Fic: The Art of Being Lost and Found (48/?), dakfinv, blue cortina
Title: The Art of Being Lost and Found (48/?)
Author: dak
Word Count: 1625 (this part); (69,598 in total, so far)
Rating: blue cortina
Warnings: none for this part
Summary: Post 2.08. When the Guv goes missing, CID is saddled with an inept "interim" DCI. To find Gene, and the truth, Ray must team up with a hated enemy.
A/N: Happy New Year!
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15
Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28
Part 29 Part 30 Part 31 Part 32 Part 33 Part 34 Part 35 Part 36 Part 37 Part 38 Part 39 Part 40 Part 41
Part 42 Part 43 Part 44 Part 45 Part 46 Part 47
With a shove, Gene pushed Ray against the wall and stood pack, running a hand through his lengthening hair.
“Guv,” Ray repeated quietly, still in shock at seeing this person before him. Gene looked well enough. Well, it at least appeared uninjured. He was unshaven and in shoddy clothes. He looked as he did when he went undercover as Sykes, Ray decided, just more concerned.
“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” Gene asked again, his voice lower but no less menacing.
“I...” Ray clamored for an answer. Shouldn’t it have been obvious why he was here?
“Who’s running CID?”
“Carter.”
“Who?” Gene barked, staring at Ray with confusion.
“DCI Carter. Rathbone brought him in.”
“Good bloke?”
“Bit of a ponce, really.”
Gene nodded and looked at the floor. Ray had no idea what to say. Neither did the Guv, it seemed. The silence was broken when Dorothy stirred in the other room. It was Freddy who offered to check on her.
“I’ll, er, I’ll...right,” he muttered and disappeared into the bedroom. The two remaining men were silent for another minute before Ray found the courage to speak.
“Guv, what’re you doing here?”
In the dim light, it was hard to see Gene’s reaction to the question. His extended silence made Ray fearful that he’d asked the wrong question. Eventually, though, Gene released a heavy sigh and walked to the table in the kitchenette, where a poured glass of whisky was already waiting.
Gene motioned for Ray to come and grab it while he poured himself another. They stood at the small, wobbly table, sipping their drinks, as Ray waited for an answer to his question.
“Family, Raymondo,” Gene finally sighed. “Family.”
Ray nodded in understanding. He’d do anything for his nephews. How could he blame Gene for doing the same for Dorothy?
“Gene, why didn’t you tell me?”
His Guv stared into his drink, downed it, then reached into his pockets and pulled out his fags.
“Didn’t think I’d be gone this long,” he answered. “Didn’t want to worry you.”
“Disappearing for weeks on end without a bloody word and we’re not supposed to worry?” Ray finally snapped.
“You’re grown men! You should be able to look after yourselves.”
“That don’t mean we don’t....” Ray couldn’t finish his sentence. He trailed off with a shake of his head. They stood there quietly until Ray finished his own drink. Gene picked up the bottle and refilled both glasses.
“There been an investigation?” he asked softly.
“Into your disappearing act? Aye. Went nowhere until...Now it’s under Litton’s jurisdiction.”
“Litton?” Gene scoffed. “Well, guess me secret’s safe, then. RCS couldn’t find knickers in a tart’s boudoir.”
Again they fell into silence as the whisky was swirled and drank. Ray refilled the glasses.
“When are you coming home, Gene?”
The Guv sighed and ran his hand through his hair yet again before strolling away from the tiny table and into the main room. Ray watched as Gene stared down at Dorothy’s book, where it lay open on the floor.
“One piece of unfinished business. Then I’ll be back,” he leaned over and picked up the book, closed it, and set it next to the radio.
“Jameson Hendricks,” Ray asked without asking.
If Gene were shocked, he hid it well.
“How’d you know?” he asked.
“DS doesn’t stand for dog shite,” Ray replied. That earned him a chuckle. “Guv, whatever you’re planning, you don’t have to go through with it. Let the Met handle it. Tell ‘em what you know and...”
“I can’t back down from a fight, Ray. You should know better than that.”
“It’s not your fight, Gene.”
“That adolescent brat is planning on shipping a load of heroin up to my city! How is that not my fight? Our fight?” Gene accused, the lit cigarette dangling between his fingers as he pointed them at Ray.
“But this undercover business, it’s...it can’t be worth it. What you’re saying, aye it’s true. But, it’s just ideas Tyler’s put in your head to make you...”
“Tyler?” Gene narrowed his eyes. “What has Tyler got to do with it?”
“He told me. ‘Bout the visits. The phone calls.”
“So?”
“He told me how...”
“How what?”
