(Includes lines from �The Sweet Smell Of Failure� � 1985 Thames Television)
14th April 1985 � 10:15am
Jim Carver winced as June Ackland slammed a door behind her. He pulled in a breath, and waited for her on the rickety staircase. She sulked and stamped her way up toward him.
�Look, June, I know you don�t want to be here�I can do this on me own.� He placed a hand on her arm and she shook it away angrily.
�Yeah, and imagine how Galloway would react to that. We�re better off getting it over and done with.� June pushed past the skinny PC and stomped her way up the rest of the stairs. Jim rolled his eyes and set off in pursuit.
He found June standing at the top of the stairs, hands on hips, looking to her right, then her left. �Where�s the caretaker supposed to be?�
�His flat�number 7.� Jim glanced up at the door numbers. �This way.� June followed Jim�s confident stride. He reached a door painted peeling white. The brass number �7� was hanging upside down.
�If this is the caretaker�s flat, then no wonder the rest of the place is such a bloody tip.� June muttered under her breath. Jim gave her an admonishing glare and June sighed.
Jimmy Carver. Couldn�t see the bad in anyone or anything. Give him a few years though� She regarded him as they waited. There were some officers that when she met them she regretted the fact that they were opening themselves up to the horrors and rigours of �The Job�. Naive and innocent young men and women, from sheltered and decent backgrounds. Some made it through, surprising all. Some though�they couldn�t take it, and the sensible ones got out before they succumbed to alcohol, drugs, depression � even suicide.
She knew precious little about Jim�s background, he was an East End boy, born and bred, his parents were not well-off but comfortable, and had provided him in the most part with a stable emotional background. He�d done well at school, had excelled at Hendon. But to look at him � five ten, eleven, he could be no more than ten stone, so thin that the bones of his spine were often clearly visible through his uniform shirt, his face so gaunt that his huge grey eyes stood out against his pale skin like saucers, his cheek bones which any woman or man would envy sharp as knives � you could never imagine him dealing with some of the scum they came across on a daily basis.
But she had learnt over the past � had it already been eleven months? � that there was more to Jimmy Carver than met the eye. He was confident, could put an argument across eloquently, and yet could be forceful when the situation required it. Physically he wasn�t afraid to dive into scraps; already he had been bashed and bruised several times in the line of duty. He�d had judo training while young, and again at Hendon, and the fitness and discipline that had instilled into him was clearly evident. She remembered him taking on a man who must have had three stone on him, fighting on a precarious balcony, not giving up even though the larger man had cracked one of his ribs, and had thrown him into a wall, where he had smashed painfully into a metal drainpipe and had cut his head badly. She could, if she looked closely, still see the pale white line of the scar that that had inflicted on his flawless skin�
She realised she was staring and looked hurriedly away before Jim could catch her. He was, she had to admit, extremely attractive. His hair was a shade of blond that she could never recall seeing � strawberry blond Viv had called it. It was a little too long, and his fringe often flopped over his eyes endearingly. And those saucer eyes � they held such truth, openness and affection. She hugged herself tightly against a sudden draught and smiled to herself. If only she were ten years younger. At 29 to Jim�s 23�well�the last thing June Ackland ever wanted to be thought of was as a cradle snatcher.
Finally, the door of the flat creaked open and an elderly man of what appeared to be Jewish descent greeted them warily.
�PC Jimmy Carver, Sun Hill.� Jim chirruped politely. �And this is WPC June Ackland.�
�Oh yes. I�ve been expecting you. Give me a moment and I�ll get the keys.�
**
June looked around herself, trying not to laugh. She had been a WPC at Sun Hill for eight years � straight out of Hendon�s class of �76 � and had been in some bizarre and surreal situations but this...
They were in a small box room, which was almost crammed full of shop mannequins, each of which where buck-naked. She looked up at Jim for a reaction but he was ever the professional, he walked over to the window at the far end of the room and checked out their obbo post.
It seemed fine � apart from the fact that one of the naked mannequins was blocking about forty percent of their view. June watched as Jim hefted the mannequin up � and then snorted with laughter as she noticed just where on the mannequin Jim had placed his hands � one clamped firmly over the left breast � and the other � well�
Try as she may, she could not hide her laughter from Jim, who shot her a glare as his cheeks glowed red. �I wish you�d stop grinning and give me a hand��
�You look as if you�re doing alright to me.� Jim blushed furiously, the tips of his ears turning red. As most men were wont to do, Jim covered his embarrassment with a show of annoyance. He moved back over to the window and drew back the curtain, looking down at a grotty little caf� where they had been told � well, where DI Roy Galloway had been told by a semi-reliable �snout� � the thieving couple that they were to follow always had a cup of tea at ten-thirty am, without fail.
