Six weeks later.
Over fifty people gathered on Canley Bridge. The road was cordoned off at both ends, officers in full dress uniform guarding the cordon. In the middle, friends of Jim Carver old and new bustled, waiting for the memorial to begin, chatting and reminiscing. Adam Okaro smiled down at Gina Gold. "I had such a hard time getting this bridge closed off, but June... she was so insistent, I just couldn't say no."
"I can't think of a better way to say goodbye to him Adam. I mean he loved the water so much... we all know that... It's worth it just to see June looking so content, she's had it really rough these last few months."
"I have been concerned about her though, she's worked her fingers to the bone this last month, getting things together for the campaign. She seems to be thriving on it though." Adam looked around at everyone who was waiting for June and Jim's family to arrive. "Look at this lot, I never knew Jim had so many friends."
"He'd been at Sun Hill for over twenty years. You meet a lot of people in that time. You're right about the campaign though � it's really done her good. And good publicity for Sun Hill and CSU too."
"Of course... all good, which I have to admit makes a change." He looked down at the leaflet he held in his hands. "Three speeches... June, Francis Edwards and DCI Burnside..." Adam smiled. "I've heard of him through reputation."
"Who hasn't?" Gina grinned. "His reputation proceeds him. Damn good copper though, and from what I've heard a very good friend of Jim's."
Jack Meadows approached the pair. "Gina, Sir...this is Sergeant Francis Edwards, from Cardiff."
A grey haired man with a broad smile yet sad eyes stepped forward. "It's a pleasure." He offered his hand, his broad Welsh lilt obvious.
"You worked with Jim when he first started didn't you?" Gina asked. "You and June were among the first to take him out on the beat? She's really glad you could make it."
"I haven't seen JimJim in over ten years, but...." He shrugged. "I had to be here. I couldn't believe it when I saw it on the news."
"None of us could..." Adam shook his head. "It hit us all hard... June especially. JimJim you say?"
"When he first introduced himself to me, he introduced himself as "Jim... Jimmy Carver."" Taffy smiled. "It stuck. I don't think he minded, well, I never minded being called Taffy despite the lack of imagination. How is June?"
"Bearing up well considering. The campaign's helped a lot really, gave her something to occupy her mind... Took her a while to get herself into it though - she was absolutely devastated."
"I heard that they were a couple, for a while. It was about time, I always told Jim, he should get in there, he'd score, first time round." Taffy smiled but the smile faded. "He was a great lad, a good friend. I've missed him all these years, always meant to get back in touch, but..."
"It's so easy to lose touch with people." Gina sighed looking up at Adam. "It's things like this that make you realise just how short life can be. You're right though Jim and June were made for each other; anyone could see that... apart from them at times. Maybe things would have been different if they'd go together all those years ago."
"Can't say as I didn't try." Taffy said sadly. His attention was taken then by a man in his late fifties, standing at the other side of the bridge looking down. He was approached by a tall, broad shouldered man, who placed a hand on his back.
"Frank... Guv." Frank Burnside looked up into Mike Dashwood's concerned eyes.
"Mike... it's been a long time. Good to see you... just wish things were different."
"I'm sure all of us keep saying, thinking we should meet up, but it always has to be at things like this." Mike turned, leant against the railing. "So many familiar faces here... Roy Galloway is here, have you seen him?"
"I think I saw him skulking around with Ted Roach earlier. I'd like to catch up with both of them... it's been too long. I can't believe the kid's gone Mike."
"Me neither. We've kept in touch, on and off, met up a few times... I heard about him and June... don't think that came as a shock to anyone."
"Certainly not to me..." Frank smiled. "She must be devastated... she was there when it happened you know."
"I know. Apparently, from what I've heard, he was going to leave his wife, make another go of it with June." Mike balled his hand into a fist and hit it against the metal railing. "Why do things like this always have to happen just as people are turning their lives around?"
"That's the way life is... kicks you when you're down. I was so glad to hear he was with June... after everything he'd been through over the years... I should have made more of an effort to stay in touch... he was one of my best mates... if not my best mate."
