** For author's notes, disclaimer etc. see chapter 1

Black Widow 3/?

"Where's Gerry? He knows how important it is that we put up a united front today. Strickland is still after our asses for wanting to take this case in the first place if it appears we're not all on board with it that'll be just the excuse he needs to pull the rug out from under us." I can't believe this, he was the one who wanted to take this case, he spent most of Friday persuading us to do it and now when the argument for doing so has to be put to Strickland he's not even bloody well here!

"I tried calling him about 10 minutes ago while you were upstairs with the boss but he didn't answer so he's probably driving." See? I'm not the only one unhappy about his absence if Jack has taken the time to ring him to see what the hell is going on then I'm definitely not the only one pissed off.

"I'll bet he was at Joanna's over the weekend it's a good twenty minutes extra drive to get here from there he's probably not bothered to leave the extra time to get in." Well that was the last thing I needed to hear. It's almost a month since that first evening and I'd really hoped it would have run it's natural course by now and she'd be out of the picture but they just seem to be getting closer. I still can't stand her and I trust her even less than I did at the beginning. Too much is changing too quickly and yes I'm aware that I'm sounding like Brian but I don't mean little things. Little things change every time Gerry has a new woman in his life I mean the big things. He's sold his "vintage" car for a start; apparently Joanna didn't think it was wise for him to be driving such a safety feature free car at his age! For years we've all been telling him to get rid of it and did he listen to us? Like hell he did. Then there's the way she seems to be trying to get him to pull further and further away from us and I happen to know from his family too. Jack and Brian think I'm mad, they keep pointing out that it's normal to live in each other's pockets at the beginning of a relationship and that I'm letting my imagination run away with me. They insist that it's not that she doesn't want him seeing us it's more about him wanting to spend every spare minute with her. I can't see it though, add to all that the fact that he's been coming in later and leaving earlier, that he flatly refuses to do any overtime in spite of the fact he needs the money and I'm properly worried. It might seem like nothing looked at individually but put it all together and it's adding up to something I don't like.

"Sorry, sorry what'd I miss? Sorry guvnor I was sure I set the alarm last night before I went to be but I must have forgot I didn't stir until 9." See what I mean? I'll lay good odds that he did set that alarm and she unset it or switched it off before he heard it. He looks like he hasn't slept at all any time recently I know he is always a bit dishevelled it's his "look" but right now he looks like he hasn't seen the inside of his own flat and therefore his wardrobe in months.

"Gerry you wanted this case the least you could do is be here on time and exactly how many days in a row are you going to wear the same shirt? You look like you've been dragged through a hedge backward." He's looking himself up and down now like I've told him something he doesn't know! Clearly the wonderful Joanna doesn't own a mirror.

"She's right mate you're looking a bit the worse for wear. How long since you've been home?" Jack is playing the concerned friend rather than the irritated boss and at least he seems to be getting through to him.

"It's been a bit of a weekend, well a bit of a week actually. Joanna's been having problems at work I've been trying to keep things ticking over at her place, making sure she's eating right and all you knw? She's been working from home so it's easy to forget to take care of yourself when you're so wrapped up in what you're doing I wanted to make sure she was ok. Anyway upshot is I haven't been home or anywhere else." Jack has glanced at me with mild concern in his eyes but my concern level has gone off the scale because I know at least one place he should have been this weekend.

"Please tell me you at least made an effort for GJ's birthday party and tidied yourself up a bit. Paula was excited about you meeting her new boyfriend I hope you didn't go to meet him looking like that." Oh my god! I know what he's about to say before he says it and so do Jack and Brian because they're both staring at him in complete shock.

"I didn't go to the party, look don't give me the "oh my god" looks everything was seriously hitting the fan with Jo's research she needed me."

"And what did Paula say? I can't believe you decided your grandson's birthday party was less important that hanging around while she worked. You knew how important it was to Paula how could you…"

"Look I've already had all this from Allison and Paula, even Catlin's had a do but Jo needed me and GJ will have plenty more birthdays. Now are we actually going to do some work or are you going to keep sticking your nose in where it's not welcome."

"Hey that's out of line Gerry, she's worried about you we all are." Brian has finally said something and he and Jack are both on their feet now as if they need to stand guard to defend me. I can't believe this is happening, we don't do this, we all care about each other too much to stand back when one of us is making a mistake, it may seem like interfering from the outside but we all accept it's what will happen. After this they can't stick their heads in the sand any longer, surely they have to see that there's something going on with this woman that just isn't right.

"Gerry Strickland will be down here in half an hour, go home and clean yourself up and be back here for him coming." I'm trying to keep my voice level so he doesn't pick up on how worried and upset I am but frankly right now I don't think he'd care anyway. He's stormed out of the office again muttering about me getting a life so I'll keep my nose out of his and Jack and Brian have turned to look at me. "You two still want to tell me there's nothing off about Joanna Wilson and this "relationship" he's embarking on?"

"He's tired and defensive Sandra, yeah it's unusual for him to miss something as important as Gerry Junior's birthday but it doesn't appear that she made him do it." Jesus is Jack really that blind? Now Brian is agreeing with him I can't believe what I'm seeing.

"Fine believe what you want but mark my words something isn't right here I can feel it in my bones and when it all goes tits up just remember I saw it coming and you two chose to ignore me." I've stormed into my office and slammed the door so hard the walls actually shook. If they won't help me find out what's going on with this woman then I'll just have to do it without them and I know just the person who might be seeing the same things I am and be willing to help.