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"So," Meg said, "tell me more about this film."

"What film?" Alex asked as they left her flat to head over to the police station across the road.

"Ghost. The one you mentioned when you first saw me."

"Oh that. Well, it's about a man called Sam…"

"Convenient."

"…who gets stabbed one night while he's out with his girlfriend Molly. Only, instead of going to heaven, he hangs around her as a ghost."

"Sounds familiar."

"And he finds out that he was murdered and that Molly's in danger too. So he seeks help from Oda Mae Brown a clairaudient…"

"A what?"

"A clairaudient. Someone who hears dead people and…" Alex paused as Meg suddenly started laughing. "What?" They were in the street now, bright sunshine dappling them both and causing Alex to screw up her eyes. "What's so funny?"

"Sorry," Meg spluttered, "but just what are you wearing?"

Alex looked down at the tight jeans and blue off shoulder top she had grown so attached to. Accompanying them were her faithful white boots and white leather jacket. "What's wrong with it?"

"Well, I mean…" Meg trailed off and made a face, "It's so…"

"So what?"

"You look terrible," she blurted out. "Sorry, don't mean to be offensive, but you do."

"Thanks very much," Alex replied, slightly hurt, "I was wearing this yesterday when we went to the hospital and you didn't say anything then."

"I must 'ave been looking elsewhere." Meg shook her head, "I guess it's true after all then."

"What is?"

"Fashion died when I did."

Alex looked her companion up and down and took in the flared jeans and floating top she had on. "Yes well…if anyone could see you now they'd say you were so last decade!" With that, she flounced off in the direction of the front door of the station, Meg's laughter trailing behind her.

"I am so last decade!" She called, catching up with her at the bottom of the stairs, "Anyway, you were saying about the woman who hears dead people."

"Oh just forget it!" Alex threw the door open and stormed inside, slamming it behind her. Viv, ensconced at the front desk, jumped.

"Morning Ma'am," he greeted her courteously, "I didn't think you were coming back for a few days."

"Yes well, I…" she paused, wondering exactly what she was doing here, "We…I mean I…I just wanted to pick something up."

"Ok," Viv nodded.

"Right then."

"Right."

"I'll go and…pick it up." She walked away from the desk down the corridor towards CID.

"You're really not very good at this, are you?" Meg said, falling into step beside her.

"Yes, thank you, we've already covered my frailities!" Alex snapped. "Perhaps we should focus on some of yours!"

"Like what? I'm dead. I'm remembered through rose-tinted specs. Like a mythical goddess."

"Oh get over yourself," Alex muttered, throwing open the door of CID and noting, thankfully, that it was empty.

"Sorry, but it's…bloody 'ell!" Meg stopped dead and looked around her, up at the ceiling, like Alex herself had done. "What on earth is that?"

"It's called a ceiling."

"Yes, thank you. I might be dead but I'm not daft." Meg squinted at it, "Gives me an 'eadache just looking at it."

"Well not-one's forcing you to look at it!"

Meg lowered her gaze and took in the room. "It's so…bright. Back in Manchester it was like working in a cupboard. It was dead dark and you could barely see for smoke."

"In a few years time, smoking will be banned in public buildings," Alex informed her.

Meg looked at her with horror, "You're kidding?"

"No."

"Gene's going to 'ate that." She walked over and stood at the side of Alex's desk. "So, this is your desk then?" Alex nodded. "No pictures of your daughter."

"I forgot to grab one just before the bullet hit me," Alex replied sarcastically.

Meg snorted with laughter, "Lighten up for Christ's sake! Are you still pissed off about what I said about your clothes? I'm sure you're the epitome of fashion circa 1981 but for me…" she made another face.

"You've made your point, thank you." Alex interrupted. "Why did you want to come here anyway?"

Meg shrugged, "Just wanted to see what it was like."

"I thought you said that we would find answers here?"

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did! You said…"

"I said we wouldn't find any sitting in your flat. I thought being 'ere might give us some inspiration." She turned and looked to the far end of the room. "Is that Gene's office?"

