Babs’ New Year’s Resolution 97

© Beverly Taff.

Lola Smith Bab’s adopted trans daughter.
Callista Denton (Callie). Transgendered Duchess of Denton.
Margaret Denton (Maggie). Callie’s wife.
Molly Denton Callie’s grandmother
Ellie Denton Callie’s mother.
Bab’s Barbara Smith. Lola’s adoptive ‘Nana’
Olivia Smith Bab’s adopted daughter. Lesbian black artist
Angela Smith Bab’s adopted daughter Olivia’s lover
Erica Bab’s foster daughter.
Sergeant Bridie Davies Lady Police detective protecting the girls.
Sergeant Brian Davies. Bridie’s twin brother.
Inspector John, Heading up the anti-rape-gang operation.
Gareth Jenkins, Police office trained in firearms and protection.
Belinda Harrington Lola’s university girlfriend.
Aaron Talbot Surgical registrar – married to –
Shirley Talbot Lecturer at Local university.
Mickey Talbot Aaron and Shirley’s oldest son.
Jessica Talbot Aaron & Shirley’s middle daughter.
Bianca Talbot Aaron & Shirley’s youngest daughter.
Henry Denton Callie’s only son.
Charlotte Denton Callie’s only daughter.
Beverly Callie’s maternal great aunt (Ellie’s paternal aunt)
Wendy Smith Beverly’s Operations Manager for Hull
Louisa Wendy’s Daughter
Griselda & Mia Wendy’s younger twin daughters.
Susan Harvey Prosecution counsel advocating for Erica.
Han’s The policeman’s son Erica fancies
Uncle Phillip CIA Agent.
Emily Jackson. Texan girl Kidnapped to Holland & Turkey
Sandra Jackson Sister to Emily kidnapped in Texas as a hostage.
Eddie Emily’s Tandem surfing partner.

Chapter 97.

As the theatregoing nurse emerged from her side of the taxi the gunman tried to get up.

“Stay down you bastard!” Bridie almost growled in her anger while she stepped back far enough to avoid any lunge.

As he slumped back with defeat, Bridie turned to the taxi driver who passed her his private mobile phone.

“It’s the police.”

“Thanks, hold it to my ear please.”

He did as requested and Bridie quickly identified herself while they confirmed help was on the way. She explained that the situation was under control but an ambulance would be needed for the wounded robber. Throughout the communication, she kept her gun levelled at the man while ordering him to hold out the injured wrist as far as he could. She then asked the taxi driver if he could restrain the robber’s un-injured arm.

“Just in case he tries to grab the nurse.”

The cabbie was a large, bearded Asian who was already furious that the robber’s bullet had damaged his cab so he was not very gentle as he seized the man’s other wrist. The prisoner yelped and the nurse asked the cabbie to go gentle or she could not treat the wound.

As Bridie was sizing up the situation Angie and Ollie attempted to emerge from the taxi.

“Stay inside. We don’t want your faces all over the news.”

By now a crowd was beginning to gather and Bridie had to hold them back. It was proving impossible to do this single-handedly and she grateful when the howl of a police siren finally assured her that help was coming.

The first patrol car arrived and Bridie tugged out her warrant card to explain the gun in her hand.

“Protection squad?” The patrol officer raised his eyebrows. “Have we got somebody important in the cab?”

“No.” Bridie whispered hoarsely. “Two kids on a witness protection scheme. The less the camera’s see the better. I’ve told them to stay put. The cab driver’s rightfully angry as well; the bullet ripped through his door pillar and ricocheted across the street. It’s a heavy calibre.”

By now several police cars plus an armed squad had arrived. Bridie recognised one of the officers from their training days in Hendon. After exchanging niceties, Bridie handed in her gun for forensics. It was formality but she felt slightly naked without it as she started the long process of debriefing and reports.

It was fully four o’clock when she and the girls finally got to bed and it was all of ten o’clock when they stumbled sleepily down to breakfast where Bab’s was waiting with a reserved meal after having explained that her guests had been involved in the shooting only a block away from the hotel the previous evening.

Inevitably their return home was delayed a day while Olivia, Angela and Bridie had to join with the nurse and the cabbie as they completed the police inquiries.

“Go-od it’s a long-winded business isn’t it?” The nurse sighed.

“Yeah but we get to spend Sunday night in the gay village and all on the government’s account.” Olivia observed.

“What! After everything that’s happened, you want more!” The nurse gasped.

“It’s not often we get to come to Manchester.” Angie countered. “Seize the day, that’s our motto.”

“You’ll find it’s pretty quiet after midnight.” The nurse remarked. “Monday morning and all that.”

ooo000ooo

The nurse proved to be correct and by eleven pm., the clubs were closing. Even Napoleons,’ that mecca for trans girls, was growing silent and when the girls stepped out into the cold, rain-swept night, they decided they’d had enough. They crossed the empty parking block to MacDonalds’ hotel and crept into their room; grateful for the warmth and large comfortable bed.

Bab’s smiled when they came down to breakfast.

“Glad to see you made it then. I thought we’d be having to knock you up.”

The pair returned brittle smiles then plunged into breakfast. Fortunately, it was a servery and they could eat all they wanted. Bridie and Bab’s exchanged their own knowing smiles for it was obvious the girls had not been unduly put off by the weekends’ events. As they returned to their table Angie remarked.

“Where’s Jane that nurse who was with us?”

