Day in the life of D.I. Don
Detective Inspector Tom Donnington slammed his front door and ran down to the bottom of his side road to catch the bus into town. The bus was there waiting for him. The driver was patiently reading his tabloid and the regular passengers just sitting and staring into space, trying not to think of the drudgery of the day ahead. This was a normal occurrence, waiting for Don.
“Morning Jeff, how are you today?”
“Fine Don, could do with a bit of sunshine. I’m fed up of all these dark skies.
“I agree a dose of Barbadian sunshine would do us all good eh?”
“Don’t even think about it these days. Hold on, we need to catch up some time,” shouted the driver as he signalled and pulled out into the mainstream of traffic heading for the town centre. Don sat down next to a woman even though there were plenty of seats going begging.
“How you doing Dot?”
“Fine Don, though ah could do with a bit more overtime to pay the bills.”
“Have you seen Derek lately?”
“I ah visited on Saturday. He’s fine and keeping his nose clean.”
“Good to hear that. He should be out soon and the family will be together at last,” replied D.I. Donnington and switched seats to join a scrawny young lad listening to his i-pod. “Hey Franky, switch your ears on,” he said loudly to the youth who squirmed a little and pulled down his earphones. “How’s the job? Got promotion yet Franky?”
“Yeah, they took me off tins and put me on fresh veg if you call that promotion.”
“Look at it as promotion Franky, they could have put you out back on the rubbish duties. Stick to it lad and tell me when you get on tills.”
“They wouldn’t put me on tills with my record or would they Mr. Donnington?”
“You never know Franky; you’ve kept your nose clean so far and they might give you a chance so don’t spoil it and do anything silly. Ah my stop coming up.” Don pressed the bell, stood up and shuffled to the door. With a curt wave to no one in particular he jumped down as the doors opened and strode purposefully along the pavement toward the local Police Station.
“Morning all, how was the night, Sarge? Any incidents?”
“Nothing for us to be concerned about, a few drunks and a car accident but generally quiet. By the way, Chief left a message. Wants to see you tonight?”
“Did he say what for?”
“Nah, never confides in us. About ten he said.”
“Thanks Sarge, I’ll be doing my rounds in Northfield if anybody wants me, Bye.” He ran down the steps and set off down the High Street and turned off at the first junction on the right to enter Northfield Road. It was just after eight and none of the shops were open yet, apart from a few cafes with early morning workers diving in for a take-away coffee and sandwiches for later. It wasn’t a salubrious area, with many cheap looking shops, charity places and lower end eateries, specialising in ‘all day breakfasts’ and fast foods. Don stepped into one of these greasy looking joints, sat at a table at the window and nodded to the busy proprietor.
“Small coffee and toast please Mark.”
“Coming up Don. Normally you have brown?” shouted the proprietor as he received a nod from Don who had scooped up a daily tabloid and was scanning the pages.
“There you go, coffee and brown toast,” said a skinny young girl, plonking the plate and mug on Don’s paper as he looked up at her.
“What’s your name love? Haven’t seen you here before.”
“Cheryl,” she said turning to rush off as Don grabbed her by the arm retaining her.
“Hi Cheryl, you’re not from these parts, where do you live?”
“No, ave come up from Swindon and staying with me Aunt Rosie on Trenton Street.”
“Not Rosie who works at the super store and lives at number twenty-five?”
“Yeah, the same. You know her?”
“Yeah, know her well, make it my business to know everybody. Nice to meet you Cheryl, welcome to the area and get a clean apron will you?” as the girl looked on uncomfortably and left hurriedly to disappear behind the counter to ask who this man was who seemed to know everything and giving her orders. She was quickly put right on that score and was seen later, taking a good look at Detective Inspector Donnington who was perusing his paper and munching on his buttered toast.
“Have you finished Sir?” asked Cheryl rather more deferentially than was required.
“Yes Cheryl, only one piece of toast in the future. I’ve got to look after my figure.”
“Yes Sir, that will be a pound and seventy.” As Don was rising and folding up the newspaper.
“Cheryl!” shouted the proprietor, “we don’t charge Don it’s on the house.”
“Bye all,” shouted Don as he left, leaving Cheryl looking foolish and uncomfortable.
