Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

chapter 2

A Daughter's Grief

"Matt." Alesha walked into the police station just as Matt and Ronnie arrived in the main reception area of the police station. Ronnie recognised the slightly panicked tone to Alesha's voice as Matt smiled at her.

"Ok luv?"

"No I am not ok. Ronnie, I've got a missed call from you." She held up her mobile. "I called you back but."

"Damn phone." Ronnie checked his handset.

"I told you mate." Matt sighed. "That thing is from the Ark."

"I am not having one of those new phangled things."

"What? A phone that actually works?" Ronnie huffed as Alesha watched them. "Lesh."

"I thought something had happened to one of you. Cameron has his appointment this afternoon and I couldn't get hold of either of you. What is going on?" Ronnie ushered the couple towards the Soft Interview Room, knowing it was probably best if he left them to it. "Matt?"

Matt opened the interview room door and stepped inside, giving Alesha no choice but to follow him.

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Matt swallowed hard as Alesha walked past him into the room. He was grateful Ronnie had left them alone but he knew he had to tell his wife what was going on.

"What is going on?"

"Your Dad."

"Is in Pentoville for at least another six years." Alesha stopped talking when she saw the look on Matt's face. "He's not, is he?"

"No."

"Where is he?"

"We don't know." Matt answered honestly as Alesha bit her bottom lip.

"This is not happening. Tell me, this is not happening."

"Lesh." Matt rested his hands on her upper arms. "I am so sorry."

"Why? Why is he out?"

"Good behaviour." Matt couldn't help the sarcasm that dripped from his voice. "Early release on tag for model prisoners."

"Model prisoner? Good behviour? This is my father we are talking about? How many convictions for drink driving is it? Aggravated burglary, Assault. Possession of a Class A with intent to supply? How on earth does he get out on tag?"

"I have no idea." Matt hugged her to him. He knew she would never admit it but she had always been slightly wary of her father. "He's supposed to be with your mother but."

"He never turned up and he has ditched the tag." Alesha shook her head in disgust.

"Yeah."

"What's happened to get MIU interested?" Alesha held his gaze. For a moment Matt knew exactly what the suspects and witnesses Alesha cross examined felt like.

"A body was found in the stairwell of that council estate in Peckham. One of your Dad's old mates. Bernard Furlong."

"Did eighteen months for assault and recieving stolen goods." Alesha sighed.

"And your Dad's prints are on the murder weapon." Matt hated the words as they came out of his mouth. He knew Alesha hadn't spoken to her family since she had left home at sixteen. She barely mentioned them and he knew they had no idea she was married with a young son. Alesha nodded sadly before stepping away and leaving the room.

"Cameron has an appointment." She mumbled as he closed his eyes and cursed the father in law he had never met.

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"Sam?" Natalie called the young detective into her office. "Any news on Patrick Philips?"

"No." Sam sighed heavily. "All we know was that he was released from prison six weeks ago. Apparently he had his sentence reduced for good behaviour. He was supposed to be staying with his wife Irene in South London but that appears not to be the case."

"What on Earth that girl did to deserve parents like that I will never know." Natalie shook her head sadly.

"Does Alesha see her family?"

"Yes." All eyes turned to see Alesha stood in the doorway. "I see my husband and my son. That's my family; with the exception of one cousin. That's when Martha isn't travelling here, there and everywhere." Matt rested a hand on his wife's shoulder. "So can you please stop treating this case as any different to any other murder investigation?"

"It is different." Natalie watched as Alesha narrowed her eyes.

"Not to me it isn't. Look a man is dead, yeah? Find out who killed him and we'll put the suspect on trial. It's what we do." She turned on her heel and walked out the room as Matt glanced at the floor.

"Look after her." Ronnie stated. Matt nodded before following her. Natalie sighed heavily, watching the young couple who had already been through so much walk away from them.

"Ron?"

"Yeah?" He turned back to his boss.

"I think we are going to have to keep an eye on that boy too. If anything happens to Alesha.." She left the rest of the sentence unspoken, knowing Ronnie would know exactly what she meant.

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A/N Please review. This story is probably the most difficult L&O UK story I have written for personal reasons, so all reviews greatly recieved.

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