Only The Good Die Young, Book 1

Chapter 6

John decided to take Katy’s car, as he had been eyeing it ever since he first saw it. Even though it was most definitely a hot car in more ways than one, he couldn’t resist taking something that was that fast, that powerful and that damn sexy on the open road. Being a police officer has the distinct advantage of being able to really open it up on the motorways without the risk of getting a ticket. He had called Chris Deakin while Katy was still asleep to let her know that they would not be going down with the team, but would meet them at the Eastern Docks.

John looked over at his lover, curled up with a happy smile on her face. For the past two days they had been living in a haze of sex, rather good alcohol, and fine food. Unfortunately the reality of the situation had laid it’s cold, clammy hand on John’s shoulder sometime around 3:30 AM last night and had not let go. John sighed deeply, wishing that he had been able to be straight with Katy from the start. He could only imagine how she would feel this afternoon after this mess was all over and the hammer fell. He couldn’t imagine though, no matter how hard he tried, how terrible he would feel, as if it was any worse than what he felt at the moment, he was sure that it would kill him and perhaps put him out of his misery.

John swallowed hard, trying to rid himself of guilt and kissed her forehead. Katy opened her eyes and smiled, sleepily.

“Morning sweetness. Time to get ready – we’ve got a boat to catch.”

Katy rolled over and looked at him sleepily. She smiled at him, rubbing her eye with the back of her hand.

“You’re a bit awake for this time in the morning,” she said.

“Yeah, well, it’s police work, isn’t it? I never can sleep the night before a major op.”

Katy got out of bed and stumbled towards the loo. John watched her move, casting his eyes over her naked beauty. She closed the door behind her and he flopped backwards, sighing deeply. He didn’t think it was possible to hate himself more than what he did at this moment.

* * *

John and Katy sped down the M2 towards Dover travelling at speeds of near 100 mph. They didn’t speak very much throughout the journey. Katy figured that John’s silence was from the stress of the op, and maybe from driving her car for the first time. She looked over at him and smiled happily to herself. After today, they would be together finally, there was no question about it. Maybe they would even get married someday soon. Katy closed her eyes and listened to the radio. For the first time in years she felt content.

As they approached Dover Eastern Docks, John called Chris Deakin.

“Chris where are you at?”

“We’re around the back, John, at the top of the terminal. There’s two pandas and a wagon parked outside.”

“Right.”

John pulled up to the top of the terminal and parked. They got out of the car and walked inside. Chris was standing there talking to a uniformed inspector from Dover customs.

“Ah John, I’d like to introduce you to Inspector Graham,CustCustoms and Excise, Dover. Ed, this is DS John Boulton.”

John shook hands with Inspector Graham, “Good to meet you sir.”

“So you’re the one with the golden snout?” Graham asked.

“Yes sir, Kathryn O’Sullivan.” Katy smiled and held out her hand.

“Hello there. You’re awful pretty to be mixed up in this nonsense.” Graham said, smiling at Katy.

“Well thank you sir.” Katy said, “I just want to help do what’s right.”

“So noble, as well.” Graham smiled at John, “What did she do to end up a snout?”

John shifted uncomfortably. “Burglary,” he mumbled.

“Oh…” Graham looked at Katy, “I’ll have to watch my warrant card around you.” Graham smiled and moved closer to Katy, “Although you’ve probably learned your lesson haven’t you, my dear?”

Chris could see where this was going and he interrupted, “Ed… why don’t we go brief the troops?”

“Right…” Graham gave Katy one last smile, “It was lovely meeting you, Ms. O’Sullivan. Perhaps we’ll meet again sometime.”

Inspector Graham walked away. John glared the back of his head and mumbled, “What a tosser,” under his breath. Katy sniggered to herself and grinned at John.

* * *

They boarded on the 1:30 crossing. Sitting in the bar, Katy watched John, Chris, Jack Meadows and Inspector Graham (or Inspector Letch as she privately nicknamed him), chat to each other and laugh. Tony Stamp was there, as was Dave Quinnan. There were two other PCs there that Katy didn’t recognize, and probably were not from Sun Hill. Katy smiled as Tony plunked down a cup of tea in front of her.

