Part 3

Seeing her eyes dart around, Kerry realises how scared she is, walking closer to her, trying to keep her voice calm and gentle "You're a friend of his" seeing her nod "You were with him last night when this happened, when he died?" shaking her head "Look I don't know anything", walking over to her, putting her hands gently on her arm "Talk to me Kirsten, let me help you, I need to find out what happened to James, you'll be safe", looking up at Kerry "your James's mum? You can't promise me that even if you are a cop" Her voice firmer "Kirsten, just tell me what happened, was James taking drugs again?"

Closing her eyes she looks at Kerry, trying to avoid her face, looking down and fiddling with her hands her voice barely a whisper "No, not that I was aware of" then shrugging "but maybe he was and I didn't know",

Looking at Kirsten, Kerry wonders if she was his girlfriend, she knew he had one in rehab, but from memory had they broken up, she didn't even know that of her son, "How well did you know James?" looking at Kerry "Quite well" seeing Kerry raise her eyebrows what was quite well.

Not wanting to pry too much "What happened last night, why did you call the police, did you see what happened and who they were"

Closing her eyes, trying to block out the image that is haunting her, fiddling with her hands again, her voice barely a whisper she tells Kerry what happens

Looking at Kirsten, "are you able to give a description of the guys, did you hear them calling each other any name?" nodding "it was dark, two were about James height, wearing Jeans, and white shirts, nothing that stood out, as we walked away, one could of called the other, or talked about a guy called Steve?".

Standing up "I need you to come to base, and give a description" seeing Kirsten look at her, "You will be safe, they have gotten what they wanted now, you need to do this for James" before walking out

….

Driving away from Kirsten's, Kerry pulls into the carpark at Docklands, walking up and around seeing people around her, guys the age of James, she stares out across the bay, how many times had James told her she was a shit mother, but a good cop, such a great cop she couldn't even save her son. How many times did she say I love you to James, did he even know she loved him, that she would do anything for him, risk everything for him, despite everything she was a better mum than her own mother. Did James know she loved having him.

Walking into the bar, ordering a drink and bottle of wine walking over to a table overlooking the bay, was James back on drugs and not even his friends picked up on it, despite what Kirsten told her, even they didn't know.

Walking out of the bar, late that evening early hours of the morning, Kerry looks around, not wanting to go back to the empty house, her head spinning slightly, getting out her phone, the missed calls from Lawson, can't he just give up and leave her alone.

Arriving at Crown Casino the early hours of the morning, hearing the noise from the poker machines and the tables, not wanting to drink alone, or even think, walking over to the table, the alcohol making her brain fuzzy, the anger building up in her, coming out at the guy dealing the cards, seeing him stopping ignoring the looks upon her.

Feeling hands on her she turns around looking at security, yelling out at them "get your hands off me" showing her badge to them, making no difference to them "come with us". Shaking them off, dismissing them "Piss off, I'm with the police, superintendent Kerry Vincent from Tactical Response" seeing them raise their eyes at her, not really caring, "We still need you to come with us", glaring at them "No", looking at them her face set hard, as they continue "can we see your licence", shaking her head "No…I'm going"

Walking out to Southbank, Kerry looks at her watch, "Oh shit", looking around trying to remember where she left her car. Walking out to the road looking around for a taxi, turning away to walk back to clear her head. Hearing a car horn she looks up seeing Lawson there, shaking her head "Oh shit" hearing his voice "Kerry, get in the car", glaring at Lawson, but better than walking, she hops in the car, seeing his amused smile on his face "abusing staff now?", glaring even more at him "Just take me to my car?", raising his eyes at her "sure that is a good idea?", rolling her eyes at him "stop being a smart arse Lawson, just get me to my car", not able to contain the smile "where is the car?", closing her eyes trying to remember "you do remember where you parked your car", not even looking at him "Docklands car park". Driving along, Lawson looks at Kerry ""You really think going out and getting drunk is helping", seeing Kerry turn to glare at him "what I do is nothing to do with you", trying not to laugh "except I'm the one that is here taking you to your car, " not even letting him finish "No one asked you to ", raising his eyebrows at her "No, except you go around creating scenes at Crown Casino Kerry, what did you expect to happen?", not even looking at Lawson, sick of his speaking. "Can't you just shut up….what am I meant to be doing Lawson, talk to you, your such a self righteous prick", smiling at Kerry, the name calling is nothing new, if anything he is used to it, but usually being called a smart arse."