Don crossed the road and entered another similar establishment. “What will it be Don? Coffee and toast as usual?” shouted the proprietor as Don nodded and settled himself down at a table where a scruffy young man was doing damage to a huge plate of greasy breakfast.
“Hi Jimmy lad, what trouble have you been up to then?”
“No trouble Inspector,” answered the lad with his mouth full.
“Good to hear it. I hope you’re not mixing with those Brindley boys Jimmy.”
“No Inspector,” he replied quickly as he looked around to see who was listening.
“Don’t worry Jimmy, it’s best that everybody knows your business around here, that way your keep your nose clean, eh? Have you seen the Brindley boys lately? If you do Jimmy, please tell them to keep off my area if you would. I don’t want them spoiling my patch.” The man nodded sheepishly as Don rose to be met by the proprietor carrying him a mug of coffee and a plate of toast. “Thanks Mark, I’ll just have the coffee if I may. Heard that those Brindley boys were in here yesterday. I hope they behaved?”
“They are alright Don, no probs. It’s only when they are drunk or high that they cause trouble.”
“Well tell them that I’m looking for them. That should keep them on the straight and narrow for a while.”
“I will Don, thanks.”
“Here, take the mug, I can’t drink all of it. Must go and finish my rounds.” With that he spun on his heels and strode out but briefly turning towards Jimmy who had been watching and listening carefully and pointing a pistol hand at him, followed by a grin.
By now shopkeepers were approaching their doors and entering their premises, ready to open for nine.
“Morning Alan, I see you’ve had some graffiti on your wall there.”
“Hi Don appeared overnight. I wish we could catch the buggers. At least they’ve stopped hurling half bricks at the windows.”
“It looks fresh, an odd colour, probably car paint. Clean it off and I’ll go and see the people in the car place over there,” Don said pointing and strode off purposefully, crossing the road as a tall man in blue overalls and wool hat was pushing back the iron shutters off the front door. Don waited as the man finished and followed him in as he unlocked the door.
“Morning Don, don’t normally see you this early. What’s cooking?”
“Hi Reg, have you been selling off your spray paint again?” said Don, looking through a ‘Sales’ bin for evidence. “The bastards have done Alan’s across the road and its car paint. The type you sell. Who’s been in yesterday and what did you sell them?”
“Oh, a couple of lads came in for some paint to do their bikes up.”
“And you sold them spray paint Reg? You should know better. Only sell to people we know not to young lads. Do you know them? What did they look like?”
“Well, they were local. I recognise one of them, a ginger haired lad, tall and gangly wearing a hoody.”
“I know the lad. He’s from Turnville Street. I’ll have a word with him and put the evil eye on him.”
“You can’t blame me for all the graffiti Don,” said Reg defensively.
“Who the hell can I blame? Silly buggers like you for supplying the kids with spray cans. We are trying to clean up the district, so no more sales like that. Understand?” with that rebuke Don was out of the shop, looking up and down to cross the street again and was immediately confronted by a Postman pulling a trolley of mail.
“Don, glad I caught you. Somebody’s been pushing chips through the mailbox by the Bull. Made a right mess of the post.”
“What do you want me to do about it George? I’m not the bobby on the beat you know?”
“I know Don, I know but you are the only one who does anything about these things.”
“OK, George, I’ll have a word with the chippie across the way from them. Get them to make tastier chips so that the punters eat them rather than throw them away, eh?”
“Thanks Don, must go now. See you in the Bull at end of me shift?”
Don waved a goodbye to the Postman and made a beeline for a ‘Big Issue’ seller who saw him coming and shuffled from one foot to another.
“Hi Danny boy, How’s business? Here’s a quid, no I don’t want a copy. OK Danny, what have you seen lately?”
“Nothing boss, been quiet around here, quiet as mice.”
“Not what I hear Danny. There’s been a rumpus and an attempted bag snatching in the last few days. Come on Danny spill the beans.”
“Well, the Brindley boys got a bit tight a few days ago and made some noise at lunchtime. No harm done and the handbag thing was just a misunderstanding.”
“You saw it all then Danny?”
“Yeah, no probs. Gov.”