"The picture of himself depicted as the Manc Lion gives it away somewhat." Alex watched as Meg walked towards the door and pushed it open, stepped inside and closed the door behind her. She watched as Meg slowly circled the desk, running her fingers along it, and then sitting down in the chair behind it. She watched her opening the desk drawers one at a time and then closing them, her expression one of sadness.

Alex stood up and was about to join her in the office when she heard a commotion coming from the corridor and moved to the window in time to see Chris and Ray manhandle a young woman down the corridor towards the interrogation room. Gene came behind them, his face set in anger. She moved to the door just as he opened it and they came face to face.

"What the 'ell are you doing 'ere?" he asked, clearly surprised to see her.

Alex glanced quickly at his office where Meg was still sitting in his chair, watching wide-eyed. "I…forgot something."

"What?"

"My…uh…" she glanced around for inspiration, "my…who was that?"

"Who was who?"

"That girl Chris and Ray just threw into interrogation."

Gene leant against the doorframe, "Tanya Blake." Alex shrugged, indicating she had no idea who he meant. "Girlfriend of Vinny Richards."

"And who's Vinny Richards?" she glanced behind her at the sound of Gene's office door opening and saw Meg emerge.

"Vinny's one of the biggest drug dealers on my patch and we just found a shitload of cocaine in a warehouse 'e uses at the wharf."

"And where does Tanya fit in?"

"She was at the 'ouse when we went round. 'e wasn't there but she's going to tell us where 'e is."

"You need a female to assist in the interview."

"The 'ell I do."

"She might respond better to me."

"You're still not well, Alex and you should still be in bed." He tilted his head on one side, "What did you say you came in 'ere for anyway?"

"Oh…" her heart pounded loudly, "it was…"

"Guv?" Chris came up behind Gene.

"Can't you see we're 'aving a private conversation 'ere?" Gene demanded, rounding on his DC.

"Oh…um…sorry Guv, but…well…"

"Well what?"

"Erm…Tanya Blake's taken all 'er clothes off. She's starkers in there, Guv."

Gene clapped his hands, "Good! Might get 'er talking."

"I don't think so!" Alex butted in. "You can't interview her in that condition!"

"Yes I can."

"No you can't!"

"Can, can, can!"

"Look, don't be so stupid! If you do that, Vinny's lawyer will have anything she says thrown out as inadmissible in court." Gene looked pensive. "At least let me talk to her. I'm fine," she added, seeing his expression, "and afterwards, I promise I'll go back to bed."

Gene seemed to consider this for a moment then nodded. "Fine. Let me know what the tart says. Chris, get Ray out of there before 'e goes blind." With that, he moved past Alex back towards his office and walked straight past Meg who was still standing just outside the door.

"Psst!" Alex hissed to try and catch her attention. "Psst!" The other woman didn't move, so Alex let out a low whistle.

"I'm not a bloody dog," Meg said, finally turning and walking back towards her.

"What were you looking for anyway?" Alex asked, keeping her voice deliberately soft.

"I wanted to see if there was anything of me in there. Anything that 'e 'as to remind 'im of me."

"He keeps your picture in his desk drawer," Alex reassured her.

Meg looked up, her eyes shining, "Not any more 'e doesn't." With that, she pushed past Alex and disappeared down the corridor.

XXXX

"Back for more, are you? Oh…"

"It's all right," Alex said, closing the door behind her, "There's no-one else coming in. Do you want to…?" she motioned to the pile of clothes that Tanya Blake had left on the floor.

"Oh…yeah…ok," Tanya lifted them from the floor and started to get dressed, "I only did it so that…"

"I understand."

"Bloody pervs! Specially the one with the 'tache!"

Alex smothered a smile, "Tanya, you know why you're here, don't you?"

"I'm not stupid. I know it's about Vinny." She finished dressing and pulled out the chair opposite Alex, "but I'm telling you now, those drugs aren't his."

"What drugs?"

