Beyond The Blue

“The first day was interesting you know because I got in there early like Ange asked and got up there and she told me that I was being transferred,” I say as Connor looks annoyed like I did when Ange told me.

“That’s bullshit, why would you be moved for?” Connor asks as I sit there not giving him an answer for a minute as he quickly realises that something is going on here “There’s something you’re not telling me about all this isn’t there” he says as I nod.

“Taskforce Albatross,” I say as Connor shakes his head not knowing what that means “I don’t know if I can tell you all about it but it’s investigating criminal activity where they believe there are police officers heavily involved.”

“Look, don’t let this get you angry ok when I tell you this but it looks like the shooting and you being on Cambridge Street for that call-out wasn’t accidental,” I say to him as Connor is surprisingly calm when I give him the news about the shooting being targeted as if he either knew something or it’s just the circumstances of it.

I sit there looking at Connor just confused about his lack of anger “Is there something that you’re not telling me about this? Because I thought you would be more annoyed or angry that it happened” I say to him as he just shrugs at me.

“I am angry but what purpose does it serve by getting to angered by it,” he says with his refreshing attitude to things whereas I would be wanting to punch something or just yell. “Getting angry doesn’t bring Jamie back or change what happened to me but we just need to focus on getting the bastards that forget why they became cops,” he says quite pointedly as I nod and agree.

After sitting with Connor for a while, I head home which annoys me in that now he’s just in a regular ward I can’t stay with him but I know that he can go home in a few days which makes me happy knowing that.

On my way back home, I take a detour to see Levi who is glad to see me “Hey Trent… I heard about the shooting, was it anybody you knew?” he says to me as I nod.

“Unfortunately, yeah it was, the guy who survived was actually Connor and then the one who passed away was a friend of mine Jamie,” I say to Levi who looks upset by it and gives me a hug as he looks at me as I sit in his room with him.

I feel bad that I told Levi to come and see either Connor or me at the station and neither of us has been there to help Levi over the past little while for obvious reasons. “Sorry that I couldn’t help you out with everything that I told you to do,” I say to Levi as he is shaking my head.

“Actually, everything worked out ok, I came down to the station to see you or Connor but I got helped by two different ladies, one was at the station that day I think but I can’t remember her name and then I met some other lady named Evie I think” I smile as Connor says that because I know that he means Ange and Eve who are both remarkable people and I know they would help them.

“Tommy actually came with me on one of the visits and we made sure that my parents can’t come near him or his family and they can’t come and find me either,” Levi says with a smile and a sense of relief that I haven’t seen on him.

“That’s awesome news, Eve and Ange who would’ve been the other person you saw are just remarkable people and I’m glad that they couldn’t help you when I’ve let you down over the past little bit,” I say to Levi who looks across at me as he shakes my head.

“With everything that happened to you, I can understand why I got put behind your friends and how they were,” he says to me with a slight sense of relief coming over me that Levi is feeling ok and everything is good.

Our conversation gets interrupted by a young guy coming in as Levi looks happy “Hey baby” he says as I turn around and see this quite handsome guy standing there. “Hey there,” I say as I realise that this must be the famous Tommy.

“Oh Trent, this is Tommy, Tommy this is the most amazing person behind you this is Trent” Levi comes in and gives me the biggest hug possible as I smile and he tells me how appreciative that he is of how much I’ve helped Levi because he’s really struggled and glad that I could help.

I wander downstairs to check in on Tom who is sitting there at his desk thinking about whether he should take some extra time off when he goes to his friend’s wedding. “Yes, you should take extra time off,” I say to him as he looks up at me as if he’s about to say that he can’t.

“Look, the world isn’t going to collapse if you’re not here and honestly, I know somebody who would love to help out around here because he will need something to do while he isn’t working and this will be good,” I say referring to Connor because I know that he would love to be looking after things here because it’ll still be a few months before he gets clearance to work.

Connor loves volunteering here and I think that it will be a good change for him than sticking around at home and I know that it will only be for a week or so that Tom needs someone to cover him. “How is Connor doing?” Tom asks as I haven’t had a chance to fully fill him on everything that went on other than he knows that Connor was involved in the incident.

