�Right Jim, lets get this show on the road,� instructed Burnside opening the door to his flash new Jaguar.
�I am obviously not with the right department,� observed Jim, gawping at the number of gadgets inside the car.
Frank started up the engine and pulled out the familiar Sun Hill car park. �Comes with the job Jim; one of the many perks. Listen if things don�t work out between you and June you could come and join my team. You could have something like this in no time!�
Jim gasped. �Well, its certainly something to consider, a change in scenery could do me the world of good, and it would be great working with you. But, oh I don�t know. Its sounds crazy, but I don�t think I could leave June, even if we aren�t together. We were just saying, just now, that we couldn�t cope without seeing each other. I don�t know, its sounds mad, but I just need to see her, to know she�s ok. I mean, it might change over time; but at the end of the day she has been one of my best friends, well, best friend for getting on 20 years now. I guess that it had to change someday though doesn�t it. We aren�t that far off retirement, and she is even closer. No, a change might do me good, its about time I tried for a change of career direction.� Jim paused and took a deep breath. �I�m rambling aren�t I?�
Burnside took one look at him and burst into laughter. �Just a bit son, just a bit, but you wouldn�t be you if you didn�t have your odd ramble now and again.� Jim considered this and then at the sight of his old Governor creasing up starting to laugh himself. As he started laughing his infectious laugh as his friend JG always described it, it just made Frank laugh even more � to such an extent that he had to pull over.
They both leaned back in their seats and clutched their sides.
�I have no idea what we are laughing like this for; its not actually that amusing,� remarked Burnside rubbing tears from his eyes.
�I know�, chuckled Jim, �But I feel a hell of a lot better for it.�
Frank started up again and drove off, resuming their journey towards the Maycroft Estate. Jim was by now feeling a lot more relaxed. Although him and June had only just split up, things between them had been strained for such a long time that he really couldn�t remember the last time that he had laughed so intensely; it was just what he needed, and just what June needed too; but she wasn�t going to get it, he feared.
They turned into the Maycroft Estate and approached the first warehouse on their list.
�Oh, and what are the odds of that?� questioned Frank as he parked sharply a short distance away from the aging building.
Jim looked onwards in the direction that Frank was nodding and observed a skinhead lifting some boxes from a blue Van, parked about 100 yards from their car. He then looked down at the piece of paper Frank was waving in his direction. Upon studying it his suspicions were confirmed; they had stumbled into one of their main suspects.
�So what now?� asked Jim, almost in a whisper. �Shall we go back and set up the observation?�
�What, no, no. This is too good an opportunity to miss. Lets wait for our friend to go back inside, park up somewhere out of sight and go and take a closer look.
�But I thought you said that guns were involved, don�t you think that we should wait for S0-19?� questioned Jim, slightly nervously.
�No, no time for that�, replied Frank, watching the skinhead disappear into the warehouse. He then reversed the car sharply round the corner, parked and jumped out. �You comin� then?� he barked at a reluctant Jim.
Jim fumbled with the door handle and started chasing after Frank who was walking briskly, but discretely towards the warehouse.
�So, what�s the plan then Gov?� questioned Jim, looking towards the building for any signs of activity.
�Lets just go in and take a closer look, see what we are dealing with, then we can go and call S0-19 in, and give them a clearer picture of the place.�
�Sounds like a good plan,� replied Jim, relieved that Frank wasn�t planning on them taking on the men single-handedly. Honestly, he should know him better than that � but then he could be forgiven to a certain extent. Burnside was never exactly orthodox in his methods.
They quietly entered the building. Jim had his hand poised near his truncheon. You could never be too careful; something he had learnt in his 20 years in the force.
Burnside groaned as he took in the inside of the warehouse. It was entirely empty apart from a few boxes in the far corner of the room.
�Shit. This is just their storage area. Knew it was too good to be true. Think we had better get out of here Jim.�
�Well I think it would be a better plan if you tell me what you are doing here in the first place.�
Jim and Frank jumped as they heard a voice behind them, echoing against the concrete walls of the abandoned warehouse they had the misfortune of being inside. They turned slowly towards the sound, Jim�s heart going into his mouth as he saw a balaclava covered man holding a gun, pointing directly at them.
�Its ok mate, we didn�t mean any harm �ey.� Frank, good in tense situations tried to start reasoning with him. He could sense the man was nervous; maybe he could talk him round.
There was a loud bang as the outside door swung shut, a sudden gust of wind pushing it crashing against the doorframe. Due to the combination of the intensity of the situation and the way in which the sound boomed around the vast space they were in, in such a menacing way, the man jumped violently. In the process his accidentally pulled against the trigger. Frank closed his eyes briefly, his reflexes causing him to raise his arms in a manner of protection.
On opening them he witnessed the gunman exiting the building. He turned and gasped out loud as he saw Jim lying on the floor, clutching at his chest; a large and ever expanding puddle of blood forming around him.
�Jim,� he exclaimed, taking off his jumper and diving down to Jim�s side, pushing it against the bleeding wound on Jim�s chest, trying to restrict the loss of blood.
�Its going to be ok kid, it will be ok.�
Frank took hold of Jim�s radio. �Sierra Oscar 600 to control�.
�Go ahead�
�I need an ambulance urgently to the first abandoned warehouse on the Maycroft Estate. Its Jim, he�s been shot, it doesn�t look good. Can someone get in touch with June?�
Frank listened to the stunned silence coming from the officer in CAD. �Ambulance on way Sierra 600�
Frank turned to Jim, applying as much pressure to his chest as he dared.
�You just hold in there Jim, it�s going to be ok, ambulance will be here in a minute, then they will sort you out.�
Jim looked at his and started to try and speak, but choked, unable to get his words out. �Come on, you just told CAD how bad it looked, I�m a dead man Frank, let�s face it.�
�No your not Jim, you just have to hold in there. June, she loves you, she needs you Jim. You can work through this the two of you. You need to live, live for her.�
�Tell her that I love her Frank, just tell her that I love her.� The audibility of Jim�s voice faded away into a faint whisper. His grip on Franks hand failing as he split in unconsciousness.
Frank looked at him in blind panic and started to yell.
�I�m not going to let you go Jim Carver, you hear me, you�re not going anywhere!�
He held on tighter, applying yet more pressure, but it seemed more and more pointless as the blood continued to pour out. Tears streaming down his cheeks, Frank yelled out one last time.
�Please Jim, please.�
TO BE CONTINUED�.! � (my turn to do an evil laugh now JG!)