Costa Crew: One More Shot

Chapter 11 - May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favour

Everything was packed and ready for the morning departure. As the chances of her sleeping were nil, Becky had volunteered to stay up and monitor the listening devices. As predicted, there was very little activity.

Fate was a cruel thing, she thought. Fate had brought Paul, Ted and Charlotte back into her life after two years and now it was going to take them away. At least they would know for certain that she was dead. Why, why didn't she have firearms training?

"Hey," said Paul. "Mind if I join you?"

Becky shrugged. "Be my guest. Not much going on."

"I didn't mean the bugs," interrupted Paul. "I meant you. I was wondering if a prayer might help?"

Becky didn't say anything, but nodded all the same. Paul sat down beside her and closed his eyes. "Heavenly father, I come to you now in a time of great peril in the hope that you will guide us safely to the other side. I ask that you look after my friend Rebecca Hidgens when we return to the city tomorrow, and give her the strength to stay strong in the face of danger. You have brought her back to us and it has brought great joy to all of us, I ask that you do not take her away from us now. I pray that you will be with the officers of the Metropolitan Police as we embark on our mission, and that we may be able to let the country sleep safe at night. Amen."

"Amen," whispered Becky, not meeting Paul's eye. "Thank you, Paul."

"Listen to me," he said. "You are not going to die. The station is going to be on high alert. DI Drake and two other officers will be looking after you, and you can trust DI Drake to protect you when his promotion is on the line. The moment Hannah and Anthony arrive, we'll storm Anthony's house and I'll slap the cuffs on the Godfather. Drake will arrest Anthony and with a sensible jury, I don't see how they could possibly be found not guilty."

"I don't think I've ever seen you so focused," said Becky, forcing a laugh.

Paul placed a hand on her shoulder. "I don't think my best friend's life's been in danger before. Nothing will happen to you because I won't let it. I'm with you until the end of the line."

"Nice reference," said Becky weakly. Paul grimaced, but didn't say anything, just stayed with her. A friend by her side.

Charlotte was first up that morning. "All right, you two?" she asked. "Ready for the off?"

Becky nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Charlotte gave her a quick hug. "Thank you," she said.

"For what?" asked Becky quizzically.
Charlotte laughed.

"As if you don't know," she replied. "That mistake with Hannah's name. That was no mistake."

"I don't know what you're talking about," protested Becky, but she winked at Charlotte. Maybe it had been a tiny bit deliberate.

Three helicopters came to collect them, MI5 issue. One was to take John back to headquarters with all the surveillance equipment, which he would transfer into a van, to be used during the raid. Another was to take Charlotte and Ted straight to Police Headquarters, along with the evidence, where Charlotte would go over the raid plan with the officers, and make sure everybody knew exactly what they were doing.

Paul and Becky were in the third, to be taken to Becky's house. "Bad timing, but this is one of the coolest things I've ever done," commented Paul.

Becky laughed. "A helicopter ride will never not be cool."

Paul wanted to console her, to tell her everything would be okay, but he was afraid it would stress her out, so they spent the rest of the journey talking about their school days.

"Remember we used to ship Charlotte and Clark?" Paul asked.

Becky grinned. "I'll never forget that joke. Where is Clark these days?"

Paul stared at her. "You didn't know? They're directing the Back to the Future reboot."

Becky gasped. "No way!" she exclaimed. "That's incredible."

Paul nodded. "Right?"

They fell silent again. Becky stared out the window, taking in the view. Paul watched her, concerned for his friend, but with a sense of purpose like nothing he had ever felt before.

"And there's a fantastic view right there," said Paul, as they landed outside Becky's house where DI Drake's car was parked.

As soon as they stepped out of the helicopter Drake rushed to meet them. "I won't leave her side," he said to Paul. "Uh, that came out wrong, Miss, I mean…"

Paul sighed. "She knows. Becky, this is Raymond Drake, my DI."

"Soon to be DCI," added Drake, shaking Becky's hand. "You must be Miss Hidgens."

Becky smiled. Every bit as self-absorbed as Paul had described him. But Paul was confident that he would look after her, and so was Becky.

"I should get back to the station then," said Paul. "May the odds be ever in your favour."

Drake scowled. "Always the references. Still, if he gets me a promotion… anyway, let's head up. Mustn't hang around here all day."

Becky led the way into the flat. "Really I should have gone first," commented Drake. "Check for dangers."

Becky sighed. This guy was already getting on her nerves. "Well, I'm not dead. Next time I'll be sure to let you lead the way. And you're not my bodyguard, you're here to arrest the guy who's coming to kidnap me."

Drake glared at her. "No wonder you're so chummy with Paul."

Becky seriously wished she'd talked to Paul more the previous night. Now that her death could come at any moment, there were many things she wanted to get off her chest. Like how much she had missed her family. How she regretted not dropping in to see her parents, how her brother Curt had handled everything. Other friends who had turned her life around, from giving her the courage to put Amelia behind her and make new friends, to simply being someone to talk to on a music course where she knew nobody. She would die without telling Hannah how much she had come to mean to her, her closest friend, everything she would have wanted in a sister. The first time she had expressed her true appreciation for the Costa Crew had been fourteen years ago, during the 2020 lockdown, but a lot had changed since then. If she had more time she would make amends, but the last person she would ever see was Raymond Drake, a man who she had just met and had not warmed to one bit.

"Are you feeling okay?" asked Drake a few hours later, having binged a season of Sherlock. "You don't want to um, talk or anything?"

Becky shook her head. "I just want this guy to come so you can arrest him and I won't have to see you again."

Drake sighed. "Thank God," he muttered. "Don't take this personally, but you don't seem like a damsel in distress and I'd much rather be on the raid."

Becky shrugged. "Don't take it personally, but you don't seem like a knight in shining armour and I'd much rather my life wasn't in danger."