Arriving at the carpark, Kerry looks around for her car "it all looks the same", shaking his head at Kerry "that's why there is numbers and letters Kerry, so you know where to park" not even looking at Lawson "I'll remember that" as she looks around

Looking at Lawson "I remember now, there is another car park.", stopping the car Lawson turns to Kerry "Get out?", looking at Lawson in surprise "what?" turning to look at her "You heard me, you don't want my help, so find your own car", opening the door, still looking at Lawson and the look on his face "Oooooookkk….i'll just be late to work", seeing him look at her "should of thought of that before, that's your problem Kerry, you just don't think, or take responsibility for your actions". Looking at him "See you when I get there Mr Responsibility" not even watching Lawson drive away.

Looking in the review mirror, Lawson sees Kerry walking away, wanting to turn around and help her.

….

Looking up at Kerry walks into base later the following morning, Leon looks at her looking like she had just got out of bed or a big night watching as she gets a drink of water "your starting to look like me", not even looking up "yeah….i've been out all…..i had a biiiiiiiig night" then shaking her head "why am I telling you this" as she walks away to the shower. Letting the water wash over her, trying to clear her, walking out a while later, Leon looks up, seeing her walk over to him "Send me all the information you can from the cameras surround William St and Queen Street" taking a deep breath, Leon knows what he is going to say, she will yell at him her voice low and firm "I can't Kerry" biting his lips as Kerry leans down closer to him "what do you mean You can't", leaning back in his seat away from her "Drug squad, doesn't want you to have any images or photos", seeing Kerry still close to him "I'll deal with them, just send me the information"

Typing away on the screen he turns to Kerry "They're blocked the camera, I can't go back to get any history"

Watching as an image flashes up on the screen, Kerry looks at Leon "this is it?", nodding "this is all I can get for you", hearing footsteps behind her, Kerry turns around smiling as she sees Kirsten enter, with another girl, someone who looks vaguely familiar, someone she had seen before, walking up to her "thanks for coming,", nodding at Kerry "this is Lisa", giving James girlfriend a slight smile before ushering them into the communications room.

Walking the girls out a short time later, Kerry sees Lawson walking towards her, cursing her bad luck, turning her back on him as she walks back towards the communications room, closing her eyes as she hears her name called out "Kerry", hearing footsteps hurrying after her, she feels his hand on her back, even through her shirt, she can feel his touch against her, the only person in TR that can get under her skin, the one person in TR she cares about more than anything, turning around to look at him, his eyes caring but worried about her "what was that about Kerry" shrugging her shoulders "helping with a line of enquiry" shaking his head "Kerry don't go there" seeing her eyes glaring at him "what did you want Lawson?" giving a short laugh "who said I wanted anything" her eyes wide open at him "why are you back here then?". Trying not to laugh "this TR base, and I am in TR", shaking her head glaring at him "stop being a smart arse" before turning her back on him walking back to her cubicle, picking up her bag, she turns to Leon "I'm on my mobile" before walking to her car

….

Arriving at Drug squad a short time later, taking a deep breath as she walks in, seeing the receptionist eyeing her warily, before running up the stairs again to the third floor, looking around she sees Chris, looking at her.

Seeing Kerry walking towards him, her eyes not sparkling her mouth in a straight line, her eyes fixed straight ahead, her body slightly tense, wondering what it is this time.

Stopping in front of her it isn't long before she speaks her voice loud "How dare you come into Tactical Response and tell my staff what they can and can't do, you can not alter Leon's access to the street cameras, Tactical response is MY team, you have no control over", walking closer to Kerry not wanting to raise his voice "This is a homicide and drug squad matter Kerry, not a Tactical Response". Not calming down or keeping her voice down "You thought it was a drug over dose. Tactical Response responds to all situations."

Looking at Kerry irate face "You're not thinking straight Kerry", taking a deep breath before responding to Chris "don't give me that crap Chris, what your suddenly looking into it?"

Pulling Kerry into his office, she turns to face him "You let me do my job Chris, stop restricting my intel officer, its bullshit what your doing." Raising his eyes at Kerry "Just step back from it Kerry, let us do our job and if there is a homicide we'll look into it and do something" Shaking her head at him "Your pretty shit at it, have you found anything yet?", her eyes looking around his office, instead of Chris, they fall on a folder on his desk, seeing James on top of it, she wonders if it is about James, quickly looking elsewhere, trying not to let Chris know that she sees the folder, her eyes going back to him, looking at him "you need to find out who's done it"

Looking back at Kerry into her eyes, sadness there and anger "I'm not giving up Kerry, we are trying", turning to walk out "Just try harder" walking out.

Walking into the bathroom, going into the cubicle, she takes a deep breath, walking out and leaning against the cubicle she splashes water over herself, walking out she looks around, before quietly going into the office again she looks around, opening up the file, she quickly looks at the content/information, seeing it is about James, she takes out her mobile, quickly taking photos of some pages. Looking at some of the pages, she takes what she wants, quickly putting them into her bag, Walking to the door, she opens it slightly looking around, she sees no one before walking out.