“You look tired.” Tony said, sitting down across the table from her.

“Yeah, a bit.” Katy smiled at him. “How are you today?”

“Glad for the overtime, hoping that it’s an easy arrest. Still, it beats being on patrol, which is what I’d be doing in a few hours time.”

“Tony…” Katy leaned in towards him, “Is he acting weird today?” She motioned towards John.

“Who, Sergeant Boulton? He always ac bit bit weird.” Tony smiled, and then relented. “In fairness, Katy, I don’t really know him that well.”

“Oh…,” she said. She looked out the window and watched the sea go past.

“You…” Tony started but then hesitated for a moment, “You really love him don’t you?”

Katy smiled at Tony. “It’s beyond love, Tone.”

Tony sighed heavily and made himself smile for her benefit. His heart sank but he put on a good front for her. Reaching across the table he put his hand on hers, not caring whether or not Dave or anyone else was watching.

“Then Katy, I just want you to know something. You’re a decent girl, and you’re lovely. But he’d do anything to get a result. I hope he’s not just playing with your heart to get an arrest here.”

Katy smiled at Tony. “At one point I would have agreed with you but I think he’s with me this time. He got me let off of the charges for the bank job, and we’re going to be together after this is all over.”

“Good. Then I hope you’re happy with him.” Tony got up to leave, “Excuse me Katy. I’ll be right back.”

Katy stood up and walked towards him. Tony was confused for a minute. She put her arms around him and gave him a kiss on his cheek, whispering in his ear, “You’re a good, sweet, kind man, Tony Stamp. Thank you.”

Tony blushed and wasn’t quite sure what to do. He smiled and said again, “Excuse me.”

* * *

“Right,” Chris said, addressing the officers, “The passengers are going to be boarding in a few minutes. The Auto Bar is one floor below us. After the boat pulls out of port, I want John to keep an eye on Katy, Tony, Dave, I want you in the corner near the dealer’s table but not too near, we don’t want to put him off. I want the rest of you near the entrance to the bar, to make sure that he doesn’t escape. Is that understood?”

“Yes Gov.” the officers said.

“Katy, you will approach him and do a deal with him.” Chris handed her £200. “You will walk off and we’ll arrest him. If anything goes wrong, John will cover you.”

“Alright Sir.”

They sat in the upstairs lounge waiting for the foot passengers to come aboard. John looked over at Katy and she smiled at him. John looked away, and couldn’t meet gazegaze. Tony sat beside her and smiled.

“Are you nervous?” he asked.

“Yeah…” Katy said. “

“Don’t worry Katy. You’ll be fine.” He put his arm around her anve hve her a squeeze.

“Thanks, Tone.” Katy smiled at him. Tony felt a mix of pleasure and pain when he looked at her.

John walked over to Katy and said, “Can I have a word?”

“Sure.” She got up and walked over to the side of the group with him.

“Just what do you think you’re playing at, getting so cuddly with Tony Stamp?”

“Nothing, John. He’s just someone to talk to. He’s a really nice bloke.”

“The whole bloody nick knows we’re an item and that’s bad enough, but now they’re all going to be talking about you copping off with him!”

“No… no way,” Katy said, “There’s nothing to it. He’s just being friendly.”

“Well let him find his own bird.” John’s eyes shone as he looked at her, “You’re mine.”

John gave Katy a long, passionate kiss, that no one paid any attention to, but Tony. In that instant, Tony hated John Boulton more than anyone or anything in his life.

Just then, the boat lurched forward. They were moving. It was time.

Katy waited ten minutes for everyone to get seated and ready. She then went downstairs. On the way down, C cla clasped her on the shoulder and said, “Good luck.”

Katy recognised the bloke as soon as she walked into the bar. She saw Tony in the corner with Dave, and John was right behind her. She sat down at the table with the man.

“I’m Katy. I believe you’re expecting me.”

The man looked up from the copy of Le Figaro he was reading. “I have been expecting you.” He had a thick French accent. “How much do you want?”

“200 pounds' worth.”

“Follow me.” He got up and walked out of the bar. Katy and John followed him.

He led them down the main stairway to the car deck. The door leading into it was closed. The man tried the door and found it locked. He turned around to face them.

