The Night Shift (A Short Story): A gripping and realistic police action thriller

by James D Mortain

  ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I’ll stay at the back and you cover the front until the others arrive.’

  Ellie nodded and silently scuttled along the wall-line towards the front of the three-storey building, leaving the crew with Churchill. Her breathing was now much faster than before.

  ‘Six-one,’ Ellie said quietly into the radio. ‘Six-one, any ETA for the back-up?’

  Thank you, Six-one, Comms said. According to our screen, Echo Six-two are moments away. An early update, please, Six-one?

  Ellie updated Comms in hushed tones about the smashed window and the male inside the premises. She was reassured that Daniels was also making a silent approach. If she couldn’t tell he was coming, then neither could the intruder.

  Tango-Victor are monitoring, Comms continued. Tango-Victor was the dog unit – superb in situations like this and in the event of any form of escape into the darkness.

  Ellie heard the sound of a braking car and waved frantically as Daniels and Dawkins entered the approach road.

  They stopped nearby and ran over to Ellie.

  ‘There’s an insecure window at the back; Churchy is covering it,’ she told them.

  ‘Where are the camera crew?’ Daniels asked.

  ‘With Churchy,’ Ellie said.

  ‘Right,’ Daniels said to Dawkins, ‘You stay here with Ellie; I’ll cover the back with Churchy.’

  Daniels patted Dawkins on the back and ran down the side of the building, giving a passing glance to Roger and Cathy who were hovering nearby.

  Ellie waited patiently, her radio turned up to maximum volume. She suddenly heard loud shouting from the back of the building. ‘Stay here,’ she said to Dawkins and sprinted to the rear of the property.

  The shouting was now inside of the building and Churchill and Daniels were both with the intruder.

  Ellie banged on the door and Daniels let her inside.

  ‘Fuck off will you,’ the man shouted. He was swaying on his feet and Churchill had him detained by a fistful of t-shirt.

  ‘Who the fuck are they?’ the man screamed.

  Ellie turned and saw the documentary team floating in the doorway.

  ‘Get out of my fucking flat will you,’ he yelled.

  ‘He says he lives here,’ Churchill said to Ellie over the commotion. ‘Have a look around and see if you can find something to corroborate his ID. He reckons he lost his wallet and keys in town.’

  Ellie went through to the hallway and found a telephone table. She was in luck – there was a small metal document holder with several letters inside. She checked the name – Mr Anthony Barber.

  She walked through to the living room.

  ‘What’s your name?’ she asked.

  ‘Anthony,’ he spurted.

  ‘Anthony what?’

  ‘Barber,’ he snarled.

  She glanced at Churchill and nodded. ‘Date of birth?’ she asked.

  ‘Sixteenth of February…’ He hesitated and wobbled. ‘…Seventy-one.’

  Ellie pulled away to a different room and radioed Comms with the details. The confirmation soon came back – he did live at the address. She returned to the living room.

  ‘Okay,’ she said, motioning for Shaun to let go. ‘He lives here.’

  ‘That’s what I fucking said— ’

  ‘Hey,’ Ellie shouted, ‘that’s enough. This was a call with good intentions. I suggest next time you get so pissed and lose your keys, you try a neighbour before smashing your way inside.’

  ‘Who’s gunna fix my window?’ the man said, swaying back and forth the moment Churchill released his grasp.

  ‘That’s your problem, mate,’ Daniels said, turning with a wink at the camera. ‘That’s turned out to be a rather expensive night.’

  They all walked outside, and could still hear the man shouting to himself about his broken window.

  ‘Thanks guys,’ Ellie said to the other unit. ‘A little bit of excitement fizzles out to be nothing after all.’

  ‘We’ve already been to two bundles tonight,’ Daniels said. ‘Must be a bloody full moon or something?’

  ‘Is there anything in that… the full moon?’ Cathy Emmanuelle asked.

  They, all four of them nodded. ‘Just wait and see,’ Daniels said. ‘Tonight has all the ingredients of a mad one.

  01:17 hours

  The preceding hour and a half had been relatively calm, and they had returned to the site of the dead sheep and satisfied themselves that no vehicles had left the road. Ellie had also used the time to drive Cathy and Roger around the sights of Bath: the Royal Crescent; The Abbey; Pulteney Street; and of course, more partying people in the city centre.