"I'd heard Jim was... ill. He didn't get in touch for the longest time, I thought he'd just forgotten - you know how absent minded he could be. Next time I heard from him he was in rehab. Asked me to come and visit."
"I had to arrest him on suspicion of murder, the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life... he really didn't know what was going on... looked so rough... when he broke down in front of me..." Frank wiped his face with the back of his hand.
"Oh, Guv... you're making one of the speeches, aren't you?"
"Yeah... June called me and asked me too... I couldn't say no could I?"
"No... just like no-one could ever say no to Jim. Or stay mad at him for long. I think he was just one of those people you instinctively want to look after."
Frank smiled. "That's true... remember the good old days? The kid was always so enthusiastic, and it always rubbed off on you. Seeing him when he had his problems brought it all back... made it even harder, he'd lost his spark... but I think he found it again... not least with June."
"Why did he have to marry that woman?" Mike shook his head.
"You knew Jim as well as I did... he must have loved her... at least to start with... and he hated admitting he was wrong didn't he?"
"He certainly did... just like him..." Mike nodded toward Ted Roach a hundred or so metres away. "He's still drinking, smoking... and going downhill fast by the looks of things."
"Another person who'll never change." Frank shook his head. "Ted over 'ere."
Ted looked up and walked slowly towards them, limping along supported by a cane. "Just like the old days, eh?" Ted growled from beneath his moustache.
"Except I keep expecting Jim to come running up apologising for being late as usual." Frank smiled. "What did you do with Roy? I saw you talking to him earlier."
"He's around, he hasn't changed, can't stay still for a minute." Ted smiled. "Poor old Jim, eh, never thought he'd end up on the wrong side of a violent woman."
"More your cup of tea eh Ted? It's all such a damn shame... anyone but Jim..."
"Always pictured him with a nice lady, living in the suburbs, kids, a dog... he was that kind of bloke, wanted domestic bliss, and look what he landed." Ted shook his head. "I've heard the new blood talking, saying Sun Hill isn't the same any more."
"He could... should have had that with June." Frank sighed. "The job's just not the same anymore is it though? You gotta move with the times, or get left behind..."
"I'm glad I left it behind when I did." Ted nodded. He looked over as the bustling became more organised, as people found places on the seats that had been laid out in the middle of the bridge. He glanced at his watch. "Here we go..." At the far side of the bridge, as they moved towards the middle, they saw two cars pull up, an elderly woman and a young man get out of one, and June and another man get out of the other.
"They must be Jim's brothers." Frank shook his head. "The one standing next to June... it could be Jim couldn't it?"
"It could..." Mike looked on. "I didn't even know he had... he never spoke about them. Suppose there's things about even your closest friends you'll never know." He stood back and let Ted sit down, while Frank moved to the small staged area at the front, taking a seat beside a nervous looking Taffy. June and Jim's family arrived at the stage and also sat down, while Adam Okaro stood at the microphone placed centre stage.
"I'm not going to say much today, I'm just glad so many of you could make it. I'm sure Jim would be proud to see so many of his friends and family here. This is all down to one woman, who's worked tirelessly to get this organised in such a short time. So I'd like to hand over to her... and thank her for her time and effort. I know it hasn't been easy." He held his hand out. "June?"
June flickered a glance up to Adam, then stood, stepping forward. "I can only echo what Superintendent Okaro has just said... that Jim would be proud so many of you have made the time and the effort to be here. I know I appreciate it, and Mary, his mother, and Mark and Andrew, his brothers, do to. They know Jim had a huge, extended family in the officers at Sun Hill. He touched some of our lives more deeply than others, but in some way, he touched us all."
"I'd like to take this opportunity to fill you in on the latest on the Carver Foundation. For those of you who don't know, it's currently a London based group set up to help male victims of domestic violence. Thanks to all the donations in lieu of flowers at the funeral, as well as some generous donations from local Sun Hill groups and charities, we've managed to raise �10,000 so far to get us up and running. I was determined not to let Jim's death be in vain, and I'd like to thank you all for your generosity and help in getting this up and running." She stopped, wiping a tear from her eyes. "I'm sure Jim would approve."