Arriving back at base, it is later that night, looking around she sees both TR cars back, walking inside the place looks empty with no one around, walking towards her cubicle she sits down, working away with no one around, before getting up, getting what she needs, she walks out towards her car, glad that no one is there to see what she is doing or having to explain herself.

…

Driving back to her house, it isn't long before she pours herself a glass of wine, and getting out the information in front of her, going through it all, as much as she would of loved to find out more, there is no way she was asking Leon or getting him involved.

Sitting on the lounge, the empty bottles of wine, on the table, opening the next one, Kerry hears a knock on the front door, ignoring it, she hears a voice "Open up Kerry, I know your in there" rolling her eyes, even though no one can see, why can't Lawson leave her alone, why can't he understand that she doesn't want to see anyone, doesn't want to speak to anyone, all she wants is the bottle and her. Hearing the knocking getting louder and Lawson's voice calling out "Kerry open the door, I'm not going away".

Shoving the papers under the cushion of the lounge, Kerry walks to the door, opening the door she rolls her eyes before turning her back and walking back inside "I'm fine Lawson, Don't you get sick of coming here each night Lawson, sure you have better things to do, like spending it with your girlfriend, just go home"

Giving a short laugh, Lawson didn't expect a welcoming committee from her, he didn't expect to be greeted at all, he knew her too well, also knew that she wouldn't ask for help even if she needed it or show that she wasn't coping or anything. Shaking his head at Kerry "Nah, I like coming here each night, get the door closed in my front, bad company, not even offered a drink"

Trying not to smile at Lawson "I don't need looking after Lawson" Smiling at Kerry "I never said you did need looking after, was driving past, so dropped in… can't I be slightly concerned?" seeing her raise her eyebrows at him "Is that what you call it, Lawson I'm fine, I don't need you coming over each night" " seeing Lawson looking at her, giving her one of his looks, not believing her "Kerry its me Lawson here, talk to me", her eyes darting around her place, she doesn't want to look at Lawson, doesn't want to look at his face, seeing the sympathy there.

Wanting to reach out and touch Kerry, get her to talk to him, looking around he sees the empty bottles on the table, he should of known she would turn to alcohol, it was not secret that she liked to drink, he hated seeing her like this, he had a soft spot for her, had for ages. How he wish she wasn't so stubborn, wanting to do everything herself. Walking over to her, he touches her on the arm, wanting her to face him.

Feeling Lawson's touch on her arm, it was no secret to herself, that she had liked Lawson for years, not wanting him to see her like this, why can't he just go away, leave her alone, looking up at him "Lawson just leave", shaking his head "I'm not going Kerry", watching as she takes a huge sip from the glass "You shouldn't be drinking so much", seeing Kerry turn to glare at him "what am I meant to be doing Lawson, tell me, you seem to think you know everything", watching Kerry turn her back to him, he is used to her outbursts, and all, "You can say what you want, but you're not getting rid of me", sighing deeply at him "Lawson I'm fine, I just want to be by myself" then getting her phone "Look I'll put your number on speed dial. Laws, and if I want to talk or want anything then I'll give you a call, now just go"

Seeing him stay still, she just wants to be by herself, deep down she is grateful he is coming over each night, but she doesn't want him involved, giving him a half smile "I'm tired Lawson, I'm just going to bed. There not after me Lawson, these guys have got what they want"

Seeing Lawson not moving but sitting down, looking at her "Lawson, I'm fine, go home, they are not going to come after me", looking at Kerry was he that see through, "you don't know that Kerry" sipping her drink as she nods "they're gutless Lawson, look what they did to James, I'm not the ones they are after. I've got your number on speed dial, I'll look the door, now go home to Shannon"

Smiling at Kerry, she can be so stubborn "I'll go, but I'm getting patrol to come around each hour" moving her eyes around "If that will get rid you yes"

Getting up off the lounge, slightly unsteady on her feet, she sees Lawson get up steadying her, staring up into his brown eyes, she feels his hand on her arms, damm Lawson, why is he so close to her, feeling his hand lingering on her arm, she looks up at him, seeing him looking at her, staring into her blue eyes, moving slightly closer to him, she feels his lips upon hers, feeling his arms wrap around her as he kisses her more heavily. Even as much ass he has had to drink she pulls away, pushing him away from her "go home Lawson" before walking up stairs.

Walking back to his car, Lawson sits in the drivers seat, what did he just do, did he just kiss Kerry, no it was nothing, pulling away from the curb, he texts Shannon, driving back to his place for the night.