[fic] No Sweeping Exits
Title: No Sweeping Exits
Author: Fionnabair
Rating: Green Cortina.
Word count: 5316
Summary: No offstage lines. Annie knows something’s not right but she can’t see quite all of the picture.
Author’s notes: Well it’s finally done. To give you an idea, this was started for the Words Challenge on 1973flashfic back in September. As ever, thanks to m31andy for the beta, encouragement and sympathetic shoulder. And this is dedicated to lozenger8, since it was partially written in response to a request from her and I’m reusing a title of hers.
Disclaimer: Life on Mars is copyright Kudos and the BBC. All Rights Reserved. No copyright infringement is intended and no money is being made.
No Sweeping Exits
Annie Cartwright had tried to put the past out of her mind. It wasn’t easy. Sam’s departure on corruption charges had shocked her deeply, even more so when he didn’t fight them. That had been bad enough, that her hero and the man she thought she loved, the DI who had ranted and fought against corrupt practices, had himself turned out to be more corrupt than any other senior copper. But discovering that everything about Sam was a lie, that he’d been stringing her along for whatever purpose - as a fake girlfriend, as a cover for his activities, who knew? - that had hurt even more.
The silence that greeted her appearance in the women’s locker room, in the CID office, in any spot in the station where two people were enjoying a quiet gossip, had been telling enough. She knew what the subject was by the way they looked at her and immediately changed it. She’d never heard the women discuss fashion so enthusiastically, or the men spend so much time discussing football in the off season as she did in the month after she encountered Sam in the station.
She’d finally bitten the bullet down the Railway Arms one night, just her, Phyllis, Gene, Ray and Chris.
“I’m not some delicate little flower, you know,” she said when the Guv was into his third pint. “There are subjects that can be mentioned in front of me.”
Everyone apart from Chris had looked shifty.
“Look, what’s past is past, and I don’t want to know why certain people wound up doing what they’re doing. I’m a big girl, old enough to cope with a blow to my pride and live it down afterwards. Can people just stop worrying about me and move on?”
Chris’s mouth had opened into a wide “O” of surprise and Phyllis rapidly kicked his ankle.
“Good for you, Annie,” she said. “Least said, soonest mended, and no-one wants to live their lives in the past. Eh, Guv?”
Gene took a swig from his pint. “That’s a right pair of balls you’ve got there, Cartwright.”
“I know it hit us all hard, Guv,” Annie pleaded. “But we’ve got to put it behind us. And I can’t if people change the conversation every time I walk into a room. ’Cos they won’t let me, will they?”
Gene looked at her strangely for a moment, his eyes darkening as if he was considering something.
“Good point, Cartwright. No point pussyfooting around. What’s done is done, and it’s brave of you to mention it.”
He drained his pint and stood up.
“Well, since I’ve finally met a plonk who’s ballsy enough to tell me how to run my department, what are you drinking?”
As he went to the bar, Ray looked at her steadily and said in a low voice, “good for you, Annie. Don’t let him drag you down.” Across the table, Phyllis watched them both, never taking her eyes off them until Gene returned with the drinks.
It had helped. It had helped quite a lot. The others had treated her with more respect, as an adult in an adult’s job rather than a wide-eyed girl playing with the big boys.
It hadn’t helped enough though, but Annie thought she had hidden it well, until one day Phyllis stopped her as she passed the front desk.
“I’m going on my tea break, Annie. Want to join me?”
Sitting down in the canteen, two mugs of tea and a plate of biscuits between them, Phyllis leaned forward.
“Annie, I know you’re not in the women’s department anymore, but I’m still worried about you.”
“I’m fine.”
“It’s not been easy for you, love, and we haven’t helped much.”
“Really, Phyllis, things are much better.”
“Well, that’s mostly down to you, Annie, fair dues to you. And you made me think.”
“Oh?”
Phyllis slid a sheet of paper over the table.
“This came in last week, sent around all the DCIs. Naturally, I got a copy. New department, down in Southampton. Looking for recruits. Highbrow stuff, looking for the bright sparks - you should have heard the DCIs on the subject of some poncy southern team raiding their departments. But I took a look and thought, now we’ve got Annie, she’s a good copper, knows her job, nothing scares her, and she’s got a degree from a posh university. And Manchester’s a boys’ club, you know that.”
“Does the Guv want rid of me?”
Phyllis shrugged, an expression of contempt on her face.
“Who knows? Oh, he wants to keep you, but this isn’t about him, Annie, it’s about you. And it’s a great opportunity.”
She paused, and nibbled on a biscuit.
“You could apply, you know. Doesn’t mean anything. One more thing - if you get it, apparently it’s an automatic promotion to Detective Sergeant. I have to say I’d like to see a lass I trained get promoted that early.”
She handed over an envelope. “The application form’s in there, with more stuff about the job. Take a look, anyway. Looks like the sort of job you’d be good at.”
Annie took the envelope. She’d read it tonight. As Phyllis said, no harm in looking.
*****
The end of another week, and Annie was walking home alone, later than usual, due to a lock-in at the Railway Arms.
It wasn’t something she’d normally do. Her job made sure she knew the risks of the city after dark, but she had her whistle, she knew the route, and she wanted to clear her head.
There was a method to walking home this late at night. Stay close enough to the lively spots that there were people around if she met trouble, but far enough away that she walk straight into it. Look purposeful and keep her eyes straight ahead.
She relaxed a little as she turned a corner and saw a couple ahead of her. They were weaving slightly and the woman’s arm was wrapped around the man’s shoulders, while he seemed to be supporting her with his arm around her waist.
Annie smiled a little to herself as she walked up behind them.
“You’re going to have a hangover tomorrow,” the man teased.
Annie froze and let the pair move ahead. She knew that voice. Curiosity got the better of her and moving quietly, she began to follow them.
“…and so are you,” said the woman. “At least I’m not working tomorrow. United playing at home, aren’t they?”
Sam laughed. “Hey, I get to see the match.”
“And the ballet afterwards. Just don’t mess up Mrs Phelps’s kitchen floor or she’ll make you lick it clean.”
“You seem to know my schedule better than I do, Sukey,” said Sam.
Sukey nodded, too drunk to notice the bitterness in his voice.
“I do. Safer, see? You look out for your mates. I know and Jack knows, so if anything goes wrong, we can get help for you. Jack and Michelle know my bookings and most of the street girls do the same for each other. It’s just sensible.”
“And you tell them what I’m doing, don’t you?” Sam asked roughly. Annie wondered who “them” was.
Sukey sighed. “It’s business, Sam. And this is my birthday and it’s supposed to be pleasure. I’m not going into all that now. We all make choices. You’re not the only one in a hard place. You’re not even the first to piss off the wrong person.”
