DI Neil Manson had officers in the meeting room. Inspector Dale 'Smithy' Smith stood with Sergeant Callum Stone.

'We all know this case has gotten a little wider than we first thought. Barton Street have been trying to solve this case on their end and found it connects to ours so their Superintendent suggested we join forces. He will be sending over his Inspector and one of his Sergeants to give us as much help as they can.' Neil explained.

Inspector Henry Frank and Sergeant Alice Smith were led into the room by DC Mickey Webb.

'Sorry we're late. Barton Street's gotten hectic this morning.' Henry apologised.

'Would you be able to brief us on what you identified?' Neil gestured for them both to take the front.

'Right. Of course. I'm Inspector Henry Frank and this is Sergeant Alice Smith. Sergeant Smith has been putting the case together for about three months. It seems to be connected to Birmingham, so Alice is doing liasion between our station and theirs.' Henry looked to Alice.

'You may have already come across Steven Malice, but his network goes deeper than the known associates. After talking to DCI Herring at Birmingham she has given us a few more names and faces to add to the pile. We've got his cousin Terrance Malice tied in this as an arms dealer, Frank Docherty as Steven's dealer, Thomas Gray as Steven's merchandise driver and Peter Longley as Steven's information gatherer and purchaser. Peter gets information on what's in demand and gets Steven to feed the demand. What I got from Peter last time we met, Steven is looking to get his hands on some Mac 10s. Whatever this deal is going in for, it's more than we've dealt with before. The amount of form varies. They have murder, kidnap, arms dealing, robbery, drug dealing, hijacking cars, assault, rape, ABH, GBH and handling stolen goods among a variety of other charges amongst them. If we tackle this deal at all, we can't go in half-cocked or we're all screwed and they'll get away with everything.' Alice put all they had on the board.

'What we can do is make sure we're there for when they do this deal. We'll need to find out time and place before the time window is gone completely.' Henry explained.

'Talk to people on the streets and get as much information as we can on these people. Get all their associates.' Neil dismissed them.

Everyone got moving, but Smithy kept looking at Alice.

'You alright, Smithy?' Callum asked him.

'I've seen her before from somewhere.' Smithy was worried.

Alice got herself to a computer. Neil led Henry to Smithy and Callum.

'Inspector Frank, this is Inspector Smith and Sergeant Stone. They'll help if you need to get uniform involved.' Neil introduced them.

'My Sergeant not what you expected?' Henry laughed a little.

'No. Not quite.' Smithy kept looking at her.

'She's definitely as determined as her mother. I'm surprised they're both doing well in positions.' Henry chuckled.

'What do you mean?' Callum asked.

'Well, Sergeant Smith has only been in the force almost four years and got to Sergeant from her skills excelling any other officer I've got. Her mother was the same. Alice's mother is DCI Herring at Birmingham. Neither of them take time off and they don't get off cases until they're sure they're completely solved. I don't know how they do it.' Henry shrugged.

'If Sergeant Smith's mother is DCI Herring, why is her last name Smith?' Callum was curious.

'It's her mother's way of letting Alice know who her father is. They were together for a bit whilst DCI Herring was in London in the nineties, as a PC then, and had to go back to Birmingham, only to find she was pregnant with Alice. Alice always kept a picture of her parents in her wallet, but she's not found him yet. All she knows is he was an ex-army who was going to join the Met. Neither of them found out which station they were stationed at.' Henry said.

Smithy looked at Alice, shocked at her past. Alice got a call.

'Sergeant Smith?' Alice answered.

Alice got a reply.

'Thanks. I'll pass it on, ma'am.' Alice hung up.

'Sergeant Smith, what have you got?' Henry asked.

'DCI Herring believes they have activity on our men in Solihull and Birmingham, sir.' Alice reported back.

'Excellent.' Henry liked getting results.

'Shall we introduce you to the uniformed officers?' Callum offered.

'That would be wise. Sergeant Smith, if you'll accompany us?' Henry was being demanding.

'Sir.' Alice got up from her chair.

The four of them walked through the station and to the briefing room. Sergeant Jo Masters was briefing the uniformed officers when they entered.

'Sir, any extra information to pass to the troops?' Jo asked Smithy.

'We'll be working with Barton Street for a while. This is Inspector Henry Frank and Sergeant Alice Smith from Barton Street. They'll be helping us with the crime ring.' Smithy explained.

Jo gave the signal for the troops to go. Jo walked over to them.

'This is Sergeant Jo Masters.' Smithy introduced her.

'I hope this is a tight ship here, Inspector Smith.' Henry wasn't sure.

'I can assure you it is, Inspector Frank.' Smithy wasn't giving an inch.

'I slightly doubt it, seeing your officers.' Henry wasn't pleased.

'Sir, perhaps we ought to be sorting out the crime ring instead of lecturing Sun Hill's officers. They're doing as good a job as you are in the circumstances, sir.' Alice didn't like Henry's attitude.

'Fine.' Henry walked away.

'Sorry. He's a little territorial.' Alice apologised.

'Sergeant Smith!' Henry called.

'Coming, sir.' Alice was annoyed.