  ‘Oh, to be young again,’ Cathy sighed, looking out of the window at one group of well-turned-out revellers.

  Ellie slowed the car and looked herself.

  ‘Eyes on the road if you don’t mind,’ Shaun said, nudging Ellie with an elbow into her thigh.

  She smiled, ‘Makes a change from you gawping out of the window.’

  Six-one, Echo, Comms said over Churchill’s Airwave. We’ve got another immediate – Domestic incident. Can you start making towards Newbridge and I’ll obtain further details.

  ‘Here we go again,’ Ellie said and activated the lights and sirens.

  ‘Do you receive many calls to domestic-related incidents?’ Cathy asked, interviewing Churchill as Ellie skilfully negotiated her way through the traffic.

  ‘Loads,’ Churchill replied. ‘Usually called in by a third party hearing some kind of disturbance.’

  Six-one, Echo, Comms interrupted.

  ‘Yep, go ahead,’ Churchill responded.

  Make your way to 29 Manor Road, Newbridge. Reports of shouting and children crying.

  ‘Received. Who is the informant please?’ Churchill asked.

  A neighbour, who does not wish to be identified, Comms replied.

  Churchill turned to the camera and raised an eyebrow. ‘There we go,’ he said. ‘Right on cue.’

  ‘So, tell us what is going through your minds now,’ Cathy Emmanuelle asked. ‘What are you expecting to happen when you arrive?’

  ‘Never expect or assume anything,’ Churchill said. ‘Domestics are sometimes the most hostile and unpredictable environments. We are entering someone’s home with at least one of the parties not wanting us there, and sometimes both. Alcohol may be a factor, drugs, mental health, children… as has been reported in this case. We simply don’t know until we arrive.’

  ‘Do you worry about your own safety?’ Cathy asked.

  ‘We look out for each other first and foremost. There are things we can do to reduce the potential dangers, such as separating the parties, making sure the aggressor is not in the kitchen where they can readily access knives and such. It’s just a lot of common sense.’ Churchill lifted a finger to pause Cathy and transmitted on his radio. ‘Six-one. Any update, please, Echo control?’

  No further information. No previous calls, came the reply from Comms.

  ‘So, we are effectively going in blind,’ Churchill said, as Ellie continued to make good ground. ‘Previous incidents often provide us with vital information; like who lives at the address; are there any warning markers for violence; is there a dog?’

  ‘We’re nearly there,’ Ellie said turning the strobe lights off and slowing the vehicle. ‘Just hang back a bit,’ she said, looking at Cathy in the rear-view mirror. ‘As Churchy said, these jobs can be sensitive. Let us suss it out first.’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Cathy Emmanuelle replied.

  Ellie and Churchill exited the car and made their way to the front door of the property. Ellie banged loudly on the door and waited. They both stood two paces back, providing themselves with a safety zone in the event of a sudden or aggressive response. The door opened slowly and a woman’s face appeared in the gap.

  ‘Yes,’ she said coyly.

  ‘Hello,’ Ellie said gently. ‘Is everything okay? We’ve had reports of shouting.’

  ‘Everything
is fine,’ the woman replied.

  Ellie could see from her strained and taught features that she was lying.

  ‘Do you mind if we come in, just to satisfy ourselves, and then we will leave you in peace,’ Ellie said.

  The woman looked behind her instinctively and the gap to the doorframe narrowed a couple of inches.

  Ellie stepped forward and placed her hand on the outside of the door. ‘I’m afraid we can’t just leave. We need to make sure everything is okay.’

  The woman’s eyes were wide, but she stepped backwards allowing Ellie and Churchill to step inside the hallway. The house was a large four-bed-semi and from the appearance of the new Audi TT on the driveway, the couple had some cash.

  ‘What the bloody hell are you doing here?’ a man said, walking aggressively towards them.

  Churchill stepped forwards, his hands outstretched in a calming fashion. ‘We’ve received a call regarding raised voices.’

  The man continued forward, walking up to, and bumping into Churchill’s outstretched hands with his chest. ‘Who from?’ the man asked angrily.

  ‘An anonymous call,’ Churchill said, preventing the man from walking beyond him with rigid arms.

