"Have you seen anyone come into my office before I arrived this morning?" Sandra asked as she walked back out her office to speak to Jack.
"No and I got here just before 8."
"Oh."
"What's up?" Jack asked as she looked a little worried.
"Nothing."
Back in her office there sat two pink envelopes on her desk and she knew the date, this was something she'd hoped wouldn't happen. Opening the cards they just said the generic:
'Dear Sandra,
Be my valentine?
All my love
? xxx'
Both pretty much said the same thing but neither was in a handwriting she recognised.
"Jack?" Sandra asked as she walked out her office with the cards in her hand. "Do you recognise the handwriting?"
"No but it looks like you have a couple of admirers." He said as he laughed.
"Stop laughing! It's not funny, it's serious!" This was the moment Brian walked in.
"What's going on?" he asked as he took off his bike helmet and hung it in its usual place.
"I found these on my desk this morning; do you recognise the hand writing?" Sandra asked him as she passed him the cards.
"No but I saw Strickland come in here last night as I was leaving."
"That man is unbelievable; you'd have thought he'd have got the message by now."
"Well he's persistent, I'll grant him that." Jack finally spoke again.
"Right well send them both down to the lab for testing and get them fast tracked."
"Sandra is that a good idea?"
"Just say its part of our case and if one is from Strickland he's hardly going to complain, he'll be too embarrassed." And off she went to the lab carrying her two cards.
"What's up with her?" Gerry asked as he walked in late as usual.
"Looks like your card wasn't the only one she got." Jack replied.
"What?!"
"I saw you write it yesterday after she left but don't worry I didn't tell her it was you but you might want to. She's on her way down to the lab to get them DNA tested."
"Oh God." And off he ran to try catch up with Sandra only to find she hadn't got very fine.
"Sandra? Stop!"
"What do you want Gerry?" Sandra asked as she stopped and turned to face him.
"Come in here." Gerry took her hand and pulled her into one of the interview rooms. "I'm sorry."
"What for?" Sandra asked him shooting him sceptical looks.
"One of those cards is from me."
"Is this one of your so called funny jokes?" She asked her voice getting louder and louder.
"No! I mean it!"
"Mean what?"
"Everything I wrote. I love you Sandra and I have for as long as I can remember."
"Gerry I know it's February 14th and it's probably the first in a long time that you've been single for. You don't mean any of this."
"I do Sandra, you drive me crazy." And as to prove his point he pulled her to her feet and kissed her.
"Good because you know what I love you too and you drive me crazy too."
"Come here." He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. "I love you Sandra. Happy Valentine's day."