�Why couldn�t we have just stood out on the street corner and watched the place?�
June looked Jim up and down. He was, she noticed now, rather a little too well dressed for a stake out and tail. He was wearing a dark grey jacket and trousers, a light grey shirt and a blue tie. Very presentable � just not all that appropriate. �Yeah, we�d have stood out alright. Why didn�t you bring your helmet?� June joined Jim at the window. �Haven�t you got an old pair of jeans or something at home � anything?�
�I thought we could�� Jim�s words came out in a rush and he almost tripped over them. �Look, if this comes to nuffin and we get away early, I thought we could...� Back came the glowing cheeks as Jim stuttered and stumbled. �Well � I�d like to take you to lunch. That is � if you�ve got nothing else planned � that is...�
�Well�� June was floored by this sudden proposal. And tempted. Yet � there was that one big stumbling block � namely her on-again-off-again partner PC Dave Litten, who, if he found out, would have Jim for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
As if reading her mind, Jim continued: �Well, Dave wouldn�t mind, would he?�
June rolled her eyes. Dave. As a lover he was incredible, knew all the right places to touch her to bring her to the peak of ecstasy almost every time they made love � no, scratch that, she thought � every time � but as a man, a partner? Personality wise, he was on a scale from insensitive to absolute bastard, and she and Dave had split many times, only to reunite for nights � or days � of passion after one too many drinks or if June was feeling particularly down. If she was looking for forever in a man � and she was not entirely sure that even at nearly thirty she was � she knew for sure that she wouldn�t find it in Dave Litten. The previous evening had been a prime example; she had been humiliatingly stood up outside the cinema. It wouldn�t have been so bad if the film � Return Of The Jedi � hadn�t been one that Dave had been dying to see for weeks.
�After letting me down last night?� June blew some air from between her lips which lifted her blond fringe. �I should coco.�
�Well�� Jim glanced out of the window once more. �It was a cup match.�
�A CUP match!�
�West Ham � he had a hell of a job getting the ticket��
June stared at Jim. Was he doing this in order to get her to say yes, or... He looked up at her and from his expression, she knew. She knew that Jim thought that Dave had had a legitimate excuse for standing her up the previous evening. Men! She thought, they were all just as bad as each other.
�Have I said something wrong?� Jim asked, looking at her with huge puppy eyes. That expression was one which made her want to hug him and hit him at the same time, because she knew that he was doing it on purpose to win her over, and she knew very well that she would be won over. Every time.
June shook her head, and sighed deeply. She mulled over his request for a moment. Why should she be loyal to Dave, she decided. He was hardly loyal to her, if he could pass her over for a football match. And it was only lunch. Where could a simple lunch possibly lead?
She moved back over to the window, again placed her hand gently on his arm. �OK, Jim�you�re on. If this goes pear shaped � let�s have lunch.�
***
18th June 2002 � 3:30pm
The front door crashed open and June jumped. Her brow furrowed for a moment, then she glanced at her watch. Three thirty � already. She was on annual leave and had done precious little with her time off, in fact her breakfast dishes were still sitting unattended in the sink. She sucked in a deep breath and checked herself in a mirror on the wall, patting her wayward hair and cursing, not for the first time, the extra two or so stones she was still carrying around, despite her best attempts to shed it.
�Sarah? Andrew?� She called, startling herself by her own voice. The house had been silent all day, she had turned off the television after Sarah and Andrew had left for school and had not bothered with either it or the radio since then.
Just then a tall, blond girl of around fifteen pushed open the kitchen door. �Here you are.� She smiled. �Hi, mum, good day?�
�Um�quiet. You seem exuberant.�
�Tonia has invited me to her 16th. It�s next Saturday and Gary�s going.�
�Oooh, Gary.� June smiled, teasing her eldest child. �He�s the redhead, right?�
�Nooo�� Sarah rolled her large grey eyes. �Gary�s got brown hair. Rick is the redhead.�
�Of course.�
�Can I go, mum? Please?� Sarah circled around her, looking up at her with a begging expression she knew so well.