“He’s doing good, should be out of the hospital in a couple of days and back home which will be super for both of us you know because he’s going mental and I can worry about him less,” I say to Tom as he nods and gets how I’ve been because he knew how I’ve been since Harry.

After helping Tom do a few things around the place, I head home to the now empty house with Tracey and Brian having had to go back home after staying for a while with their normal commitments taking priority.

Sitting at home alone is actually pretty boring and lonely even though I’ve been used to it for so long because I’ve had Connor living here and then while he’s been in hospital I’ve been staying with him.

The house feels so lonely as I have a shower and then head straight to bed as I just lay there awake thinking about everything that I learnt today about work and the fact that Connor was potentially targeted in this by someone who is a police officer makes me so angry. I know that Connor told me that even though he’s upset there is no point being angry because nothing is going to change the situation of losing Jamie and then Connor being shot but for me it’s just way too hard not to get angry.

I lay there just thinking about it as my phone buzzes and I hope that it’s Connor but see that it’s Darcy messaging me

Darcy: 10:46 pm: “Hey, do you wanna catch up for breakfast in the morning?”

Getting a breakfast offer is slightly unusual from my brother but I’m not going to say no so I text him back straight away

Me 10:48 pm: “For sure, usual breakfast place?”

Darcy texts me back a thumbs up which confirms the plans for tomorrow and I put my head down to try and get some sleep.

In my head, I’m trying to lay there but all I can think about is how I would act with the person that shot my boyfriend and almost took it away from me again. Laying there, my mind is going over situations that happened that day and I can’t get my mind off the mystery cop wearing a jacket that saw the van on both Taylor Street and then on Cambridge Street.

“Just stop thinking about it for the night Trent,” I say to myself as it’s harder than I think as I’m trying to put two and two together without even knowing that four is meant to be the answer right now which frustrates me greatly.

Eventually, I put on some music and that helps me go to sleep until my alarm goes off at 5:30 and I probably should have got more sleep than I did but I’m up and quickly go for a run around the block which, to be honest, isn’t that far but it’s all I can muster this morning. I get ready for work and head to the Café where Darcy and I head in where he’s already sitting there for me having just come off shift.

“So, what’s the reason for breakfast?” I ask as Darcy just shrugs at me and then looks across at me as he naturally expects me to order for the both of us. “Can’t I just have breakfast with my little bro?” he says to me as I shake my head.

“Nobody does anything in this family without having an ulterior motive,” I say to Darcy who laughs and tries to plead that there is no motive other than wanting to just have breakfast with me which doesn’t convince me but I take his word for it.

Sitting there, we just talk about the general things such as footy and about the family for a while before Darcy finally brings up the topic “Are you doing, ok? There’s a lot of pressure right now and with a lot of what is coming up” he asks as if there is something that I am missing right now.

“Yeah, I’m good, Connor is coming out of hospital either today or the next few days, work is ok with what I’m working on and it seems fine,” I say to Darcy as I nod still potentially missing that something might actually be going on.

I look across at him “Is there something you’re not telling me or am I just overreacting yet again” I say to him as shakes his head at me. “Nothing, I just wanted to make sure you’re ok with Connor being interviewed about what happened, the funeral and then just everything else” Darcy’s words might just be my big brother looking out for me but the way he says it makes me nervous.

“Yeah, they’ll be good once I know that Connor’s home and that we catch the bastards who did this,” I say as Darcy nods in agreement. “What have they got you doing at work, these days desk duty?” he asks as I don’t know whether I should say anything but do anyway.

“Taskforce Albatross,” I say as Darcy looks across at me and looks impressed by the fact I’m on that and then realises that it’s Dad’s team and that I might’ve upset Darcy but telling him that I’m on it when he’s not.

“Dad’s thing? Jeez, that’s a big thing already did Dad put you on it or?” Darcy’s tone is extra curious which makes me annoyed thinking that he’s gonna be upset that I’m on it and he’s not. “Nah, I just turned up to work yesterday and Ange told me to head over there, I didn’t know but I found out from Reid that I’m there because I’m connected close to the situation,” I say as Darcy nods and smiles about that.

“Yeah that makes sense,” he says as I still can’t get a read on my brother's face right now “Are you annoyed that Dad picked me for his team and not you?” I ask as Darcy shakes his head at me.

