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London – July 1982

"Nosy Norman's kicking up a stink, Guv," Chris said when Gene arrived in CID. "He weren't too 'appy when we brought 'im in last night and 'e's even more unhappy now. Keeps banging on about freedom of the press and 'ow we're perpetrating an unjust and uncivilised crime against his liberty."

"Did you write that down? I couldn't care less 'ow 'e feels about the situation," Gene replied, striding into his office. "I'm more interested in what 'e can tell us about Dempster."

"I don't think 'e's going to tell us anything," Chris replied, following him. "You know what them journos are like. Reckon's 'e doesn't 'ave to give up 'is sources."

"Well, we'll see about that." Gene opened his desk drawer, took out a bottle of whisky and poured himself a generous measure. Downing it in one, he met Chris' slightly disapproving gaze. "What?"

"Isn't it a big early, Guv?"

"When you've come 'ome from your 'olidays to find a dead dog on your son's bed Christopher, then you can preach to me about my drinking but until then just get on with your job, understand?"

"Yes Guv," Chris turned and made to leave the office, but then turned back. "Guv?"

"What?"

"There's something else that Nosy Norman said to me and Ray the other day..."

"Was it about Dempster?" Gene asked impatiently.

"No..."

"Then I'm not interested."

"But..."

"Chris, I 'ave got more important things on my mind than listening to what that old woman 'as to say on love, life and the universe. I'm trying to make sure that my son is safe, do you get that?"

Chris backed out of the office. "Yes Guv."

"Good!" Gene waited until he had gone, then got up from his seat and slammed the door closed for emphasis. He didn't want to be disturbed making the phone call. He couldn't let any of them see how concerned he was about what was happening. Picking up the phone he punched in the familiar number and waited while it rang out. He thought for a moment that she wasn't going to answer and then he heard her voice.

"Hello?"

"Annie."

"Guv?" He still smiled every time she called him that, despite the fact that they hadn't worked together in years. "I didn't expect..." she sounded slightly flustered. "'It's good to hear from you."

"And you, love," he replied, "'ow are you?"

"Oh, you know. Same as always. Trying to keep these two under control is a full time job." She laughed, but he was sure he could hear the familiar resentment in her voice.

When she had fallen pregnant with David, Superintendent Frank Rathbone had been delighted at the prospect of getting another plonk out of CID. He had tried the same tactic with Meg when she had become pregnant and the only reason he had succeeded was because of her death. Annie had been no pushover though and, fully supported by Sam, she had taken her maternity leave and then come back to work a few months later. When she had Michael though, it had been a different story. A difficult birth and an emergency caesarean section had meant her recovery hadn't been quite as swift and, with another child already to look after, she had gracefully admitted defeat and given up. Gene was sure that she would have gone far, that she could have been a DI one day like Alex.

"'ow are my godsons?" he asked, feeling slightly guilty that he hadn't taken more of an interest over the last few months. It had been difficult though, what with caring full time for Danny and exploring his new relationship with Alex. He remembered how touched he had been when Sam and Annie had asked him to be godfather not just once, but twice. At the time, it had seemed an odd choice, given his own non-existent relationship with his own child. But they had both wanted him to do it and he had done his best to live up to their expectations. It wasn't as hard with someone else's child as it was with your own.

"Both as cheeky as ever," Annie said. "Wanting to know when you're coming to visit. They're desperate to meet Danny."

"Well actually..." Gene said, "that was the reason I called you, love."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," he fought for the words to explain it. "There's been a bit of trouble 'ere and...well...I need somewhere safe for Danny."

"What's 'appened?" Annie asked, her voice full of concern. "Is 'e all right?"

"Someone...someone's made a threat against 'im," Gene explained, feeling emotion rise in his throat even as he spoke about it. "I don't think that 'e's safe in London and I thought..." he stopped when she didn't say anything. "If it's not convenient love, I understand..."

"No, no," Annie replied quickly, "it's not that, it's just..."

"Three kids on your own would be a tall order, I know. But you've no idea 'ow grateful I'd be."

"You're really worried aren't you?" Annie said softly.

"Terrified."

"Then it's fine," she said. "I'd love to 'ave 'im for a while."

"Thanks love," Gene said, relief flooding him. "Alex can bring 'im down and drop 'im off with you. Is this afternoon ok?"

"That's fine. So I'll finally get to meet the famous Alex," Annie teased gently. "Wonder if she'll look 'ow I imagine?"

"Oh yeah?" Gene replied gruffly, "'what do you imagine?"

"I'll meet 'er first and then maybe I'll tell you," Annie laughed.

Gene chuckled, "I really do appreciate this, love. I know that...erm...well that..."

"I know," she finished for him. "I know."

Alex came into his office just as he put the phone down. Over her shoulder, he could see Danny sitting with Shaz. "How did you get on?" she asked, sitting down opposite him.

"Annie said she'll take 'im."

"Really?"

Gene looked at her curiously, "Yes really. Come on Bolls, you know it makes sense."

