'Night boys' Sandra smiled as Gerry, Steve and Danny all tucked their chairs into their desks.
'Night boss' Gerry replied as Danny and Steve fought for the door, a running joke between the pair which started when Gerry had called them Princess.
'Oh knock it off boys' Gerry laughed and pulled his coat on, 'pub?'
'Yeah I can do, Danny?' Steve asked.
'Oh no thanks, Holly's back tomorrow I want to make sure that everything's all okay for her, next time though?'
'Yeah course no problem' Steve nodded and they parted ways.
Sandra looked up at the ever growing pile of paperwork on her desk, 'oh do you know what' she muttered to herself, 'sod it' and stood up, turned off her computer and grabbed her handbag, 'I'll go on that speed date'.
Smiling to herself as she left work and got into her car, she didn't even notice herself being watched.
'Yeah well the ex' liked those big bold paintin' an' well I bought a lot for her... stupid really' Gerry laughed, 'she got the lot in the divorce and made a mint'.
Steve laughed, 'aw Gerry' and downed his pint, 'look I'd love to hear more about your misdemeanours but I gotta get up early, I gotta few hours of paperwork I should get done early tomorrow'.
'Sure? Aw come on Steve stay for another'.
'Oh go on then, but you're paying' Steve grinned.
'I don't like women who are career driven' the brunette sneered, 'they have to be at home to look after the children, women are best seen and not heard... except in the bedroom' he winked and Sandra gagged, 'I'm with the police' she spat out.
'Shit' the brunette muttered and stood up before walking over to the next available female. Sandra watched him flirt with the younger looking female, 'good luck to her' Sandra murmured and sipped her wine and waited for the next man to sit down.
In the corner of the pub, a dark haired male was watching her and sipping his drink slowly, yes he thought it's time.
'Aaaand then we all goo 'oommeeee' Gerry slurred as he and Steve recited an old bar song they'd learnt in their early days on the force.
'Y'know Gezzaaaa' Steve laughed, 'I dooo think I'mm pisseed'.
'Y'not' Gerry hiccupped, 'cause you Scots don't you get angryyy or sommit'
'Oh aye we dooooo' Steve grinned and fake punched Gerry.
Unfortunately for Steve and Gerry a CSO was nearby and saw the two fighting and immediately arrested them.
'Is this seat taken?' a soft voice asked as Sandra turned to the waiter for more wine.
'No no go ahead' she said and looked at the speaker as he sat.
A tall man, smart but casual attire. Sandra slowly looked up and her eyes rested on his face. Long and angular, brown eyes and brown hair. Beautiful, a real babe magnet, someone Sandra knew rather well. But nevertheless, Sandra's mouth fell open in shock.
It was her former flame, DCI James Larson. Larson who was meant to be in prison for handling stolen goods in a murder charge.
'Hello Sandra' he whispered.
'James' Sandra replied, 'you're meant to be in prison'.
'I am' James smiled, 'fortunately I called in a few favours, never even went'.
'What do you want?' Sandra asked as she looked around at the other speed daters, but they were all strangely avoiding her gaze. Something was wrong, desperately wrong.
'Always quick to suss things out weren't you' James sneered and stroked her hand. Sandra felt something cold and hard press against her knee. A tiny click told her it was a gun.
'I am when they're little shits who aren't even worth the space they walk in' she smiled sweetly, 'and especially when one has to use a gun to threaten me and we both know that guns don't scare me'.
'Oh now that's hardly a nice thing to say to me now Sandra especially when we've got such a lot to catch up on and these speed dates only give us five minutes' James smirked and removed his hand from Sandra's.
'What do you want?'
'Well I was on my way in when I spotted you, a woman who I thought was shagging her boss on a regular occurrence'.
'One time and we were drunk, what has that got to do with anything?'
'I thought it was strange you coming in here when you had him'.
'Whatever I am doing has nothing to do with you James. You made that quite clear when you handled stolen goods'.