Ray nearly stepped back. Gene had entered interrogation mode now and once in that mind set, he never stopped until he found the answer he wanted.
“How he convinced you to stay. To go undercover even though you’d already found Dorothy.”
“What the bloody hell are you on about?” Gene roared, apparently forgetting his niece was asleep in the other room.
“He said...”
“He’s sick, you idiot! Why would anyone believe a damn word he says? He doesn’t even believe a damn word he says!”
“But...”
“This whole operation was my idea. I found out about Hendricks’ plans. I told Tyler I was going undercover.”
“No. He said you fought about it. Over the phone. He’s the one...”
“Course we bloody fought! I told him I was going in. He yelled at me not to. Said exactly what you’re saying now - that it wasn’t worth it. It’s the Met’s jurisdiction. I should let the Southern ponces handle it.”
“He said he convinced you stay,” Ray’s confusion was turning to anger. “He told me he made you stay.”
“He is delusional!” Gene bellowed, a fury in his eyes Ray rarely ever saw. “His brain’s not working like it’s supposed to! How could it? All the drugs they’re pumping into him. And those damn treatments. Zapping everything useful right out of him. A copper’s memory is his most important tool and that damn bitch is taking it away from him.” Gene closed his eyes and Ray watched as he struggled to control his anger. “Sam can’t remember things properly. His brain only saves bits and pieces. Whatever’s left, he can’t make sense of it cos all the parts aren’t there, so he makes up stories so it all fits together. Least, that’s what his quack told me.”
“You’ve spoken to Dr. Wynton?”
“Course I have. Probably seen her more times than me own wife these past months.”
Ray tried not to flinch at the word ‘wife.’ Gene continued, seemingly unaware of Ray’s internal struggle.
“I wanted her to stop the shock treatments. She said it was helping. I told her she was no better than a torturer. Even offered to share a few of me own interrogation methods with her. Didn’t take too kindly to that.”
“Then, why did you use Tyler for your contact? If wouldn’t be able to remember information, if he wouldn’t be able to help you...”
“I wasn’t.”
“You weren’t calling him?”
“Course I was. Needed to keep checking up on him, didn’t I? Poor lad’s a mess in the head, moreso than usual these days. I didn’t want him thinking I’d left him to rot in that dungeon. He might be off, but he’s still one of us. What happened with Morgan, course it shouldn’t have happened, but it did, and Sam can learn to deal with it, long as they stop doping him up every bloody hour.”
“Morgan’s dead,” Ray blurted out. He didn’t know what made him say it; the words just came tumbling out. “Family switched him off.”
“Hm,” Gene snorted. “Well, can’t say I’ll miss him. How’s Tyler taking it?”
“I...” Ray found it difficult to speak. “Don’t know, really. Sort of told him and...”
“And?”
“And left.”
“Left where?”
“The hotel. We’re staying at a hotel in Earl’s Court.”
“You left him on his own?” Gene pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. “Bad enough you brought him down here to begin with. But, guess it’s better than being locked up in that shithole they call a hospital. Right,” he sighed. “That where he is now?”
“Er, well...” Ray swallowed nervously.
“Well what?”
“I just, I came from the hotel and he, uhm, he...”
“Ray. Where. Is. Sam.”
“I left him early this afternoon. Found out about Hendricks. Staked out his house a few hours, then the casino. Finally went back to the hotel and when I saw he weren’t there, thought maybe, he’d come over here.”
Ray watched as Hunt’s body became tense and unyielding. His bright eyes narrowed and he stared down Ray with a hatred he shared with few men. His body began to shake with barely controlled fury.
“He...he’s not here, then, is he?” Ray asked meekly.
Gene slowly stepped towards him, his face a collection of power, rage, and fear.
“The Hendricks deal goes down tonight,” he said quietly. “I’m to be in Wapping in an hour. Now you’re telling me you’ve lost my mentally ill Inspector somewhere in this maze of a city.”
“He’s probably still in London,” Ray offered. He had no idea why Gene chose not to hit him. He was certainly expecting it and Gene was certainly capable.
“DS Carling. You are going to go to Scotland Yard. First, you are going to report Detective Inspector Sam Tyler as missing. Then, you will tell them that at midnight tonight, a shipment of drugs will be unloaded at the West India Quay to be put on a lorry headed North. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Guv.”
“Good. And do you know what you’ll be doing after that?”
“No, Guv.”
“You’ll be scouring every street corner, every pub, every bloody dung heap for your DI. Now do you understand?”
“Yes, Guv.”
“Good,” Gene sneered. “Now get out of here before I beat you so hard you won’t be able to use your jaw for a month.”