“Nah, he asked me but I turned him down because I got something more important,” he says as he pushes forward his badge and I look at it and read it.

“Oh my god, no way you got the promotion… I didn’t think you wanted it yet” I say to him as he shrugs and looks across at me “Well in all honesty I didn’t, but it was either I take the job now or get passed over next time and I couldn’t say no to the fact that it doesn’t mean we have to move,” he says as I get up and hug my brother.

I smile and realise that this is the reason why he wanted breakfast to show off that he got the promotion to Sergeant although he tells me that he is changing stations but that’s only that he is moving to the Warwick Park station which is about a 20-minute drive in the opposite direction from his house to where he works now.

Finishing breakfast with Darcy puts some energy into my day as I head into the Metro HQ, still getting lost as I get there just before 8:30 as Reid is sitting at his desk as I can’t help but look at how hot he looks even though I’m with Connor.

“Morning Trent, there are a few things on your desk that I need you to do if that’s ok,” he says to me as I nod and look across at him “There’s no guarantee but Connor could be out of the hospital today if it is would it be alright if I go and pick him up?” I ask as he nods.

“Of course, it is mate, that’s part of the reason that you’re with us is that you need that flexibility with Connor,” he says which makes me happy and I know that the two people running this are Dad and a really close friend.

As I sit there putting information into the computer, I keep checking my phone hoping that Connor will ring me but I realise that it’s only 9:40 and that any potential homecoming will be decided in the afternoon. Putting the information in, there’s sudden rushing about as I get worried because I don’t know what’s going on.

“What’s going on?” I say as I see people grabbing their gear and everything as a few of us are told to wait behind and take phone calls and help with witness statements when they come in. Reid is rushing about “We’ve had another robbery at a bank, this time at the Queen Street Commercial Bank, same MO as before set off a nearby alarm send a car out and then the bank is hit… thankfully there were no units in the vicinity at the time, they were in the building next door at the time.

Everybody but the bare minimum of officers head out as I man the phones just trying to get as much information as I can about what happened which means that I don’t know if I can pick Connor up from the hospital this afternoon.

That morning absolutely flies by to the point that I am eating lunch at my desk just reading through witness statements that are coming in and trying to deal with everything that was outstanding here from the other incidents. Slowly as the afternoon drags on as more information comes in and it’s all too strange for words how much of a similar situation it was to Connor’s.

As we sit there getting a briefing, there’s a phone call that gets put through to the office that I take which seems to be of interest.

“Hello, yes this is the investigation into the armed robbery,” I say as the person feels reluctant to talk as I give them the incentive to do it.

Mystery Person: “I want to stay anonymous but I saw a van very similar to my Granddaughter’s house in Belford and there was a police car there last night but it didn’t do anything other than just talk to the driver who left his hazard lights on” 

The lady is clearly not sure whether that this is a good idea but as she talks me through the situation that she was babysitting her great-grandchildren for her Granddaughter who was in rehab which is a whole story that she told me better left for Jerry Springer but saw this van down in the street.

Me: “So confirm the time and date that you saw it”

Mystery Person: “It was about midnight and in Belford”

I finish taking her notes as Dad finishes the briefing and comes over to my desk as he wants to know what she said. “So this person who wouldn’t give me her name because she’s worried her granddaughter’s boyfriend is involved in shady things but she said a Black van with a big dent in the side which we have worked out after today was parked near her granddaughter’s house in Belford at around midnight on the same night as Connor’s shooting… but she said a police car was parked down the road and she noticed that someone from the car walked up and was talking,” I say to Dad who pulls a face.

“Hmm it’s interesting but at midnight it’s not exactly reliable,” he says as I can understand that as my phone rings on my desk and I see Connor’s name on the ID. Dad nods to me so that I can take it and I answer it

Me: “Hey you, what is happening are you able to get out of the hospital today?” I ask hoping that I can go and pick him up tomorrow.

Connor: “Nah, they’re keeping me in one more day just to make sure because the doctor can’t get here because he’s been called into emergency surgery”

Me: “Damn, I’ve been so excited to pick you up this afternoon but I guess I just have to wait until tomorrow”

Connor: “Yeah, everything is good, I just need that sign-off and because he’s not able to come down and give it to me, I have to stay… there’s still some hope I think though”

Me: “Alright, I’ve got to get back to work there was another incident today” 

Connor: “Oh shit, anyone hurt that we know?”

