Disclaimer I don't own Law and Order UK. All copyright belongs to Kudos and ITV. Dick King owns original concept. No copyright infringement is intended nor should be inferred

1

Matt sat in the car, the frigid January air biting through his skin. He was glad of the scarf and gloves Alesha had bought for him at Christmas but all he really wanted was for Ronnie to get back into the car so they could get back to the station. Tracking down Liam Jones was proving to be more difficult than they had been expecting. He just hoped Ronnie got some information from his contact before he died of hypothermia. Turning the car radio on he listened to some inane pop music as he waited.

Xxxxxx

"You know me Dylan." Ronnie stared at the middle aged man. The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, continuing to serve the customers as Ronnie made a general nuisance of himself. "I ain't going nowhere until you talk to me."

"Sod off. Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Yeah." Ronnie nodded. "I can see that. I'm a busy man too. See, I'm looking for a missing lad. Liam Jones. Nineteen years old, skinny lad. We know he was ere Friday night. Buying lager. We saw him with a gang of lads on the cctv coming out of ere."

"He's over eighteen. I can swell him alcohol. It's legal."

"Yeah, course it is." Ronnie nodded. "But two of the lads with him aren't. One is sixteen years old." The shopkeeper fell silent. "I could make that a whole big deal if I didn't get the information I need."

"Ron!"

"Ow long av we known each other? Ten? Twenty years?"

"I dunno."

"So? Do you know Liam?"

"No."

"Really?"

"I know him by sight. His grandfather, Jim buys his fags ere."

"Oh right. And the other lads."

"Always hanging around. Behaving like pests. Does me ed in."

"Well, lads will be lads. Especially when they can get old of cheep booze underage."

The man served another pensioner. Handing her the lottery ticket he snapped at Ronnie.

"Do one Ron. Leave me out of it." Ronnie nodded. He could see the middle aged shopkeeper was hiding something; he didn't know what.

"See you around." He stepped back, hoping the team would be luckier than he was.

Xxxxx

"Right." Natalie placed her phone back on her desk. This was part of the job she hated. Her boys were around the same age as the victim. She ran a hand over her face, relieved that both boys were safe. She shook her head sadly. There wasn't a moment she didn't worry about them or Ronnie's girls. She had no idea how Liam's family would feel when she broke the news. She prayed she was never in her shoes.

"Sam?" She called out the open office door. Her DI appeared, tugging on his already loose tie.

"Divers pulled a body out the River Thames twenty minutes ago. Forensics are on it now."

"Ah no."

She nodded, for a copper Sam Casey was unbelievably squeamish when it came to the dead. He frowned as Natalie pulled her jacket on.

"They reckon it's gonna be dental to confirm identity but." She shrugged.

"It's Liam."

"Looks like. Cmon, we're going to have to get down there. You can talk to Fiona. Get er to be there when we tell his poor parents. Family liaison." Sam sighed before following her out of the room.

Xxxxxx

A/n please review