“If you see the Brindley boys, tell them I’m after them and that lanky ginger head lad that hangs around here. Look after yourself Danny,” replied Don seriously and was away before the seller could reply. Don strode smartly down a side street, which then opened out to display the grounds of a Junior School. He walked through the front door and down a corridor to some changing rooms. He walked up to a locker marked up ‘D.I. Donnington’ and whilst he was searching for the keys with his left hand he was quickly loosening his tie with the other. He quickly changed into shorts, trainers and a fleecy jacket and ran over to the store cupboard and pulled out a sack of footballs and a couple of mats. These he dragged into the gym cum assembly hall and quickly started pulling net curtains across the stage area and putting up four sets of goal posts. The bell rang as he was tipping the balls out of the net. He took a quick look at his watch and ran after the balls kicking them into the middle of the small hall. A few minutes later a few small boys and girls ran in shouting ‘Hi’ to Don who passed a football to each one as they ran in. They knew the routine and kicked the ball at the goal with all their might and jumping for joy if they scored. They would then dribble the ball to Don who would pass it to the next kid to shoot. After a few moments, Don glanced around to check on the number and blew his whistle. The children immediately ran and formed up on the middle line in an orderly fashion and quite excited.
“Right, well have a game first and then we’ll do some passing exercises and finish with a game again. You know your teams, Reds defend the stage and blues the other way. Now let me see you looking about for somebody to pass to rather than just bunching about, chasing the ball. Blues kick off. Here use this ball.” And they were off, kicking and passing as best they could with Don shouting instructions and only blowing his whistle to restart the game when they had all bunched up. “OK Reds at stage end, you know the drill, dribble up to the halfway line and pass to your partner who then dribbles whilst you retreat back waiting for the pass. A blast of the whistle started the drill as Don shouted encouragement and instruction. They then got into some more complicated drills as a teacher came in and watched on the sidelines. “Right Elizabeth, take the whistle and start the game. This time girls be forwards and boys backs. Don’t want to see any boy encroaching across the midline. I’m going to have a word with Miss Paley.”
“Hello Don, it’s always good to see them all enjoying organised games. You make it fun for them.”
“I quite enjoy this Janet. Should have been a teacher rather than a bobby.”
“Well, the police force would miss you too and you’ve done a lot for the community here.”
“Tell that to my Chief. I’ll be in next week and also Wednesday afternoon to give the talk to the second-year group. Same as last year?”
“Yes, Don that would be delightful. Come and have a cup of tea with me in my office before you go.” Don watched the game and shouted more encouragement then caught Elizabeth the ref’s eye and drew a line across his neck with his hand to mark the end of the session. There was a cry of dismay as Elizabeth blew a loud blast and they kicked the balls over to the corner where Don replaced them back into the net sack, whilst two lads tried to pull the net curtain back.
“Leave that, I’ll do it and off you go kids and get changed quickly or Miss Paley will be after me.” Amidst shouts of ‘thanks Mr. Don,’ ‘bye Don’ and “See you next week Don,” they quickly left the hall as Don reversed the earlier procedure but this time went further down the hall to the Headmistresses office.
“There you are Don, coffee, black and your favourite chocs.”
“You do spoil me Janet.”
“You need spoiling Don. You help us out a lot. I hope you will still come when you retire.”
“That’s a few year off Janet. I can’t promise what happens then. Since my wife died a few years ago, I’m a free agent and I think I’d like to travel a bit.”
“Lucky you! Make the most of it Don while in good health.”
“Thanks Janet, need to be off now. I have a few of the wayward locals to catch up with and try and steer them along a civil course.”
“Now Don, don’t jump on your high horse and blame us teachers for not showing them the right ways.”
“Bye Janet, see you Wednesday for the talk,” with a wave he was off striding out along the corridor, his heels clicking on the hard floor, as he made his way back to the main street. A look at his watch and a look to the black and white tavern, told him it was time to pay that establishment a visit.
“What will it be Don, a good malt or the usual?”
“A bottle of that Belgian beer please, Garry. Have you seen any underage drinkers around in here Garry? Heard there was a crowd around the other day.”
“Not in here Don. No ID no drink policy here. They don’t even bother to look in these days. You generally scare them off anyway. They all know you.”