Me: “Nah, they were central units on scene and were inside another building”

Connor: “Ok good, I’m getting told off so I’ve gotta go, hopefully, call you soon”

I feel really disappointed that I’m not picking Connor up as I slam my fist on the desk that gets Dad’s attention “Bad news?” he asks as I shrug because it’s not exactly bad news but not the news I wanted.

“Connor probably won’t be home until tomorrow now, the doctor apparently has had to go into emergency surgery so can’t sign his discharge papers” Dad pats me on the arm and tells me that if I need to go for a walk that I can because I’ve been at my desk all day.

I’m sitting at my desk and it’s only about an hour or so later when my phone rings with Connor’s name coming on the display as I answer it.

Me: “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you again this afternoon aren’t you gonna get told off again for using your phone in the ward”

Connor: “If I was using it in the ward then yes I would but seeing that I’m sitting in the lobby hoping that my boyfriend could come to pick me up… but if he’s too busy then I can get an uber”

Me: “There’s no way that he’s too busy to come and pick you up, give me about half an hour and I’ll be there for sure”

Connor: “Can’t wait to see you sexy”

Me: “Me too”

Dad comes over to me “Everything ok?” he asks as I nod with a big smile on my face as he can understand what the call was about and why I was absolutely ecstatic after getting off the phone.

“Is it alright if I go and pick up Connor?” I ask as Dad looks at me if I’m being stupid for even asking if I can pick up Connor. “Of course it is, we have planned for this contingency so go right now,” he says to me as I smile and get up put my jacket on and head back to the hospital.

I’m probably speeding when I drive to the hospital in record time where Connor is waiting for me and I’m so excited to see him out of bed and coming home this afternoon. “So what changed in the hour since we talked,” I ask because it was only an hour ago that Connor told me that he probably wouldn’t be home today.

“It was about 10 minutes after I rang you, one of the other doctors came through reading through all my tests and results and said that I was good enough to go home,” he says as it’s been 13 days since everything happened to him which has flown by.

Getting in the car, Connor is still hurting a fair bit with things which is understandable and he tells me that he has to have a month off work although it could be more like two or three at the moment.

“So, how’s the new position been?” he asks as I can’t help but smile when I look at him like a giddy little kid and he just smiles at me as I try to give an answer. “It’s actually really good, it’s intensive but there is so much being done and everybody works together there rather than having an agenda,” I say as I explain what it is like to be there with Connor.

I pull up at home and grab Connor’s stuff as he wants to carry it but I don’t want him to do too much which is annoying him because he’s always been so independent. “So, what are you doing there?” he asks as I get him what he needs and he crashes down on the couch and smiles at me as I don’t know whether I am actually supposed to get back to work.

“I’m just answering calls, compiling witness statements and then just general duties, we’ve got more information that the incident this morning was targeted again as I told you but then I got a call today from a lady giving information that just something about it to me sounded accurate but Dad wasn’t sure about it,” I say to Connor who sits on the couch nodding at me as he tells me that I need to talk it through with him.

“She rang up and said that on the night that you were shot, she saw what she says was a black van with a big dent parked down the road and it was parked there for a while then eventually it’s hazard lights went on and she looked outside and saw what she thought was a police car pull up and then somebody walks down to talk to the van and then go to the back of it and then come back and drive off while the commotion was still going,” I say as Connor nods and picks something up about what I had to say.

“Where was all this?” he asks as I try to think about where it was before remembering “Belford,” I say as Connor’s head puts two and two together. “Wait, Belford? Didn’t you have something similar with Joe that night that there was a car or something that put its hazard lights on and he got out and went over to it then left, no questions asked?”

I think back and realise that it was the night that I had the recording in that I felt something was up and it wasn’t even why I had been recording him that night. I run over to Connor and kiss him and hug him “You’ll make a detective for sure” I say as I make my excuses and have to get back to the station.

I drive back and see Dad standing there as I get back “I’ve got something… well Connor got it for me but I think there was something in what that lady called in about” I say as he looks confused by it but calls Reid over to hear me out.

