Andy walked out of the locker room pulling her hair back into a ponytail. She had an hour to go before her shift started and she wanted to catch up on the paperwork. Her date with the journalist was tonight and she was determined to get away at the end of shift as soon as possible. She sat at a desk by the stairs and started on her reports but the pile didn't seem to be getting any smaller as the hour passed. She spotted Tracy walking through the room on her way to change, and Oliver Shaw was coming out of the gym.

She glanced at her watch an noticed she only had another 15 minutes before parade. She scanned the pages she had left to do and sighed.

"McNally." She turned to see Staff Sgt Frank Best standing at the top of the stairs holding open his office door. "Can I have a word?"

"Yes, Sir."

In the office Andy stood in front of his desk, her arms connected behind her back. Best was standing with his back to her, his arms folded across his chest.

"I got a call last night about a UC position that I think you might be perfect for."

"UC? Me?"

Best turned to face her and she wasn't encouraged by the look on his face. "You're the first one I thought of." Best looked over her shoulder and she turned to see someone walking through the bullpen making his way to the office.

"Good to see you Kevin." Frank stood and greeted him

"Good to be back at 15."

"This is Officer McNally."

"Hi, I'm Detective Kevin Holte." He held his hand out and Andy shook it. She noticed his suit was better than the usual detective suits, his hair was cut tight and he had a light stubble beard.

"Hello Sir."

"Has Frank filled you in?"

"I was just about to." Best went back to his desk and sat down, gesturing for the others to do the same.

"You might have heard about the bust last week of the escort agency in York."

"A little."

"Turns out that two of the women working there were trafficked in from Europe. And they each gave us a point of contact in a photography studio on Eglington Ave. We need you to go in as a client."

"To get my photograph taken?"

"They are like a job agency for hookers. They photograph girls, send the pics to the agencies to rent the girls. The owner of the studio also owns a gallery on King st and deals internationally through this. The women we collected last week said they paid him money for transport to the states, and are working off their debt."

"This sounds less like UC and more like bait."

"We estimate this guy is trafficking at least 2 women a month into the states. Some as young as 13. This is a huge operation involving 2 police agencies in Europe and Interpol."

"Andy," Frank spoke up, sensing her unease. "This is a big role. The initial part, going to the studio will only take today, but if he bites, and you get called to go to an agency, then we will need you to go UC, possibly for an extended period of time."

"At an escort agency?" Flashbacks of her disastrous attempt on the street corner in her first year spun before her eyes.

"Not at the agency, but still involved with the studio. The escort agencies are clear, it's the studio we need to get a look at from the inside. I want you to talk to the other girls, talk to the photographer, get as much information as you can. If we bust in there before we have something solid, whatever girls they have in the system will be lost."

"Ok, but why me?"

"The operation last week was a group effort between 53rd and 25th divisions. Most every officer was involved and we have no one left that could pass for an escort."

Andy looked over to Best who was watching her with interest. "So when do I start?"

"McNally, are you sure you want to do this?" Best sat forward. "Today will be the first step. Like I said before, you might have to go deeper."

"Yeah, of course. I understand."

"Then you start today." Holte stood up and fixed his jacket. "In fact right now."

"Right now?" Andy looked over her shoulder at the bullpen where the officers for the new shift were starting to arrive and congregate at the coffee station and move towards the Parade room.

"Yeah, let's go."

Holte opened the door and gestured for her to leave. Best stood with her and walked with them out of the office.

"Be safe out there McNally."

She looked back at him and offered him a reassuring smile.


Sam lingered at the coffee station while the rest of the morning shift filed into the parade room. Shaw who was just coming out of the locker room and buttoning up his shirt, spotted him and made a bee line.

"No milk, 2 sugars"

"Already ready for you." Sam handed him a cup and held out the donut box.

"There are some left?"

"I held a couple for you."

Shaw recognised the apology and accepted it as he took the bear claw out of the box and bit into it. They went to the parade room and shuffled through the crowd to get to their regular spot at the back. Each of them perched on the table. Purposefully Sam kept his eyes forward, watching the podium where Best was shuffling a few papers, until Shaw jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow.

"Hey, where is McNally?"

"Maybe she's running late. Wouldn't be the first time." Sam still kept his eyes front, refusing to scan the room or the hallway for her.

