The Abbottsford Police Chronicles – George and Dragon

(Part One)

George Tiplady had been a Chief Superintendent for four years and he hated it.
He felt cut off from his subordinates, and the day-to-day police work.
He found himself in a position he had never sought and treading his way warily through the political minefield such as modern Policing had become.
He owed his current situation solely to his ex-wife’s fanatical ambition.
He envied Bill Overend his Chief Inspectors rank, still running a squad and still feeling collars.
Even his five years as a Superintendent of Operations was more rewarding than what he was doing now.
When he first met his wife, Emily Thraite-Drake, he was a DS investigating the rape and murder of an infamous socialite named Catherine Pomery.
Emily was “old money” and a snob, purely and simply, she wanted status and a position in society.
She was one of the group of women who publicly and vociferously extolled the virtues of equality for women but in private were satisfied with pushing their husbands forward at every opportunity because they didn’t have the courage to make their own way in the world.
But that wasn’t the only thing he resented about Emily, he had wanted a family but she had not, so that was that.
The highlights of Emily’s life were Ascot, Epsom, The Henley Regatta and Summer Balls, for George it was the simple things in life like a Pint at his local or a Saturday afternoon at the football.
Peasant fare as Emily described it.
Then one day, at breakfast, he decided he had had enough, he looked at the frustrated middle aged woman he had once loved, bleating on about what his next bid for promotion should be when he got up and said “Good bye Emily.”
He only went back to the house once more, when Emily was away consoling herself in the south of France, to collect his belongings.
They were now divorced.

George had never regretted his decision to leave his wife but there were times when he was lonely, rare though those times were.
As he was based at Abbottsford Police Station he was often known to frequent the George and Dragon.
But even the George could not lift his spirits when he was at his lowest.
And when he was at his lowest ebb then he always knew he could find sanctuary at the Overend’s,
His DCI, Bill and his wife Sally always knew how to refloat the ship.

(Part Two)

The George and Dragon didn’t take on its true significant for him until the day he met the new owner Zoë Burrell because that was the day he fell in love again and loneliness was banished forever.

Zoë Burrell was a mature woman though to give her exact age would be indelicate; she was certainly not in the first flush of youth but would not be entirely unfamiliar with a flush.
She was a widow who had bought the pub from her brother in law, the previous owner, who had retired.
Zoë was no stranger to the hospitality industry, she had been in it since she left school and that was where she had met her husband.
They had run a pub together until he died and then she had owned and run a pub on her own as well since, though not a pub anywhere near the size of the George.
She could quite easily have lived a comfortable life with her inheritance.
But chose to work in instead.
She chose Abbottsford because that was where she had been born and raised.

George was a year or two older than Zoë and the first time he saw her he was smitten.
He was still a presentable man, even if his hair was greying at the temples.
George preferred to think it made him look distinguished.
He thought for a moment and resolved that he had no idea what colour Zoë’s hair was as he pictured her in his mind’s eye, it was a kind of reddy, blondy, browny, streakyish kind of thing.
But whatever colour it was, she was still a very attractive woman, 5ft 6inches with nice legs and a trim figure, very busty and she had small feet
“I like small feet” George said to himself and chuckled.

They hit it off immediately they met, maybe it was because they shared a similar sense of humour or they liked the same films, or the same music, but their mutual attraction was due to more than them having a lot in common.

