Disclaimer _ I do not own anything related to Law and Order UK. All copyright belongs to ITV, KUDOS productions and Dick King productions. No copyright infringement is intended nor should be inferred.
1.
The rain battered the pavement as Ronnie pulled the car into the parking lot off the side of the block of flats where the body had been found. He was tired, worried about the affects of returning to work would have on his fiancé and determined to make sure they were both home at a decent hour. He sighed as he saw Matt and Sam a few feet away talking to a uniformed officer.
"Alright?" He approached the younger men as he pulled the collar of his coat closer to him. "What we got?"
"Ron." Matt nodded as Sam turned, still talking to the female police constable that had raised the alarm.
"Hello, Fiona luv. You got the short straw then? Aving to deal with these two."
"Something like that." She smiled as Sam raised an eyebrow. "Forensics are already cordoning the area off. Its nasty."
"Always are, Luv."
Sam sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets. He knew the DI was already trying to put the pieces of the investigation together. The first few hours after a crime had been committed were vital in putting the case together.
"The DCI is talking to the SOCO team leader." Sam explained. "Angie is on her way back into the station and Joe is talking to the girls who found the body. Not looking good though."
"Why's that?" Ronnie asked.
"Both girls are known to police. Not us, but Vice Squad and they are both drunk as skunks."
Ronnie sighed. He knew that being intoxicated made the credibility of the witnesses difficult to manage. He just hoped Joe would have the sense to get up to date contact details. He smiled slightly as he watched the DS walk towards them. Sam sighed heavily as his mobile phone began ringing in his pockets.
"Excuse me." He paused. Ronnie and Matt watched him step aside as Fiona made her way back to the police car. Ronnie nodded as Joe joined them.
"Hiya." Joe shoved his hands in his coat pockets, jumping from one foot to the other. "You ok?"
"Yeah." Matt frowned. "Anything?"
"One of the girls is high as well as drunk but we know her. Charmaine Lewis, 25 multiple arrests for prostitution, drugs and the like. Billie Jarvis, 23 arrested last year for petty theft and drugs offences. Same age as my little sister but looks twenty years older."
"That's booze for you son. I'm only 35 really."
"Yeah Ron, just a tough paper round." Matt teased. Ronnie laughed. "Any ID on the dead man?"
"I recognised him."
"You knew 'I'm? Joe, mate." Ronnie knew how difficult it could be when an officer knew the victim whose murder they were investigating. He watched as Joe closed his eyes.
"By reputation only. The Guv is talking to the SOCO guys now. She knew the victim. So do you and Matt."
"Who is it?" Ronnie asked as Sam re-joined them.
"Former DI Valentine." Joe paused. "Jimmy Valentine has been murdered."
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A.N worth going on? Please review