  ‘That’s bloody convenient,’ the man seethed. ‘Bet it was that hag next door again. I’m gunna sort that interfering bitch out.’ He jostled Churchill’s arm trying to move around him.

  ‘Now, come on, sir,’ Churchill said. ‘There’s no need for that. It doesn’t matter who called us.’ Churchill was once again standing directly in front of the man. Ellie and the woman were behind. ‘Come on,’ Churchill said, ‘why don’t you come with me and tell me what’s been happening?’

  ‘I don’t want to,’ the man snapped. ‘I want you both to fuck off out of my house.’

  ‘Right,’ Churchill barked. ‘Drop the attitude and let’s just go through here. The sooner you cooperate, the sooner we are out of your hair.’ Churchill waited for the man to walk back away from him, he pushed the door to the living room and waited for the man to walk through. He looked behind at Ellie and she nodded back to him.

  Ellie waited for Churchill to close the living room door before she spoke to the woman. ‘Has he been drinking?’

  The woman shook her head. ‘No, he’s just angry at the moment.’

  ‘Okay,’ Ellie said. ‘How has he displayed his anger tonight?’

  The woman shrugged. ‘Just shouting… waking up the kids—’

  ‘Shall we go up and check on the children now?’

  ‘They should be sleeping again.’

  ‘Come on,’ Ellie said, stepping on the first step of the stairs, encouraging the woman to follow. ‘How many do you have?’

  ‘Just the two.’

  ‘How old are they?’

  ‘Seven and nine.’

  Ellie moved to the side, allowing the woman to walk ahead of her.

  ‘What’s your name?’ Ellie asked.

  ‘Susan.’

  ‘Hello Susan, I’m Ellie and my colleague is Shaun. What’s your husband called?’

  ‘Derek.’

  ‘Derek what?’

  ‘Mathews,’ the woman replied.

  ‘Has Derek been in trouble with the police before?’

  ‘No, I don’t think so.’

  ‘Has he assaulted you or the children in any way tonight?’

  The woman shook her head and looked at Ellie from beneath a fringe of hair. ‘He wouldn’t do that.’

  ‘So then, tell me what has happened tonight,’ Ellie asked, waiting at the top of the stairs outside of the closed bedroom doors.

  The woman rubbed her ear and faltered.

  ‘It’s alright,’ Ellie said. ‘I’ve heard everything before. Please don’t feel embarrassed.’

  The woman caught Ellie’s eye and she looked away again. Ellie smiled and touched her arm with encouragement.

  ‘I told him I’m having an affair,’ the woman said.

  Ellie paused. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘I don’t need to know anything about that, but he obviously hasn’t taken the news well?’

  The woman shook her head. ‘No.’

  ‘And is that what the shouting was about?’ Ellie probed gently.

  ‘Yes. It’s my fault, I’m sorry.’

  ‘You don’t have to be sorry about anything, but you promise me he hasn’t assaulted you in any way.’

  ‘God, no! He might be angry, but he’s not a monster.’

  ‘Okay. Would you mind just showing me where the children are, please?’

  Echo Six-one. Welfare check, Comms said in Ellie’s ear-piece.

  ‘All in order,’ Ellie replied. ‘I’ll provide a full update soon, over.’

  Roger.

  Ellie peeped into the children’s room, they were both asleep. She quietly closed the door and turned to the woman. ‘Are you okay to stay up here while I check on my colleague?’

  The woman nodded and went into another bedroom.

  Ellie bounded down the stairs and knocked on the closed living room door. After a short moment, Churchill opened it and Ellie looked inside. The man was sitting on the sofa, his head in his hands and he was weeping.

  Churchill leaned in close to Ellie. ‘Anything?’ he whispered.

  Ellie shook her head. ‘Nothing disclosed, other than the reason for the argument.’ She looked over at the man who still had his head in his hands. ‘Has he got anywhere else to go tonight?’ she asked Churchill.

  ‘Yeah, he’s already called his best mate. Probably wise to keep them apart tonight—’

  Echo control. Any mobile units, please? Arthur Street, fight in progress. It was Comms trying to dispatch the next job.