“She had to go to work. She’s had her breakfast and left. We’ll be leaving at ten as well so check your rooms.”

ooo000ooo

They left on time and as she had promised, Bab’s let the girls share the driving while Bridie supervised in the passenger seat to let Bab’s relax and snooze in the comfort of the rear. The journey through the winding, Welsh border roads gave the girls a few hours each to hone their skills and they arrived at Canal cottage tired but elated.

To their dismay Erica was there to meet them.

“I thought you were staying up in Yorkshire with Callie for the full week.”

“What after hearing the news and seeing Bridie’s text on my phone. I had to come down to the cottage to check everything is okay.”

“Where’s Callie then?” Bab’s asked.

“She stopped by in Cheltenham and she’ll be back soon. I told her she could sleep in the spare room. Her helicopter is in Gloucester airfield. Was that okay Nana?”

“Yes, that’ll be fine.”

“It didn’t cost her any money; she was coming down to GCHQ anyway. Now please tell me. This wasn’t anything to do with Jason and his gang was it?”

“Definitely not!” Bridie assured her. “It was a completely random robbery that went pear shaped for the robber. We just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“For him,” Olivia added, “Bridie was fantastic.”

At that, Babs’ phone pinged and she checked the text.

“Callie’s on her way from Gloucester. We’d best get a meal ready; all hands.”

The three girls fell into their regular routine and by the time Callie’s ‘hire-car’ appeared on the towpath there was hot food ready. Bab’s smiled appreciatively.

“I’m going to miss you girls when you fly the nest.”

With a regular crowd around the dining table the evening passed quickly and by midnight, the cottage was silent.

The following morning was a hive of activity as everybody prepared for their different days and by nine am, Bab’s found the cottage to be as silent as the grave. Despite her age and approaching infirmity she still found the silence to be irksome and found that she missed the clamour of the girls. She found herself looking forward to the three girls return from school.

Her day was not without interruption though. At eleven, she got a phone-call from the Social services to ask if the weekends’ events had disturbed the girls. After a brief chat, she asked if she could visit the girls.

“By all means, come down about four. They’ll be home from school by then. The police sergeant collects them.”

As arranged, the social worked was chatting by the kitchen ‘aga’ stove when the usual clamour erupted as the girls scrambled out of Bridie’s police car to see who the visitor was. The expectant expressions faded as they recognised the social worker, and she quickly moved to quash any uncertainty.

“It’s just a check up to see you’re all okay. We’re really pleased with the outcome here. Have you got any questions or requests?”

For a moment, the girls were silent before Erica ventured a request.

“Can you make sure there is absolutely no connection between us here and the Brixton Social services. No paper trail that Jason and his gang can latch on to?”

“What brought this on?” The social worker asked.

“Oh it’s just that the shooting in Manchester had me wondering if it was Jason’s gang and I was frightened. I thought somehow that he had latched onto us and sent one of his minions to do his dirty work in Manchester.”

Before the girls had come home from school, Bab’s had explained about the events in Manchester so the social worker explained.

“When you went into witness protection, the police gathered all the files and social services don’t even hold them anymore. If I wanted to see anything on your files, I have to go through Sergeant Bridie or Inspector John. Your files are safe and sealed.”

Olivia grinned as she turned to Bridie

“Jeeze! Somebody with more power than a social worker. I’m impressed Sarge.”

“I’m just glad you girls have kept it easy. Now that Texas’ Lil has gone back stateside, things are easier. I only hope you’re going to keep with your ambition to go to Uni.”

“Who’s Texas Lil?” The social worker asked.

Angie’s eyes widened with amusement as she realised that social services really had been kept out of the loop.

“Flippin ‘eck. Where’ve you been this past year? ’ave you not heard?”

The chuckles around the kitchen alerted the social worker and she leaned in eagerly but Bridie intervened.

“Sorry miss. On a ‘need to know’ basis, I can’t let you know. You’ll no doubt be advised when the case is finally closed, or if any input is required from the S.S.”

The girls all smiled inwardly as they recognised the Social worker’s discomfort at being left on the outside with no power. All their lives, the girls had lived in the shadow of the Social services and their total control of their childhoods. The omnipotent social worked had always loomed as an oppressive force even if usually well meaning. It was a breath of fresh air for them to see a social worker being discomforted and castrated by a force with infinitely more power.

Furthermore, that power had demonstrated beyond all doubt that it was definitely on the girls side and was even in some part beholden to the girls.

Erica felt a secret twist of satisfaction. Despite the fright of learning about the shooting, she felt that all the trials and tribulations she and her friends had endured were now made currency to buy them new lives and freedom from their pasts.

With this feeling warming her core she settled down to savour the excellent cake the social worker had brought. Erica’s mood had also translated itself to Ollie and Angie and the mood lightened considerably.

“You seem happier darling.” Bab’s observed as she watched Erica scoff a substantial wedge of sponge cake.

“Yeah Nana. I’m beginning to see light at the end of my tunnel and it’s not a bloody train for once.”

“Same here,” Olivia and Angela chorused then grinned as they realised they had perfectly mimicked each other.

Bridie just exchanged a knowing smile with Bab’s

The social worker frowned uncertainly at first then slowly realised that the artificial family of Bab’s and her misfit girls had metamorphosed into a genuinely coherent and functional family. She scanned the three girls with a satisfied squint.

“Job done – I think. I’ll mark you down as one of my successes. Not often we get a result like this. Thanks girls.”

Erica wasn’t sure whether to feel victorious or defeated but one thing exercised her thoughts.

“You’re not going to stop Babs’s funding are you?”

“Not if you go to college, and Bab’s tells me you are. You’ll get the same quality of support as Lola; right up to graduation.”

ooo000ooo