"The ones they said they found at the wharf. They're not Vinny's. They couldn't be."

"Why not?"

"Because he swore that that was all finished. That there would be no more drugs, no more police, no more of this crap…" she lifted her bag and pulled out a packet of cigarettes, "Do you mind?" Alex shook her head. "I'm so sick of this shit!" Her fingers trembled as she lit the tip and then drew in a lungful of nicotine. "He only got out of jail six months ago!"

"How long had he been in?"

"Two years! Two frigging years!" Tanya shook her head, "He swore it was finished. That he would be there for me and Jenny from now on."

"Who's Jenny, your daughter?" Tanya nodded. "How old is she?"

"Five. And she deserves better than this. Poor kid was hysterical when that lot broke the door down."

"Where is she now?"

"With me mother, who's going to do her nut about this! She told me last time I should leave him but I didn't listen and now, here we go again!"

"Tanya," Alex said slowly, "It's important that we find Vinny. If the drugs aren't his then he can explain and that can be looked into."

"They are his though, aren't they?" Tanya looked her straight in the eye.

"I thought you said they weren't?"

"Who am I kidding?" She stubbed out her cigarette, "They're his. They have to be." She sighed heavily, "When he's not at home, he's usually with his mates. The same ones who served his time with him. Phil Baxter and Ronnie Matthews. They usually hang out at The Swan on Mallard Road." Tanya put her head in her hands and started to cry.

"Thanks Tanya," Alex put her hand on the other woman's arm and thought about how men always let the women who loved them down.

XXXX

Gene was completing a rare piece of paperwork when he felt a sudden draft, as if someone had opened the door of his office and stepped inside. But when he looked up, the door was still closed and the others were still at their desks waiting for Alex to finish the interview. These occurrences were happening more and more often now and he was starting to seriously think he was losing his mind.

"Not even a picture," Meg said quietly, "Not even one." She sat down in the chair opposite him as he bent his head again. "But then I suppose there weren't many now I come to think about it. We weren't really ones for 'aving our photos taken, were we? None of Daniel either. Doesn't me dad send you any?" She said this, in the vain hope that he might answer her, but he didn't. "'Ow is 'e? Do you see 'im much?" she continued regardless. "Alex says that in 2008 'e's a doctor. Can you imagine that, Gene? Our son a doctor. Who would 'ave thought it, eh?"

The phone rang at that moment and Gene lifted it. "What?" There was a pause. "Well 'urry up and get it! I want that 'ouse searched tonight!" With that, he slammed the receiver down and picked up his pen again.

"You 'aven't changed a bit. Still the same Gene Hunt. 'Ave your feelings changed? Do you still love me the way you did all those years ago?" Meg sat forward in the chair, "If I could be 'ere now, real and alive, right in front of you, would you still want me? After everything, would you still want me? Or do you want 'er now?"

The door opened behind her. Gene looked up and Meg turned around.

"I've…finished interviewing Tanya," Alex said, her eyes moving between Gene and Meg. "She's given us a location where we might find Vinny. The Swan pub on Mallard Road."

"Good!" Gene said, "We'll go down there and nick 'im while we're waiting for the bloody search warrant for 'is 'ouse." He got to his feet and looked at her. "You ok?"

Alex looked back at him, "Yes, fine."

"You promised you'd go back to bed after the interview."

"And I will."

"Fine," he leant forward and kissed her quickly, "talk to me nicely and I might join you there later!" With that, he left the office and started rounding up the others, barking orders in that way she knew both she and Meg loved.

"What did you think you were doing?" she asked the younger woman.

"Talking. Not that 'e 'eard me anyway. Guess I need to find meself one of those clair-whatsits."

"Clairaudients," Alex supplied, "I suppose you've got me." She laughed weakly.

Meg looked at her, but there was no amusement in her expression, "I would need someone with no vested interest, wouldn't I?" They both looked at each other, the tension thick between them. "I want to see my son."

"Your son?" Alex echoed stupidly.

"Yes," Meg said, "my son. Now, before it's too late."