Costa Crew 3: Make or Break

Chapter 13 - Busted

Lindsey Kirk felt like a child waiting outside the headteacher's office all over again as she sat outside Connelly's office. She knew that he was fuming after Rebecca Hidgens escaping - or kidnapping, whichever it was. But that was hardly her fault. Well, not as far as Connelly was aware.

"Alright, Lindsey?" Corban Montgomery asked as he passed. "What's up?"

Lindsey sighed. "Hidgens escaping."

Montgomery nodded. "Join the club. I haven't had a minute's peace of mind since Andrews escaped. At least Hidgens didn't walk right out of here though."

Lindsey looked up sharply. "Anthony Andrews escaped?"

Montgomery frowned. "Yeah. A few weeks ago. You didn't know?"

Lindsey shook her head. She hadn't heard anything about Anthony's escape, and nobody in the police force had heard anything, and neither had anybody at MI5. But Connelly must have-

Something clicked. She had a theory. But she needed the proof. And she could only think of one way to get that proof as quickly as possible.

"Get in here," Connelly snapped, throwing open the door and breaking off Lindsey's train of thought.

Lindsey stepped inside and tentatively sat down, staring down at her hands as Connelly paced the room, shaking his head furiously. "What must people think of us," he muttered. "We were one of the most secure prisons in the country before you arrived. Now Rebecca Hidgens has been able to break in, kill one of our high security prisoners - scratch that, the highest security prisoner, and then escape. I can't decide if you're just sloppy or if you're working with Hidgens. Anything to say?"

Lindsey's heart was beating fast as she looked up at Connelly. "Yes, actually."

Connelly raised an eyebrow and motioned for her to continue. "How come you didn't process the request for protective custody?"

"What request?" asked Connelly.

Lindsey snorted. "Don't play dumb, Ewan. I know Drake's request went through for Rebecca Hidgens to be placed in protective custody. I thought he hadn't sent it because he worked for Murphy, but all this time it was you, wasn't it? You arranged Murphy's murder that wasn't actually a murder. You framed Hidgens."

"That's preposterous," spat Connelly. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I think you do," continued Lindsey. "You also ignored DCI Drake's request for Hidgens to have protective custody, and arranged that situation in the exercise yard. You, Bradshaw and Turnbull. Not to kill her, just beat the crap out of her to within an inch of her life to make her suffer. Now, do you have anything left to say?"

Connelly stopped pacing and sat down. "Why don't you take out that little MI5 phone and call Goodman?"

Lindsey froze. "Yes, I know," Connelly taunted. "Agent Lindsey Holland, British Intelligence, initially sent undercover as a prison guard because Goodman was paranoid. Thought Murphy might be a bit too persuasive with the prison officers."

"He wasn't wrong," Lindsey retorted.

Connelly smirked. "It's amazing how five minutes speaking to Amelia Murphy can make you see things in a new light."

"Only if you're spineless."

"You MI5 Agents think you're so much better than us," Connelly snarled. "Oh, look at me, I'm off the grid, I work for the government but only certain people can know about it. You and Hidgens are the exact same. But you're no better than the rest of us."

"We've never implied anything like that," replied Lindsey. "We're just trying to do the right thing. Help the country. You were doing a good thing too, Mr Connelly. Until Amelia Murphy got in your head."

"We just want justice to be done," Connelly said coldly.

"By killing Rebecca Hidgens?" spluttered Lindsey.

Connelly smirked. "Exactly."

"Not if I have anything to do with it," Lindsey replied, reaching for a gun.

"I don't think so," Connelly said, grabbing his gun at the same time as her. "Hands up, drop the weapon."

Lindsey lowered her gun and raised her hands. "You really should be more careful about where you leave your phone," he continued. "But we're not complaining. It's been very useful when it comes to getting Hidgens rattled. Now, where is she?"

"I don't know," Lindsey replied slowly.

Connelly clicked the safety off the gun. "I'm not messing about, Lindsey. You have no idea who you're messing with here."

"I know exactly who I'm messing with," Lindsey replied. "But the Godfather's resources are limited this time. She doesn't stand a chance. So go ahead. Pull that trigger. It won't make any difference."

Connelly pressed the gun against her temple. "You think you're getting a bullet in your brain. You'd be lucky."

He tossed a set of handcuffs across the table. "Put them on."

Lindsey slowly slipped the handcuffs on and inserted the key, locking them, before tossing the key back. Connelly smirked. "I did offer you the easy way out. But we'll make you talk soon enough."