Ray turned on his heel and hurried out of the apartment. His Guv had told him exactly what he should do and Ray had no idea what to do.
Author: dak
Word Count: 1625 (this part); (69,598 in total, so far)
Rating: blue cortina
Warnings: none for this part
Summary: Post 2.08. When the Guv goes missing, CID is saddled with an inept "interim" DCI. To find Gene, and the truth, Ray must team up with a hated enemy.
A/N: Happy New Year!
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15
Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28
Part 29 Part 30 Part 31 Part 32 Part 33 Part 34 Part 35 Part 36 Part 37 Part 38 Part 39 Part 40 Part 41
Part 42 Part 43 Part 44 Part 45 Part 46 Part 47
With a shove, Gene pushed Ray against the wall and stood pack, running a hand through his lengthening hair.
“Guv,” Ray repeated quietly, still in shock at seeing this person before him. Gene looked well enough. Well, it at least appeared uninjured. He was unshaven and in shoddy clothes. He looked as he did when he went undercover as Sykes, Ray decided, just more concerned.
“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” Gene asked again, his voice lower but no less menacing.
“I...” Ray clamored for an answer. Shouldn’t it have been obvious why he was here?
“Who’s running CID?”
“Carter.”
“Who?” Gene barked, staring at Ray with confusion.
“DCI Carter. Rathbone brought him in.”
“Good bloke?”
“Bit of a ponce, really.”
Gene nodded and looked at the floor. Ray had no idea what to say. Neither did the Guv, it seemed. The silence was broken when Dorothy stirred in the other room. It was Freddy who offered to check on her.
“I’ll, er, I’ll...right,” he muttered and disappeared into the bedroom. The two remaining men were silent for another minute before Ray found the courage to speak.
“Guv, what’re you doing here?”
In the dim light, it was hard to see Gene’s reaction to the question. His extended silence made Ray fearful that he’d asked the wrong question. Eventually, though, Gene released a heavy sigh and walked to the table in the kitchenette, where a poured glass of whisky was already waiting.
Gene motioned for Ray to come and grab it while he poured himself another. They stood at the small, wobbly table, sipping their drinks, as Ray waited for an answer to his question.
“Family, Raymondo,” Gene finally sighed. “Family.”
Ray nodded in understanding. He’d do anything for his nephews. How could he blame Gene for doing the same for Dorothy?
“Gene, why didn’t you tell me?”
His Guv stared into his drink, downed it, then reached into his pockets and pulled out his fags.
“Didn’t think I’d be gone this long,” he answered. “Didn’t want to worry you.”
“Disappearing for weeks on end without a bloody word and we’re not supposed to worry?” Ray finally snapped.
“You’re grown men! You should be able to look after yourselves.”
“That don’t mean we don’t....” Ray couldn’t finish his sentence. He trailed off with a shake of his head. They stood there quietly until Ray finished his own drink. Gene picked up the bottle and refilled both glasses.
“There been an investigation?” he asked softly.
“Into your disappearing act? Aye. Went nowhere until...Now it’s under Litton’s jurisdiction.”
“Litton?” Gene scoffed. “Well, guess me secret’s safe, then. RCS couldn’t find knickers in a tart’s boudoir.”
Again they fell into silence as the whisky was swirled and drank. Ray refilled the glasses.
“When are you coming home, Gene?”
The Guv sighed and ran his hand through his hair yet again before strolling away from the tiny table and into the main room. Ray watched as Gene stared down at Dorothy’s book, where it lay open on the floor.
“One piece of unfinished business. Then I’ll be back,” he leaned over and picked up the book, closed it, and set it next to the radio.
“Jameson Hendricks,” Ray asked without asking.
If Gene were shocked, he hid it well.
“How’d you know?” he asked.
“DS doesn’t stand for dog shite,” Ray replied. That earned him a chuckle. “Guv, whatever you’re planning, you don’t have to go through with it. Let the Met handle it. Tell ‘em what you know and...”
“I can’t back down from a fight, Ray. You should know better than that.”
“It’s not your fight, Gene.”
“That adolescent brat is planning on shipping a load of heroin up to my city! How is that not my fight? Our fight?” Gene accused, the lit cigarette dangling between his fingers as he pointed them at Ray.
“But this undercover business, it’s...it can’t be worth it. What you’re saying, aye it’s true. But, it’s just ideas Tyler’s put in your head to make you...”
“Tyler?” Gene narrowed his eyes. “What has Tyler got to do with it?”
“He told me. ‘Bout the visits. The phone calls.”
“So?”
“He told me how...”
“How what?”
Ray nearly stepped back. Gene had entered interrogation mode now and once in that mind set, he never stopped until he found the answer he wanted.