They’d turned a corner and Annie stayed on the street. Clearly they’d stopped and she stood against the wall to listen to them.
“Sorry.” Sam’s voice was very low and there was silence for a moment, followed by the sound of a gentle kiss.
“It’s okay, pet,” murmured Sukey.
More silence.
“So, what do you want for your birthday?” Sam continued in a more jovial tone. “After all, it’s not every day you turn eighteen. You’ve only done it… oooh, how many times now?”
Sukey laughed. “Walk me home and I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
Annie had enough. She pulled herself away from the wall and walked on briskly.
The kissing couple in the alleyway never noticed her.
*****
Back at work, Annie tried to put the scene out of her mind. It wasn’t easy. Seeing Sam again had thrown all her good intentions off track. The conversation she’d overheard hadn’t been much better. Clearly her assumptions had been wrong and she wondered what he’d done to wind up in the state he was in. She lay awake, wondering what she could do about it, pondering the issue all weekend. Maybe she could do some quiet research when she went in to work on Monday.
Monday arrived, with no chance of Annie doing any quiet investigations on the side. A lively weekend had culminated in a murder in a nightclub. CID were working all the hours they could, and Annie got home most evenings with barely enough energy to eat her dinner before collapsing into bed. Work and exhaustion definitely helped keep her focused on her job rather than her private woes. So did the distraction of a letter inviting her to an interview in Southampton. The Guv had grumbled like mad and refused to give her the time off. Later that day, after Annie had seen Phyllis corner him, he came back and grudgingly given her two days off, moaning loudly about ambitious plonks who didn’t know their place.
The interview had gone well. Much better than CID had been doing with the murder investigation in her absence. She found out when she got back to the station after her interview. A hassled Phyllis stopped her on her way up, clutching two mugs of tea.
“Hope Southampton went well, Annie. I’ll catch up with you later. In the meantime, take those in to the Guv, will you? He’s got a witness in Lost and Found and I bet they’re both parched. He’s been working himself blind over this murder at the Flamingo and can’t get a lead. Chris said he had a snout in with him.”
Annie nodded, taking the mugs with her. The office was empty as she crossed it, and she awkwardly opened the door with her elbow.
Gene Hunt was leaning forward across the table, talking quietly. It was unusual to see him conduct an interview this way - normally he yelled or charmed details out of witnesses. This one was clearly one he knew and he didn’t look up when Annie walked in.
“Sorry to interrupt, Guv. Phyllis asked me to bring these in,” she said, walking over to the table and putting down the two mugs.
Gene looked up as she spoke and a strange expression crossed his face. It wasn’t just annoyance at the interruption, he looked wary for some reason.
“Thanks love, you just saved my throat,” said the witness, reaching for her mug.
“No problem,” smiled Annie and turned to look at her. She froze.
The witness, already deep into her mug of tea, was Sukey.
“Yeah, well, Cartwright, that’ll be all,” interrupted Gene. “The rest of us didn’t get two days off to swan off down south. There’s a bunch of files on your desk and you’ll find Skelton in the collators’ room.”
Annie nodded abstractedly, still looking at Sukey.
“Cartwright!” Gene barked. “Files! Now!”
Her attention snapped back. “Yes, Guv,” she said. At the door, she turned around. Both of them were looking at her. Sukey curious, Gene with an almost fearful expression on his face. She rapidly shut the door behind her.
*****
Gene had been curiously silent about the results of the interview with Sukey, and the woman herself had scuttled out of the station as soon as they’d finished. He’d ignored Annie for the rest of the day.
Chris, of all people, found the break in the case, and the perpetrator confessed as soon as the police arrived on his doorstep. It was a curiously anticlimactic end to a long and tiring investigation, but no-one cared. They were just glad to be finished with the fourteen-hour days they’d been putting in.
Annie stopped in at the pub for a drink on her way home and found the team celebrating.
“So, come on, Cartwright,” said Ray. “Tell us about Southampton. How’d it go?”
She looked cautiously over at Gene, who was standing at the bar. “It seemed to go well. It was really interesting.”
“Did they like you?”
“I think so,” she admitted. “But it all comes down to references, which is what they’re doing next.”
“The Guv won’t be happy,” laughed Ray. “Right dog in the manger, he is. Doesn’t want to lose you.”
“And you?” grinned Annie.
“Well, you know me, Cartwright. If you head off down south, I reckon there’s a good chance that WPC Jones will get promoted to WDC. And nice as your arse is, hers is better.”
Annie choked as Ray grinned at her. “For that insult, DS Carling,” she spluttered, “you may buy me a drink.”
One drink turned into several, and it was closing time when Annie finally left the pub. Most of the others were still inside, settling in for a lock-in, as she walked out the door, but not quite everyone.
As she turned the corner, she saw the Guv, standing with his back to her, talking to someone.
“…and Tyler. He’s clear that night…”
The voice cut off suddenly as Annie approached and the man slipped away without her seeing him.
“Cartwright,” Gene said, attempting to sound jovial. “What are you doing here?”
“Going home, Guv,” she said, deliberately making herself sound slightly more drunk than she was. “Long night in the pub. I’m surprised you’re not in there.”
“Yeah, well, had to nip out to talk to someone about a case.”
“Oh.” She steeled herself to sound uninterested. “Don’t go calling me, Guv. I’m off duty for the weekend and my cousin wouldn’t be pleased if you made me miss her birthday.”
Gene laughed briefly. “Nothing to do with you. Don’t worry, I’ll handle this one myself.”
He opened the Cortina door. “Hop in the car, Cartwright. I’ll run you home.”
“Thanks, Guv, I’d appreciate that. Long night.”
He shut the passenger door firmly for her before going around to the driver’s side.
Annie looked ahead of her as he drove.
“So, Cartwright, I’ve had a little bird tell me they’re very impressed with you.”
“Oh?”
“Request from Southampton for references.”
“Ah.”
Gene pulled in a few streets away.
“I didn’t want to talk to you about this in the office, Cartwright, but why are you doing this? Manchester not good enough for you?”
Annie shook herself and looked across at her DCI.
“No, Guv, I like it here, but this… Southampton is a really good job.”
Gene nodded. “It is and all. But I thought you were part of my team.”
“I am, Guv, but…” she trailed off and looked in front of her. They were parked down by the canal and the moonlight was gleaming on the water as she took a deep breath.
“I’ve forgotten - or tried to forget - the past, but it’s always going to be hanging over me in Manchester. I need to make a clean break, go to a place where I’m not reminded and others aren’t reminding me.”
“What’s past is past, Cartwright.”
