angrily as he took the stairs two at a time.

Mark stopped to help the woman.

Christian got faster and faster as he reached the top flight. Now where? There really wasn’t anywhere he could go except the roof, he burst through the door and rushed outside taking in the air as he looked around, and he was trapped like an animal.

“FREEZE!” yelled Adams his gun pointing straight at him, slowly Christian turned round “Put you hands on your head” this time he obeyed as Adams turned to Mark his face contorted with rage.

“Cuff him” he instructed.

Mark begun to protest but one look from Adams was enough to silence anyone.

“I said cuff him” he added firmly, then threw Mark the cuffs.

“I’m sorry” he muttered as he cuffed Christian

“What are you gonna do?” he added, Adams was now pacing.

“I’m not sure...you” he pointed his gun at Christian, “Sit there and don’t fucking move” he obeyed as he watched the young cop begin to pace once again.

“You could let him go Ben” Mark suggested, Adams looked askance. “Who’s gonna know you saw him?”

“I’ll know!”

“Oh come on Adams you don’t have to do this”

“I can’t believe you! Jesus Read what you lack in intelligence you sure make up for in stupidity!”

“It wasn’t his…”

Adams pointed his gun once again. “Shut it!” he told him.

“Why the fuck didn’t you call us Mark?”

“I didn’t think…and anyway I think he’s innocent”

“Innocent you gotta be fucking kidding if he’s innocent I’m the fucking president!”

“Adams just hear him out”

“I don’t need to hear him out”

“He remembers what happened that night”

“Fine tell me what he told you”

“I told him…”

“I suggest you shut the fuck up coz I’m this close to blowing your fucking head off!”

“Charming…tell me d’you cops get some kind of recommendation for killing a crims?”

“Chris please let’s just get on with this okay?” Mark interrupted both of them.

“Sure”

Inger stared at the television, her heart beginning to race as pictures of her son flashed across the screen with the words dangerous and criminal. “Kate” she said in a low steady tone “could you come here”

“Just a second”

“No now, come here now”

Kate entered the lounge and stopped dead.

“Please tell me he hasn’t”

“He bloody has”

“Shit! What the hell’s he thinking just when we were getting somewhere”

“When did Chris ever think?”

“This ain’t good Inger”

“Tell me about it”

A police car pulled up outside right on cue and out stepped Detectives King and Lloyd. “Great” mouthed Kate as she watched the men make their way along the path. “Evening” said Detective Lloyd as Kate opened the door.

“What the hell do you want?” she growled

“May we come in?” asked Lloyd

Kate shook her head “Not without a warrant you can’t”

“Now Miss Harper you really don’t want us to come back with a warrant do you?” said King as condescending as ever, Kate thought about it for a few seconds then moved aside to let them pass.

“I suppose you know why we’re here”

“No why?”

“Oh come on Kate, surely you have heard of your boyfriend’s escape” said Lloyd

“I don’t have a boyfriend anywhere to escape from”

“Cut the crap missy you know fine well that son of a bitch has escaped!” King hissed.

“Who would that be?”

“Listen to me you little bitch, I know you’re covering up for him so if you don’t want me to run your sorry little ass straight downtown I’d start talking!”

Kate darted a look across to where Inger now stood.

“I suggest you get the hell out of here” she said

“Mrs Beaumont, I can kill two birds with one stone, I don’t suppose you know the whereabouts of your son do you?”

“No Mr King I don’t now I suggest you leave”

The man pouted then sat down on the sofa “I’m not going anywhere”

“Fine I’ll just call…”

“My chief go right ahead”

“No I’ll call the press”

“And say what exactly?”

“That we have cops here harassing us”

“Err like they’re gonna believe you”

“Don’t get too complacent detective King I have friends in very high places”

He looked straight into her face as if trying to figure out whether she was bluffing or not”

“King, phone, we gotta go” said Lloyd

“Aren’t you two ladies lucky…I’m gonna get off now but rest assured I’ll be back and this time you better come up with some answers”

Kate quickly closed the door and then lent against it “Where can he be?” she asked, Inger shrugged as she glanced through the window to where King now stood yelling at someone down the receiver.

Adams ended the phone call then glanced down to where Christian sat.

“Well what are you gonna do?” asked Mark looking serious.

“I’m gonna let you go, my advice to you would be this, give yourself up because if you don’t then they’ll make life very difficult for you”

“Are you nuts, I ain’t gonna give myself up”

“Fine but if you get caught we never had this fucking conversation okay?”

“Okay”

“Does this mean you believe him?” Mark inquired as he watched Adams remove the cuffs.

“Well just let’s say I got an open mind”

“Thanks” Christian said calmly

“Remember if you get caught we didn’t have this conversation”

“Okay”

Adams watched the young man leave then placed a hand on Mark’s shoulder “What?” he asked, Adams sighed then made a call

“You bastard, you”

“I’m doing him a favour believe me”

Mark took a few paces away. “A favour! Is that what you call it? Gee mind me never to ask you to do me a favour pal!”

“Fine! I’ll call and have them come and get you to shall I?”

Mark’s eyes widened “Okay you win” Adams simpered then drew in a deep breath. “I gotta get back to the precinct” Mark nodded as he watched him go.