As Jane walked away, Maureen stood frozen with shock. Then she started to cry, knowing what she’d been told was the harsh truth.
It was midday on the Monday and Jane was getting ready to go to her parents’ for lunch when the phone rang.
‘Sorry to spoil your day,’ a gloomy Teflon said, ‘but Murphy wants to see us right away in the office.’
‘Why, what’s happened?’
‘The Ripley job’s gone pear-shaped — Tony Nichols is alleging our search of the garage was illegal under Judges’ Rules.’
‘That’s rubbish.’
‘Murphy’s fuming. Because we knew there was no one there on a Sunday and weren’t making an arrest, we should have got a warrant.’
‘But we were searching as a direct result of their arrests and didn’t need one!’
‘That’s what I thought... If the cash, guns and other stuff we found is ruled inadmissible as evidence, the whole lot of them will walk out of court free men — apart from Nichols.’
Jane was mortified.
‘I’ll be there in half an hour.’
She phoned her mother. ‘I have to go into work, but hopefully I can come over later.’
‘That’s all right, dear. I’ll keep a plate of food for you and warm it up when you get here. I read in this morning’s paper about those men you arrested for the Security Express robbery. You must feel so proud.’
‘I did, but it looks like I’ve messed up and they could get off.’
Jane heard an intake of breath on the other end of the line.
‘Oh dear, that doesn’t sound good.’
Jane trudged up the stairs to the office, knowing that Murphy was going to give her hell and probably then kick her off the squad. She opened the door and walked in.
‘Welcome to the party, Treacle!’ the Colonel shouted, raising his beer can.
Jane looked around the room. The whole squad was there, smiling and raising their cans.
‘You bastard, Teflon — you had me worried sick!’
‘I knew it would get you here quickly.’ He grinned.
‘We always have a piss-up after a good result and thought you needed cheering up,’ Stanley said.
Murphy tapped his beer can on the table to get everyone’s attention.
‘I want to thank you all for your hard work over the last few days — especially you, Jane. We wouldn’t have been able to charge the Ripley gang if it hadn’t been for your tenacity and attention to detail. Welcome to the Flying Squad.’
He raised his glass, then everyone clapped and cheered loudly and toasted her. Teflon opened a can of lager and handed it to Jane.
‘Murphy’s recommending the Colonel and me for the Queen’s Police Medal for bravery,’ he said.
‘You deserve it — I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. Cheers!’
She tapped her can of beer against his.
‘I was wondering if you’d fancy going out for a drink or to the pictures some time?’
‘Yeah, I’d like that, but just on a friendly basis.’
‘I’m fine with that,’ Teflon agreed.
‘We got you a little present, Treacle.’
The Colonel handed her a large rolled-up poster with a red ribbon tied around it.
Jane unrolled it and everyone laughed. It was a blow-up of the Ripley family and friends photograph taken at the wedding, with her smiling and surrounded by the gang of criminals. Above it was the heading: A ROSE AMONG THIEVES. The Colonel took it from her and pinned it to the wall next to the Dirty Dozen poster.
Dabs approached her. ‘I had the pictures you took developed and thought you might like to have this one.’
It was the picture of a happy-looking Carl with his arm around Jane, taken by a guest at the wedding with Jane’s camera. She felt herself welling up.
‘Thank you, Dabs.’
Jane gently touched the photograph of Carl and put it in her bag. For the moment, she was enjoying the thrill of finally being accepted as one of the Flying Squad. But she knew that once the elation had worn off, she’d have to ask herself whether it really was the right job for her. She’d seen some things that she’d never be able to forget, however hard she tried.
‘You’ve certainly changed your tune about Tennison,’ Kingston said.
Murphy shrugged, taking out a bottle of Scotch and pouring two large glasses.
‘She’s a good detective, but a woman on the Flying Squad will always be a liability. She’d never have been able to take down O’Reilly or Nichols like the Colonel and Teflon did, or be any good in a street fight with people like the Ripleys. I’ll be telling the Commissioner’s office their little experiment isn’t working and I’m asking for a male replacement.’
The office celebrations were in full swing and Jane was feeling a little drunk when she went over to the Colonel to have a quiet word in his ear about the ten pounds he’d pocketed.
‘Why did you only give Gentleman Jim a tenner when it was supposed to be twenty?’
He smiled. ‘You’re a sharp cookie, Jane, but I didn’t nick it. If I’d had to pay Jim a score I would have, but I decided to front him out and gave the tenner back to Kingston. He didn’t want it, though.’
‘So, what did you do with it?’
‘You’re drinking it, Treacle.’
She smiled and wagged her finger at him. ‘You’re as slay as a fox, Cooonel,’ she said, slurring her words.
Stanley turned the radio up and the sound of the Bee Gees’ hit ‘Stayin’ Alive’ filled the room. He jumped up on the table, then started doing point-and-shake moves and gyrating his hips like John Travolta. There was a loud cheer in the room, and everyone clapped and whistled to the music.
‘Can you jive, Jane?’ Teflon asked, holding out his hand.
‘Can a duck swim?’ She took hold of his hand.
There was a loud roar of encouragement from her colleagues as she did a walk-through move and a twirl with Teflon.
It suddenly hit her that despite their rough edges, they were not only a great bunch of guys, but bloody good at what they did. And one thing was guaranteed: there was never a dull moment in the Flying Squad.
Yes, she thought, the Flying Squad is where I want to be.