“That’s how it should be Garry. Get your guys to clean up the pavement outside. It’s a bloody mess. I know it’s not your responsibility but lowers the tone of the place. And make sure that the bad uns don’t take their chips out and stuff them down the post box opposite.”
“Hey Don, I can only do so much!”
“Well do a bit more, it all helps. Now who is selling alcohol to young people around here if you’re not?”
“They can get it at the super store Don or at the smaller off licences, not here.”
“Glad to hear of it. I’ll cruise around some of the little shops and have a word. Now the Brindley lads were in causing trouble.”
“Yeh, I’ve kicked them out after they had too much.”
“That’s a cop out Garry, they only go and cause trouble outside. Tell them from me that they are banned from here and that I want to see them. That will put the frighteners on them.”
“OK Don but where will the go for a drink, there’s only the Hay Stack?”
“Don’t know and don’t care as long as they are off my patch. I’ll put the traffic people onto them, hopefully catch them on a drink driving charge. They need to mend their ways and just grow up. See you,” as he put down his half empty bottle down on the counter and made a motion to pay to be waved away by Garry. He hit the street, blinked in the strong light and was off in a determined way toward a small grocers across the way.
“Hello Mr. Don, welcome to my shop,” said a beaming Pakistani shopkeeper.
“Hi Ali, have you been troubled by those lads trying to buy drink lately?”
“No Mr. Don, not since you came last time and talked to those naughty boys.”
“Good Ali, just make sure you don’t get intimidated by them. Just be tough and call me if you have a problem. I need to find out where these kids get their booze. They drink in the park and become a nuisance.”
“Mr. Don, my boy tells me that they get it from their parents. Its just no good is it?”
“Probably half right there Ali but I’ll put a stop to it one way or another.”
“Mr. Don, its lunch time would you like a pie, sandwich or something to take with you?”
“Thanks Ali but have you got any of those nice somosa’s your wife makes?”
“Yes Mr. Don, how many shall I wrap for you?”
“Just the one Ali, I’ll eat it on the hoof. Need to go and have a word with your competitor down the road. Bye,” with a wave he was off munching on a crunchy somosa and heading off down the street. He threw the serviette into a waste bin and also cleared up a few cans off the pavements. The doorbell tinkled as he pushed his way into a small grocers. There was a scuffle in one of the isles as a group of teenagers tried to rush out having seen him.
“OK, who’s got the beer and cider then?”
“We only came in for sweets,” answered a ginger haired boy.
“Just as well cos if I see you in here or anywhere buying booze, I’ll have your guts for garters. Now just go up to the counter and buy your sweets in an orderly fashion whilst I have a word with Ginger here.”
“What have I done? I haven’t been buying beer here!”
“You and your mates were seen spraying graffiti on Alan’s shop down the road there.”
“It wasn’t me it was Duffy.”
“You were seen and caught on CCTV and I know exactly where you bought the cans. I’ve been looking for you. Now what is your name and where is Duffy. Thirdly why are you out of school, all of you? OK line up in front of the counter there.”
“Why, what are you going to do?”
“Why, simple? I’m going to take this slim device that you will recognise as a mobile and you will stand there smiling whilst I take a photo of you. Now don’t ask you know what I’m going to do. I’m going to tell you to go back to your school and report to your headmaster. In the meantime, I’m going to call him and tell him that you lot have been skipping lessons, buying booze and spray-painting graffiti.”
“But it wasn’t us, honest.”
“Well, you will have to explain that to The Terror as you call your head and I will send him your pictures and he will then efficiently give me your names and where you live. Far easier than asking you to go with me to the Police Station. Can’t have you missing any more lessons, can we? Go on, off with you. I’m going to call in five minutes and I want you lined up and ready.”
“Hi Don, thanks for clearing them out. They get a bit intimidating at times, particularly if there is a crowd of them. Can’t check what they get up to around there in the corners.”
“I’ll get the names of these and you ban them from here.”
“But they are not the worst Don.”
“I know but it will send out a message. I’ll follow this up with a visit to the head. He does his best with them. Now, why are you selling booze to the underage?”