(Part Three)

He found himself spending more and more time in the “George” and Zoë spent the time he wasn’t in there wishing that he was.
And it went on that way for several weeks until one day when he was in the pub for lunch with his best friend DCI Bill Overend.
Bill had noticed the way George and Zoë were together and couldn’t understand why neither of them had taken the next step.
Bill and Sally who were not averse to a bit of matchmaking had been trying to fix him up almost from the first moment he split with Emily.
But to no avail.
In fact Zoë was the first woman Bill had seen him even remotely interested in since his divorce.
To her immense frustration Sally was powerless to influence the situation as firstly as she was miles away from Abbottsford and secondly she did not frequent the “George”.
So with great reluctance she had to leave it to Bill.
Which is why while they were waiting for the food to arrive he steered the conversation towards the weather.
“It’s beautiful out there today” he said
“Yes” George agreed
“It should be good for your day off tomorrow” Bill said
“Yes” George said
“I know what I’d be doing if it was my day off”
“What’s that then?” George asked
“I’d take Sally on a picnic”
“A picnic” said George thoughtfully
Just then Zoë brought over the condiments and the cutlery.
Bill was watching George and he appeared to open his mouth as if to speak and then he closed it again.
It was pitiful, how on earth did he reach the rank of Chief Superintendent when he can’t even ask a woman out?
Bill had to act.
“George and I were just saying that it’s perfect weather for a picnic”
“Oh I agree it is perfect” Zoë said, “I do love a picnic”
“How about tomorrow?” George said croakily “just the two of us”
“Yes” said Zoë “That would be lovely”
Bill suddenly felt like a gooseberry.

(Part Four)

It was a bright June day as George turned off the main road onto a quiet lane lined with age-old trees that formed a canopy above them.
It was like driving through a tunnel, the foliage was so thick and the leaves defused the sunlight and dappled the road surface with spots of golden light.
“The turning is just ahead” Zoë said “there’s the sign”
High above sunbeams burst through the canopy and illuminated the sign which read “Trottwood Water”, and he turned left into a small, pot-holed car park which was deserted except for one other car.
George parked in the corner.
“We have arrived” He said and smiled at his passenger who returned his smile with interest.
They got out of the car and after retrieving the picnic basket off the back seat he locked the door and paused to look at his companion with pride.
It was their first date after all.

They walked through the gate and he caught his first look at the lake, he was struck by its beauty and he couldn’t believe he had never been there before in all the years he had lived in the county.
He never had cause to go there even in a professional capacity in all his years he had never been.
Even though Trottwood Water would not have existed were it not for a Tiplady.
He paused briefly before crossing the bridge and turned to look across the lake and was amazed at the natural look of the scene.
Especially when he considered that little more than a 150 years earlier it was a boggy field.
Before a distant relative of his, a Victorian industrialist named Josiah Tiplady, made his mark on it.
He had made his fortune amongst the Smokey factory chimneys of Lancashire, but sought a country retreat in which to enjoy his fortune as well as breathing some fresher air.
So he bought the old Trottwood Manor because it had everything he was looking for, though not apparently a lake complete with fountains and an island bird sanctuary.
It was however pleasing to the eye so it had to be money well spent.
He turned and looked at his date and thought that she too was pleasing to the eye and then he took Zoë’s hand and they continued across the bridge.

George and Zoë thought their first date was a great success so they made plans for a second and a third.
Very soon they were virtually inseparable and both of them were amazed that they had found love again.
So when two months had passed by they were very much a couple.

(Part Five)

Due to the inclement weather it was a quiet night in the “George” even for a Tuesday and by last orders there was only Zoë and barmaid Irina Karpinska left and a handful of stalwarts.