“That night I recorded Joe, remember that I said he left me in the car for 20 minutes when he was trying to move on a drug dealer?” I say as he nods though still can’t get what I’m referring to as I go to explain.

“Well, we were supposed to be in Hamilton Park or something remember and he took us off out to Belford and then parked us up near the park out there and we just sat, he wouldn’t tell me what it was for but we had to sit there for most of the night,” I say as Dad nods and Reid is sitting there and doesn’t look surprised by what I’ve got to say.

“So a car pulled up a while later and put the hazard lights on which once that happened Joe was out quick smart almost as if he knew that it was going to be there and it was a signal,” I say as Dad still doesn’t get all the significance of what I’m trying to say.

“If there was a police car waiting near Belford and that if the lady was right that there was a police car nearby and only responded when the hazard lights came on, could we be talking about the same person and situation,” I say as Reid looks at Dad and then looks at me.

“That’s actually a really good consideration because that seems too much of a coincidence to be anything but because we know that if Joe was willing to go offbeat and, on a signal, respond to something, we need to make sure that these two aren’t connected or if it’s what we believe then it has to be looked at because this could show that what we are thinking is happening,” Reid says as Dad nods and agrees with it.

“Amazing work Trent,” Reid says as Dad sits there as Reid goes off to run a few checks on what police cars are in the area. Dad looks at me “Connor give you this information?” he asks as I think that this is going to be an issue which technically it is because I’m not allowed to talk to anyone about what’s going on.

I sit there worried Dad is going to go off me “You know that you’re not supposed to be talking to anyone about this outside of work right?” he says as I nod and now think that the stickler for the rules is going to kick me out and make a big deal about it.

“I’m glad that you did because Connor is probably on the right track and I know that it should be kept around here but it might be good to have Connor’s fresh set of eyes just make sure that you don’t let on too much,” I say as Dad hugs me then asks about Connor before going to grab the recorder from that night.

Dad and I are sitting in his office when Reid comes in with a glum look on his face that doesn’t purvey good news. “I’ve got some mixed news for you, I had a look through the night Connor was shot and the car that was in Belford was supposed to be patrolling around the Parklands and it wasn’t who we were thinking of that was there,” Reid says as there is almost disappointment in his voice at that factor.

“So do we know who was in the car that night?” he says as he shakes his head “Not right now, we’re still trying to get things up because there was a hell of a lot of changes after what happened but we know it wasn’t Joe there,” he says as I was just hoping it was because that could have been the smoking gun to nail that son of a bitch right there.

“Then what’s the good news because you said that there was mixed news, in going through surveillance camera footage we found an angle on Taylor Street that showed the cop that went to the van but we don’t we have a view of his face yet,” he says which might be a good sign for us as he grabs the still shot as we both look at it and I try to figure out who it could be.

Looking at the picture, it’s really bugging me because it could be one of about ten different officers that could be in the area because Cambridge Street is an area that is jointly patrolled by the Junction, Central and Pagehurst so there are potentially over a hundred different people it could be which is annoying because nobody can work out who it is.

Sitting at my desk, I’m reading through more scanned copies of witness statements trying to transpose them into the computer and there are just so many different accounts of things and then so many consistencies that are just not helping us out that much.

Dad sends me home so that I can go back and spend time with Connor who is asleep when I get home and I order dinner, not sure what he would want so I just go with a range of things. Sitting at the table, I’m disappointed that the car that night wasn’t Joe which pisses me off no end because I need to get rid of him so badly to make life easy.

Dinner comes and the knock on the door wakes Connor up “Hey sleepy” I say as I grab the bags of Chinese and put them down on the table. “How long have you been home?” he asks as I tell him that I’ve been home for about an hour but just upstairs so that I didn’t disturb him.

Connor helps himself to a bit of everything including my Honey Chicken which is my special thing but after days of hospital food, I forgive him on this occasion as we sit down and eat. “How was your afternoon?” he asks me as I just let out a sigh.

“Frustrating, my thought… our thought” I change my sentence as Connor glares at me “Was right but wasn’t who I was hoping it would be but it was a help,” I say sitting there next to him as Connor picks out all the baby corn out of my dinner because he loves it.

As we sit there, my phone vibrates and I have a look at it and smile

6:25 pm Dad: “We have something very big”