“I know. And…” She paused again. “You’ve been great, Guv, and I’ve really appreciated it. But it’s me, now, and I think… Oh, I just want to forget about it all and I can’t here, can I? I’ll always be the silly girl who was conned by a crook. I want to close the case, get on with the job.” She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and hoped Gene couldn’t see them in the dark.
Gene looked at her thoughtfully.
“I always knew you were a smart bird, Cartwright. Me, I’ve always said keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but you’re right. Make a clean break and get away from it all.”
He started the car engine and drove on, pulling in outside Annie’s house and keeping the engine running. She got out of the car slowly.
“Night, Guv. And thanks for the lift.”
“No problem. Have a good weekend. Bet your head’s aching on Monday. I’m heading back to see if Nelson’ll let me back in. There’s a card game with my name on it.” He pulled away from the curb.
She turned to her front door and was unlocking it when the car stopped a few yards away and Gene leaned out the door.
“Cartwright?”
“Yes, Guv?”
“I’m putting in that reference for you. You deserve it.”
“Cheers, Guv.” Annie waved her arm at him and went inside. She had a lot of thinking to do.
*****
It had really been quite simple. She’d steered her cousin into going out to a nightclub and noted when Sukey came in. It slightly surprised the non-copper bit of Annie’s brain that she knew the regular habits of a lot of Manchester’s working girls, but she’d spent too much time working in CID not to have noticed. She even had an etiquette for occasions like that - she pretended they didn’t see her and they didn’t do anything that might remind her of her job.
This night though, she watched when Sukey came into the nightclub with a middle-aged man and she waited until the girl excused herself and headed for the ladies.
Five minutes later, she followed her in.
Sukey was standing at the basins, checking her makeup.
“Sukey.”
The girl turned around, raising her eyebrows when she saw who was addressing her.
“WDC Cartwright,” she said neutrally.
“I need to talk to you,” was all Annie said.
Sukey looked behind Annie at the door back into the club. It was clear she was calculating if she could get away without a fuss, but just when it looked she was going to make a bid for freedom, a group of girls came in.
“In here,” was all she said, and took Annie’s arm, dragging her into a cubicle and locking the door behind them.
“What do you want?” she asked brusquely, slumping against the door and staring at Annie.
“I want to know what’s going on.”
Sukey sneered. “Need a diagram? Thought they taught you about the birds and the bees in copper school.”
“Not that.”
“What then?”
“Sam Tyler.”
“Who?”
Annie rolled her eyes. “Look, I know you know him. I’ve seen you with him. I just need to talk to him.”
“And why don’t you just walk up to him in the street? Too posh to admit that you know him? Or you could book some time with him - he sees women as well, you know. Too stuck-up to pay? Scared you’d get a nasty disease? Or just looking for a freebie?”
“I think you know that’s too dangerous.”
Sukey straightened up.
“What would make you think that?” she asked softly.
“I have my reasons. Look, I just want to see him somewhere, have a private conversation without anyone knowing.”
“And why would you trust me, if you think it’s dangerous?” asked Sukey.
Annie blushed. “I saw you with him. One night. And well, I think you care about him too.”
Sukey ignored the “too” and stood there for a moment thinking.
“Thursday. Stalybridge. Back of the railway arches. There’s a greasy spoon down there, you can’t miss it. It’s quiet at half past ten in the morning.”
Annie nodded. “Thank you, Sukey,” she said as she unlocked the door and left.
*****
Annie wondered what she was doing as she walked down the Stalybridge railway arches, looking for the café. There was still time to turn around, go home, forget about it. It wasn’t her case, it wasn’t a case at all, it was none of her business, she told herself.
And then she realised that it didn’t matter. She had to know. She did have a case and she only had a short time to close it.
The café was tiny and bare. Three formica tables were all it held and it was nearly empty at this hour. It was well outside Annie’s knowledge, tucked down a back alley that led to the railway lines.
The doorbell clanged as she walked in and the man behind the counter didn’t look up. Annie paid him no attention, her gaze riveted on the solitary customer nursing a mug of tea. This was something unexpected.
“WDC Cartwright,” said the man dully, not looking up from his mug.
“Sam,” was all she breathed as she slipped into a chair opposite him.
She stared at him for a few moments while he contemplated his cooling tea.
“What do you want?” he finally asked. “Going to make an arrest?”
She reached out to him and he flinched as she covered his hand with hers. He didn’t move it, though, and that heartened her.
“Sam, I’m so sorry,” she began, and for the first time he looked her in the face, anger flashing in his eyes.
“I don’t need your pity,” he snarled.
“I’m not offering it,” she said calmly. “I’m offering you my help.”
He said nothing, but dropped his gaze again.
“There’s something going on,” she continued. “And the Guv’s got something to do with it.”
Sam’s eyes flicked back up to her face at that.
“I have no idea what you mean,” he said with a tone of finality in his voice.
Annie squeezed his hand. “I’m not stupid, you know,” she said.
He shrugged off the touch. “I don’t need the police looking into my business. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not, Sam,” she said, raising her voice.
He glared at her.
“Look, Annie,” he said, keeping his voice level. “Any trouble I’m in, I got into myself and I can deal with it. You’ve got some silly Nancy Drew idea that’s going to lead you on a wild goose chase and do your career no good. And if Gene Hunt finds out, there’ll be no sparkling job down south for you…”
“How did you know about the job down south?”
Sam ignored her and continued. “…instead you’ll be back in uniform so fast, your head won’t stop spinning for a year.”
“And what does the Guv have to do with you?”
Sam shrugged. “He doesn’t want to find an ex-copper’s body on his patch. Keeps an eye on me, checks I’m keeping my nose clean. I don’t think he’d want to find his star girl hanging around with a rentboy, though, do you?”
“You were never corrupt, Sam,” she pleaded. “I know it. What happened?” She paused, a few - too few - pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that was Sam Tyler slotting into place in her mind.
“The Guv knows Sukey. You know Sukey. You and she work for the same person. You… is she your girlfriend now, or is she your gaoler?”
Sam stared at her. “Leave Sukey out of this, she’s okay. She hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“You’re not gay, are you Sam? I saw you with her a while back. You were kissing her like you used to kiss me. You work with her but not for her… Sam, what’s happening?”
He looked down at the table again.
“Sam, the Guv knows something. What’s going on? Who’s he covering for?”
“Shut up!” Sam hissed. “Just… leave it. There’s nothing going on with the Guv.”
“And now I know you’re lying,” she said.
“Just…” Sam looked defeated for a moment. “Please, Annie, just leave it. You can’t do anything and I don’t want you to get involved in my life. It’s sordid, but I’m keeping my nose clean and I don’t want the whole can of worms opened up again.”
She reached out again and this time he let her continue touching his hand. “I want to help, Sam. Really, I do. There’s got to be something.”