Due to an overrunning operations meeting George Tiplady and Bill Overend were late leaving the station, very late in fact.
George persuaded Bill to go to the pub for a nightcap before they headed home.
They always walked up to the “George” as a rule.
However due to the lateness of the hour and the foul weather Bill drove them up there instead.
As they drove up to a set of traffic lights about three hundred yards from the pub the light turned red and bill stopped.
While they waited George almost jumped out of his skin when somebody banged loudly on the passenger door window.
George looked round and saw a rain soaked Wynn Roberts peering into the car.
Wynn was one of the regulars.
“George, George there’s a ruckus at the pub, some yobs are smashing up the place” he spurted out.
“Alright Wynn leave it to us”
Bill hit the blues and twos and George called for assistance.
DCI Overend pulled up sharp outside and the two men decamped and ran in.
The scene that confronted them was one of devastation, tables and chairs had been turned over and there was broken glass everywhere.
George had eyes only for Zoë and found her in the back consoling Irina Karpinska
Bill mean while perused the damage and a few minutes later PC’s Deacon and Hanratty came through the door batons in hand.
After surveying the scene Deacon said
“Bloody hell”
“Very succinctly put Dickie” Bill said
Just then George returned
“Everyone ok?” Bill asked
George gave a reassuring nod and said
“Irina’s a bit shaken up but Zoë’s fine”
George looked around
“I don’t think there’s any point in getting the SOCO’s up here” George added
“Zoë said they didn’t go anywhere a customer couldn’t go”
Bill nodded his understanding and said to Hanratty
“Have you got your camera on you Catriona?
“Always Guv” she replied
“Ok get photos, and then you and Dickie can take statements from the ladies, and Wynn Roberts he’s the one that alerted us” Bill said
“Mrs Burrell will give you the names of any other regulars that were in here and get statements from them”
They both nodded
“Then write it up, open a case file and provide Mrs Burrell with copies of the photographs and a crime number for the insurance”
“Yes guv” they said in unison.

(Part Six)

When the PC’s had gone Bill drove Irina home and when he returned he found Zoë and George had made significant inroads in clearing the mess.
Bill slipped off his coat and joined them.
When everything was shipshape they all sat down and had coffee.
“So what happened?” Bill asked “what set them off?”
“Four men against two women and a handful of crocks and pensioners.
They’re brave lads” George mused
“They wanted Protection money” Zoë said “and I said no”
Bill and George were shocked
“They demanded money just out of the blue?” George asked
“A couple of chaps came in last week, but I thought they were just chancing their arms because I was a woman” she said.
“So I thought no more about it”
“Why didn’t you say something luv?” George asked
“I really didn’t think they were going to do anything if I had I would have told you I’m not a fool”
George held her had
“Well either their very ballsy or very stupid” Bill said “attempting to get Protection money from a pub used by coppers”
“They can’t be locals” George said
“They must be out of Towner’s trying to make their mark”
“And if they were to get a toe hold in Abbottsford there’ll be a turf war”
Bill added gloomily
“They smashed up the place so I would know they were serious, they’ve given me two days” Zoë said
“They’ll be in for the money after closing Thursday night”
“Well it’s going to be another late night on Thursday” Bill said
“Indeed it will” George added
“What are you going to do?” Zoë asked

(Part Seven)

Serving behind the bar on Thursday night were Irina Karpinska,
Zoë and a new barmaid, Catriona Hanratty
Also in the pub that night seated in the bar were DCs Dave Webster and Ali Khan and playing darts were PC Deacon in plain clothes and Sgt Boris Katarski.
Out the back out of site of the customers were Bill and George who were playing cards in the kitchen.
Just before the last bell two men walked in and made their way to the bar, they were both early thirties, well groomed and reasonably well dressed.
“You’re cutting it a bit fine” Catriona said “what can I get you?”
“I’ll serve these gentlemen” Zoë said and gave a discrete nod to Catriona
“Ok” she said “I’ll go and collect the glasses”
Irina was stood in the doorway and had turned very white.
Catriona picked up a jug from the shelf and handed it to her.
“Take that to the kitchen babe” she instructed Irina
Irina was shaking as she took the jug from the PC but she did what she was told.
Catriona knew that once in the kitchen she would alert the Guvnors.
She opened the hatch and started picking up empties from the tables as she passed the dart board she said
“Two men at the bar”
Zoë rang the bell
“Time gentlemen please” she called
“I’m going to call it a night” Boris said and drained his glass
“Me too” concurred Dickie
They put their jackets on and walked towards the door
“Night ladies” Boris called
“Thanks lads, good night” Zoë replied
Once outside they crossed the street and hid in the shadows where they had a good view of the pub.
A few minutes later Dave and Ali also made their exit but unlike Boris and Dickie they secreted themselves in the toilets.