There was a ripple of applause amongst those gathered. June swallowed, looked down. "I'm not going to stand here and tell you all what Jim meant to me, because... quite simply, I haven't the words to express it. He was an extraordinary and beautiful man - again something you already know. He fought through hard times and won... with a strength I know I could only dream to have. He was my best friend... he was my lover and my partner and the twenty years I knew him were the best of my life."
She looked up at the assembled crowd. "I know he'll live on in our hearts and souls. He was the type of man no one will ever forget, and I'm sure he's up there now watching us all. Probably laughing at the pomp and circumstance, although I've tried to keep this as informal as possible. If you're listening Jim, we love you, we miss you and we'll never ever forget you."
Another ripple of applause, Honey Harman sobbed in the front row and June smiled down at her. "I don't want this to be all maudlin and morbid... I've asked some dear friends of Jim's to share a few memories of him with us. DCI Frank Burnside from the NCS, and Sergeant Francis Edwards from Cardiff. Francis... Taffy..." June stood aside, gestured to the microphone.
They both stood, headed towards the microphone. "I..." They spoke simultaneously, stopping and turning to each other, as slight ripple of laughter filled the air. "No after you." Frank smiled, stepping back as Taffy took the microphone. "We're both called Francis." Burnside shrugged, smiling as he heard laughter.
Taffy coughed to clear his throat. "Not many of you know me... my name's Francis... or Taffy, as everyone used to call me. I left Sun Hill in 1990, and from 1983 until then, me and JimJim, we were best mates."
"I met him on his first day on the beat... such an enthusiastic likeable kid. We all took to him straight away. Couldn't help but like him. He made his fair share of screw ups, like we all did, clipped a lad round the ear on his first day� but that was Jim... he was a great copper. I remember the day he made his first collar, we were investigating thefts from cars. Jim saw the fella and gave chase, ran like a greyhound he did. Caught him though, in a huge pile of rubbish bags. Stunk to high heaven. He was so pleased with himself... and then when we got the lad back to the nick... we had to let him go... turned out he was a snout for non other than this man, Frank Burnside, and was due to come up with the goods... Jim's face fell but he never let it get to him... Nothing could dampen his enthusiasm... He lived for the job back then, and from what I heard was still doing that twenty years later."
"When JimJim went up to CID, he changed, but we were still best mates - he organised my stag night and I'm still convinced it was him that arranged for them to strip me naked and lock me out..." Taffy flushed and looked away, there was laughter. "We shared the same sense of humour, practical jokes... Sergeant Cryer will tell you about the water fight... But he was so decent, believed in justice, hated prejudice of any kind, the kind of copper that the Met should be, and I hope is, very proud of. Here's to you, JimJim." Taffy stepped back, and Frank stepped reluctantly up.
"What can I say that hasn't already been said." He looked up to the sky. "You'll be getting a big head up there with all this praise, won't you kid? Jim was probably my best mate, everyone says that about him, and it's true to everyone. He had so much love to give... and he gave it out so freely. When I got the call from June I was gobsmacked. I just couldn't believe it... not Jim..."
"There are so many moments I remember, if I told you them all I'd bore you to tears. Jim was a real live wire in CID... I'd tell him off, he'd bite right back, and you know that nine times out of ten he was right and I was too stubborn to admit it. He was a brilliant copper, always the professional, his personal life left a lot to be desired and the amount of times Ted Roach and I had to mop up disasters... until June..." He looked back to her. "We all knew it would happen, didn't we... it was meant. Never met two kids as well matched." June smiled and looked down. "Pity it couldn't have stayed that way." There was a moment's silence as he swallowed harshly.
"But this is no time for recriminations... we're here to celebrate Jim's life... and that's how it should be. Nobody liked a party more than Jim, and if you've ever seen him dancing..." Laughter of recognition pealed out from some of those seated. "All I can say is, I love ya kid, I always will, and I'm glad to have known ya. People think I'm tough, and well, not much gets past this heart of mine, but you did." He looked to June for reassurance, she nodded, and Frank step back, letting June stepped forward once more.