He stared down at her hand for a moment and clutched it tightly.
“The best way you can help me, WDC Cartwright, is by leaving me alone.” He released her hand and stood up. “Just never mention that you’ve been to see me.”
He walked out of the café, never looking back at Annie.
*****
Things went so fast the next few weeks, Annie barely had time to breath. True to his word, Gene had sent off glowing references - a grinning Phyllis had just murmured “very flattering” after she’d managed to get a look at the typing pool’s copy - and Southampton had responded by requesting her to join them as soon as possible, with the offer of temporary accommodation until she had time to find a flat.
Two weeks after she’d seen Sam, Annie was the centre of a party in CID and the subject of some very flattering speeches. Some of them hadn’t even mentioned her great knockers or fantastic arse.
The work party was just beginning to disperse when the phone in the DCI’s office went.
“Back in a moment,” Gene said, heading into his office.
The core of the party hung around, finishing off the alcohol and chatting while they waited. After a while, it became clear that Gene was busy.
“Go on, Cartwright, tell him we’re off the pub,” said Chris.
“Why me?” protested Annie.
“'Cos it’s your do and he can’t send you out knocking on doors on a boring case in revenge,” replied Ray.
Annie knocked on the door, and when there was no answer, pushed it open.
Gene was deep in conversation. “…tomorrow. Remember, it’s not that far. You’ll have to convince me… Hold on.” He looked up and covered the mouthpiece of the phone with his hand.
“We’re off down the pub, Guv,” said Annie. “You coming?”
Gene nodded. “I’ll be down in a bit. Just got to deal with this. Tell Chris mine’s a pint and chaser.”
She nodded and shut the door behind her.
It was three rounds later when Gene walked in the door, his face flushed, breathing heavily as if he’d been running. Phyllis looked up as he came in.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
Gene nodded. “Sorted. Now where’s my drink?”
The evening continued in usual form, with everyone coming up to congratulate Annie and buy her a drink. She was touched at the number of people who said they’d miss her - especially those who had been vocal about how women didn’t belong in CID. Much later, she was sitting down for a breather, aimlessly watching Gene and Phyllis talking quietly in a corner, Phyllis looking slightly anxious.
“Cartwright!” called Ray.
“Excuse me, DS Carling, I think you’ll find that’s Detective Sergeant Cartwright, now,” replied Annie with a grin.
“Yeah, whatever. I’m telling you, promote a bird and she gets all above herself. I’ve got an important question for you.”
“Yes?”
“When am I getting my goodbye kiss? I’ve been waiting for this all day. You’ve hugged every plonk in the station goodbye, but what about your faithful team mates?”
Annie grinned. “There’s only one problem with that, and it’s sitting on your face.”
Chris started laughing and choked on his beer.
Ray looked affronted. “Are you telling me it’s my moustache? All the birds are wild for it. I’m telling you Cartwright, once you’ve tried it, you’ll look at men differently.”
The roar of laughter around the pub included Gene and Phyllis.
“Go on then, Ray, if you’re brave enough,” called Gene.
Ray stood up, ostentatiously wiping beer from his moustache. Annie followed suit.
There was a round of applause as he took her in his arms and dipped her in the approved romantic manner before pressing his lips to hers for a long time. When he released her, Annie ostentatiously wiped her mouth before sitting down again.
“Well, Annie?” asked Phyllis.
Annie took another drink before answering.
“He’s right, you know. I’ll always look at men differently now. I’m never kissing a man with a moustache again.”
Ray grinned unrepentantly as Chris slapped him on the back.
“Some birds just have no taste,” he responded, as he went up to the bar.
Gene and Phyllis had put their heads together again, but Annie was distracted by Chris, who was anxious to point out that he didn’t have a moustache. She dropped her head in her hands as she realised that she was probably going to have to kiss every man in the pub before she left.
*****
Annie’s head was aching slightly as she dragged her bags across the concourse of Piccadilly. It was lucky she’d packed before she’d gone out on her leaving do - otherwise, she was sure she’d have had to leave half her stuff behind. Certainly she hadn’t been capable of doing anything except passing out when she finally got home from the pub with a bad case of stubble burn.
“That’s Phyllis for you,” Ray had said as he left, making a fast exit to dodge the wrath of the desk sergeant.
“Annie!”
She turned as her name was called. Standing at one side of the station was Sam Tyler.
He slowly walked towards her, as she put her cases down and watched.
“I… I just wanted to say ‘good luck’, Annie. And congratulations, Detective Sergeant.”
She tilted her head. “News travels fast, doesn’t it?”
Sam looked embarrassed. “Yeah, well, I have my sources. Good luck, Annie. You’re going to a better place.”
“And what about you?”
Sam shrugged. “Don’t worry about me. It’s sorted. I’ll be okay.”
Awkwardly, he offered her his hand. Annie took it for a moment, then leaned forward and kissed him gently on the cheek.
“What was that for?” he asked.
“Just… just because,” she smiled.
They stood there for a moment, hands still clasped, looking at each other. There was a slight red mark on Sam’s cheek and he looked at her as if she was the last thing he was ever going to see. She gently ran her finger along his cheekbone and he flinched before letting her.
“I’ve got a train to catch,” she said eventually.
“Yeah, yeah, you do,” said Sam, clearly shaken. “Have a great time, Annie, won’t you? Good job, good people, you’ll go far.”
She cleared her throat. “And if you were… if you wanted to…”
He cut her off, his finger gentle across her lips.
“My place is here, Annie. But… thank you.”
This time Sam leaned in and kissed her gently, his lips closed, dry against hers. Without speaking again, he turned on his heel and walked off across the concourse towards the goods yard.
She was still watching him walk away when a voice startled her.
“Don’t miss your train, pet, will you?”
Annie jumped and smiled as she saw Phyllis behind her.
“I didn’t think anyone would come to say goodbye.”
“Us girls have to stick together,” said Phyllis as she picked up one of Annie’s cases. “Come on, I’ll help you with your stuff.”
She helped Annie load her bags on the train and hugged her at the door.
“Take care, Annie,” she said. “You won’t have a grumpy old desk sergeant looking out for you now.”
She paused, looking up at Annie.
“You’ll do well down there, Annie, I know.” She leaned in and gave Annie a hug, disentangling herself to shut the train door. “And there’s nothing left here for you now, love.”
Annie stood at the door as the train started moving, watching Phyllis walk away towards the side of the station. Just as her carriage was leaving the station canopy, she saw Phyllis walk over to a familiar figure.
It was too far to see what they were doing, but Sam Tyler followed Phyllis out to the side of the station, where Annie could swear she saw a flash of bronze.
