Fit Up Read Free

to stop off at the Magistrates’ Court to pick up the search warrant. She said that either she could meet me there or take me in her car. I knew I was in no state to drive as I was very shaky and probably wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the road.
    Wearily I went to my parents to tell them that my ordeal was not over and that I had to be at the shop for it to be searched. My mother was anxious for me but I told her I would update her as soon as I could.
    Patel unlocked the car, which I was glad was unmarked, and I got into the passenger seat. As I sat there two boys on bikes were passing by and looked at me. Up ahead they were riding on and off the pavement, weaving across the road, and as we drew level with them Patel opened the window on my side, leaning across me to show them her badge. I just knew she was going to say something to them about their bike riding on the pavement but I could not make out whether her assertion of authority was for my benefit or theirs.
    We set off to Watford Police Station first, where the Magistrates’ Court was also located, and I waited in the car for Patel to get her warrant. I looked at all the windows of the police station, desperately wondering where Jeremy was within its walls. I could only imagine what he was going through and I knew he equally worried for me.
    Patel finally returned to the car and we were on our way to Borehamwood. I just leaned back and stared out of the window, my head empty of thought as the landscape passed by like a film reel. Suddenly, a police van parked outside a McDonald’s restaurant came into view. I looked back as Patel laughed, confirming it was the search team looking for something decent to eat. Apparently the police canteen back at the station served up some pretty poor food. It must be really bad, I thought, if they have chosen to have a McDonald’s for lunch. I settled back in my seat, noticing that the sky had begun to darken, with rain clouds obliterating the last rays of sunshine of the day.
    I directed Patel to the car park at the rear of the shop. The search team had caught us up quite quickly. They had parked their van and were waiting for me to grant them access. For this I had to go to the front entrance to unlock the shutters and deactivate the alarm.
    There was a narrow footpath around the side of the building to the high street. I led the way, hugging the wall in a sideways motion, and Patel followed. However, just as we were about to exit onto the high street, Patel attempted to pass me by overtaking on the grass. Unfortunately for her she slipped on the incline and fell in a heap. Struggling to dig in her heels in the mud to get up I felt I ought to ask if she was all right, not that I cared. When she did manage to get up her hands and one side of her immaculate black trousers from hip to toe were covered in mud. I could not tell if she was cross with herself or embarrassed in front of me but I smiled inwardly at her predicament.
    Quickly entering, I walked to the rear of the shop to unlock the door, allowing the officers to continue their search.
    Across the road, I noticed two women getting out of a parked car and looking directly at me. They came across to the shop and introduced themselves as DI Burn and DC Barber. Whereas Patel had been more kindly and accommodating, these two were more hostile and gave me a look of disdain. I had been with the good cop, it seemed, and now it was time to deal with the bad cops.
    They joined in the search and swept everything they wanted into boxes and bags. Again, I had to ask for certain tapes of August weddings to be left for delivery to our customers. After some reluctance from Burn I persuaded her to leave them by showing her the customer files that matched the tapes. I felt relieved to be doing something constructive to save the life of our business. Burn and Barber were going to take our demo DVDs, however, which would make the next week’s business appointments difficult to keep with