Disclaimer – Annie, Mike & Danny are my creation. Everything else, in fact is someone's else's....or several other peoples.
Millie opened the door and her shoulders dropped as she was faced with Max and Jo.
"Again?" She asked but she let them pass though to the living room.
"Look Millie, we're really sorry but we have to do our job and we think Annie knows more than she's letting on." Jo felt she should offer some explanation Max just having passed right by Millie without even looking at her. Millie nodded and smiled at the older DC. She liked Jo and she understood all to well having to go through with the different aspects of your job even if you didn't like them or even feel them necessary.
"Annie," she called out gently knocking on her bedroom door. Annie had gone for a lie down after their brief chat earlier and Millie had left her to it. Pushing open the door she saw Annie lying on the bed, duvet up to her chin – but she was staring at the ceiling and Millie could see the shake of her shoulders. "Jo and Max...I mean DC Masters and..."
"I know who you mean thanks." Annie's sharp snap was at odds with her appearance but Millie didn't even flinch. She knew much worse was to come.
"Are you up to talking to them?"
"Yes, I'm flipping fantastic, cant you see that?"
"Annie...." Millie bit her lip and moved closer to the bed but Annie shuffled sideways, away from her.
"Are you going to get them then? I'm not going out there, I don't have the strength." Millie stood still for a second. She didn't really like anyone she wasn't close to in her bedroom and the idea of letting Max in – but she shook herself out of it quickly and went to get them. She couldn't really let personal feelings in the way of a case.
"Annie said she'll speak to you in the bed room." She nodded to the open door and waited for them to go in. Leading the way Max strolled into Millie's bedroom and took a quick glance around. Noticing over a chair a short and silky nightgown he raised and eyebrow. Millie, clocking the garment at the same time, met Max's gaze and felt herself blush as she took in his expression.
"I'll leave you to it, just call me if you need anything." She hurried out the room leaving them to get on with it.
"So, Annie."
"So, Max." Annie felt Max's glare but she was past caring. She could only think of one thing and as Millie wasn't even there she could finally take her dislike out the man responsible for her sisters kidnapping.
"We've had a chat with Mike Carson."
"I know I gave you the address, remember? God, I cant believe you work in the police force if you cant even remember what happened less than two hours ago." Annie was still staring at the ceiling but she felt Max's glare intensify. Gosh, she thought, if looks could kill.
"Well he told us some interesting things about you."
"I'll bet he did." She sat up , the purple cover falling off her. "Look, cut the crap ok? What do you want?" She fixed them with a glare Max had been on the receiving end many times before. Finding it disconcerting how much she looked like Millie all of a sudden he turned his glare away over to the far wall and let Jo take over.
"Annie, when visiting Mike he told us about his dad supplying you with drugs. Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
"You didn't ask. All you wanted to know is if I'd heard from Mike. I gave you what you wanted."
"We're not having a go, Annie. We're here to ask you now though, so anything you have can help us."
"And what makes you think I'm going to help you two times in one day? Millie promised me you wouldn't say anything to Mike about the drugs, but I'm guessing you did."
"Actually, Mike was the one to bring you up. He already knew about his dad being your dealer." Annie's face flashed with shock and she shook her head.
"No. No way. He had no idea, I made sure of that."
"Annie, that's why he moved out and stopped talking to his dad."
"He stopped talking to his dad?" Jo nodded. "What the hell was he thinking? What a idiot. Where's my bloody phone?" Throwing back the covers Annie jumped out of bed and ran through to the living room. They followed her though and saw her and Millie standing in the middle of the room. Millie was holding Annie's arms at her side and telling her to calm down while Annie was screaming and crying. Millie threw them a dark look over her shoulder and Max could guess she thought him the cause of the fit.
"Annie, sweetie, calm down ok? Deep breathes. Now, what is it?" Annie shook her head again and Mille turned round. "Look, do you mind giving us a minute? I think it would be best if I talked to my sister in private." She could barley hide the distain in her voice and although Max was gearing up for the fight – she should at least have got the full story before judging people – he followed Jo into the kitchen.
"Annie, what happened?"
"Millie, please I need my phone, I need to speak to Mike."
"Alright. Look, it's in the kitchen. I'll get it once you explain to me what happened."
"Fine. They said that Mike knows about his dad being my dealer. And that he stopped talking to him. If Mike really isn't speaking to him...Millie he could come after me. Mike was the only thing protecting me. Danny might not show it but he loves Mike and wouldn't do anything to hurt him."
"But you and Mike are still going out right? So he'll still leave you alone wont he?" Annie shook her head.
"If Mike has already stopped speaking to him, then Danny wont care about hurting him anymore – he's already lost him, why would he?" Millie gave a tight lipped smile at Annie and walked to the kitchen. Picking up Annie's phone off the side and completely ignoring the figures she turned to make her way back to Annie. As she passed the front door she noticed something on the door mat. Leaning over to pick it up she saw it was a photo – of her arriving with Annie last night. Flipping the photo over, there was one line scrawled along the back.
Now I've got you...or her if you don't pay.
"Mille, something wrong?" She turned around to find herself looking into Max's face.
"No, of course not." She smiled at him and walked into the living room – but Max noticed her scrunch something in her hand and place it in her pocket.
*
"Annie wants you to leave now, please." Millie had appeared in the doorway of the kitchen again. Max looked up at her. He'd returned to the kitchen and him and Jo had sat listening to the muted conversation they knew was taking place in the living room.
"Millie we really need to speak to her. She might know where Danny Carson is."
"She doesn't."
"How do you know?" She turned to speak to Max.
"She's been here all day, her phones been there. I'd know if he'd been in touch." Max noticed her hand enter her side pocket. Jo's phone rang and she excused herself from the kitchen. Realising that this wasn't going to go anywhere Jo nodded her goodbye to Millie left through the front door. Millie turned back to face Max, noticing him eyeing her.
"You don't believe me do you? You think I'm lying."
"You told me earlier that you have to protect her. If she turned Danny Carson in I'm sure plenty of people would like to hurt her." Millie's expression turned.
"How about I tell her that? I'm sure she'll be more inclined to help you then."
"More than she already is you mean?"
"She gave you Mike."
"Which was a dead end."
"She cant give you something she doesn't have Max."
"Millie?" Annie had appeared at the doorway. Her eyes were red and Millie went straight to hug her. "Can I have some water please?" Max who was nearest to the sink turned to get her a glass and filled it up, passing it to her. Noticing how Millie and Annie were both looking at him he cleared his throat and turned away.
"Crap, Mills I'm sorry." Turing back to the women he noticed Annie was now holding an empty glass and Millie had the contents all over her front.
"It's alright. I'll just get changed. Max you should go, Jo's waiting." She threw the jumped she'd been wearing over one of the chairs and with Annie following her exited the kitchen. Grabbing this chance, Max fumbled about in Millie's pocket and found the edge of something. Pulling it out, he heard footsteps in the hall and quickly shoved it in his jacket pocket.
"I thought you were leaving?" Annie was glaring at him again as she moved to the far side of the kitchen and opened a cupboard.
"I was just going." Leaving the kitchen he left out the front door and back down to Jo.
