Costa Crew 2: They Walk Among Us

Chapter 2 - Nicking Bent Coppers

Paul Houston had never seen Raymond Drake accomplish a task so quickly. Within minutes everything on his desk was packed into a box and ready to move to its new home.

"Looks like someone's excited," said his friend Ted Green, packing away the remainder of Paul's stationary.

"Can't blame him," said Paul, shrugging. "He's been waiting for this for four years. Well, since he became a DI. But he was ready for this years ago and then it didn't happen."

Paul and Ted sealed up all the boxes, then Paul took one last look around what had been his office for five years. From here he had brought down drug rings, solved murders, and masterminded the plan to bring down the Godfather. But that chapter of his life was over. Amelia Murphy had been sent to prison, and her organisation was in tatters. Time to take on a new place in the fight against crime.

As Paul opened the door the entire squad stood to attention: DCs William Tyler and Luke Barlow, DSs Ted Green and Sarah White, DI Greg Daniels and newly promoted DCI Raymond Drake, who was trying not to show how desperately he wanted Paul to leave and let him into his new office.

"Good luck, sir," piped up Tyler.

Paul smiled and shook Drake's hand. "Over to you, DCI."

"Can I adjust the seat angle now?" asked Drake, smirking.

Paul raised an eyebrow. "Maybe just find another chair."

He turned to Greg. "Of course, you're really in charge."

Drake's smile turned cold. "You don't trust me."

This was a statement rather than a question. Paul shook his head. "Of course I trust you, otherwise I wouldn't have put you forward for the DCI exam in the first place. I was just joking, sorry."

Drake nodded and forced a smile. "That's okay. This is just a new experience."

He hesitated before the words new experience, which Paul took to mean I'm nervous. He nodded, then turned his attention to the full squad. "I should probably give a speech about how I'll miss you all very much, and this squad has been a pleasure to lead, and how everyone in it has a bright future in the Metropolitan Police. But I'm not one for speeches. So I'll say goodbye and leave it at that. Hopefully I'll see you all again in the future."

On his way to the elevator, Paul passed Sergeant Erica Miller, commander of the uniformed officers. "DSU Houston!" she exclaimed. "I didn't realise you were leaving already."

Paul stopped and turned to her. "Ted helped me pack, and DCI Drake couldn't wait for me to get out of there. You've done a great job since you arrived here, Erica. Keep up the good work."

Erica averted her gaze. "Working with you was amazing, sir. I'd heard so much about you, and DS Green and Inspector Monroe."

Paul wasn't entirely sure how to respond to this, so he simply smiled, said, "Goodbye, Erica," and continued towards the elevator.

***

DS Samantha Foster raced round the first floor of Anti Corruption Unit 9, making sure everything was perfectly clean and organised. Sometimes she noticed a discrepancy in the tidiness and fixed the culprit with a glare. "Wrapper...sharpenings….bottle…" she snapped as she checked everything.

Her new partner, DC Davis, watched as Samantha gave the floor one last glance. "What's the new gaffer like?" He asked.

Samantha shrugged. "He can be forgetful and unorganized, but he's one of the best Detectives I've ever worked with. He led the team that brought down the Godfather."

Murmurs spread throughout the room. Everybody in the police force and beyond knew about Operation Godfather, the most difficult and dangerous operation they had handled in a long time - so much so that DCC Fleming had even reached out to MI5 for help, and MI5 had agreed, being just as desperate themselves.

Samantha checked her watch. "He should be arriving now. DC Davis and I will go and meet him at reception. The rest of you wait here and be ready to stand to attention when we come back. He's a Detective Superintendent after all."

Davis followed Samantha downstairs to the sign in desk. Firearms officers were scattered throughout the entrance, but this was nothing compared to the days where some of the most dangerous corrupt officers were brought in for interrogation, causing the whole building to be placed on lockdown. Amazing how dramatic an Anti Corruption interview could become.

Paul Houston stepped through the door, stopping to take in his new surroundings - the security checks, glass panel exterior walls, pristine staircases that also had glass panels at the sides - altogether slightly more modern than his old station. He approached the sign-in desk, found the correct clipboard, then wrote his name and time of arrival before turning to the two detectives.

"Good to see you again, Samantha," he said jovially, shaking her hand.

Samantha smiled. "Good to work with you again, sir. My partner, DC Benjamin Davis."

"Ben, please," DC Davis added as he shook Paul's hand. "Or DC Davis obviously. I mean, nobody calls me Benjamin...but you can, if you like...I mean…"

"Ben it is," interrupted Paul. "I've done the whole calling everyone by rank and surname. Wasn't fun."

Samantha nodded, remembering this time, where Paul had actually acted in a professional manner. "I guess you'd like to introduce yourself," she said.

Paul nodded and followed Samantha and Ben upstairs, where everyone stood to attention. "Please, as you were," he said, smiling slightly. He still wasn't used to everyone standing for him as a Superintendent. "I'm your new commanding officer, Detective Superintendent Paul Houston. I'll let you get back to work in a minute but there's a few things you should know about me first. First of all, I make a lot of bad jokes. Deal with it or request a transfer. Second, yes I did go to school with the Godfather, and no I won't be taking questions about that operation. Third, I know it can be difficult to investigate your friends and colleagues. But I transferred to Anti Corruption to do one thing. And it's called nicking bent coppers. So I'm relying on you all to carry out your duty to the letter of the law. Because the police force is supposed to reduce crime in the city, and we can't do that if there's corrupt individuals in our ranks, be it one rotten apple or a whole network of corrupt officers."

As Paul headed for his new office, Ben turned to Samantha. "Definitely an improvement from Carmichael," he whispered. "But then again, who isn't?"

Samantha laughed. "He is brilliant, if slightly insane. You'll learn to put up with his jokes in time."

Once Paul had adjusted his seat to the perfect angle, he sat back and looked out at his new team. It's not over, he thought. Operation Godfather had to involve police corruption. And I'm going to find out who it was and bring them down.