Despite the overheated carriage, Annie was shivering as she took her seat.
Author: Fionnabair
Rating: Green Cortina.
Word count: 5316
Summary: No offstage lines. Annie knows something’s not right but she can’t see quite all of the picture.
Author’s notes: Well it’s finally done. To give you an idea, this was started for the Words Challenge on 1973flashfic back in September. As ever, thanks to m31andy for the beta, encouragement and sympathetic shoulder. And this is dedicated to lozenger8, since it was partially written in response to a request from her and I’m reusing a title of hers.
Disclaimer: Life on Mars is copyright Kudos and the BBC. All Rights Reserved. No copyright infringement is intended and no money is being made.
No Sweeping Exits
Annie Cartwright had tried to put the past out of her mind. It wasn’t easy. Sam’s departure on corruption charges had shocked her deeply, even more so when he didn’t fight them. That had been bad enough, that her hero and the man she thought she loved, the DI who had ranted and fought against corrupt practices, had himself turned out to be more corrupt than any other senior copper. But discovering that everything about Sam was a lie, that he’d been stringing her along for whatever purpose - as a fake girlfriend, as a cover for his activities, who knew? - that had hurt even more.
The silence that greeted her appearance in the women’s locker room, in the CID office, in any spot in the station where two people were enjoying a quiet gossip, had been telling enough. She knew what the subject was by the way they looked at her and immediately changed it. She’d never heard the women discuss fashion so enthusiastically, or the men spend so much time discussing football in the off season as she did in the month after she encountered Sam in the station.
She’d finally bitten the bullet down the Railway Arms one night, just her, Phyllis, Gene, Ray and Chris.
“I’m not some delicate little flower, you know,” she said when the Guv was into his third pint. “There are subjects that can be mentioned in front of me.”
Everyone apart from Chris had looked shifty.
“Look, what’s past is past, and I don’t want to know why certain people wound up doing what they’re doing. I’m a big girl, old enough to cope with a blow to my pride and live it down afterwards. Can people just stop worrying about me and move on?”
Chris’s mouth had opened into a wide “O” of surprise and Phyllis rapidly kicked his ankle.
“Good for you, Annie,” she said. “Least said, soonest mended, and no-one wants to live their lives in the past. Eh, Guv?”
Gene took a swig from his pint. “That’s a right pair of balls you’ve got there, Cartwright.”
“I know it hit us all hard, Guv,” Annie pleaded. “But we’ve got to put it behind us. And I can’t if people change the conversation every time I walk into a room. ’Cos they won’t let me, will they?”
Gene looked at her strangely for a moment, his eyes darkening as if he was considering something.
“Good point, Cartwright. No point pussyfooting around. What’s done is done, and it’s brave of you to mention it.”
He drained his pint and stood up.
“Well, since I’ve finally met a plonk who’s ballsy enough to tell me how to run my department, what are you drinking?”
As he went to the bar, Ray looked at her steadily and said in a low voice, “good for you, Annie. Don’t let him drag you down.” Across the table, Phyllis watched them both, never taking her eyes off them until Gene returned with the drinks.
It had helped. It had helped quite a lot. The others had treated her with more respect, as an adult in an adult’s job rather than a wide-eyed girl playing with the big boys.
It hadn’t helped enough though, but Annie thought she had hidden it well, until one day Phyllis stopped her as she passed the front desk.
“I’m going on my tea break, Annie. Want to join me?”
Sitting down in the canteen, two mugs of tea and a plate of biscuits between them, Phyllis leaned forward.
“Annie, I know you’re not in the women’s department anymore, but I’m still worried about you.”
“I’m fine.”
“It’s not been easy for you, love, and we haven’t helped much.”
“Really, Phyllis, things are much better.”
“Well, that’s mostly down to you, Annie, fair dues to you. And you made me think.”
“Oh?”
Phyllis slid a sheet of paper over the table.
“This came in last week, sent around all the DCIs. Naturally, I got a copy. New department, down in Southampton. Looking for recruits. Highbrow stuff, looking for the bright sparks - you should have heard the DCIs on the subject of some poncy southern team raiding their departments. But I took a look and thought, now we’ve got Annie, she’s a good copper, knows her job, nothing scares her, and she’s got a degree from a posh university. And Manchester’s a boys’ club, you know that.”
“Does the Guv want rid of me?”
Phyllis shrugged, an expression of contempt on her face.
“Who knows? Oh, he wants to keep you, but this isn’t about him, Annie, it’s about you. And it’s a great opportunity.”
She paused, and nibbled on a biscuit.
“You could apply, you know. Doesn’t mean anything. One more thing - if you get it, apparently it’s an automatic promotion to Detective Sergeant. I have to say I’d like to see a lass I trained get promoted that early.”
She handed over an envelope. “The application form’s in there, with more stuff about the job. Take a look, anyway. Looks like the sort of job you’d be good at.”
Annie took the envelope. She’d read it tonight. As Phyllis said, no harm in looking.
*****
The end of another week, and Annie was walking home alone, later than usual, due to a lock-in at the Railway Arms.
It wasn’t something she’d normally do. Her job made sure she knew the risks of the city after dark, but she had her whistle, she knew the route, and she wanted to clear her head.
There was a method to walking home this late at night. Stay close enough to the lively spots that there were people around if she met trouble, but far enough away that she walk straight into it. Look purposeful and keep her eyes straight ahead.
She relaxed a little as she turned a corner and saw a couple ahead of her. They were weaving slightly and the woman’s arm was wrapped around the man’s shoulders, while he seemed to be supporting her with his arm around her waist.
Annie smiled a little to herself as she walked up behind them.
“You’re going to have a hangover tomorrow,” the man teased.
Annie froze and let the pair move ahead. She knew that voice. Curiosity got the better of her and moving quietly, she began to follow them.
“…and so are you,” said the woman. “At least I’m not working tomorrow. United playing at home, aren’t they?”
Sam laughed. “Hey, I get to see the match.”
“And the ballet afterwards. Just don’t mess up Mrs Phelps’s kitchen floor or she’ll make you lick it clean.”
“You seem to know my schedule better than I do, Sukey,” said Sam.
Sukey nodded, too drunk to notice the bitterness in his voice.
“I do. Safer, see? You look out for your mates. I know and Jack knows, so if anything goes wrong, we can get help for you. Jack and Michelle know my bookings and most of the street girls do the same for each other. It’s just sensible.”
“And you tell them what I’m doing, don’t you?” Sam asked roughly. Annie wondered who “them” was.
Sukey sighed. “It’s business, Sam. And this is my birthday and it’s supposed to be pleasure. I’m not going into all that now. We all make choices. You’re not the only one in a hard place. You’re not even the first to piss off the wrong person.”