“I’ve got something for your boyfriend from Reggie Patrick.” He took out a gun and pointed it at John. Katy felt the shot before she heard it and jumped on John, knocking him to the floor. She screamed as she felt the bullet sink into her arm.

He shot the lock open on the door and took off into the car deck. John heard the other officers thundering down the stairway.

“He’s in there, he’s armed!” John yelled. Tony hesitated, seeing Katy laying there, bleeding, wailing loudly as she clutched her arm. Chris Deakin and Inspector Graham came downstairs and started issuing orders.

“Right, Ed, go upstairs and inform the captahat’hat’s gone on. I want Greg and Dave to go in and flush him out. Tony, John and Pat, you three secure the elevator and main stairways so that he can’t get out. Whatever you do, don’t be a hero. It’s 10 minutes until we’re in the port and we’ll get SO19 on board as soon as we dock.”

“Gov, I need to stay with her…” John protested. Katy had developed a clammy sweat over her body. John had ripped off his shirt tail to make a tourniquet to stop her bleeding and had her arm elevated.

“I’ll look after her, now do your job, John.” Chris barked at him. John reluctantly got up and went off with Tony.

As soon as they were off, Tony started on John, “This is your fault, you do realise that? She wouldn’t be laying there right now if it wasn’t for you.”

“And what’s it to you, Tony?” John asked, “Don’t you think I realise that? The last t I e I ever wanted was her to get hurt.”

“You were only using her in the first place to get this arrest. I bet you had no intention of going back to her. I know what you’re like. She deserves a good man, instead she fell in love with a filthy Scouser.”

John whirled around and punched Tony squarely in the jaw. Tony stumbled backwards into a table full of Germans who jumped up and started yelling loudly. Tony got back up, glaring at John with unadulterated hatred and was ready to punch back.

John, quickly regaining his cool, said, “I’m going to forget you said that constable. If you really care about Katy the best you can do right now is not to hit me but to stop the dealer. He could be back up on the passenger decks right now.”

Tony glared at John, paused for a moment and then spat a mouthful of blood onto John’s shoe. He took off down the nearest stairway, to make sure it was secure. John shook his shoe off, spattering the juices onto the parquet floor and the ship’s interior wall, then continued on to the outside deck.

John climbed down the first set of stairs onto the lower deck. Cautiously, he stuck his head down the next staircase down to the car deck. He clung onto the stairwell as the boat lunged forward over a wave, and heard someone trip on the stairs coming up the next flight of stairs below him.

The person coming up the stairs said, “Merde!” as they fell forward. John recognized the voice – it was the dealer. He whispered into his radio, “Suspect coming up the rear left outside stairwell. On deck five. I’m on deck seven at the moment. Do not acknowledge.”

John crouched down behind a lifeboat and waited. Two minutes later, the suspect stumbled up the stairs and out onto the deck. He was limping, probably from his fan thn the stairs. As he passed the life-boat, John silently came out from behind it, and lunged upon him from behind, grabbing his wrist and applying opposite pressure to his elbow, causing his arm to break, and for him to scream in pain and drop the gun. As quick as he could, John had his hands behind his back and cuffed.

“I’m arresting you for assault and attempting to supply a class A drug. You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not answer when questioned something which you may later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”

Inspector Graham and Dave Quinnan were the first ones to arrive. They took custody of the dealer. A quick inspection of his passport revealed that his name was Giles Morran. John left the suspect in control of Graham and Dave who went to load him in the police wagon on the car deck, and went to find Katy.

Katy had been moved by the ss dos doctor and was in the infirmary. Chris Deakin was with her. Her eyes were closed and her face was practically drained of its colour. Chris stood up as John entered the room.

“She’s been given some painkiller and a tetanus jab. She needs to go to the hospital as soon as she can get there. The bullet is lodged in bone and will need surgery to get it out.”

“Will she be alright?” John asked.

“It’s too early to tell, really. They’ve called St. Andrew's Hospital and they’re expecting her in casualty. We should land any minute and they’ll take her off first.”

The doctor came back in the room. “Are you next of kin?” he asked John.

“No… well, yes… sort of,” John said.

“Will you be riding in the ambulance with her?”

“Yes.” John said.