“Don, who told you that? I don’t knowingly sell to them.”
“I caught some youngsters in the park the other day and they had cans with your price stickers on them. How do you explain that? You can’t, so let me tell you, ‘No ID, No Sale!’ That’s going to be your policy from now on, understand?” With that outburst he stormed out slamming the door leaving the poor shopkeeper perplexed and frightened, exactly the state Don had hoped for. He decided to proceed down the street as far as the Hay Stack pub and then make his way to the secondary school to have a word with the headmaster, Terry, and put him out of his misery; as he strode forward purposefully, partly to cover the area efficiently and partly as exercise to keep his weight down.
His thoughts now were on his meeting with his Chief, wondering if it was just routine update or had somebody complained again about his unorthodox policing in his district. He mused that he used to do this as a mere copper on the beat but now these had disappeared to be replaced by cars, totally isolating the officers from the public. He was having to do it as a D. I. Something he hoped he was past and beyond in his current status. No use having a word with the Chief. All he would get was ‘Leave it to the plod’ and that would result, him wasting away in an office whilst the infra structure he had developed over the years and guarded so jealously would disintegrate. Let’s not think about it thought Don as he steered his way towards the Hay Stack. It was getting late and he expected only to see a few people in there but a chat to the landlord would be useful.
“Hi Dennis, quiet in here.”
“Hi Don, what brings you to this neck of the woods?”
“Not a social visit as you probably gather. The Bull has had some trouble and there a bit of underage drinking going on. Know anything about either Dennis?”
“Not about the second but the usual suspects are in the pool room at the moment. Behaving themselves at the moment.”
“Would you oblige me by asking them or inviting them into the snug. You can tell them who has sent the invitation. I want to see their reaction. Give me a bottle of Belgian first.”
“Would you believe it, they’ve refused your kind invitation and sneaked out of the back, even left money on the table for the electric. I presume you’re not fussed about seeing them?”
“Your right there Dennis, don’t really want to mix with that scum. To teach them a lesson, get the word round that they are banned from this place and the Bull. I’m sure it won’t adversely affect your business.”
“On the contrary Don, some of the old regulars might return now that they won’t be abused by that crowd and their cronies.”
“So, the Bradley’s have got themselves an entourage, eh?”
“Yeah, a few hangers on that can take the blame for their misdoings.”
“The usual tack. Make sure the word goes out that you’re only banning the two Brindley brothers Dennis.”
“What’s this, divide and conquer?”
“Yes Dennis, that’s the overall plan. Get me the names of these hangers on and I’ll look them up.”
“Sounds as if you are sending the brothers to Coventry?”
“I wish they would go to Coventry, literally, but hopefully they’ll get the message and leave the district for good.”
“I’ll drink to that Don. On the second matter I heard the rumour that you were on the rampage on underage drinking. You can count me in Don. I have a son who could be susceptible to that behaviour.”
“You have a word with him Dennis. I think I caught him and his pals trying to buy booze at the little grocers up the road there and skipping school. I’ve warned The Terror so he should come home chasten today. No harm in giving him a nice parental chat though.”
“Thanks for the warning, Don. I’ll warn Mary before he comes and she can have a go at him first before I give him a severe warning. Is it being taken any further Don?”
“No, but if you folks don’t get the message across then I’ll oblige and scare the daylights out of him. I think I did that to his elder brother.”
“You certainly did, frightened him out of his wits. Got him to work and go away to college to get away from you. Did us a good turn you did Don. It’s not easy in this profession to keep them away from booze at an early age.”
“Thanks for the bottle, Dennis. I’m off to see The Terror, naught to do with your son but you don’t have to tell him that. Bye Dennis and remember to spread the word.” With that Don placed the half-finished bottle on the counter and started to leave.
“Don, we are breaking in a new chef tonight. Come over for a bite and see what you make of him. Welcome your views and it’s on us as usual.”
“I might do just that Dennis. I have some time to kill tonight. See you later.”
The visit to the school was routine, to finalise a presentation he had agreed to give to some classes about law and order. He also enjoyed a chat with Terry, the head, who had a similar job to his trying to steer his flock along the straight and narrow. They had a good laugh over the group of miscreants who couldn’t quite bring themselves to line up outside the heads study, in full view of the school. They were eventually rounded up and ended the school day in an hour’s detention writing out chunks of Shakespeare and committing it to memory.
