Two days earlier.

Carla is sat at the dining table, paperwork spread out like a fan in front of her. She is concentrating hard on the paperwork, occasionally sipping her coffee. It felt so good for Carla to be back in charge of Underworld, her pride and joy. Peter enters the flat and kisses Carla on the top of her head before pouring a glass of water.

'Are you alright love? You haven't shut the bookies have you?' Carla asks, looking up from her paperwork, clearly concerned for her partner.

'I need to get my head down for a couple of hours. I've got a splitting headache.' Peter groaned, gulping down his drink.

'It's all that orange juice you drank last night.' Carla flashed him her trademark cheeky grin, making him smile.

'Very funny. How are you anyway? I wasn't interrupting anything was I?' Peter asked. Despite feeling as ill as he did, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride as he looked at his girlfriend. She might just be the strongest person he'd ever known.

'I've got a meeting with a client in an hour and a half so I'm just re-reading the contract. Can't be too careful with things as I've learned from bitter experience. I'm nearly done now though. Do you think you could manage a sandwich or something?'

'No I'm ok thanks. I'll just chill out here for a bit and see how I feel later. Would you be able to pick Simon up from school?'

'Course I will.' Carla smiled. She couldn't quite believe the progress she'd made with Simon over the past few months. She wasn't entirely sure what had contributed to his sudden change of heart but she was so happy to finally be getting close to the little boy. He might not have been her own flesh and blood but she loved Peter and Simon was a part of him.

'Thank you. I'm glad you and him are getting on better now.'

'You and me both. That son of yours can give evils like no-one else I know.' Carla joked. It was true. Simon had the most terrifying glare that up until a few months ago, he saved just for her.

Peter laughs and flicks on the radio. He leans against the kitchen cabinets, rubbing his temples in pain. Carla watches him, worried.

'Aww poor baby.'

'Breaking news just in. The woman found dead in the early hours of this morning has been formally identified by a relative as a Mrs Amy Oakley from Manchester. She leaves behind an estranged husband and one daughter. The cause of death is believed to be suicide.' The news report on the radio broke the conversation between the happy couple. Peter quickly turns the radio off.

'Big mistake. I think I'll go for a lie down. I'll never shift this headache if I sit listening to that. Not exactly gonna cheer me up is it? Poor woman.' Peter starts making his way to the bedroom.

'Wait, what did they say the woman's name was?'

'Amy.'

'Amy what?'

'Amy Oakley. Why? What's up?' Peter questioned. This confusion wasn't doing his headache any good.

'Nothing. I just had no idea that's all.'

'Well you're not psychic are you?' Peter was well and truly confused as to what had affected Carla so badly. 'Must have been terrible for whoever had to identify the body.'

'Her daughter.' Carla seemed in a daydream now, as if she'd just seen a ghost. Peter watches her, suspicious. However Carla snaps out of her mood as soon as she sees the look on Peter's face. 'I imagine it would have been the daughter. I mean, if the husband isn't around then who else is there? Poor kid, having to see her mother in that way. How could Amy do that? Didn't she even stop to think how this would affect her family?'

'You're taking this pretty hard. Did you know her?' The confusion had now faded for Peter and just concern remained. Carla looked as though she might have a panic attack at any moment. This wasn't right.

'What? No of course not. Why would I?'

'Ok, ok it was just a question.'

'Well give it a rest will you? So much for being ill. Look at you, stood there throwing 20 questions at me.'

'Why are you having a go at me? You know my head's pounding.'

'I know. I'm sorry; I'm just a bit stressed. I shouldn't take it out on you. Go and get some sleep.'

'As long as you're alright?'

'I'm fine. I love you.'

'I love you too.'

Carla blows Peter a kiss and he smiles before going into the bedroom.

Carla enters The Rovers, a knot of nerves forming in the pit of her stomach. She'd spent the past twenty minutes in the flat just staring into space, until she began to feel suffocated by the silence that fell in the living room.

It was just after lunch so the pub is quieter than usual. Carla scans the room and sees Rob playing darts. She makes her way over to him. Her little brother. It was still felt strange for her to see him in her local but she kind of liked it.

'Alright sis, what can I do for you?' Rob asked smugly, he loved the fact that he was part of Carla's life again. He might be the younger sibling but he knew Carla liked having him around.

'Have you heard the news?' Carla spoke quietly, not wanting to draw attention to them.

'Yeah.' It amazed Carla how Rob could be so calm when such a major thing had happened that very morning.

'I need your help. I need an address or a phone number.'

'Do you really think that's wise? Maybe you should think before making such a big decision?'

'It'll be the best decision I have ever and will ever make. Please Rob? I've never asked you for anything. Please just do this for me?' Carla pleaded with Rob. Begging wasn't usually her style but in this instance she would have fell to her knees and risked ruining her designer jeans.

'I'll see what I can do. No promises though.'

Carla couldn't help getting her hopes up. She should have known better really. She'd lost count of the amount of times she'd been let down in her life but she had a feeling, deep down inside, that this time would be different.

An hour later

Carla enters the office in Underworld. Michelle is sat at her desk, working on the computer. She glances at the clock when she sees Carla.

'And she finally graces us with her presence. Cutting it a bit fine aren't you? Mr Lewis is due in 10.'

'Ooh look at you, proper little business woman now aren't you?' Carla giggled.

'What's got into you? Do you want this place to start struggling again?'

'Course I don't. It's just been one of those mornings that's all. I've got a lot on my mind.'

Rob enters the office.

'Carla?'

'Is everything ok?'

'I've got something for you.' Rob hands Carla a folded piece of paper.

Michelle watches, confused, as Carla opens the piece of paper and smiles.

'Thank you so much. How did you do it so quick?'

'Contacts.' Rob taps his nose. 'Let me know how it goes yeah?'

'Definitely.'

Rob leaves, winking at Carla on his way out. He loved having 'contacts.' They usually get him into trouble but this time he purely had good intentions.

'What was all that about?' Michelle asked, becoming increasingly irritated at Carla's secrecy and lack of professionalism.

'Nothing for you to worry about.' Carla telling Michelle not to worry made her worry even more. They had become so close over the past few years and they told each other everything. What made this so different?

'You know you can tell me anything.'

'I know but this isn't something I want to broadcast just yet. No offence.'

'None taken. Just promise you're not in any kind of trouble.'

'I promise.'

This was something Carla wanted to keep to herself for a little while longer. For once she was trying to keep a dignified silence instead of shouting it from the rooftops, although that was really all she wanted to do.