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Monday

Monday mornings were always the same story as far as Ronnie was concerned. He dropped his youngest daughter and school and the middle one at college before making his way to the station. It was the same routine every week. He had his girls from Friday evening until Monday morning. This Monday had started out the same as any other, Sarah had been screaming that she couldn't find her folder while Lucy laughed at her while eating her shreddies. He shook his head, he had missed out on so much with the girls while he had been drinking and thanked whatever Gods were listening that they had given him a second chance. Now he had Chloe and Liz back in his life too which made him feel like the luckiest man in the world. He smiled as Sarah decided she was finally ready for college.

"You found it then?" He laughed as Sarah nodded. Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Yeah"

"Right come on then. You pair may end wiv just a detention if your late. Me? I got Matty boy chewing me ear off all day" He slammed the front door shut as Lucy laughed.

"Oh I know which I'd rather!" Sarah laughed as Ronnie rolled his eyes.

"Sarah likes Matt!" Lucy announced as her sister turned a shade of red Ronnie hadn't seen before.

"Yeah well, he got a girlfriend so keep your eyes on lads yer own age" Ronnie walked them towards the car as Lucy dissolved in to fits of giggles as she chanted "Sarah and Matty sitting in a tree!" She laughed as her sister remained mortified. Ronnie had a feeling it was going to be a long day.

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James Steel replaced his phone on the desk in front of him. A call from DI Natalie Chandler this early on a Monday morning was never good news. He rubbed his temples as he glared at the inanimate object on the table. He knew Alesha would be in the outer office making coffee and going through case reports. It was one of the rare days when they didn't have to prepare anything for Court. He glanced towards his open office door and saw her turn the computer on.

"Alesha" He stood and walked in to the outer office to meet her as she looked up.

"Morning" She smiled. He couldn't help but smile back. Alesha had been through Hell over the last few years but still fought back. She was more like the Alesha he knew before the attack and he couldn't be happier.

"Natalie Chandler just called" He sighed as he rolled his sleeves up. It was the first time he had spoken with the DI since the court case where he had ripped Matt Devlin to shreds. It was only now Alesha was beginning to forgive him. He hoped Matt understood it was part of the job. Alesha merely raised her eyebrows waiting for him to continue.

"There's been another one"

"Another murder? Surely they don't need us until they make an arrest?" Alesha was suddenly interested. She knew Matt had been working on what the media were protraying as a serial killer case. In fact it was much more complicated than that. She knew the case was upsetting Matt more than most cases did. The victims had all been young men about the same age as him.

"Thats what I said. But it may link back to a case we prosecuted a few years ago" James sighed. "Do you remember George and I were working on a murder case when you first joined us?" Alesha nodded as she ignored the computer whirring to life next to her.

"Yeah, I think so. Murder of a 30 year old man in West London six years ago. Copycat wasnt it?"

"Thats what we thought at the time. Anyway Frances Jefferies is in prison serving 25 years for that but these murders are all identical. Natalie wants to talk to us later today" He watched as Alesha nodded.

"Ok, you and George? Only I have an appointment this afternoon" Alesha really didnt want to go to the police station that afternoon. It wasnt that she didn't want to see her boyfriend and her friends. It was more that if she did she would miss her appointment. It had taken so long to arrange that she was loathe to miss it.

"No, George is away. Some high foluting meeting with the DG but Natalie wants to speak to me and you"

"Why? I wasn't even the prosecutor in those days"

"You were here though. You may be able to provide a fresh perspective. We wont be there long" Alesha sighed and admitted defeat.

"Ok ok" She picked up one of the files. "I'll be there" James smiled as he walked back in to his own office. He had been surprised that he had been made to persuade his friend to go to the police station. She normally jumped at the chance to see Matt during office hours. He glanced back at her as she stared at her computer screen frowning. He narrowed his eyes wondering exactly what his young friend was hiding.

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"Bleedin ell" Ronnie covered his nose and mouth as Matt looked away fighting the urge to gag. Angie rolled her eyes. Both men had been at more crime scenes than she had had hot dinners yet they always reacted the same way. She dropped the sheet back on the murder victim and turned to the two men.

"Body was found two hours ago. Seems like the poor sod was here all night" She pulled her latex gloves off as the science officers ushered them away. It was then Ronnie frowned and stared at the figure of a man covered in a white sheet.

"Poor sod" He sighed "'oo found him?"

"Says here the victim was found by a woman called Lorraine Jones, she was jogging in the park at 7 am this morning" Matt read his notebook.

"Makes a change from the bleedin' dog walker" Ronnie sighed before turning back to Matt. "Do we have an ID?"

"Driver licence was found on the body. According to that the victim is Joseph Davies, 51 years old" Matt sighed. Ronnie instantly felt sick. If anyone noticed no one said anything.

"Bit older than our other victims" Natalie sighed as she walked across the muddy ground of the park towards them. Angie nodded.

"Yeah" Matt narrowed his eyes as he saw Ronnie visibly pale.

"Joe Davies. DCI Joe Davies. My former Guv" He shook his head.

"You know him?" Natalie rested a hand on Ronnie's arm as he fought the urge to be sick.

"Yes Ma'am. Joe Davies was my DI before I came to our nick. In me drinking days. He was good"

"Oh mate" Matt sighed. He knew what it was like to loose a friend in such an awful way. He remembered how Ronnie had looked after him when Pete had died. He wasn't sure if he would have got through it without Alesha and Ronnie. He glanced at Natalie who folded her arms and sighed.

"This is the fourth murder in this area in as many months. Ron, I understand if you want off this case" She dipped her head as he closed his eyes. Lights from the forensic officer's cameras flashed behind them, giving the whole area an eerie glow. He nodded.

"Thanks all the same Ma'am but I started this case and I intend to see it through" He wanted to get back to the nic. It was still early and he needed to feel as though he was doing something to catch his old friend's killer.

"Ok" Natalie sighed as he walked away.

"Matt?" She touched the younger man's arm as he turned back to her and sighed. "This may be nothing to do with the case we already have. We wont know until we have the post mortem results"

"I know" Matt nodded.

"Matt"

"Yes Ma'am?" Matt knew what she was going to ask just by the look on her face. "I'll look after him" He walked away, knowing exactly where Ronnie would be heading.

A/N I love writing L&O UK fics. Is this worth continuing? It will be Matt/Alesha but also more Ronnie centric than my other fics. Please review.