Chapter 18
A few hours later and Lisa arrived at The Met Police in London.
Lisa hadn’t quite articulated how hard it would be to leave Carla behind; how hard it would be to let go of the woman she so deeply loved, heartbroken at the thought that there was always a possibility they may never see each other again - just like one day when Becky had gone to work, and never came home.
It was clear to Lisa that she was in love with Carla; in it right up to her neck. But she hadn’t been ready to say those three words. Everything took longer since she’d lost Becky but it didn’t mean that she didn’t feel it.
Lisa had cried on the whole flight back to the UK.
At many points considered just asking the pilot to turn around and she would hang up her hat and call it a day, but she knew she had to do this; even if this was the last thing she ever did.
Lisa had always been ambitious. Starting in the police force early in her life, working hard, head down as she breezed up the ranks to Detective Sergeant.
Even one day dreamed of becoming a DI or even a DCI. Little did she know somewhere deep inside her mind, Carla had changed those plans, Lisa just wasn’t ready for them to surface yet.
— —
Lisa’s boss, her team and many other officers were in the briefing room at 0800 hours.
The Deputy Commissioner took the lead.
“A series of coordinated cyberattacks hit the UK last night, plunging the country into chaos.”
“The Government have had no choice but to lockdown the country. No one comes in or out, apart from additional resources that will support us in leading this investigation.”
“It began small with the cyberattacks hitting retail businesses, restaurants, takeaways causing their systems to crash and places forced to close but within hours, things escalated.”
“The cyberattacks have now hit train stations, bus services, airports, so there is no transport up and down the country. As well as transportation systems, power grids have been hit, water companies are affected, homes are without water, heat and power.”
“Hospitals are running on back up generators, emergency service calls are impossible to keep on top of and the public has been thrown into confusion, chaos and fear.”
“Detective Sergeant Swain will lead from here.”
Lisa’s heart immediately sank, fear and nerves rushing through her body, but this was her moment, her time to prove herself and her time to shine.
— —
Lisa gathered her team together after the briefing.
“Okay so, first things first, we need to create a timeline of events.”
“What time did the first attack occur and what was targeted. Then the second attack, third attack and so on.”
“We need to identify if there are any patterns, time, place, things like that.”
”So, I need you to split into three teams. Team A look at the attacks. When and where did the first hit land, and then work through the next attacks from there.”
”Team B, a timeline of transport disruptions. What was first and when, roads, airports, trains?”
“Team C, analyse the data we have for any patterns.”
“We meet back up in an hour, and compare notes. Then we take our next steps.”
”Dismissed.”
— —
Lisa took a few moments to herself, leaving one of the DC’s in the room in charge to keep the teams in check.
She slipped down a darkened corridor and found a quiet secluded office with minimal lighting at the bottom.
Lisa crept in, locking the door behind her. Reeling over everything that was happening right now.
She decided to give Carla a call. The only person that she wanted to hear right now.
“Hi.” Carla answered, a soft almost inaudible sound slipped from her mouth as she answered the phone.
“Oh Carla.” Lisa’s heart ached when she heard her girlfriend’s voice.
“God, I miss you so much.” Lisa whispered.
“It’s just crazy here, I’m so glad I got to call you. To listen to your voice.”
“You sound worn out. Is there anything I can do?” Carla asked.
“Just hearing your voice is enough…”
“You know, you better save the world detective because I’m not quite sure I can cope without ever repaying how you made me…”
“Feel.”
“Twice.”
Lisa felt her heart skip a beat as the words fell from Carla’s lips.
This wasn’t the time nor the place for the direction this conversation could be heading in, but Lisa knew why Carla was being flirty, suggestive. She was trying to distract Lisa, from all the turmoil surrounding her.
“Oh yeah?” Lisa played along.
“Are you alone?” Carla asked, her voice husk, almost a whisper.
“Mmm” Lisa answered.
“Every moment I’m away from you. I think of all the things I’d like to do to you.”
“Care to share?”
“What, and spoil the surprise?” Carla teased.
“Carla…”
“What, Lisa?”
“You can’t do that…”
“Do what?” Carla pleading innocent.
“Tease…get me all worked up”
“How, worked up?”
“What are you doing right now?” Lisa asked, her voice a flirtatious whisper.
“Close your eyes for me. I will too.” Carla suggested before continuing.
“I’m laid in bed….wrapped in a sheet. Imagining you’re holding me.”
“What are you wearing?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Oh, I really, really would.”
“Nothing. Just a sheet.”
“Naked?” Lisa asked, her voice a little too high pitched.
“Naked.”
“Oh god, Carla.”
Lisa’s mind was spinning now.
“Remember when you showed up on my doorstep and told me you hadn’t quite finished.” Carla whispered.
Lisa felt the blush creep up her neck and into her cheeks. She was sure she was burning red and was grateful for the darkness.
“You looked hot Lisa.”
“What I’d have done to you if you’d have let me.” Carla admitted.
“You were far too...” Lisa trailed off, not finishing the sentence.
“And besides, I wanted your first time with me to be all about you.”
Lisa softened.
“Quite the romantic aren’t you detective?”
Lisa smiled at the sentiment. A little tear in her eye.
“I miss you calling me that.”
“What? Detective?”
“Yeah…but it’s the way you say it.” Lisa admitted, shyly.
“The way I say it?” Carla teasing again.
“Mmm”
“Well, you being a detective….turns me on.”
“Noted….we can umm, certainly explore that.” Lisa suggested.
“Any specifics?” Lisa dared to ask.
“Oh, just you…in your button up shirts, with your tight fitting blazers. A pair of handcuffs might not go amiss…I quite liked you in control the other night.”
“I liked the way you pushed me up against the wall, the way you slid your knee up my leg, the way you pressed against me…”
Carla’s voice dropped, sexy and seductive.
“I could practically feel your body begging for more…” Lisa teased.
Lisa could feel her own body begging right now.
“Oh it was. I especially liked the way you pinned me up, wouldn’t let me touch you, you took complete control.”
“Yet you were so delicate, so caring, the attention you paid to me, to my feelings, to my body…”
“Carla stop.”
“I learnt a lot about how I can pay attention to you….”
“Mmm”
”Just you wait, Detective Swain.”
The conversation had heated up, but both women knew they couldn’t continue what they were starting.
“Carla?”
“Yeah?”
“I promise you when this is over, things will be different.”
“Different, how?”
“You’ll see.”
“It’s alright Lisa. You’re only doing your job. I understand that superheroes don’t have days off.”
“Yeah well, maybe I’m tired of being the hero Carla. Maybe I’m the one that wants saving this time.”
“This is really difficult isn’t it. Being away from each other. You’re exhausted, you want saving and I want to be the one to save you but I can’t even hold you…kiss you-“
Lisa interrupted.
“Carla Connor you have no idea do you? You save me every single day.”
Lisa could hear the quiet muffled sobs, and her heart ached but she had to get back, her team was calling her.
“I’ve got to go darling. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Lisa promised.
“I’ll look forward to it, detective.”
Lisa was just about to hang up.
”Lisa wait-“
Lisa waited. Her breath caught in her throat.
“I miss you too.”