A policeman's lot is sometimes a happy one...

Neil shut the front door behind him and leaned against it for a moment. He honestly had no idea where to go from here. On paper all this had seemed perfectly simple, but executing the reality was a very different matter. They were supposed to be in the same bed together, all night. Which until yesterday afternoon would not have been a problem, he could have carried it off, after all he was a professional career copper. Now, how exactly he was supposed to lie there next to her and get any sleep at all was a complete mystery. He was a career officer, on the fast track, but that doesn't mean my libido is dead... This entire operation was going to get him into serious trouble.

Beth heard him sigh, and turned round. Uncertain of herself, she had intended to give him a quick peck on the cheek and fly upstairs, be changed and hiding under the covers before he'd even reached the landing. She put her hands on his shoulders and leaned forward, his hands slid round her waist, her arms slid further round his neck as he kissed her.

This was a no peck on the cheek. It was a deep and passionate need, and leaning into him, Beth could feel how much he wanted to take it further. She was starting to feel slightly carried away and pulled him even closer.

He scooped her up as though she weighed nothing, and carried her. She sensed she was in control, at any time if she said no, he would back off. But she didn't want him to back off. This was the real Neil Manson, and Beth needed him, all of him. She suddenly didn't care about name, rank and serial number. He was a desirable, intelligent, attractive man who wanted her and she wanted him.

Their clothes ended up in a tangled heap on the floor, when there was nothing between them, and they were lying on the bed, he paused, one hand gently caressed her curves, she knew he was giving her another chance to back away, to say no, and her heart melted. Taking his hand, she guided it to a sensitive place, arching her back and pressing herself closer to him as instinct kicked in. Her fingers sank into his hair, as his lips explored her body, she tensed and arched her back as his tongue traced a pattern gently on her breast and then slid further down her body.

Afterwards she would remember that he was gentle and patient, taking it slow, driving her to a fever pitch of anticipation, and never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that she, Beth Green the probationer, would have found such a generous and amazing lover in her DI Neil Manson. It was almost dawn when they were finally spent, cuddled up close, just enjoying the sensation of being together, Beth looked into his eyes, enjoying the unguarded flare of passion she could see there. They didn't need words, she slid her hand round the back of his neck, and into his thick dark hair, and urged him closer again. He bent his head and kissed her, convincing her that their night together was unlikely to be a one off. As dawn broke, they drifted off together.

Stuart Turner yawned and stretched. A complete bust... He glanced across at his companion. "Mickey, your turn for the coffee run..." Mickey Webb scowled. "My turn? How about giving some of those moths in your wallet a free flight..."

Grudgingly Stuart opened the car door. "You owe me..."

"I owe you?? How do you work that one out?"

"Good morning, boys." Jo's acerbic tones sounded loudly in his ear and despite himself, Stuart jumped. "How are our two lovebirds." For one split second Stuart thought her remark was directed at himself and Mickey, and scowled. He was never quite sure if he could take Jo at face value, as she usually seemed to be poking fun at him. Mickey grinned at Stuart's obvious discomfort, but discreetly.

"All's quiet on the Western Avenue front." He got out of the car, giving up his place to Terry.

"Very droll." Jo peered through the camera's viewfinder. Neil and Beth were leaving the house, something about the way he was holding her hand and smiling at her, and the way she's smiling back at him, made Jo pause. This has the potential to get nasty, I hope Neil knows what he's doing, dammit it's their lives at stake...

Three hours later and they still had nothing to report. Even Jo was beginning to doubt her own instinct. Still nothing. They'd watched Neil and Beth at a garden party barbeque, Neil and Beth shopping together, Neil buying Beth flowers, which had made Beth blush and look at him in that adoring way that young women in love do look at their partners...shit...Guv... I really hope you know what you're doing.

There is something wrong. But I can't see it. It's here, I know it is.

Everything in her instincts told her that it was too late, that events were already in motion, but for the life of her she couldn't see how it was being done. She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Neil and Beth would be tonight's targets.

Persuading Jack Meadows of her fears was something else entirely. He was not inclined to be convinced.

"Stuart and Mickey have seen nothing, Terry has seen nothing, even by your own admission, you've seen nothing." He sighed. If it had been anyone else he would have been able to dismiss this out of hand, but it was Jo Masters, and she really had a nose for these things.

"I can't go in all guns blazing until something actually happens." She looked like she was going to protest, but he held up a hand. "You can go back with Terry and stake out the back, just to be safe."

"Thanks, Guv." She would have felt elated if so much hadn't been at stake.

Neil heaved the various bags out of the boot of the car, and struggled to get them all through the door at once, he was tired and had no intention of struggling backwards and forwards with various purchases. We've dropped a small fortune today... god, if this is the way the other half really live...

Two arms snaked round his neck and a pair of soft lips brushed his. He dropped the bags, and grabbed her close, suddenly, he didn't really feel tired anymore.

Beth's fingers slid down and started to unbutton his shirt, while he concentrated on a sensitive place on the side of her neck, his fingers making short work of the zip at the back of her dress, undoing her bra with one hand, they broke apart for long enough for Beth to pull his shirt off, and Neil scooped her up in his arms and headed for the stairs. Flicking the downstairs light off as he carried her up.

Outside in the darkened street, a car waited in the shadows...