'Your wine' the waiter beside Sandra said and placed her newly replenished glass on the table, 'have you found your match' he smiled. A slight French accent was there underneath the man's smile.
James' brushed the gun down Sandra's leg and smiled sweetly at her, 'well have we beautiful?'
'Yes,' Sandra said, 'we have'.
'Well in that case matches get a free glass of champagne each, I'll just go get them for you'.
'Thank you' Sandra smiled, 'take your time though I wouldn't want to be a burden'.
James squeezed Sandra's hand, 'that and I'd love to get to know this beautiful woman more', the waiter nodded and walked off to serve more of the speed daters.
'Okay James, why are you really here?'
'For you'.
Sandra laughed and removed her hand as she drank her wine, 'don't lie. Why are you really here?'
'I told you. For you. When I found out that you and that godforsaken posh boy had a night together I nearly punched the bastard. Truth is Sandra, I've never fully gotten over you. I can forgive your betrayal of me. My beautiful Sandra'.
Sandra blushed and leaned in towards James who leaned in towards her and met her lips halfway. He held her hand during the kiss and stroked her fingers before deepening the kiss. Sandra pulled away first and smirked at him, 'still as gullible as ever. If you really wanted me why bring the gun?'
James smiled and leaned back as the waiter returned and poured the champagne into two champagne flutes.
'Thank you' Sandra nodded and picked up the glass as James copied.
'To us' James smiled and chinked her glass with his.
'To us' Sandra repeated and sipped the champagne.
Suddenly she became aware of her surroundings, the soft violin music that had faded into the background since James arrived suddenly became louder and louder. The table opposite laughing. Screeching in her ears as her vision wavered. She clutched James' hand for support.
'One too many Sandra?' James whispered and held onto her hand.
'N-no it must just be a strong bottle'.
'Why don't you finish the glass my sweet' James smiled and guided the glass to Sandra's lips, 'come on'.
Sandra nodded slowly, her mind trying to process what James was saying.
'Drink' he mouthed and she obeyed. Finding it hard to focus on anyone but James, 'good girl' he smiled, 'you see I have people watching this place, and if you leave with me right now nobody in here will be hurt. But if you're awkward then one or two lovely people here will have to be disposed of, and I'll still be leading you out of this building as there's panic and a commotion. So, are you going to come with me?'
Sandra narrowed her eyes, 'you're gonna kill?' her mind scrambled to retain the information James had just said, 'what have... what have you done t'me?' she whispered.
'k-Ketamine' the waiter beside her said.
Sandra turned to look at the waiter, 'date rape' she whispered horrified.
James chuckled, 'don't say I didn't warn you' and touched his ear, 'the waiter beside her'.
There was a sudden scream as the waiter Sandra was staring at with her champagne glass in hand was shot dead.
Sandra paled and looked at James in horror, 'you bastard' she had to get away, her mind was growing slower, her movements laboured. She didn't want to think about what would happen should she pass out by James.
'Oh yes' James smiled and pulled Sandra up as the whole of the restaurant began to fill with panic, he yanked Sandra close and gripped her arm, 'don't you worry love' he yelled above the noise, 'I'll get you to safety' and pulled Sandra out of the restaurant.
'Let me go!' Sandra protested and struggled.
'Now now, try that again and I'll have the whole of the restaurant shot'.
Sandra immediately stopped struggling and looked desperately around for a CCTV camera, trying to get her face on there. Her eyes were growing heavy, she was having to lean against James for support.
'Oh don't be stupid, I've had CCTV disabled in this area. Now be a good girl and get in the car'.
Sandra slowly got into the car and as James slammed the door shut pulled her phone out and called Strickland's number as James got behind the wheel.
'Sandra?' the tinny voice of Strickland said.
James' eyes widened as he looked at Sandra, 'oh you bitch'.
'Help' she slurred as James gripped her hair and slammed her head against the dashboard until she fell unconscious.