They’d turned a corner and Annie stayed on the street. Clearly they’d stopped and she stood against the wall to listen to them.
“Sorry.” Sam’s voice was very low and there was silence for a moment, followed by the sound of a gentle kiss.
“It’s okay, pet,” murmured Sukey.
More silence.
“So, what do you want for your birthday?” Sam continued in a more jovial tone. “After all, it’s not every day you turn eighteen. You’ve only done it… oooh, how many times now?”
Sukey laughed. “Walk me home and I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
Annie had enough. She pulled herself away from the wall and walked on briskly.
The kissing couple in the alleyway never noticed her.
*****
Back at work, Annie tried to put the scene out of her mind. It wasn’t easy. Seeing Sam again had thrown all her good intentions off track. The conversation she’d overheard hadn’t been much better. Clearly her assumptions had been wrong and she wondered what he’d done to wind up in the state he was in. She lay awake, wondering what she could do about it, pondering the issue all weekend. Maybe she could do some quiet research when she went in to work on Monday.
Monday arrived, with no chance of Annie doing any quiet investigations on the side. A lively weekend had culminated in a murder in a nightclub. CID were working all the hours they could, and Annie got home most evenings with barely enough energy to eat her dinner before collapsing into bed. Work and exhaustion definitely helped keep her focused on her job rather than her private woes. So did the distraction of a letter inviting her to an interview in Southampton. The Guv had grumbled like mad and refused to give her the time off. Later that day, after Annie had seen Phyllis corner him, he came back and grudgingly given her two days off, moaning loudly about ambitious plonks who didn’t know their place.
The interview had gone well. Much better than CID had been doing with the murder investigation in her absence. She found out when she got back to the station after her interview. A hassled Phyllis stopped her on her way up, clutching two mugs of tea.
“Hope Southampton went well, Annie. I’ll catch up with you later. In the meantime, take those in to the Guv, will you? He’s got a witness in Lost and Found and I bet they’re both parched. He’s been working himself blind over this murder at the Flamingo and can’t get a lead. Chris said he had a snout in with him.”
Annie nodded, taking the mugs with her. The office was empty as she crossed it, and she awkwardly opened the door with her elbow.
Gene Hunt was leaning forward across the table, talking quietly. It was unusual to see him conduct an interview this way - normally he yelled or charmed details out of witnesses. This one was clearly one he knew and he didn’t look up when Annie walked in.
“Sorry to interrupt, Guv. Phyllis asked me to bring these in,” she said, walking over to the table and putting down the two mugs.
Gene looked up as she spoke and a strange expression crossed his face. It wasn’t just annoyance at the interruption, he looked wary for some reason.
“Thanks love, you just saved my throat,” said the witness, reaching for her mug.
“No problem,” smiled Annie and turned to look at her. She froze.
The witness, already deep into her mug of tea, was Sukey.
“Yeah, well, Cartwright, that’ll be all,” interrupted Gene. “The rest of us didn’t get two days off to swan off down south. There’s a bunch of files on your desk and you’ll find Skelton in the collators’ room.”
Annie nodded abstractedly, still looking at Sukey.
“Cartwright!” Gene barked. “Files! Now!”
Her attention snapped back. “Yes, Guv,” she said. At the door, she turned around. Both of them were looking at her. Sukey curious, Gene with an almost fearful expression on his face. She rapidly shut the door behind her.
*****
Gene had been curiously silent about the results of the interview with Sukey, and the woman herself had scuttled out of the station as soon as they’d finished. He’d ignored Annie for the rest of the day.
Chris, of all people, found the break in the case, and the perpetrator confessed as soon as the police arrived on his doorstep. It was a curiously anticlimactic end to a long and tiring investigation, but no-one cared. They were just glad to be finished with the fourteen-hour days they’d been putting in.
Annie stopped in at the pub for a drink on her way home and found the team celebrating.
“So, come on, Cartwright,” said Ray. “Tell us about Southampton. How’d it go?”
She looked cautiously over at Gene, who was standing at the bar. “It seemed to go well. It was really interesting.”
“Did they like you?”
“I think so,” she admitted. “But it all comes down to references, which is what they’re doing next.”
“The Guv won’t be happy,” laughed Ray. “Right dog in the manger, he is. Doesn’t want to lose you.”
“And you?” grinned Annie.
“Well, you know me, Cartwright. If you head off down south, I reckon there’s a good chance that WPC Jones will get promoted to WDC. And nice as your arse is, hers is better.”
Annie choked as Ray grinned at her. “For that insult, DS Carling,” she spluttered, “you may buy me a drink.”
One drink turned into several, and it was closing time when Annie finally left the pub. Most of the others were still inside, settling in for a lock-in, as she walked out the door, but not quite everyone.
As she turned the corner, she saw the Guv, standing with his back to her, talking to someone.
“…and Tyler. He’s clear that night…”
The voice cut off suddenly as Annie approached and the man slipped away without her seeing him.
“Cartwright,” Gene said, attempting to sound jovial. “What are you doing here?”
“Going home, Guv,” she said, deliberately making herself sound slightly more drunk than she was. “Long night in the pub. I’m surprised you’re not in there.”
“Yeah, well, had to nip out to talk to someone about a case.”
“Oh.” She steeled herself to sound uninterested. “Don’t go calling me, Guv. I’m off duty for the weekend and my cousin wouldn’t be pleased if you made me miss her birthday.”
Gene laughed briefly. “Nothing to do with you. Don’t worry, I’ll handle this one myself.”
He opened the Cortina door. “Hop in the car, Cartwright. I’ll run you home.”
“Thanks, Guv, I’d appreciate that. Long night.”
He shut the passenger door firmly for her before going around to the driver’s side.
Annie looked ahead of her as he drove.
“So, Cartwright, I’ve had a little bird tell me they’re very impressed with you.”
“Oh?”
“Request from Southampton for references.”
“Ah.”
Gene pulled in a few streets away.
“I didn’t want to talk to you about this in the office, Cartwright, but why are you doing this? Manchester not good enough for you?”
Annie shook herself and looked across at her DCI.
“No, Guv, I like it here, but this… Southampton is a really good job.”
Gene nodded. “It is and all. But I thought you were part of my team.”
“I am, Guv, but…” she trailed off and looked in front of her. They were parked down by the canal and the moonlight was gleaming on the water as she took a deep breath.
“I’ve forgotten - or tried to forget - the past, but it’s always going to be hanging over me in Manchester. I need to make a clean break, go to a place where I’m not reminded and others aren’t reminding me.”
“What’s past is past, Cartwright.”