"Well you certainly seem to think it does."

"Exactly and it's my opinion that counts as I am so fond of telling you!" He got to his feet. "i told Annie you'd take 'im down there this afternoon."

"Today?" Alex raised her eyebrows.

"Is there a problem with that?"

"Well...no but..."

"But what?"

"What about the investigation? The interviews? Tracking down Dempster?"

"It's all being taken care of," Gene replied. "Me and Ray are going to interview Nosy Norman and see where 'e gets 'is info from and we'll take it from there."

"He won't tell you anything."

"That's as maybe, but it's a start." He paused and looked at her. "I want you to take Danny to Annie's. It won't take you long. You can borrow the Quattro long as you're careful with it."

"I think I should be here," Alex persisted.

"And I think you should do what I tell you," Gene replied, his tone growing harsher. "Or is making sure my son is safe not a priority for you?"

"Of course it is, but..."

"Well then I don't see the problem."

"...but I'm not his mother and..."

"No, Alex you're not 'is bloody mother! But you're the closest damn thing 'e's got seeing as she's dead!" He could see, through the glass of his office, the faces of his team swivelled towards him, clearly having heard the exchange. Danny seemed oblivious, intently colouring something on a piece of paper at Shaz's desk. "I'm sorry," he said, shuffling some papers that were lying on his desk. "I thought it was what you wanted. To be a part of our lives. To be a part of 'is life..."

"It is," Alex replied, stung by the criticism.

"Then do it," he said angrily. "Just bloody do it."

Alex turned and opened the office door, aware that everyone was watching her. Embarrassingly, she felt tears spring into her eyes. Angrily, she willed them away. Gene Hunt would not make her cry! Regardless of how much she loved him, she would not let him make her cry! She turned to where Danny was still drawing. "Hey," she said, crouching down in front of him. "You and I are going on an adventure!"

He looked at her suspiciously. "What kind of adventure?"

"Well I'm taking you to stay with your Auntie Annie for a few days. She's got two boys about your age and you'll get to see a new place."

"Where?"

"Norwich." She ignored the sound of Ray snorting in the background. "It'll be fun!"

"Is it because of the robber?" Danny asked. "Is that why we can't go home?"

"Exactly," Alex said. "Daddy and I need to be here to try and catch the robber so we need you to go somewhere safe while we do it. What do you think?" She willed him to be accepting about it, not sure if she could bear another metaphorical slap in the face from a Hunt.

Danny nodded solemnly, "Ok. Can I take my dinosaur?"

"You can take whatever you like," Alex straightened up. "Come on, we need to go and pick up your things and then get going." She held out her hand and Danny reached out to take it, hopping off the seat as he did so. "You'd better say goodbye to Daddy first though." She knocked perfunctorily on the door and then opened it. Gene was leaning against the filing cabinet finishing another drink. "I'm going to take him home to get some things and then straight on to Norwich," she informed him coolly.

Gene nodded and put his glass down. "All right son?" he crouched down in front of Danny. "You promise to be good for Alex?" Danny nodded. "And extra-specially good for your Auntie Annie?" He nodded again. "Glad to 'ear it. Come 'ere." He pulled Danny into his arms and hugged him, breathing in his scent. He would never have thought it possible to love a child as much as he loved his son and he knew that the next few days and weeks apart were going to be torture. Yet he knew he was doing the right thing. "Right then," he pulled back and ruffled Danny's hair. "I'll phone you later on and just make sure you're settling in ok and I'll see you in a few days." He straightened up and coughed to cover his emotion.

"Let's go," Alex said and Danny walked out of the office in front of her.

"Thank you," Gene said, as she turned to follow him.

She turned back, determined to be angry, determined to let him see that what he had said had both hurt and infuriated him. But when she saw the look on his face, she felt herself crumble. "It's going to be all right," she said. He nodded and she turned and followed his son out of CID.

Norwich – 1982

For hours after she put the phone down, Annie worried that she had done the wrong thing. It wasn't that she didn't want to help Gene or Danny, but with everything else she had to worry about, she was concerned that she wouldn't be able to perform the function Gene was expecting her to. She was pleased and touched that he considered her up to the job, to protect his most precious possession, but with all the uncertainty surrounding Sam.

Sam. She only hoped that he wouldn't call or suddenly appear while Danny was with them. It would be so easy for it to get back to Gene and then everything would have been for nothing. She knew in her heart that she couldn't jeopardise her own husband and family for whatever problems Gene was having.

"We're 'aving a visitor," she told the boys over lunch.

"Who?" David asked, his mouth full of cake.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," she warned him automatically. "Uncle Gene's son, Danny. 'e's coming to stay with us for a while."

"Why?" David asked again.

"What did I just tell you?" she raised her eyebrows at him and he swallowed hard. "It's because 'e really wants to meet you."

"''ow old is 'e?" Michael chipped in.

"Eight."

"Same age as me!" David announced gleefully.

"Exactly," Annie said, "so you'll 'ave lots in common, won't you?"