  ‘We’d better wait here until his mate arrives,’ Churchill said. ‘Just in case…’

  ‘Yeah, good idea. I’ll just go and keep the film crew in the loop,’ Ellie said. She cast the man another look, left Churchill in the house and made her way towards the car.

  Thank you, Six-three, Comms said through her earpiece. Update from the informant; multiple groups of males now fighting in the street. Any other units to back-up Six-three, please?

  Churchill came running out of the house and transmitted on his radio, ‘Echo Six-one making ground from Newbridge.’

  Ellie broke into a run and they both jumped into the car at the same time.

  ‘Oh, what’s going on?’ Cathy asked excitedly.

  ‘Big fight in the city centre,’ Churchill replied. ‘Deano’s going to it solo-crewed, we need to back him up.’

  Ellie started the car and immediately activated the lights. ‘How did you leave it inside?’ she asked Churchill.

  ‘Told him we had to run, but we’d be back to nick him if anything else happened.’

  ‘Bit harsh,’ Ellie said backing out quickly onto the main road. ‘Not sure I’d be too happy if I found out my other half was having an affair.’ She leaned forwards and increased the volume on the vehicle radio-set.

  ‘Oh, sounds interesting, do tell,’ Cathy said.

  “Six-three on scene,” PC Deans’ voice came over the radio.

  ‘Hold on, Deano,’ Churchill said. ‘Give us a chance to get there, mate.’

  “Priority,” Deans’ voice shouted, filling the car with immediate tension.

  “Urgent assistance required,” Deans yelled.

  ‘Shit,’ Ellie said punching the sirens and flooring the accelerator.

  ‘What’s happening?’ Cathy asked.

  ‘Silence, please,’ Churchill requested. ‘We need to hear.’

  The radio stayed silent for a long minute.

  ‘Six-one, any update from six-three?’ Churchill asked quickly.

  Negative, Comms replied. Six-three, update please?

  There was a long pause. Six-three, update please? Comms repeated.

  ‘We’re still a few minutes away, but making at speed,’ Churchill said anxiously. ‘Do we have CCTV monitoring?’

  Affirmative, Comms replied. A colleague is speaking with CCTV now.


  Ellie accelerated into Queen Street as Churchill shook his incapacitate spray, unhooked his seat belt and clung to the grab handle above his window.

  All attending units, Comms said forcefully. PC Deans is face down on the floor and appears to have a head injury. A second male is also lying on the floor. CCTV are monitoring and all offenders are still on scene. Make best progress please. I’ll inform Two-zero.

  “Two-zero making from the station with Four-zero,” Inspector Castle’s voice interrupted. She was in company with the sergeant. “Bring in all available district units, please,” she said.

  Roger.

  Ellie felt a wave of emotion build in the pit of her stomach and the car suddenly couldn’t drive quickly enough. ‘Come on, come on,’ she shouted, slapping the steering wheel.

  ‘Shit, shit, shit,’ Churchill shouted. ‘Come on Ellie, get us there.’

  ‘I can’t go any faster,’ she snapped. Her heart was pounding through her chest.

  ‘Exact location of Six-three, please?’ Churchill asked Comms.

  According to CCTV, he is outside of Grayson’s shoe shop. The second injured male is nearby on the same stretch of pavement.

  Ellie screeched the car onto Arthur Street and accelerated heavily. She could see Deans’ car up ahead, the lights were still strobing and the sirens sounding. If CCTV reports were correct, Deans should be on their right hand side.

  ‘There he is,’ she yelled. ‘Oh God!’

  Deans was just as Comms had suggested, lying face down on the pavement, motionless, a number of hooded youths standing over him, kicking and stamping on him repeatedly and with force.

  ‘You stay with Deano. I’ll go after the group,’ Churchill said. He was probably the fastest runner on the team and the best man to catch them up.

  The group of youths had already noticed their vehicle and were sprinting away from the prone figure of PC Deans. Ellie looked further along the pavement and saw another group of youths making off from the other injured person on the ground.

  ‘I need a unit from the London Road direction,’ Churchill said. ‘We’ve got a starburst in that direction – multiple youths.’

  Roger. Are you with PC Deans yet? Comms responded.

  Ellie pulled up sharply alongside Deans and everyone got out of the car. Churchill immediately took off in pursuit of the groups.