Alice walked to Henry and led him back up to CID. They walked towards the meeting room.

'How do you stand it here?' Henry moaned.

'It feels familiar, sir. I just do my job as best I can in the circumstances.' Alice shrugged.

'Do you think that Inspector Smith could be a possibility?'

'I'm not sure. He might not be called Dale, for all I know.'

'You should talk to him. It could be him.'

'I'll talk to DCI Herring first. I don't want her feeling dejected by me trying to find him after all she's done for me.'

Henry stopped her in the corridor.

'She's more likely to get you killed, Sergeant Smith. I'd suggest you take matters into your own hands. Ignore your mother.'

'I can't do that, sir. You know that better than anyone. She's all I have left of my family.'

Henry slapped her. Neil came out the meeting room and saw it.

'Is everything alright?' Neil asked.

'Yes. It's fine.' Henry wasn't happy.

Henry walked past Neil into the meeting room. Neil walked to Alice.

'Are you alright?' Neil checked.

'I don't know, Gov.' Alice confessed.

'Will you walk with me?'

Alice walked with Neil to his office. He shut the door behind them and offered her a seat.

'What was that about with Inspector Frank?'

'He's warning me off talking to my mother, DCI Herring, about a situation that has arisen.'

'What situation?'

'My mother had a bit of a relationship with my father before getting recalled back to Birmingham. She found she was pregnant. We never found my father. My mother remembered his name and when I was born she gave me his last name, so I could try and find him. His name is Dale Smith. He's ex-army and was planning on joining the Met, but we never found which station he was put in.'

'Sergeant Smith, do you believe you should call DCI Herring for advice on what to do?'

'Yes, Gov. I don't want her to feel dejected after all she's done for me.'

'Call her and see what she says. I know that our Inspector Smith fits that profile.'

'Thanks, Gov.'

'One more thing. Don't let Inspector Frank push you around or hurt you like that. You're meant to be his colleague and friend. He shouldn't be able to do that to you.'

'I'll give it a go, Gov.'

Alice was allowed to leave. She got to the landing above the stairs and used her phone.

'Mum, I think I found him.' Alice was shaking.

Alice got a reply.

'Am I ok to tell him? Can I talk to him about our situation?'

Alice got another reply.

'Thanks. I'll let you know what happens.'

Alice hung up her phone. She walked down the corridor and almost bumped into Mickey.

'Sergeant Smith, right?' Mickey checked.

'Alice.' Alice nodded.

'Ok, Alice, we've just got a trail to a warehouse on your patch. This is the address. Do you think we could borrow a couple of your officers, just to help us with the area?'

'I'm sure I can get as many as you need.'

Alice got out her radio.

'Sierra Bravo from 158, can we have a unit come to Sun Hill and accompany two CID officers to a warehouse near our station, over.' Alice called it in.

'Sierra Bravo, received. The unit will be over in a few minutes, over.' Alice's radio replied.

'Thank you.' Mickey was grateful.

'Let me know if you need anything else from Barton Street.' Alice smiled back.

Mickey left with DC Terry Perkins. Alice walked to the meeting room and got to the desk she was at earlier.

'Sergeant Smith, your mother is hassling me. Deal with her, alright?' Henry snapped.

'Sir.' Alice got out the room and called her.

Alice waited for a reply.

'Mum, what's going on?' Alice asked.

Alice got a reply just as Smithy and Callum were walking back to the meeting room.

'Whoa, slow down. Who's been located?' Alice was worried.

Alice got a reply. She leaned her head against the wall.

'Are you sure it's him?' Alice hoped it wasn't.

Alice got another reply.

'I'd better watch my back then. I'll report it to Sun Hill, alright. Just keep yourself safe. I'll be fine.' Alice hung up.

Alice put her phone away.

'Sergeant Smith?' Callum saw she was worried.

'Yeah?' Alice tried to put the thought away.

'Everything alright?' Callum asked.

'I think it will be when my uncle backs off hassling my mother because I was born.' Alice wasn't too happy.

Alice got back to her desk and typed in another name and got his picture printed off. She stuck his picture on the board and wrote DANIEL HERRING, DRIVER FOR MALICE underneath it.

'Sergeant Smith, who's Daniel Herring?' Neil returned.

'My mother's brother who's deciding to hassle my mother to back off his patch in the deal. He's heading in this direction. He may also come looking for me because of the circumstances I was born in.' Alice wasn't pleased.

'He doesn't like your father?' Neil guessed.

'Nope. So, the sooner I find him the better before Daniel Herring does.' Alice walked away from the board.

'Smithy, can I have a word?' Neil got Smithy to walk with him into the corridor.

'What is it, Gov?' Smithy asked.

'Do you recognise her?' Neil asked.

'A little. I don't think I've met her though.'

'I talked to her earlier and she told me her father's name is Dale Smith. He was ex-army and wanted to join the Met. Tell me, Smithy, what are you going to do about it?'

'Does she know it's me?'

'She's starting to. I'd suggest you talk to her about it before your chance is gone for good.'

'You think she needs a father figure?'

'It appears to me she hasn't had one. If she's your daughter, do something before she's gone and her mother gets her transferred to Birmingham.'