�You�ll�have to ask your dad.� June broke away from Sarah�s pacing and walked over to the sink. �You�re with him next weekend, remember?�
�Do you think he�ll say yes?� Sarah looked worried.
�Maybe�I don�t know. He�ll probably run a PNC check on Gary first, but�look, I�ll call him, see if I can talk him round.�
�Thanks mum.� Sarah enveloped June in a large hug.
�Go and get changed and bring me your washing down.� June stroked her daughter�s hair for a moment, then released her. Just as Sarah reached the door, June stopped her with a: �Sarah?�
�Yeah?�
�You may as well know�I got this today.� June picked up a wad of papers from the kitchen table which she passed to Sarah. On the front page, was a typed statement.
It was a statement confirming the declaration of a decree nisi in the matter of the divorce of one June Carolyn Carver and one James Michael Carver.
**
14th April 1985 - 12:30pm
�Well, that was a complete waste of time.� June chuckled into her coffee mug.
�Yeah. Still, not as if I had anything better to do.� Jim shoved a forkful of chips into his mouth. June watched him eat for a moment.
�Jimmy, you take me to the nicest places, you know that?�
�Sorry, it�s all I can afford. Probationer�s salary and all that.�
�Don�t worry.� June folded up a piece of bread and wiped her plate clean with it before biting into it. �I remember what it was like. We can go halves if you like�.�
�No � I asked you and I�m paying. It�s only right.�
�You�re so sweet.�
Jim looked down, away from June�s gaze. �Nah, I�m not.�
�You are.� June reached over and placed a hand onto Jim�s. �Dave has this habit of forgetting his wallet almost every time we go out. Or at least any time we go out anywhere expensive.�
�You deserve better than him.� Jim looked back up to her, trying to catch her brown eyes in his.
�Yeah�I know, but�� She stopped, thinking that talking about sex with young Jimmy would only embarrass the lad further. �Galloway�s going to be jumping tomorrow.�
�I know. Hope he doesn�t take it out on us. He couldn�t, could he?�
�Oh, he could, believe me.� June placed her knife and fork down onto her plate and sat back. �That was really nice. I�ve probably just put on half a stone, but it was nice.�
�You look great.� When June rolled her eyes again, Jim continued: �I mean it. I always thought that��
�Thanks. Look�I need the loo, I�ll be right back.�
**
�Finished?� June tapped Jim on the shoulder as she returned from the toilet.
�Yeah. I�ll just pay up.� He dug into his pocket for his wallet. �Would you�can I�walk you home?�
June tipped her head to the side for a moment, thinking about it. �Yes. That�d be nice.�
�Well�� Jim laughed, an infectious chuckle that made June smile. �I�m going your way.�
�Yeah.� June followed Jim to the counter. �You settling in at the section house?�
�Yeah, it�s good. Wouldn�t mind my own place, but�� He showed her his painfully thin wallet. �Won�t be for a few years yet.�
�Hopefully I�ll be getting out soon. Don�t get me wrong, I love sharing with Viv, it�s just, having a place of your own, it means something, doesn�t it?�
Jim paid the bill, and the two left the caf� together. For twenty minutes or so they walked, talking and laughing, joking about their friends and colleagues, amusing experiences on the job, hopes, and fears.
Jim insisted on seeing June to her door, on the fifth floor of the section house.
�You know�� June said, digging for her key. �You�re not supposed to be up here.�
�Yeah, I know.� Jim looked a little rebellious and cheeky with it. �I�ve always wanted to see what it�s like. Now I see it�s much the same as the third floor.�
�Disappointed?�
�Kind of.� Jim laughed and his fringe flopped into his eyes. He blew at it frustratedly. �Stupid thing.� He muttered.
By now they were outside June�s door. She slipped the key into the lock, looked back up at Jim and tried to fight back an urge to brush his fringe back from his face. She failed. Her hand moved upwards, haltingly, until finally she ran her fingers into his blond hair and brushed his fringe back over his head. �Better?�
�Yeah.�
�Thanks, Jim. It�s been a nice day.�
�It�s only 1 o�clock.�
�Then it�s been a nice morning. Really.� June found herself gazing up at him. �I...I�d better�� Jim was still standing tantalisingly close to her. She felt herself flush but still, in her embarrassment, she could not bring herself to look away. �Jim��
�Yeah?�
�Are you going to kiss me or not?�
�I...� Jim swallowed. �If you�if you don�t mind��
�I don�t mind.� June moved close, placed a hand to Jim�s face. Slowly, he leaned into her, and kissed her, briefly, shyly.