“Fair enough,” the doctor said, and checked Katy’s blood pressure again. “She’s strong, her vitals are good. When I was in the army, I saw people go into cardiac arrest after an injury like hers.”

Chris Deakin got up and left John with Katy. He sat next to her and stroked her hair. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.

“Hi,” she whispered.

“Hi there gorgeous.” John said, putting on a brave face for her.

“Did you get him?” She asked.

“Yeah, I got him love.” John smiled at her and touched her cheek, carefully, so not to hurt her arm.

“Good,” Katy said, “Now you can be mine forever.”

John could feel the bile from his lie rising in his throat. “Just lie back and relax love,” he choked out. Katy closed her eyes and John went to the men’s room to splash cold water on his face.

* * *

Chris Deakin greeted Tony, Dave and Inspector Graham at the transport van they had on board the car deck. Morran was inside, handcuffed, and not going anywhere. Graham’s two PCs were inside, sitting with him.

“Right, so all in all pretty successful,” Chris said. “What did he have on him?”

“Well, he had about ackeackets of cocaine, plus 15 balls of heroin, Chris,” Graham said, “It’s no wonder Sun Hill was getting flooded with the stuff. I also heard that Southampton was having a problem with imported heroin. Let’s just see if this doesn’t sort it.” Graham smiled and took out a flask from his jacket pocket. Opening it, he took a massive swig and offered it around. “Drink?”

Tony, Dave and Chris shook their heads. Graham shrugged and took another swig.

“Pity about that girl though. Pretty little thing, isn’t she? Hard to believe she’s a burglar. What sort of things does she steal, Chris? Shoplifting?”

“No, much more than that. She’s a professional. Her father was Bruce O’Sullivan, remember him?” Chris said.

“No… wait a minute… that name rings a bell. O’Sullivan, yes, he was a bit notorious wasn’t he? What was it he did, turned over the judge that sent him down the day he got out of Wormwood Scrubs? Ah yes. My, she does have quite a pedigree, doesn’t she?” Graham took one last swig from his flask and put it back in his pocket.

“Something like that.” Chris smiled at Tony who had one ear on Dave’s idle chit chat, and another one on their conversation, “Anyway, I suspect it’s all ancient history for her and that sort of thing.”

“I suppose you’re right, Chris. She’ll be sent down for a while, make no mistake. Pity. Gorgeous girl like that needs a good man to set her straight.” Graham was an old school, pre-PACE sexist at heart.

Chris smiled and made a non-committal gesture. “Let me just go debrief my troops. Excuse me.”

Chris walked over to Tony and Dave. “Good job, guys. I’ll be sure to put in a word with Inspector Monroe.”

Tony and Dave smiled. “Thank you sir,” Dave said.

“Any word on Katy, sir?” Tony asked.

“The ship’s doctor seems to think she may need surgery because the bullet lodged in her bone but she should come through it alright. Beyohat,hat, she’s got a pretty heavy sentence awaiting her.”

“But surely with all of this that she’s done, even taking a bullet for an officer, she should get let off or at least a probationary sentence,” Tony said.

“Fraid’ not, Tony. John Boulton tried to get her let off but the DCI was having none of it. We can’t go soft on people that help us, even if they are extremely helpful. Everyone would be wanting us to look the other way.”

“But sir,” Tony said, “She doesn’t know this. I know she thinks that she’s been let off. She told me so.”

“Does she now?” Chris sighed, rolling his eyes heavenward; “I suppose I need to have a word then with him. Am I to assume that bruise on your face is from John as well?”

“No Sir,” Tony said, resisting the urge to land John in it, “I slipped when I was running to the arrest and cracked my face on a handrail.”

Deakin nodded, not entirely believing it. “Alright Tony.”

Chris felt the boat pull to a standstill, and heard some men yelling instructions at each other. They were at Dover. He watched as the front of the boat went up and they were held up as an ambulance was driven on. A team of emergency medical technicians got out of the ambulance and went upstairs, quickly, to the infirmary. Tony and Dave got in the front of the transit and he got in the car with Inspector Graham. The boat staff allowed them to drive out.

