Chapter 7:

Mille waved sadly to Sophie as the social worker took her hand and led her out of the stations front doors. Mille sighed deeply, turned around and started towards the locker rooms, pulling her tie off as she walked. She pulled her locker door open and grabbed her clothes. She stood in the shower for a few minutes just letting the water run down her, her mind empty. Eventually she got changed, grabbed her handbag and started for the front exit.

"Mills! Wait up" she heard her husband call out behind her.

She turned around and saw Max jog up to her.

"You ok?" he asked her, putting his hands on her arms, looking into her tired eyes, concerned.

She nodded and gave him a tight smile. "Yeah yeah, just really knackered"

Max looked at her, but he knew she was holding something back.

"Millie" he said looking at her seriously, "I know that not all, tell me what's wrong" he added rubbing her arms.

Suddenly tears welled up in Millie's eyes and she broke down, crying. Max led her into the next room, shut the door behind them and gave Millie a warm hug.

"Sophie was so sad when the social worker came for her, she was crying and reaching out for me and I couldn't do anything" Millie sobbed into his shoulder.

Max pulled her back and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Max looked deeply into her eyes "Shhh, it's ok, it's not your fault, it had to happen" he said and pulled her back in a hug, Millie rested her head on Max's chest and welcomed his warmth and comfort.

"Look, why don't we go home?" he asked gently. "I'll take you myself".

Millie gave him a small smile and nodded.

"Ok, why don't you go sit in the car and I'll just go tell the DI". Millie gave another nod; Max gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and jogged up the stairs to CID.

He found the DI in his office, reading some files. Max knocked lightly on the door, Neil looked up quickly and beckoned Max inside.

"Guv, just letting you know that I'm knocking off, I'm taking Millie home, she's a bit upset about the little Milson girl".

"Yeah sure, goodnight" Neil mumbled, turning back to his files.

Max returned to the car and found Millie sniffling and wiping her eyes. Max sat down in the driver's seat and looked over at Millie again.

"It all going to be ok" he told her reassuringly, squeezing her shoulder gently.

Millie gave him a grateful smile in return. Max started the engine and they drove home in silence.


When they arrived home, Millie went to get changed, while Max walked into the kitchen and started to make tea. Millie came out in her dressing gown and sat down on the lounge and crossed her legs underneath her. Max came over and handed her a mug of tea. She took a small sip and put the cup down on the coffee table in front of her. Max sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulder; Millie rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes.

They were sitting like this for a few minutes when Millie announced she was going to bed.

"I'm so tired, I just need a rest" she told him. Max nodded and followed her into the bedroom.


Max woke up with a start and looked over at the red numbers of the clock on his bedside table.

6:13am

Max pulled back the covers and sat up on the side of the bed. He turned and looked over at his sleeping wife. She looked so peaceful and calm in her sleep, Max couldn't help but smile at her. Suddenly he heard his phone go off downstairs.

Quickly he jumped up and silently ran down the stairs over to his phone which was sitting on the kitchen bench.

He checked caller ID and saw that it was the DI.

"Max" he heard the DI say, when he picked up "I need you to come in, something's come up and we need you in here".


Millie woke up at 7:45 and felt on the other side of the bed for her husband. She frowned when she realised he wasn't there.

"That's strange" she thought to herself "today's his day off".

Mille got out of bed, had a shower and went into the kitchen to make herself breakfast.

She was about to pour the coffee into a mug when the phone went off. Mille walked over to it and picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Mills, it me" she heard Max say.

"Oh, hey" she replied "I was wondering where you had got to, you're off today aren't you?"

"Yeah, but I got called in" he paused and sighed "Mills, I think you better get down here, we've found Kyra".