Detective Inspector Samantha Nixon sat in her office with both her arms crossed over her chest, wearing a frown. The clock on her desk showed 09:14 and her clock was never wrong. That meant that he was fourteen minutes late and counting, the wayward DS – Phil Hunter.

Fourth time this week, Sam fumed as the clock changed to show 09:15. She'd let him get away with it for the past few days, thinking that everyone was late once in a while. Being late one day was ok, two days was unfortunate, three was only just acceptable but four? He'd gotten away with it for long enough now. It was time to pull him, show him that she would not tolerate his late coming and demonstrate her authority over him. Not that she wanted to of course…he really was leaving her with no choice though.

The clock flicked to 09:16 and the CID doors opened revealing a calm, unruffled detective sergeant. He strode towards his desk as though it was perfectly normal to walk into work sixteen minutes late, and rifled through the files, looking for a half decent case that would take him out of the station.

"D.S Hunter?" Sam called in a loud, firm voice while poking her head out of the office door. "Can I have a word please?" She asked in a steely voice.

Phil dropped the file he was holding and walked towards his superior's office slightly apprehensively. He knew exactly what this was about. She stood back to allow him to enter the small room and closed the door firmly behind him.

"Well?"

"Well what?" Sam sighed to herself. As usual…he was playing dumb.

"What do you mean 'well what'? What are you doing walking in here sixteen minutes late, fourth day in a row, without an apology or a reason?" She demanded, maintaining eye contact with him to show he couldn't intimidate her or fob her off with his charm.

Phil sighed quietly; surely she had more important things to be doing than having a go at him.

"I'm sorry I'm late Sa…guv, I had something to do first and it took a little longer than expected.". Sam fixed him with a penetrating glare.

"Did this thing by any chance have something to do with Monica Dreyfuss?"

Phil blinked. She knew him to well, one of the downsides to having your best friend and ex-lover promoted to your boss.

"Yes, it did but hear me out Sam..erm…guv" He said quickly, seeing her open her mouth furiously. She closed it again after a moments consideration and her expression changed to accusatory. "She called me again this morning after hearing a noise outside. She thought it was a burglar or something."

"And was it?"

"Well…no" Sam opened her mouth again but Phil cut over her. "But she was really scared and I couldn't just leave her like that could I?" He watched her carefully with large round eyes, appealing to her softer side.

"You know how I feel about this situation Phil" She said after a moments thought.

"I know but with all due respect guv…I mean Sam…no…guv" he corrected himself with a slight pink tinge on his cheeks "There's nothing you can do to stop me. I'm just doing Louis a favour while he's away, that's all. He asked me to keep an eye on Monica and look after her until he gets back…"

"And you have no alternative motive?" Sam interrupted

"No…I don't" Sam stared at him for a minute, trying to read his face but it was passive. "I won't be late again guv, I'm sorry"

"You'd better not be D.S Hunter because if you step foot in this office so much as a minute late tomorrow morning then this matter goes to the D.C.I is that clear?" Phil nodded his head. "Good, now go and get some work done. I want those reports from yesterday on my desk by lunchtime or I'll come looking for them." She nodded her head at him giving him permission to leave.

"Yes guv" He left the office, closing the door behind him quietly and walked back over to his desk with Sam watching his every move from her window.

What had changed between them? She wondered. They used to be such good friends and now she felt as though she couldn't talk to him about anything like she had before. She no longer knew what was going on inside that head of his but one thing was for sure…she was going to try her utmost best to keep Phil Hunter and Monica Dreyfuss apart…