“I know. And…” She paused again. “You’ve been great, Guv, and I’ve really appreciated it. But it’s me, now, and I think… Oh, I just want to forget about it all and I can’t here, can I? I’ll always be the silly girl who was conned by a crook. I want to close the case, get on with the job.” She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and hoped Gene couldn’t see them in the dark.
Gene looked at her thoughtfully.
“I always knew you were a smart bird, Cartwright. Me, I’ve always said keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but you’re right. Make a clean break and get away from it all.”
He started the car engine and drove on, pulling in outside Annie’s house and keeping the engine running. She got out of the car slowly.
“Night, Guv. And thanks for the lift.”
“No problem. Have a good weekend. Bet your head’s aching on Monday. I’m heading back to see if Nelson’ll let me back in. There’s a card game with my name on it.” He pulled away from the curb.
She turned to her front door and was unlocking it when the car stopped a few yards away and Gene leaned out the door.
“Cartwright?”
“Yes, Guv?”
“I’m putting in that reference for you. You deserve it.”
“Cheers, Guv.” Annie waved her arm at him and went inside. She had a lot of thinking to do.
*****
It had really been quite simple. She’d steered her cousin into going out to a nightclub and noted when Sukey came in. It slightly surprised the non-copper bit of Annie’s brain that she knew the regular habits of a lot of Manchester’s working girls, but she’d spent too much time working in CID not to have noticed. She even had an etiquette for occasions like that - she pretended they didn’t see her and they didn’t do anything that might remind her of her job.
This night though, she watched when Sukey came into the nightclub with a middle-aged man and she waited until the girl excused herself and headed for the ladies.
Five minutes later, she followed her in.
Sukey was standing at the basins, checking her makeup.
“Sukey.”
The girl turned around, raising her eyebrows when she saw who was addressing her.
“WDC Cartwright,” she said neutrally.
“I need to talk to you,” was all Annie said.
Sukey looked behind Annie at the door back into the club. It was clear she was calculating if she could get away without a fuss, but just when it looked she was going to make a bid for freedom, a group of girls came in.
“In here,” was all she said, and took Annie’s arm, dragging her into a cubicle and locking the door behind them.
“What do you want?” she asked brusquely, slumping against the door and staring at Annie.
“I want to know what’s going on.”
Sukey sneered. “Need a diagram? Thought they taught you about the birds and the bees in copper school.”
“Not that.”
“What then?”
“Sam Tyler.”
“Who?”
Annie rolled her eyes. “Look, I know you know him. I’ve seen you with him. I just need to talk to him.”
“And why don’t you just walk up to him in the street? Too posh to admit that you know him? Or you could book some time with him - he sees women as well, you know. Too stuck-up to pay? Scared you’d get a nasty disease? Or just looking for a freebie?”
“I think you know that’s too dangerous.”
Sukey straightened up.
“What would make you think that?” she asked softly.
“I have my reasons. Look, I just want to see him somewhere, have a private conversation without anyone knowing.”
“And why would you trust me, if you think it’s dangerous?” asked Sukey.
Annie blushed. “I saw you with him. One night. And well, I think you care about him too.”
Sukey ignored the “too” and stood there for a moment thinking.
“Thursday. Stalybridge. Back of the railway arches. There’s a greasy spoon down there, you can’t miss it. It’s quiet at half past ten in the morning.”
Annie nodded. “Thank you, Sukey,” she said as she unlocked the door and left.
*****
Annie wondered what she was doing as she walked down the Stalybridge railway arches, looking for the café. There was still time to turn around, go home, forget about it. It wasn’t her case, it wasn’t a case at all, it was none of her business, she told herself.
And then she realised that it didn’t matter. She had to know. She did have a case and she only had a short time to close it.
The café was tiny and bare. Three formica tables were all it held and it was nearly empty at this hour. It was well outside Annie’s knowledge, tucked down a back alley that led to the railway lines.
The doorbell clanged as she walked in and the man behind the counter didn’t look up. Annie paid him no attention, her gaze riveted on the solitary customer nursing a mug of tea. This was something unexpected.
“WDC Cartwright,” said the man dully, not looking up from his mug.
“Sam,” was all she breathed as she slipped into a chair opposite him.
She stared at him for a few moments while he contemplated his cooling tea.
“What do you want?” he finally asked. “Going to make an arrest?”
She reached out to him and he flinched as she covered his hand with hers. He didn’t move it, though, and that heartened her.
“Sam, I’m so sorry,” she began, and for the first time he looked her in the face, anger flashing in his eyes.
“I don’t need your pity,” he snarled.
“I’m not offering it,” she said calmly. “I’m offering you my help.”
He said nothing, but dropped his gaze again.
“There’s something going on,” she continued. “And the Guv’s got something to do with it.”
Sam’s eyes flicked back up to her face at that.
“I have no idea what you mean,” he said with a tone of finality in his voice.
Annie squeezed his hand. “I’m not stupid, you know,” she said.
He shrugged off the touch. “I don’t need the police looking into my business. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not, Sam,” she said, raising her voice.
He glared at her.
“Look, Annie,” he said, keeping his voice level. “Any trouble I’m in, I got into myself and I can deal with it. You’ve got some silly Nancy Drew idea that’s going to lead you on a wild goose chase and do your career no good. And if Gene Hunt finds out, there’ll be no sparkling job down south for you…”
“How did you know about the job down south?”
Sam ignored her and continued. “…instead you’ll be back in uniform so fast, your head won’t stop spinning for a year.”
“And what does the Guv have to do with you?”
Sam shrugged. “He doesn’t want to find an ex-copper’s body on his patch. Keeps an eye on me, checks I’m keeping my nose clean. I don’t think he’d want to find his star girl hanging around with a rentboy, though, do you?”
“You were never corrupt, Sam,” she pleaded. “I know it. What happened?” She paused, a few - too few - pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that was Sam Tyler slotting into place in her mind.
“The Guv knows Sukey. You know Sukey. You and she work for the same person. You… is she your girlfriend now, or is she your gaoler?”
Sam stared at her. “Leave Sukey out of this, she’s okay. She hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“You’re not gay, are you Sam? I saw you with her a while back. You were kissing her like you used to kiss me. You work with her but not for her… Sam, what’s happening?”
He looked down at the table again.
“Sam, the Guv knows something. What’s going on? Who’s he covering for?”
“Shut up!” Sam hissed. “Just… leave it. There’s nothing going on with the Guv.”
“And now I know you’re lying,” she said.
“Just…” Sam looked defeated for a moment. “Please, Annie, just leave it. You can’t do anything and I don’t want you to get involved in my life. It’s sordid, but I’m keeping my nose clean and I don’t want the whole can of worms opened up again.”
She reached out again and this time he let her continue touching his hand. “I want to help, Sam. Really, I do. There’s got to be something.”