* * *

Katy groaned slightly as she was carried down a flight of stairs on the stretcher to the car deck. John went in front, clearing a path through the passengers, anxious to get back to their cars. He watched towards the side of the ambulance as Katy was loaded in, and put on a saline drip. Then when she was secure, he climbed aboard.

“Where are you taking her?” John asked the EMT.

“St. Andrew’s.” The EMT replied as he checked Katy’s vitals. “Only place around that has experience with gunshots.”

“Do you think they could fly her up to London?” John asked.

“No… this needs a good seeing to right now. No time to take her to London. If they wait there could be nerve damage. Heyup, you’re far from home, aint’cha?”

“So are you, mate,” John said. The EMT was a Geordie.

“Aye. So what’re you doing down south, like?” he asked.

“Police officer.” John said, annoyed for the inquiry.

“Aye, me brother’s a copper and all. Tyneside Police. Suppose where I’m from you’d have to move down south to keep from getting’ yer head kicked in!”

“Right,” John said, annoyed “How far to the hospital?”

“About 10 minutes. Don’t worry, they’re expecting her. So, how did it happen, like?”

John was quiet.

“I mean, her, you know. Getting shot.”

“She took a bullet that was meant for me.” John looked out the window. Then the penny fell. Morran had no way of knowing that John was Katy’s boyfriend. The bullet, in actual fact, was meant for Tony Stamp.

“Did she? Brave lass. Here, you’t f’t find many people willing to take a bullet meant for a copper!” The EMT laughed to himself. John felt his blood rising.

“She’s also my girlfriend.” John glared at him.

“Oh right. Sorry mate.”

They spent the rest of the ride in silence. The EMT radioed ahead to the emergency room and gave them Katy’s details. Pulling into casualty, they unloaded Katy quickly and rushed her straight through into surgery. John was held back by a nurse.

“Would you like to take a seat there, sir, she’s going straight into theatre.” The nurse said, gesturing to one of the hard plastic seats against the wall. John sighed and looked around. One hospital looked like another as far as he was concerned, and this could have passed for St. Hugh’s.

John sat, thinking to himself. He’d been doing a lot of this lately. If only he had been upfront with her, she might not have been laying in the operating theatre right now. True, she may have walked out of his life for good but at least she wouldn’t have been shot. He wished it had been him instead of. A. As it was, he had to face the consequences of his actions and he sorely did not want to. He wished there was some other way to get around what he was going to have to do.

John’s mobile rang. The nurse behind the counter gave him a dirty look and pointed for him to go outside. He got up and went out, fumbling with the button.

“Boulton.”

“John, it’s Chris. How’s Katy?”

“They took her into theatre about a half-hour ago. She was stable the whole way here.”

“Good. Keep me posted.”

“Alright Guv.”

“I really hate asking you this, John, but does Katy know that she is going to have charges brought against her from the bank job?”

John sighed heavily, “No.”

“Did you tell her that she was going to be let off, or did you just tell her nothing at all?”

“Yes.” John was silent.

“Answer the question John.”

“I told her that the charges were dropped.”

“I don’t believe this. Of all the stupid, underhanded, rotten ways to make an arrest this takes the biscuit. I don’t believe you would stoop so low to set up, manipulate and coerce your ex-lover on a false promise simply to make an arrest.”

“But Guv… I couldn’t… I just couldn’t…” John trailed off, defeated.

“Well you are, John. You are. You must tell her as soon as she’s up for it. And I’m not just thinking of you, John. She loves you. Why, I don’t know but she does. Frankly, she’s too good for the likes of you.”

“Sir.” John mumbled.

“I won’t make you arrest her, I’ll do that myself when she gets let out of hospital. But you must tell her. If I end up breaking the news to her I’m going to make sure that you’re so weighed down in paperwork you won’t be on another case for the next ten years. You might as well do time with her because you’ll be sentenced to your desk with no parole!”

“Guv.” John grunted.

“Call me when she gets out of theatre and let me know what the doctor says.” Chris hung up the phone. John had the urge to drop the phone on the ground and step on it, like he was putting out a cigarette. Instead he cancelled the call and slid it back in his pocket and went back in to face a styrofoam cup of coffee and more waiting.

* * *

“Mr. Boulton?” the doctor said, startling John who had been staring off into space.