�Can�t you do any better than that?�
�I�� Jim had no time to say anything else, as June looped her arm around his neck and pulled him to her. He was still unsure, she could tell, but she forced his mouth open with her tongue and kissed him deeply. Soon, he was returning her kiss, his hands warm on her back, moving down�
�Jim�� June reached behind her, found the door handle and pushed the door open. Pulling Jim into her room, she forced him up against the wall, again kissing him passionately, hungrily. At first he began to respond, she could feel him becoming hard against her thigh, but then he pulled away.
�No�no, I can�t do this.�
�Jim��
�You�re doing this to get back at Dave, aren�t you?� Jim looked down at his feet, his eyes clouded over.
�No�no! Jim, I don�t sleep with just anyone��
�How can I be sure of that?� He looked up to her. �How do I know that you�re not using me?�
�Oh, Jim�� June approached him, took his hand. �You trust me, don�t you?�
�Yeah. Course I do.�
�Then trust me on this. Look at me Jim � look at me.� June placed her hand on Jim�s chin, made him look up. �Jim�right now, Dave Litten is the last thing on my mind. I want you. Here. Now. Jim � please, trust me.�
Jim sucked in a long, deep breath. �I trust you.� He squeezed her hand tightly and pulled her closer.
**
He was asleep. June looked down at him, asleep in her single bed. This way, he looked even younger and she felt�dirty? Ashamed? Wonderful? She didn�t know. She padded naked across the room and slid into her robe. This shouldn�t have happened, but�
Dave would never forgive her, but did she care? Sgt Cryer, if he knew, he�d have a fit� The jokes, the teasing�
She walked back over to the bed. �I�m sorry I did this to you.� She whispered. �I know where this is going to go and I can�t do it to you. You�re too beautiful, Jimmy Carver.�
Again, she brushed his blond hair from his eyes, her hand lingering on his cheek. An hour ago she had wanted him physically, and they had had frantic, passionate, exquisite sex�but now�she wanted more than that. She wanted the whole package, the sweet loving man who lay before her, the lover, and the friend�
Could it be, she wondered, that she had finally found the one? Could it be that they could find the strength to get through the jibes and teasing that would inevitably come? Could they handle everything together, could they stay together � forever?
Again � she didn�t know � but as she watched him sleep, she knew that she wanted to find out.
**
18th June 2002 � 3:30pm
�Barton Street Police Station, can I help you?�
�I�d like to speak to DS Carver, please.� June tapped her long fingernails against the worktop. As she waited, a saucepan started to boil and she reached over to turn the light down.
�DS Carver, Barton Street CID.�
�Jim � it�s June.�
�Oh.� There was a painful pause. �I suppose you got some post too.�
�Yeah. But I�m not calling about that, it�s about Sarah, there�s a party next Saturday that she wants to go to and she asked me to call and see if it�ll be alright � you know, so she can buy a new outfit.�
�That�s fine. I�ll take Andrew out somewhere.� Jim said, referring to their twelve-year-old son.
�Great. I thought you�d be�well, I know how protective you are.�
�Yeah. Still � you can�t hold onto them forever.� There was something in the quality of Jim�s tone that made June wince.
�What�s that supposed to mean?�
�Just what I said. Please don�t go reading things into everything I say, June, it�s not fair.�
�Yeah, well, life isn�t fair.�
�That�s rich, seeing you�re the one divorcing me.�
�Come on, Jim, we�ve done this before, we�ve grown apart, that�s all.�
�That�s all. Yeah. That�s it. Over. Like we can just forget everything.�
�I�ll never forget us.� June felt a lump well up in her throat. �You meant�everything to me.�
�You still mean everything to me, June. You�re just too blind to see it.� There was another awkward pause. �By the way. Happy Anniversary.�
Five seconds later, June found herself listening to a droning dial tone.
**
�Jim��
Jim looked up at her sleepily. �Yeah?�
�Can I ask you something?�
�Yeah�� He rubbed his eyes.
�This might sound upside down and inside out, but�will you go out with me?�
Jim looked at her incredulously. Then he laughed. He laughed until his body shook. �Of course I will.�
June gazed into his smiling face, and at that moment, she knew, for the first time in her life, that she was in love.
**
TO BE CONTINUED�.