He stared down at her hand for a moment and clutched it tightly.
“The best way you can help me, WDC Cartwright, is by leaving me alone.” He released her hand and stood up. “Just never mention that you’ve been to see me.”
He walked out of the café, never looking back at Annie.
*****
Things went so fast the next few weeks, Annie barely had time to breath. True to his word, Gene had sent off glowing references - a grinning Phyllis had just murmured “very flattering” after she’d managed to get a look at the typing pool’s copy - and Southampton had responded by requesting her to join them as soon as possible, with the offer of temporary accommodation until she had time to find a flat.
Two weeks after she’d seen Sam, Annie was the centre of a party in CID and the subject of some very flattering speeches. Some of them hadn’t even mentioned her great knockers or fantastic arse.
The work party was just beginning to disperse when the phone in the DCI’s office went.
“Back in a moment,” Gene said, heading into his office.
The core of the party hung around, finishing off the alcohol and chatting while they waited. After a while, it became clear that Gene was busy.
“Go on, Cartwright, tell him we’re off the pub,” said Chris.
“Why me?” protested Annie.
“'Cos it’s your do and he can’t send you out knocking on doors on a boring case in revenge,” replied Ray.
Annie knocked on the door, and when there was no answer, pushed it open.
Gene was deep in conversation. “…tomorrow. Remember, it’s not that far. You’ll have to convince me… Hold on.” He looked up and covered the mouthpiece of the phone with his hand.
“We’re off down the pub, Guv,” said Annie. “You coming?”
Gene nodded. “I’ll be down in a bit. Just got to deal with this. Tell Chris mine’s a pint and chaser.”
She nodded and shut the door behind her.
It was three rounds later when Gene walked in the door, his face flushed, breathing heavily as if he’d been running. Phyllis looked up as he came in.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
Gene nodded. “Sorted. Now where’s my drink?”
The evening continued in usual form, with everyone coming up to congratulate Annie and buy her a drink. She was touched at the number of people who said they’d miss her - especially those who had been vocal about how women didn’t belong in CID. Much later, she was sitting down for a breather, aimlessly watching Gene and Phyllis talking quietly in a corner, Phyllis looking slightly anxious.
“Cartwright!” called Ray.
“Excuse me, DS Carling, I think you’ll find that’s Detective Sergeant Cartwright, now,” replied Annie with a grin.
“Yeah, whatever. I’m telling you, promote a bird and she gets all above herself. I’ve got an important question for you.”
“Yes?”
“When am I getting my goodbye kiss? I’ve been waiting for this all day. You’ve hugged every plonk in the station goodbye, but what about your faithful team mates?”
Annie grinned. “There’s only one problem with that, and it’s sitting on your face.”
Chris started laughing and choked on his beer.
Ray looked affronted. “Are you telling me it’s my moustache? All the birds are wild for it. I’m telling you Cartwright, once you’ve tried it, you’ll look at men differently.”
The roar of laughter around the pub included Gene and Phyllis.
“Go on then, Ray, if you’re brave enough,” called Gene.
Ray stood up, ostentatiously wiping beer from his moustache. Annie followed suit.
There was a round of applause as he took her in his arms and dipped her in the approved romantic manner before pressing his lips to hers for a long time. When he released her, Annie ostentatiously wiped her mouth before sitting down again.
“Well, Annie?” asked Phyllis.
Annie took another drink before answering.
“He’s right, you know. I’ll always look at men differently now. I’m never kissing a man with a moustache again.”
Ray grinned unrepentantly as Chris slapped him on the back.
“Some birds just have no taste,” he responded, as he went up to the bar.
Gene and Phyllis had put their heads together again, but Annie was distracted by Chris, who was anxious to point out that he didn’t have a moustache. She dropped her head in her hands as she realised that she was probably going to have to kiss every man in the pub before she left.
*****
Annie’s head was aching slightly as she dragged her bags across the concourse of Piccadilly. It was lucky she’d packed before she’d gone out on her leaving do - otherwise, she was sure she’d have had to leave half her stuff behind. Certainly she hadn’t been capable of doing anything except passing out when she finally got home from the pub with a bad case of stubble burn.
“That’s Phyllis for you,” Ray had said as he left, making a fast exit to dodge the wrath of the desk sergeant.
“Annie!”
She turned as her name was called. Standing at one side of the station was Sam Tyler.
He slowly walked towards her, as she put her cases down and watched.
“I… I just wanted to say ‘good luck’, Annie. And congratulations, Detective Sergeant.”
She tilted her head. “News travels fast, doesn’t it?”
Sam looked embarrassed. “Yeah, well, I have my sources. Good luck, Annie. You’re going to a better place.”
“And what about you?”
Sam shrugged. “Don’t worry about me. It’s sorted. I’ll be okay.”
Awkwardly, he offered her his hand. Annie took it for a moment, then leaned forward and kissed him gently on the cheek.
“What was that for?” he asked.
“Just… just because,” she smiled.
They stood there for a moment, hands still clasped, looking at each other. There was a slight red mark on Sam’s cheek and he looked at her as if she was the last thing he was ever going to see. She gently ran her finger along his cheekbone and he flinched before letting her.
“I’ve got a train to catch,” she said eventually.
“Yeah, yeah, you do,” said Sam, clearly shaken. “Have a great time, Annie, won’t you? Good job, good people, you’ll go far.”
She cleared her throat. “And if you were… if you wanted to…”
He cut her off, his finger gentle across her lips.
“My place is here, Annie. But… thank you.”
This time Sam leaned in and kissed her gently, his lips closed, dry against hers. Without speaking again, he turned on his heel and walked off across the concourse towards the goods yard.
She was still watching him walk away when a voice startled her.
“Don’t miss your train, pet, will you?”
Annie jumped and smiled as she saw Phyllis behind her.
“I didn’t think anyone would come to say goodbye.”
“Us girls have to stick together,” said Phyllis as she picked up one of Annie’s cases. “Come on, I’ll help you with your stuff.”
She helped Annie load her bags on the train and hugged her at the door.
“Take care, Annie,” she said. “You won’t have a grumpy old desk sergeant looking out for you now.”
She paused, looking up at Annie.
“You’ll do well down there, Annie, I know.” She leaned in and gave Annie a hug, disentangling herself to shut the train door. “And there’s nothing left here for you now, love.”
Annie stood at the door as the train started moving, watching Phyllis walk away towards the side of the station. Just as her carriage was leaving the station canopy, she saw Phyllis walk over to a familiar figure.
It was too far to see what they were doing, but Sam Tyler followed Phyllis out to the side of the station, where Annie could swear she saw a flash of bronze.
Despite the overheated carriage, Annie was shivering as she took her seat.