"Nah, I saw her this morning when I got in. She was filling out paperwork then in Best's office with Detective Holte."

"Kevin Holte?" Sam's interest was piqued and this time he did scan the room. "He's SCU, runs out of the 53rd. What was he doing here?"

"Alright 15!" Best held up his hands to quieten the chatter in the room. "We have one case in particular that we need to focus on. Serial B&E's across Bloordale Village. Yesterday Peck-Stien pulled in Bryan Horgan who ID'd two more accomplices." Best turned to stick two photos to the whiteboard behind him.

Shaw leaned closer to Sam and lowered his voice. "Holte is not SCU, He's ATF." Shaw kept his fingers splayed when he finished his pastry, as they were covered in icing.

"No, he left ATF after the McKinly case last year and transferred to SCU."

"Yeah right, because the Sexual Crimes Unit is a laugh riot in comparison." Shaw was licking his fingers when Best pointed at him.

"Officer Shaw here, who seems to be fully informed on this case, will be the POC for all incoming suspects." Shaw opened his mouth to protest, one of his hands pointing at Sam, who was looking in the other direction. "The BOLO has been in operation since last night but so far no success, so keep your eyes peeled. "

"Didn't he give a location where these guys might be?" Diaz asked.

"The suspect's location has been cleared and is currently under 24hr surveillance. Diaz, Nash you're going to Greendale Ave to take over that watch. The rest of you, assignments are on the board. Serve and protect and be on the lookout."

Best left as most of the room filed out, with only a few officers checking the assignments board.

"Me and you Peck," Noelle called out as she took the radio from the socket and walked out quickly followed by Gail Peck.

"Hey Chris, I just need two seconds, I'll meet you at the car." Tracy waved at him as she raced towards the locker room.

"Stakeout!" Epstien said to Diaz and patted him on the back. "Nice one."

"Sitting in an unmarked car, outside an empty house for 8 hours doesn't strike me as too interesting."

"Well take this," Shaw handed Diaz a folded newspaper. "Sorry but I already did the crossword."

Sam walked over to the assignments board and saw that he was riding with Epstien. But it wasn't his own name he was looking for, but her name wasn't there at all. He began to wonder if Shaw had seen her at all that morning.

"You ready to go?" Sam turned to see Dov looking at him expectantly. He had the car radio in his hand and Sam could see he was trying desperately to keep himself from grinning.

"Yeah, gimme a sec, I'll meet you at the car." Sam brushed passed him and into the hall. He found Oliver at the centre desk sorting through files. "Hey Shaw, are you sure it was McNally you saw this morning?"

"Yeah."

"She's not on the assignments board."

"I don't know what to tell you buddy, but I'm kinda busy." Shaw held up the piles of reports he had to sort through now that he was POC.

"Alright, alright." Sam spotted Best just entering his office and hurried over. With a precursory knock on the door he entered without waiting for approval.

"Ah Sam, I was wondering when you'd make it."

"Sir?"

"You're looking for McNally?"

The hairs on the back of Sam's neck tingled and his stomach flipped. "Where is she?"

"She's been reassigned for today."

"To SCU?"

"UC with Kevin Holte."

"What's the case?"

"On a need to know basis."

"Sir-"

"Sam, this is UC, it's not my case to tell."

"She's a rookie!" Sam couldn't help his voice raising and he took a deep breath and held it in a futile attempt to calm down.

"Not any more, they've been cut loose."

"2 months ago!"

"Sam," Best came around the table and stood in front of Sam who had his hands perched on his hips, his lips pressed tightly together and his breathing coming in angry nasal puffs. "I got a call this morning for a young female officer needed for a UC position. Andy is the best we have. Now you don't need to worry, this isn't a solo run. She's working as part of a team and Kevin Holte leading that team and he is the best."

His words did nothing to calm Sam down.

"She has no business working UC with SCU! She hasn't been trained for that!"

"You trained her, you did a great job. She has proven time and time again that she is capable under duress and in UC."

Sam let out a harsh laugh. "And time and time again that she messes up and panics!"

"You don't believe that." Best walked around Swarek to look out the window at the bullpen below.

"No. No I don't." Swarek turned to stand next to Best.

"Look, trust in her, trust in your training."

Sam slowly nodded his head then left to meet Epstien without another word.

A/N: Still in set up mode...we're getting there!