“How he convinced you to stay. To go undercover even though you’d already found Dorothy.”
“What the bloody hell are you on about?” Gene roared, apparently forgetting his niece was asleep in the other room.
“He said...”
“He’s sick, you idiot! Why would anyone believe a damn word he says? He doesn’t even believe a damn word he says!”
“But...”
“This whole operation was my idea. I found out about Hendricks’ plans. I told Tyler I was going undercover.”
“No. He said you fought about it. Over the phone. He’s the one...”
“Course we bloody fought! I told him I was going in. He yelled at me not to. Said exactly what you’re saying now - that it wasn’t worth it. It’s the Met’s jurisdiction. I should let the Southern ponces handle it.”
“He said he convinced you stay,” Ray’s confusion was turning to anger. “He told me he made you stay.”
“He is delusional!” Gene bellowed, a fury in his eyes Ray rarely ever saw. “His brain’s not working like it’s supposed to! How could it? All the drugs they’re pumping into him. And those damn treatments. Zapping everything useful right out of him. A copper’s memory is his most important tool and that damn bitch is taking it away from him.” Gene closed his eyes and Ray watched as he struggled to control his anger. “Sam can’t remember things properly. His brain only saves bits and pieces. Whatever’s left, he can’t make sense of it cos all the parts aren’t there, so he makes up stories so it all fits together. Least, that’s what his quack told me.”
“You’ve spoken to Dr. Wynton?”
“Course I have. Probably seen her more times than me own wife these past months.”
Ray tried not to flinch at the word ‘wife.’ Gene continued, seemingly unaware of Ray’s internal struggle.
“I wanted her to stop the shock treatments. She said it was helping. I told her she was no better than a torturer. Even offered to share a few of me own interrogation methods with her. Didn’t take too kindly to that.”
“Then, why did you use Tyler for your contact? If wouldn’t be able to remember information, if he wouldn’t be able to help you...”
“I wasn’t.”
“You weren’t calling him?”
“Course I was. Needed to keep checking up on him, didn’t I? Poor lad’s a mess in the head, moreso than usual these days. I didn’t want him thinking I’d left him to rot in that dungeon. He might be off, but he’s still one of us. What happened with Morgan, course it shouldn’t have happened, but it did, and Sam can learn to deal with it, long as they stop doping him up every bloody hour.”
“Morgan’s dead,” Ray blurted out. He didn’t know what made him say it; the words just came tumbling out. “Family switched him off.”
“Hm,” Gene snorted. “Well, can’t say I’ll miss him. How’s Tyler taking it?”
“I...” Ray found it difficult to speak. “Don’t know, really. Sort of told him and...”
“And?”
“And left.”
“Left where?”
“The hotel. We’re staying at a hotel in Earl’s Court.”
“You left him on his own?” Gene pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. “Bad enough you brought him down here to begin with. But, guess it’s better than being locked up in that shithole they call a hospital. Right,” he sighed. “That where he is now?”
“Er, well...” Ray swallowed nervously.
“Well what?”
“I just, I came from the hotel and he, uhm, he...”
“Ray. Where. Is. Sam.”
“I left him early this afternoon. Found out about Hendricks. Staked out his house a few hours, then the casino. Finally went back to the hotel and when I saw he weren’t there, thought maybe, he’d come over here.”
Ray watched as Hunt’s body became tense and unyielding. His bright eyes narrowed and he stared down Ray with a hatred he shared with few men. His body began to shake with barely controlled fury.
“He...he’s not here, then, is he?” Ray asked meekly.
Gene slowly stepped towards him, his face a collection of power, rage, and fear.
“The Hendricks deal goes down tonight,” he said quietly. “I’m to be in Wapping in an hour. Now you’re telling me you’ve lost my mentally ill Inspector somewhere in this maze of a city.”
“He’s probably still in London,” Ray offered. He had no idea why Gene chose not to hit him. He was certainly expecting it and Gene was certainly capable.
“DS Carling. You are going to go to Scotland Yard. First, you are going to report Detective Inspector Sam Tyler as missing. Then, you will tell them that at midnight tonight, a shipment of drugs will be unloaded at the West India Quay to be put on a lorry headed North. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Guv.”
“Good. And do you know what you’ll be doing after that?”
“No, Guv.”
“You’ll be scouring every street corner, every pub, every bloody dung heap for your DI. Now do you understand?”
“Yes, Guv.”
“Good,” Gene sneered. “Now get out of here before I beat you so hard you won’t be able to use your jaw for a month.”
Ray turned on his heel and hurried out of the apartment. His Guv had told him exactly what he should do and Ray had no idea what to do.