The last few punters said their goodnights and the taller of the two men took out his mobile phone.
“All clear” he said and put the phone away.

From their position in the shadows Boris and Dickie saw two men get out of a parked car just outside the pub and quickly go in.
The two officers left their hiding place and quickly crossed the road to follow them.

With his jug ears Dave Webster heard the main door open and close.
“What’s happening?” Ali whispered
“Another two have arrived” he replied

Bill and George were still in the back room listening intently to what was happening.
“I hope you have come to your senses?” the Tall one said as the door opened and two big rough looking blokes entered the bar carrying baseball bats.
“Otherwise I’ll set them loose again”

(Part Eight)

Webster slowly opened the door and when he saw it was all clear he and Khan left the toilet.
Once in the vestibule Dave quietly slid back the bolts on the door and let in Katarski and Deacon.
Once the four men were set Boris he said into his radio
“In position Guv”

“I told you last time I don’t need protection” Zoë said calmly
“I’m very disappointed in you Mrs Burrell, very disappointed indeed” the taller man said
This was George Tiplady’s queue and he stepped through the door to the bar and said
“She has made it perfectly clear that she doesn’t need your protection sonny”
“Keep out of this old man” said the shorter man.
“She already has all the protection she needs” George continued
“Right you two” the tall one said to the two roughs “smash the place up and then smash him up”

Bill shouted into his radio “go now” And all hell broke loose.
The four policemen charged through the door and took the two roughs completely by surprise flattening one before he knew what was happening and Webster quickly got the cuffs on him.
The second one back peddled and managed to swing his bat in Katarski’s direction but got no real force into it and Boris easily avoided it, ducking under the swing and hitting him hard in the midriff knocking him to the floor but even on the floor it took him and Khan to subdue him.

Meanwhile the shorter man at the bar decided he wanted a piece of George Tiplady and scrambled up over the bar.
George adjusted his feet and was about to knock him back the way he came with his fist when Zoë hit him first with an ice bucket and he slid backwards onto the floor where Webster found him and cuffed him.
The taller man decided that discretion was the better part of valour and seeing his way to the front door barred decided to make a run for the back.
He reached the end of the bar just as Bill Overend and Catriona emerged from the back room.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Bill said
“I’ve got this guv” Catriona shouted and pushed in front of him.
Taller man threw a punch which she deftly avoided and struck him across the side of his knee with her baton.
He let out a scream of agony and collapsed to the floor.
“Nice work constable” Bill said “Cuff the bastard”
“Yes guv” she replied with a grin
Bill gave the bar a cursory glance and noted they had all four men with minimal damage and no injuries to the good guys.
Bill took out his phone and called the station.
“Send transport, four in custody at the “George and Dragon”

(Part Nine)

After all the excitement of the battle with the gang of thugs had died down George and Zoë decided it was time for another picnic so they returned to the scene of their first date, Trottwood Water.
It seemed very fitting as it was their beginning and they had plans to make for their future.
So they sat in the late summer sunshine on the plaid picnic blanket up on a grassy bank, overlooking the lake, and chinked their champagne glasses together.
“Is that a yes then?” George asked
“Of course” she replied

George had less than two years until his retirement and for the first time since he divorced Emily he had a plan not just for the period up to his retirement but beyond a plan for the future, a real future.
Leaving the police would not be the end of his life but rather it would be the beginning.
And instead of dreading the time beyond the job and hoping his last day would never come, he now felt it couldn’t come soon enough, his life after that would be with Zoë.
So they made plans for him to sell his depressing flat and then he would marry Zoë.
Then after he retired they would run the George and Dragon together.

“Just one thing George Tiplady” she said
“What’s that love?” George said happier than he had ever been
“When we get married, I’m quite happy for you to be the George in our joint enterprise as long as I’m not the dragon”