PEEL-BEHIND THEIR EYES. Book 1 (Complete)

Chapter 5. Briefing

Constable Loftis ran the length and breadth of Grimsby police station in search of DCI Peels squad, he intended to find every single one of them as fast as possible, he didn't want to be on the receiving end of Peel's ear bashing's, especially since he had not long put in to be considered for Detective himself. Although the young Constable had high hopes and aspirations, the powers that be, knew that the Constable needed a few more years under his belt to toughen him up for that kind of policing, for that kind of brutal case load. Not every copper was cut out to investigate rape, murder, and all the other brutalities shared among the town's citizens. Peel knew the lad's capabilities, and a detective wasn't one of them, not yet anyway.

Peel finished at the white porcelain urinal, shook and zipped, a squirt of soap, a quick rinse off his hands and a paper towel later, he was ready to head up his team. Banging the palm of his hand against the door, it swung open. He didn't touch the handle of the toilet door, never did, he had worked in the station for far too long a time and knew its nefarious ways with hygiene. Taking to the cream painted hallway with a fast stride, he rushed past the closed office's, he ignored their teak veneered doors, didn't bother to read their faded brass name plates, he knew every one of their occupants. Reaching the corner, he blindly rounded it, and with his eyes firmly locked onto the gray speckled floor, walked headlong into his right-hand man, Detective Grayson.

"Woe, sorry there, Boss" Muck almost shouted in surprise.

"Ah, Muck, everybody ready," he asked, ignoring their near collision.

Holding out his hand, Muck said "Yes, this is for you, Boss, you need it"

Peel took the proffered item and threw it into his mouth; Muck always offered him a mint before facing the team. Peel realized that the detective knew him better than his own mother, and thought "not that she even knew who I am anymore. I don't know why I bother visiting her, it's pointless, she just stares at me whilst asking the nurse who the young man is over and over" a fleeting look of pain flushed his face. Shaking off his morose self-pity, he gave Muck the usual curt nod and fell into step beside him, all the while listening to a quick update, and sucking the mint.

"Everybody but Polmis is in the incident room ready and waiting, Boss, Polmis is in court with the Vicker's thing. I've spoken with I.T and they're getting the C.C.A, the Crime Case App up and running and all the latest case info up onto the cloud. Both Mary and Paula are ready to transfer all new data as and when it starts coming in. I've fully briefed the team with the new App procedure and issued them with passwords. Also, phone lines are being hooked up for the call center and uniform is organizing officers to man them. And before you ask, yes the coffees on" the detective handed Peel a stack of folders with all current case information. The pair marched in step down a single flight of concrete steps to the ground floor, through a set of heavy swing doors and then headed for the second set of doors on the far right. Peel could already hear and feel the buzz before they reached their destination.

"Oh, and the Media, both local and national are on their way. Once we've prepared the missing girl's families what to expect, you are scheduled to make a brief statement on their behalf this afternoon"

"Good job Muck, get Paula to write the statement will you, I'm terrible with words," Peel said as he walked and glanced through the files.

Muck nodded "She writing as we speak Boss"

Peel placed the files under his arm and said "Good. Also, I've been thinking recently, I want Constables Loftis and Jameson to sit in on the briefing, tell them to keep quiet, just listen and learn, that's all"

Raising an eyebrow, Muck asked "I know Morris wants in, but Jameson, why him boss"

Stopping before the doors of the incident room and his waiting squad, Peel explained his reasoning "Hmm, Jameson, yes, he's clever Muck, to bloody clever to be a Constable. I've been keeping an eye on him ever since that spate of post office raids on the Westmarsh estate last year; he came up trumps on that one. He needs a new direction, so I'm giving him one, subtle like" winking at the detective, Detective Chief Inspector Peel barged open the door and entered.