"Where's 'e going to sleep?" Michael asked.

"In the spare room, don't worry. I'm not going to ask either of you to give up your beds."

"Good," David said, as the phone suddenly rang out. "Can I get it?"

"No!" Annie replied sharply as she always did. Leaving the table, she made her way into the hallway and lifted the receiver. "Hello?"

"It's me. I 'aven't got much time. I need you to do something for me."

"Sam...."

"Please Annie, it's really important. I need you to get in touch with DI Alex Drake at Fenchurch. I need you to give 'er this number and 'ave 'er call me as soon as possible."

"I don't understand..."

"You don't 'ave to understand," Sam said, "just write this down." He rhymed off some numbers and Annie scribbled them on the back of an envelope. "Make sure you tell 'er that it's important. And make sure she keeps it from Gene."

"Sam, about Gene..."

"I can only stay on another minute or so love."

"He called me and asked me to look after Danny for a few days. 'e said there 'ad been some trouble and 'e needed a safe place for 'im. Alex is bringing 'im down today." There was silence at the other end of the phone. "Sam? Sam, did you 'ear what I said?"

She heard her husband take a ragged breath. "Oh no." Then the line went dead.

"Sam? Sam!" The only sound in her ear was the dial tone. Slowly, she replaced the receiver and then looked down at the piece of paper in her hand. Whatever was going on in Sam's world, it was making less and less sense to his wife.

London – July 1982

"Mr Hunt, this is a flagrant breach of my civil liberties you know." Norman said lighting yet another cigarette. "There must be some kind of law against you keeping me here against my will." He waved his arm dismissively around the interview room and then regarded Gene over his glasses. "What on earth do you want from me?"

"I want to know 'ow you knew that Frank Dempster was coming after me," Gene said quietly.

"I don't recall saying anything of the sort," Norman protested.

"Yes you did!" Ray interjected. "You told me and Chr...DC Skelton...that Frank Dempster wanted to kick seven shades of shit out of the...DCI Hunt.

"I was merely quoting what I heard," Norman replied, taking a long drag and blowing smoke across the table. "I can hardly be held responsible for what my sources tell me now, can I?"

"I want to know who told you," Gene said.

"Like I told you before, Mr Hunt, journalist's sources enjoy a certain level of anonymity. Otherwise, no-one would ever tell us anything!" He flashed Gene his yellow smile. "I'm sure you have the same set up with your own sources."

Gene opened the file that was sitting in front of him and lifted out one of the photographs that had been taken of the dog on Danny's bed. The sight of it made him want to gag, so he placed it in front of Norman without looking at it.

"Good gracious," Norman said, studying it, "what on earth...?"

"That was found on my son's bed," Gene informed him.

"No..." Norman looked up at him. "You don't think...Dempster?" Gene nodded. "Well, well, well...this was not what I had imagined."

"What had you imagined?"

"Something a bit more...well...violent."

"You think leaving a disembowelled dog on a child's bed isn't violent?" Ray asked incredulously.

"What I meant is, violence against you," Norman pointed at Gene, "Frank Dempster is a man who speaks with his fists. I'm not sure that he...I mean this is...this is far more..." He stroked his chin. "Sinister."

Gene leaned forward, amazed that he was keeping his temper so well in check. "Who are your sources?"

Norman paused, all humour having vanished from his face, "I wish I could tell you, I really do..."

"Then tell me."

"But I can't, you see, it's quite impossible."

Gene thumped the table. "Tell me!"

"I can't, honestly I can't!" Norman sat back in his seat, his expression genuinely fearful. "Some of them are powerfully connected and if this is the work of someone other than Dempster..."

"Who?"

Norman shook his head, "I don't know." Then a light seemed to dawn. "But I could find out."

Gene frowned. "'ow do you mean?"

"Let me do a little digging and see what I can find out. Perhaps people might be talking on the streets. You don't do that..." he pointed to the photo, "and not brag a little, do you? I could be your Deep Throat...so to speak."

"'e doesn't know anything Guv," Ray said, "this is a waste of time."

Gene kept his gaze on Norman. "If you 'eard anything..."

"You'd be the first to know," Norman reassured him.

"We're talking about my son 'ere Norman." His tone was still low, yet he could see the other man was unnerved.

"I understand," Norman nodded. "I have a son myself Mr Hunt."

"You?" Ray looked at him contemptuously. "You're a poofter! 'ow can you 'ave a son?"

Norman looked at him, "Amazing. You sound just like him." He turned back to Gene. "I promise you I'll do what I can." He paused. "We have an understanding then?"

Gene nodded, "Ray, release 'im."

"You can't be serious, Guv," Ray moaned. "'e's spinning you a line' ere."

"I reckon that's for me to decide, don't you?" He pushed his chair back and got up from the table.

"Mr Hunt?" He turned back to Norman. "I hope that your son will be all right."

"'e better be," Gene said, "Otherwise understanding or no understanding, I will track you down and kick seven shades of shit out of you!"