Lost Friends

Matt walked along the river watching the water swirl along the Thames. He had left Ronnie with the others back at the crime scene as he tried to work out what had happened. Susan had been a nice girl, quiet, mousy and not exactly the type of girl to draw attention to herself. Shaking his head he leant on the barrier that divided the river from the pavement.

"Ronnie called." He felt a warm hand on his back as she spoke.

"Lesh." He hung his head, barely able to look at his wife. "I."

"Don't say you're fine. Because your not."

"I'm not fine." He sighed. "I just don't understand any of this." He turned to face her. "She was so clever, the class swot when we were kids. You know, the kid that always came top in everything. I asked her once why she did so well. Pete struggled in science. You know how bad I am in maths and stuff like that."

"Some kids are just academic." Alesha smiled as she slipped her hand into his. Matt smiled sadly.

"Yeah. But she wasn't, not really. She told me once she worked hard to keep up. She knew the nuns hated us, that the priest, in her words was a right weirdo and the other girls hated her."

"Why?"

"Her two best friends were lads. When we were teenagers that made her a threat, I never understood it. Pete adored her. He wasn't best pleased when she announced she fancied girls." Matt smiled as Alesha turned to face him.

"A lot can happen in twenty years."

"Yeah." He hugged her tightly. Alesha wrapped her arms around him. "Thankfully."'

Xxxxxx

"Ron, my office." Natalie called from the doorway off the office. Sam smiled sympathetically as Ronnie closed his eyes. It was clear the Guv was not a happy woman. He took his glasses off before heading into the office, aware that she had already drawn the blinds.

"Guv."

"Close the door, Ron." He did as he was told. Turning to face her he could see how tense she was.

"You ok? Guv."

"Yeah. How's Matt?"

"Not good. He's gone for a walk to clear is ead." Ronnie stated as he watched her nod.

"You?"

"Me? I'm ok. Got to keep an eye on that lot out there."

"No, that's my job and We. I mean Sam's." She closed her eyes. "I mean it's ours."

"Sam needs an eye kept on im an all. He's got big shoes to fill." Ronnie stepped nearer. "It's you I'm worried about."

"I'm fine." She glanced up to see him in front of her. Glad that the door and blinds were closed she rested a hand on his hideous tie. "This is a terrible tie."

"My Sarah bought me this."

"Oh."

"It's horrible though, in it?" Natalie smiled. Ronnie covered her hand with his. "Last night."

"What about it?"

"I." He swallowed hard. "I don't want us to be weird about it. If it." She kissed him as he spoke. Ronnie smiled as she pulled back.

"We keep whatever it is out of the office. Ok? I don't need that lot gossiping when we've got a murder to solve." Ronnie nodded as Sam and Joe could be heard shouting in the outer office. Ronnie swallowed hard.

"I'd better."

"Sort those two out before I have to." Natalie smiled.

"Yeah." He placed a hand on the door handle before turning to face Natalie. "I. What I said last night. I meant it." Natalie blushed slightly.

"So did I." Ronnie nodded before leaving the room. Natalie shook her head smiling as she turned to pick up the phone.

Cxxxxx

Chloe stared at the body of the dead woman. The autopsy had been straight forward, in as much as any could be. The body on the autopsy table in front of her made her feel sick as she realised how the younger woman had died.

"The delightful Joy still off on her holidays?"

"Hi." Chloe looked up. "Yeah, she's back on Monday. Where's your usual side kick?"

"Aw anyone would think you didn't want me ere." Joe smiled at the pathologist. Ronnie rolled his eyes.

"You know how Matty gets in this place. An e knew er. They went to school together." Ronnie stared at the dead woman. Chloe nodded.

"Cause of death?" Joe asked.

"Puncture wound to the neck. Bruising is definitely antemortem. She fought back." Chloe held up the dead girl's hand. "I found defensive wounds. I'm trying to get DNA off it."

"Great." Ronnie sighed. "Such a waste."

"How's Matt?" Chloe asked, she'd always had a soft spot for the kindhearted detective. Ronnie watched as Joe walked away.

"Ok, or he will be."

"I'm still running the tox."

"Thanks Chloe."

Ronnie turned to see Joe staring into space. Chloe threw her latex gloves in the medical waste bin before turning back to the police officer.

"I'll let you know as soon as they are back."

"Great. Cmon Joe." He ushered the younger man out of the room as Chloe turned back to her workstation.

Xxxxxxx

"Are you ready for the Bail Hearing?" Angie asked as Sam hunted through his desk, pencil jammed between his teeth he mumbled something.

"Yeah."

"Good. Kate just phoned. She's headed over to the court now."

"Ok." Sam muttered something. "Just got to get this file."

"You have ten minutes, her and Jake are meeting you there. I'll tell the Guv you've gone to meet them." Angie watched as he nodded before grabbing his jacket and running out the door.

Xxxxxxxxxx

"I dunno, son. This gets murkier and murkier." Ronnie stated as he walked into the reception area of the police station. Joe shrugged.

"CSI said."

"CSI? Give over son. This is London not LA."

"Ok, SOCO said there were no signs of forced entry. She let her killer into the flat." Joe stated as a young woman with short blonde hair stood up.

"Are you DS Brooks?"

"Yeah." Ronnie nodded. "And you are?"

"I think you've been looking for me. It's about Susie."

"Go on."

"Susie. Susan Jones. I'm Emma. Her ex. I killed her."

Xxxxx

A/N it's not that easy? Is it? Please review