“Yes.” John said, rising to his feet.

“Kathryn’s out of theatre. She’s fine. The bullet did no permanent damage because we caught it in time but it will be sore for a while. She lost a fair bit of blood though, and she had a clot that formed right under it, that we had to remove.”

“Where is she now, can I see her?”

“She’s in intensive care and you can see her, although she’ll be quite groggy.”

John nodded. The doctor led him through the wards to the intensive care unit. He pulled back the curtain and Katy was laying there in bed, looking very fragile. She was pale and her eyes were closed. A nurse came over and touched Katy’s forehead gently.

“Kathryn… Kathryn, love. Your boyfriend’s here.”

Katy opened her eye and smiled weakly. “John.”

“Alright love?” John said, softly.

“Yeah… now you’re here.”

“The doctor said you came through it alright. Said there was no damage. You’re gonna be fine, love.”

Katy extended her good arm from her bed and reached for him. He took her hand and she squeezed it gently.

“John, I love you.”

“I love you too Katy.”

Katy smiled and closed her eyes, falling back asleep. The nurse left them and pulled the curtain back to give them privacy. John sat in a chair next to her bed and was overwhelmed by emotions, that consumed him. Thoughts of her, him and their life together, their happiness that they were not going to be able to share because of him. He couldn’t help himself and he felt the tears at his eyes, that he couldn’t restrain. John wept, for the first time in his life.

* * *

Five days later, Katy was being discharged from St. Andrews. John had stayed by her side every day, taking up residence in a local b&b, and driving her car to and from the hospital. Every day he had received a phone call and a threat from Chris Deakin about telling her, but every time he tried the opportunity never presented itself. On the third day, John told Chris that he had, in fact, told her, but Chris knew that John was lying. Chris finally realised that John, while being a very strong man, had one weakness and that laid square in his heart.

The nurse made preparations to check Katy out. She took John’s hand with her right hand, as her left arm was in a sling. Looking towards the exit, Chris walked in with Tony and Dave.

“Chris, Tony, Dave! How nice of you to come and see me home!” Katy exclaimed, waving.

Chris shot John a look, and sighed. “Katy… I’m afraid we’re not here as you think we are.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, looking at John. John’s face was as red as a post box. He got up from where he was sitting on her bed next to her, and looked out the window.

“I’m afraid, Katy, the CPS wouldn’t allow us to drop the charges against you for the bank robbery job.” Chris frowned, “We’re here to take you back into custody.”

“Into custody?” Katy looked at John, who was still standing, back turned to her. She looked at Tony. The pieces fit into place for her and she saw exactly what had gone on. She got up and grabbed John by the shoulders, forcing him to look at her.

“I’m arresting you for burglary. You do not have to say anything…” Chris said, but Katy interrupted, “Hold on a minute, Chris. Can I just do something first?”

“Sure, Katy.” Chris said.

“Give me your warrant card.” Katy said to John.

“Why?” John asked.

“I want to see it.”

John produced his warrant card. It was warm, and smelled like aftershave. Katy handed it to Chris, “Can you hold this for a second?”

Chris took it. Katy glared at John for one long minute. With all the strength she had inside of her she slapped John, as hard as she could, across his face.

“I hate you. I have never hated anyone in my whole life like I do you. I hope I never see you again, ever. I may be the burglar, but you... you’re a criminal.”

John was pushed backwards a few steps, not expecting her to do that. His hand flew to his cheek where it warobbrobbing already.

“Katy…” he started, “Katy please don’t…”

Katy turned her back to him and said, “Get me out of here Chris. The back of a panda car will be fine.”

Chris took Katy by her good arm and led her out, after tossing John’s warrant card on the bed towards him. Tony shot John a hateful look and followed behind.

John watched them lead her away, his heart breaking with every step. He wished he had Morran’s gun right at this moment because it would have been more merciful to him. He had lost everything, and it was his own fault, his own lapse of reason. He could probably make it up to his colleagues but he knew he could never make it up to her.

But somewhere inside of him, there was hope. He might not have been able to stop what was coming but he was going to try, regardless of the consequences, to get her back. The love he had for her, he knew he would never feel again for the rest of his life and he wasn’t about to let her get away again.