A gunshot rang out, cutting through the blackness like a knife. There was a bloodcurdling thud as a body hit the tarmac of the empty car park, followed by the frantic footsteps as the perpetrator fled the scene, his heavy and erratic breathing would make him the obvious suspect to even the most oblivious bystander.

"SHEELAGH!" Shouted the shaky voice of Des Taviner, absolutely terrified for what he was going to find as he rounded the corner.

The ambience of the streetlights outside highlighted the silhouette of a motionless form. Des ran, as fast as he could but he felt as thought he was running through treacle, he couldn't get there quick enough.

"SHEELAGH!" He yelled again, cold sweat pouring from his brow, he sat there in the silence of his bedroom

"It was just a dream, IT WAS JUST ANOTHER BLOODY DREAM!"

The night had brought little but torment to Des of late, it was the same dream, night after night but he was never certain he wasn't awake. Every time he'd been paired with Sheelagh he'd done his best to keep her away from car parks at night. Sheelagh was obviously suspicious, Des's behaviour was even more inexplicable than normal, he'd been acting strangely for weeks now. Out of concern, above everything else, Sheelagh had done her best to keep Des working with her, just so she could keep an eye on him and perhaps even get to the bottom of his reluctance for accepting some shouts.

As Sheelagh read out the days pairings, Des sat in silence, his usual sarcastic comments were notably absent. Everyone else just assumed he was in one of his moods, but Sheelagh knew there was something bothering him, she was determined to find out what it was but Des was hardly renowned for rationally discussing his feelings.

"Come on Des" She said quietly after everyone else had gone, feeling like she was trespassing into his thoughts but knowing she couldn't wait forever.

Des looked up at her, his lack of sleep was evident, before she knew it she found herself asking what was bothering him.

"Are you alright, Des?"

"What? Yes, I'm fine sarge. Why?"

"You just don't seem like yourself lately, that's all"

Des said nothing and they walked to the area car in silence. It appeared to be the order of the day, Des hardly spoke, when he did it was monosyllabic and reluctant. Sheelagh tried to make conversation but it was all in vain.

The evening was closing in, as it always seemed to do so soon in winter, it wasn't long before the streets were only illuminated by the streetlights and shops, the bitterly cold weather seemed to deter pedestrians and Christmas shoppers out hunting for last minute bargains.

"So what do you have planned for Christmas?" Sheelagh asked after a long silence

"Dunno, go down the pub I s'pose" He muttered quietly

"Don't you spend it with your family?" She asked, eyeing him curiously

"No, they're all in Liverpool" He said, looking at her for a moment

Sheelagh began to wonder if that was his problem, but somehow it didn't seem to fit. She couldn't help wanting to invite him round for Christmas dinner but she knew he would decline and she had her family coming over from Ireland anyway, so it wasn't like she was short of work that day. She wanted to ask him why he didn't drive up to see his family for the day, but she didn't want to interfere or irritate him, so she changed the subject.

"All quiet tonight" She said, looking out of the car window into the empty street

"Yeah" Des replied, looking out of his window

Sheelagh sighed, her warm breath steamed up part of her window, Des looked across at her, it was the kind of sigh you let out when you had the weight of the world on your shoulders and you just needed a rest.