After a pleasant evening in the restaurant part of the Hay Stack, Don got a lift back in a passing police car back to the Station to meet his Chief.
“Evening Don, thanks for turning up at this late hour.”
“No problem, Garry, I don’t have a lot to keep me at home these days.”
“I suppose so but I don’t like to infringe on my people’s time particularly their own.”
“I didn’t know we were allowed any ‘Own time’ Garry. I thought we were contracted 24/7.”
“You know what I mean Don. Now let’s get down to business. I called you in because I’m getting my arse roasted by the low number of arrests and convictions in this district.”
“I’ve got a bunch of law-abiding residents here Garry and they know how to behave.”
“The local MP has contacted me and has asked why the percentage of solved criminal cases is so low here. We, or you are at the bottom of their league tables. Can you explain that?”
“Garry, if you cannot understand or explain to this high-class twit then don’t expect me to do that.”
“Don, this is a political matter and I have to take it seriously.”
“Look Garry, that over-paid twit accused me a few years ago of GBH against some thugs that had invaded our manor. What does he know about policing and reading league tables? You know we ensure our unsocial members behave themselves on our patch or we encourage them to pack their bags and take their garbage elsewhere.”
“But we can’t be seen doing these things in the open. We can’t just exclude members of the public openly just because we don’t like them.”
“Garry, bugger to the niceties of politics. By openly excluding these thugs and scumbags from our district, isn’t that getting across the right message and discouraging the others, or should I be saying encouraging the other scum to behave.”
“It may all be quaint and old fashioned but your methods don’t fit into our modern policing Don.”
“I know that Garry and I’m not going to change and you know it. You know that this district has the lowest crime rate in the County and that’s thanks to me and my old fashioned and quaint methods.”
“Don, you can’t just go round openly getting a free drink here and free meal there. It’s against all of our procedures and policies.”
“To hell with those Garry. I don’t get all this graft for my own good. The punters out there get a feeling I’m obliged to them in some way and will look after them. Be their guardian angel or something. In return they freely give me information that allows me to predict what the bad lot are getting up to and I can then thwart their endeavours.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get through to you Don and maybe I don’t want to but I can’t just turn a blind eye. No one believes me that one DI can keep peace in a district and keep all the criminals at bay. They just think we fix the figure or worse, not doing our job properly. Some reckon that this district is the Wild West of the County and we just fail to report or even detect the crime.”
“I’m too low in the pecking order to fight your fights, Garry.”
“Don, I have a proposal for you. I’m offering you early retirement with all the trimmings. The full package and I’ll swing it for you. You’ve always wanted to travel and this is your opportunity to see the World whilst you are fit and strong. How about it?”
“You should ask our criminal fraternity if I should accept your offer maybe?”
“Don’t jest Don, I’m quite serious. You could be off in a week if you want.”
“So you want me off the beat so soon then Garry? What’s the hurry?”
“Just don’t want you to be changing your mind. How about I send you on a course to Florida to check on their retirement training and programmes there?”
“I suspect you’ve got the tickets in your jacket pocket as we sit here Garry.”
“Well not quite Don but I could have them by tomorrow, First Class to Miami and away from the cold and grime of here by the end of the week. No hurry back. Who can refuse an offer like that?”
“Come on Father Christmas, what other presents have you for me?”
“Look Don, I will do anything for you but I need you away from here pronto. My political career is at stake so I have the power to do anything for you in this case, if you agree.”
“So, I’ll be doing this for you Garry, for your career advancement?”
“Cards on the table Don, this is for me and also for you. Which way are you going to go Don?”
“It’s an offer I can’t refuse Garry.”
“Thanks Don, you won’t regret it. Go over and see my secretary tomorrow and she will arrange everything for you. Don’t forget your passport.”
‘Bugger that for a lark,’ thought Don as he strode out into the street, ‘I’m not retiring just to cover Garry’s arse. He can look after himself. I’ll pop into the Hay Stack and have a pint and check on the locals, may even catch a few youngsters in there.’