"I really don't think there's anything else I can say." She took a deep breath looked at the crowd. "Except I think it's time to finally say goodbye to the man we knew and loved and are gathered here today to remember. I'd like to invite his mother, Mary, to join us up here and to allow us to finally let go... let his ashes float out to the place he loved best."
Mary stood, joined June by the microphone. "My boy loved the water... it held no fear for him. June's told me of a time he jumped from a boat to save a woman, while everyone else stood by, trying to decide what to do... Jim... he just dived right in, into the place where he felt safe... by scattering his ashes here, we hope that he will feel safe and at peace for eternity." Her voice had been calm for most of the speech, but as she reached the end her bottom lip quivered and June placed an arm around her.
"I just want to thank you all for coming here today. It's reassuring to know Jim was loved by so many people, not just his family." He stopped as her voice cracked. "You never expect your child to die before you."
June hugged her tightly, then passed the box containing Jim's ashes to her. "I've asked DI Mike Dashwood to read a poem while we say goodbye to him... Mike?" Mike got up from his place in the audience and moved up to the microphone, clutching a book tightly in his hand.
"Let's do this together June." Mary stuttered. "He was as much your life as he was mine." She grasped June's hand as they stepped towards the railings.
June nodded to Mike, gulping back tears as she removed the lid of the box that Mary held tightly. "Goodbye sweetheart...." She whispered. Mike began to read the poem as the ashes were taken by the wind, swirling around for a moment, before falling, like snow into the glittering water beneath.
"You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left."
"Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday."
"You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on."
June's body wracked with sobs, and Mary took her into her arms. Mark Carver stood, walked to the microphone. "Thank you all for coming, it means a lot to us. I think that there's something organised at the pub, but June... who will hit me for telling you, has been going on and on about the "old guard" getting together for a while... I think it'd really help her out." June looked up at him, admonishing him with a look, then shrugging and smiling.
June wiped her eyes, stepping up to the microphone again. "I'd like to invite you all back to The Tavern where there's a good spread and a bar tab courtesy of Sun Hill and the Carver Foundation." She gulped back more tears. "I know Jim's family would like to meet a lot of you." She turned to Mary, kissed her gently on the cheek, before steeping down from the stage.
People began to stand and leave, heading for cars and a couple of mini-buses. But some, Mike, Frank, Taffy, Bob, Roy and others lingered behind. "We can organise something for later... if you want, June... if we're all still on our feet." Frank took her hand and squeezed it.
"I'd like that... I've missed all you lot so much... me and Jim used to reminisce about the good old days." She sniffed, wiping her eyes. "Any suggestions? Somewhere we could talk would be good."
"Well...." Taffy stepped forward. "This might sound a bit inappropriate, but how about a memorial curry." He looked up as June stared at him, then laughed. "What - what have I done now?"
"The last Sun Hill Memorial Service... for the guys who died in the fire. Jim suggested the same thing to me... I think he meant it as a date but Matt Boyden got wind of it and half the relief ended up there. Wasn't exactly the romantic meal for two Jim planned. I think in this case it'd be appropriate though..."
"So... that's agreed then." Bob chimed in. "A couple pints at the Tavern then off to the Indian. You need a lift... I know Mark's going back to the hotel for a while with his mum and brother..."
"That'd be nice. I'd like a few minutes on my own though... just to say one last goodbye... would you mind waiting?"
"Course not." The group moved away, leaving June by the railings which had become so familiar to her. The sun was beginning to set over the city, casting everything an eerie orange.
"Well...Jim...this is it. Got to move on with things now, just like you told me to. I've been having counselling, things are... better... but... I don't think I'll ever let another man touch me... not because I'm scared but because... it won't be you."
She sighed, looking out to the sunset. "I'll miss you, but I know you'll never leave me... not really. I'm going to make the Carver Foundation a success, just for you... but I've got to go now. It's been nice seeing all our friends today... I just hope you realise how much we all love you. Goodbye Jim." She turned away from the railings walking across the bridge towards Bob's car. "I'll never forget you."
THE END
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