DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS...ITV'S PROPERTY

Chapter 1

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The music in the nightclub was loud. Ross Barton walked down the stairs and made his way over to the bar. Carly was standing there with a group of girls, she turned and raised an eyebrow and swished her hair back.

"Well well well...", she cooed as she draped her arm around him, and gazed into his eyes,"...long time no see...I thought you must of died or something"

Ross gently pushed her off him and got the barmans attention, "thought I'd check on you...see if you're still the dirty little slapper like you usually are..."

Carly licked her lips, "oh that'a be right...what happened to you...last time I saw you, you were seeing that pole dancer..."

Ross paid for his pint and frowned at her, "You what?", he was getting a tad annoyed with her.

"What's her face...dark hair..."

Ross nodded, and took a sip of his pint, "Yeah...so? What about it?"

Carly leaned into him, "Word is...she WASN'T a pole dancer...", she said trying to linger an edge to it.

Ross huffed at her, if she was playing games again, then he was really going to get bored really quickly.

"Ohhh yeah yeah...so she wasn't...what's it to you? Anyways, I've got better tarts to look at then spending my time gorping at you darling, so'long"

Ross was about to walk off with his pint when Carly turned and called after him.

"...word is, that she was a police woman..."

Ross stopped in his tracks. His eyes flashing here and there before he chuckled and turned around to face her, "you what? You really don't know nothing at all do you...must be all that blonde hair sprouting out of that peanut brain of yours..."

Carly pouted at him and turned around to face the bar again, "suit yourself...I thought by old times sake I might spill what I know...but you just toddle off, badlad"

Ross rubbed his stubble in thought...how did Carly know that Donna was in the police...then he broke into a knowing smile...press...all that bit about her and Gary North.

"Don't try to play me Carly...you may be the club owners shagbit and believe me the amount of time's I've stuffed you behind and up the alley, I'm surprised he's never noticed...but you READ all about that...mystery solved...off you trott..."

Ross was about to walk off again when Carly went up to him and followed him across the dance floor where he was eyeing up a couple of dark haired birds sitting with spritzers.

"Blimey she really has imprinted a type in you has't she?"

Ross was getting fed up with this. He just had the worst week at work and now his pride and joy of a car had got keyed and now this scragend was following him around like a Yorkshire terrier. He turned.

"Look...just back off girl...I'm not INTO you no more...you get me...I'm not looking to take you up any alleyways soon"

Carly looked at her long painted nails and shrugged, "Okay...be like that...if you don't want to know that everyone is excusing you of shagging a bent cop...you toddle off...see'ya, don't wanna be ya", she sung and was already across the dance floor in her high heels and short skirt.

Ross swallowed. Who knew? Who knew that Donna was bent? She WASN'T bent...not like that...and if anyone has something to say, then he'd glass them in the face for sure.

He stormed back to the bar, grabbed her roughly by the arm and pulled her straight into the ladies bogs.

She was up against the tiles as he leaned into her, eyes dark and hungry for information, "What's going on Carly? Who's fed you that shite...come on girl, don't be shy, yah? TELL US!"

Carly knew that Ross could get violent if provoked so she told him, "I heard Darryl...in the office earlier...he's been doing some business with that guy across town Stephen somebody..."

Ross narrowed his eyes at her, "Stephen Banks?"

Carly nodded, "It were a few months ago...your name came up...they were talking about Gary North and his death and everything...Banks told him that the girl in the newpaper YOUR GIRLFRIEND was a copper"

Ross let her go and put his hands to his face taking it all in, "So..."

"Stephen Banks was inside for something...he's out now and word is he's out for revenge on those who've crossed him"

Ross Barton shoved her aside and was out the door, Carly went after him, "Ross where are you going...?"

But he was gone...Carly came out the toilet and went up the stairs to the office. Darryl Cross turned away from the CCTV monitor. He smiled at her.

"So he's back?"

"Yeah...she's dead, his girl...what does it matter now?"

"SHE'S dead...and Banks wants HIM dead too..."

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