2

Ronnie looked over the top of his glasses as he watched Matt try not to either faint or vomit. None of the younger officers were particularly good at being in the mortuary. He knew he could have asked Sam to accompany him or Joe but Matt had been there when Valentine had tried to destroy him. It felt as if he was the only one who would really understand.

"You ok, son?" Matt nodded as Ronnie spoke. Joy had pulled the sheet covering the body away to reveal Valentine's face and upper torso. The sight of the dead man and the combination of the smells and sterility of the mortuary threatened to make Matt's tea make a reappearance. He turned to Ronnie.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"I'm ok."

"Ron, he was your mate." Matt watched as Ronnie nodded, his jaw set firm. Matt recognised the signs. Ronnie was upset, very upset and angry. It wasn't a good combination. Matt remembered the effect Jimmy Valentine had on Ronnie and the team the last time he had crossed their paths. Sighing he knew now the man was dead there was a chance even more trouble was now headed their way. He was snapped back to the present as Joy snapped off the blue latex free gloves and beckoned for them to follow her into her office. Ronnie followed her as Matt shoved his hands in his pockets before walking past the dead man.

"Joy, light of my life." Ronnie started as the scientist sent him a death glare. "Do we have cause of death?"

"Yes." She stared at him. "He was murdered."

"No shit Sherlock." Matt snapped uncharacteristically. Ronnie turned to him. Joy narrowed her eyes.

"Gunshot wound to the gut. If it didn't kill him instantly he would have bled out in minutes. I'm sorry Ron, I know you were friends." He nodded and looked away.

"Yeah, well. That was before he tried to put me in prison." Ronnie frowned. "Of all the coppers I've worked with before MIU I never thought he would be the one who would take a bung. Not Jimmy Valentine. Look how wrong I was."

"People change." Matt sighed.

"Yeah, well. He changed for the worse. Natalie and Sam are talking to his ex wife now. See if she can shed some light. Joy, can you tell us anything else?" He turned as Joy handed Matt a glass of water. The younger man took it from her gratefully.

"Well, the gun was probably a hand gun, small calibre and high velocity. He was also drunk when he was killed. No other substances on the toxicology as yet. He was suffering from Type 2 Diabetes, was on the verge of a stroke looking at his cholesterol levels. If they hadn't wanted to wait his lifestyle would have caught up with him." She folded her arms. "You want any more than that you have to wait for my report."

Ronnie nodded, turning to Matt who looked a little less green. "Thanks Joy, I'll get this one out of here before he throws up."

"Again." Joy smiled. "Kids today."

"I'm 35." Matt frowned. Ronnie scoffed.

"As she said, kids today."

Joy smiled slightly watching the older man usher the younger one out of the morgue.

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"Sam." Joe walked across the office as the Detective Inspector turned to him. "What's the story with Ronnie and the dead guy?"

"Dunno really." Sam explained. Neither of them noticed Natalie stood in the doorway of her office. The senior officer folded her arms as she watched them. Angie kept her eyes down, studying the file she had been working on since they had arrived.

"He was a copper." Sam stated. "Worked with Ron back before this place was set up."

"So, isn't he compromised? If its his friend that was killed?" Joe genuinely didn't understand.

"They weren't friends." Natalie stated. "Not anymore."

"Guv," Sam turned to see her watching them.

"You lot are crap at gossiping. Look, I'll say this. Jimmy Valentine was a copper. A corrupt one and up until six months ago he was in prison. You can read the details in the file. Ronnie is not compromised." She stated firmly.

"Guv." Angie looked up. "They weren't friends. We know that but the man tried to frame Ronnie. To anyone else that would look like motive. Valentine was going to kill him."

"What!" Joe's eyes widened as Angie spoke.

"Ronnie hasn't done this." Natalie paused. "You know that as well as I do."

"Yes, but to the defence you, Ronnie and Matt are going to have a bias. I'm speaking out of turn but you three could be compromising the case." Angie nodded. Natalie narrowed her eyes. She knew their analyst was right. To the outside world there was no way they could be seen as impartial. She nodded.

"Good point. Sam, do you think you can handle the case? You, Joe and Angie? Because nothing is going to get in the way of us finding the killer." She watched as Sam took a deep breath.

"Yes Guv."

"Keep me informed. Now all I have to do is tell Ronnie."

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