Pepper sipped her coffee, and tried to revive her good mood. But it wasn’t working, so she gave up.
‘Look, Dai, I have to go. I don’t know what this is all about, I really don’t. But from now on, if you want to speak to me, you come down to the nick and join the fucking queue, all right?’
‘Sorry, love, I know you’re busy. So I’ll get to the point. I wanted to make a suggestion, like. And I’m only making it because I like you, and because we go back. Just do me one tiny little favour. All I’m asking you to do is apply for a transfer, a nice little job at HQ, but get yourself away from the front line up here.’
‘And if I don’t?’
‘Then you’ll have to take your chances, like the rest of them.’
‘So you’re threatening me, is that it? You’re threatening a police officer?’
‘Of course not, what with you recording every word we say. I just meant that I know you, love, and with the time you’ve had lately, you could really do with something a bit less stressful. And it’s obvious that things are going to get worse for all you cops, over the next few months.’
‘Really? What makes you say that?’
‘Stands to reason, doesn’t it? They’re cutting more coppers’ jobs all the time, and that won’t stop until there’s real trouble on the streets, and the MPs don’t feel safe in their second homes. You lot are just spectators now, Pepper. You’ve got no money for surveillance, or for that pro-active policing stuff. It’s a thing of the past, is that. So now any villain worth his salt knows that so long as there’s no physical evidence, DNA and that, he can brazen pretty much anything out. And the CPS hasn’t got a pot to piss in either, has it? So all you’re going to catch from now on are the ones who want to get caught, and the really stupid ones. So take my advice, and get you and your little lad out of harm’s way. Now, while you still can.’
Pepper stood up. She’d had enough of Dai Young for one year. More than enough. And she jabbed her finger at him as she spoke. ‘I know you feel like a winner right now, Dai, but this is only half-time. You’re going to face justice, and I’m going to be the one who takes you down, I promise you that. So I’m going nowhere, marrer. I know what you are, better than anyone, so I can guess what you’ve done. You’re frightened of me, and so you bloody should be.’
Dai Young smiled up at her, and then he too got up, pointing politely to their table so that an older couple could take their seats.
‘And a merry Christmas to you too, love. Don’t you even want your present?’
But Pepper Wilson didn’t hear him over the hissing of steam and chatter. She was already half way to the door, and looking down at her present list. Ben wanted something called an Extreme Ambush Kit, whatever the hell that was. Pepper had absolutely no idea, but she knew that she really liked the sound of it.
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