'Hey, you don't think she was kidnapped by a jealous ex?' Steve said as Strickland relayed part of the message Sandra had said to him.

'Why do you say that?' Gerry asked.

'Well if that mystery man of hers and her weren't as careful as they thought maybe... someone got jealous. Someone saw and wanted to get her back'.

'It's possible' Danny added.

'So we need to know who this mystery man is and whether Sandra was with him when she disappeared, maybe he's got her?' Gerry asked.

'It's only a theory' Steve added, 'anyone know what this mystery man looks like?'

'No and if Sandra wanted you to know him she would've said'.

'Not necessarily, Sandra is a private woman and I really don't think she'd appreciate you digging into her personal life!' Strickland exclaimed.

'Ooooo' Steve and Gerry laughed but stopped when Strickland glared at them

'Well yer danne look at me like I'm the kidnapper' Steve laughed, 'besides, you try touch Sandra when she don't want it you'll get a black eye'.

Gerry laughed, 'that's true'.

'If you could just be sensible for one minute' Strickland yelled.

'Sir, if it is all the same I think you need to tell them' Danny said and loosed his tie.

Steve looked at Gerry and then at Danny, 'tell us what?' Steve turned to look at Strickland who had his back to them, one hand was scratching his head as he looked at a photo of Sandra.

'Guv' what's you got on this case you ain't tellin us?' Gerry asked as he leaned forwards.

'I really don't see how it would affect the case' Strickland said as he looked at them all.

'Sir, if it's to do with the Boss you need to tell us' Steve said, 'so come on out with it'.

'Sandra and I had a night together a few weeks ago'.

'A night together?' Gerry asked, 'you mean like you and the Guv' slept together?'

'Yes, in a hotel'.

'Oo get you a hotel, was it planned then?'

'No Gerry it was a spur of the moment thing and we haven't acted on our feelings since'.

'So this hotel, where was it?' Steve asked.

'Well I don't see what that's got to do with anything'.

'No no, but what you were saying about the phone call, Sandra kept saying Bristol. Was the hotel there?' Steve asked.

Strickland nodded, 'Sans Soucci, the Met's annual conference, Sandra signed us both in on a list. Hang on, Danny pull up the records for who signed into that conference and who was at the hotel that night'.

'On it' Danny said and turned towards his laptop.

'Gerry get me a trace on where Sandra called from'.

Gerry nodded.

'Did yer recognise anyone there that shouldn't a' been?' Steve said.

'No just the usual suspects. Sandra and I didn't stay long down stairs'.

'Oh I bet you didn't' Gerry grinned and nudged Steve, 'I bet she's a dominant one in the bedroom'.

'I knew it was a mistake telling you lot about our affair'.

'Affair?' Gerry wolf whistled, 'how many times is it really?'

'Once!' Strickland shouted.

'Oh yeah? And I've only been married once' Gerry cackled.

'Look Sir, I think this better go on the record. After all if it helps get Sandra back it'll help. Besides, tapes can go missing in transit, yours might get lost' Danny said as he looked at his laptop and typed slowly.

'Alright fine' Strickland nodded, 'I'll go on record. But what I say on the tape is not repeated to anyone outside this room. Understood?'

Strickland waited until all three men nodded before allowing Steve to walk him to the interview room. The small, grey walled interview room with the plain chair loomed before Strickland. Steve gestured for Strickland to sit down and he did.

'So' Steve began as he pressed record, 'this is Steven McAndrew interviewing DAC Robert Strickland on the disappearance on DS Sandra Pullman. Now Robert, what would you describe your relationship with the DS is?'

'Intimate'.

'In what way?'

'You know what way Steve' Strickland snapped before composing himself, 'sorry. Sandra and I had a sexual relationship'.

'When did it begin?'

'End of August this year at the conference in Bristol'.

'Who began the relationship?'

'I don't understand?'

'Well did you start it or did she?'

'I suppose it was a bit of both. I'd been drinking and well we were always slightly flirtatious with one another'.

Steve nodded and folded his hands on the table, 'so after the conference, when did you decide to continue the relationship?'

'A day after we got back. We shared a taxi back to hers and it happened again'.

'Were you followed?'

'I'm sorry?'

'Do you think there's a possibility that you were both watched by someone. Perhaps an ex?'

'No no we were always careful, even when we had sex in my car we were careful'.

'My my you are a dirty boy' Steve grinned, 'so, Robert, when was the last time you and Sandra did it?'

'21st this month. It was at my flat and stupidly I suggested we turn this into a relationship and we argued'.

'About?'

'If we had gone public with our relationship then people in the Met would no longer take Sandra seriously about her working life. They'd see her as using me for jobs'.

'But you know better'.

'Of course! Sandra and I are nothing but professional. She and I do not let our sexual relationship interfere with our working one. We never have'.

'Never have? So this relationship has happened before then?' Steve leaned forwards, 'y'know Sir if I didn't know any better I'd say you two had been an item before I got here'.

'A few years ago my ex-wife and I were having arguments. Arguments that would later result in our divorce. I needed a sofa to crash on whilst I sorted out further arrangements and that sofa turned to a shoulder to cry on which in turn-'.

'Turned into a bed to sleep in?' Steve finished.

'Yes'.

'And that bed was Sandra's?'

'It started in the July but was over in the September. A shortly lived affair'.

Steve nodded, 'okay, well, I don't think I need to know anymore Sir. But if yer do remember anything that would help the case then do tell.'

Strickland looked at the tape before pressing pause, 'the first time it ended was because Sandra fell pregnant. She ended it when she had a miscarriage. Now I don't need to remind you Steve but Sandra is missing and for all I know dead. I want her found safe and well. But god help the bastard that's taken her'.

Steve removed Strickland's hand from the tape recorder, 'wanna help get an ID of the bloke Sandra was last seen with from the girl we've got downstairs?'

Strickland nodded and waited for Steve to finish with the tape before standing 'Steve?'

'Yeah?'

'Don't tell the others about Sandra's pregnancy?'

'What pregnancy?' Steve asked with a smile.

'Longer face... and his eyes were kinda almond shaped' Kirsty said and the facial recognition software produced an image that closely resembled the man they believed Sandra was last seen with.

'Do y'recognise him sir?' Steve asked.

Strickland nodded, 'Steve I'm officially declaring this a kidnap case, and DCI James Larson is our prime suspect'.

James pulled away from Sandra as he finished buttoning up her blouse, 'now you'll want to rethink what you next say Sandra'.

Sandra looked at James and nodded once, numb with shock.

'Will you do what I say?'

Sandra nodded and tensed as James grabbed her chin, 'Will you do it?!'

Sandra turned her face and nodded again.

'Good girl' James smiled and let go before he glided his hand down Sandra's side and pressed himself against her and chuckled, 'don't worry sweetheart, I'll have that nasty business of your disappearance cleaned up. After all I still have my contacts'.

'Why are you doing this?' Sandra whispered as James kissed her cheek.

'You ruined my career, my marriage, everything' James replied and stroked her face, 'and yet I still love you' he gently pressed his lips to hers before kneeing her in the stomach and knocking her out.

Quickly James tied her back up and walked out of the room, locking it and hiding its entrance. UCOS were smart, they'd soon find evidence of his face at that restaurant. But evidence of Sandra being with him now was slim to none.

'The last known whereabouts of DCI James Larson before he went to prison was Belgravia' Gerry stated.

'You'd think...no hang on. There's no record of him going to prison. I mean there's evidence enough but look' Steve said and turned his screen around.

'Cor... I didn't think he' managed to swindle his way out of that sentence' Gerry said, 'he was caught red'anded'.

'Yes well, I think he called in a few favours, Sandra thought he was away for good. So did I'.

'Where does he live now?' Danny asked.

'The last address was in Belgravia but that's now rented out to a...' Strickland's face fell.

'Rented to who guv'?' Gerry asked.

'Kirsty Neilson'.