I don't own OG characters, I thank Tony Grounds for creating them...also I don't own Kirsty Young or crimewatch either!

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Again this is dark...as you will read, but I will try to not make it too distressful to read.

Your ref: This story began 3 months after the very end of Molly's choice...

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Molly stared at the TV screen as Crimewatch went out. She never really took much notice of the programme usually, it was only because she was 'starring' in it. Her case.

It was painful to watch, but the producers at got it off down to a tee of what happened that cold rainy night. She relaxed back on the sofa with tears in her eyes watching. Dad and Nan and the kids all said that they would come and watch it with her, or she could go to their places, but she wanted to watch it alone, she felt she needed to.

Christmas had come and gone. Not that it registered in her brain much. Christmas was like a half memory in her mind because nothing about it was real for her.

Christmas, had been planned in her head like she did last year. But all best laid plans were useless, redundant, because little Esther wasn't there as the main attraction, for everybody to dote on.

Kirsty Young was issuing the number on the TV screen, or you could ring crimestoppers.

She got up and with the remote, she turned the volume down, she wanted to stay up, she wanted to stay up for Crimewatch update. She needed that hope that there was going to be some response.

There had been so many false leads like that one in Manchester. She had raised her hopes so highly on that one to the extent that she went out and bought a Christmas present.

But it turned out that the little girl had been a dying sisters child and she was looking after her...some nosey neighbour putting two and two together and getting 900.

But the police pressed into her that, even though it had been a deadend lead, it was good to have nosey neighbours about because one day that could be the start of a positive outcome.

She made herself a coffee and thought about Charles. He had left Julie before Christmas and was currently stopping with his parents. He had called like he said he would and said that he had Julie were no more.

She didn't know quite how to take that. She didn't want to feel pressured, and Charles must have got that vibe from her because he said that anything other than about Esther, he would keep his distance.

It was a relief in some respects, but sometimes in the deep dark night in bed, she wished he was there to make things better for her.

Her phone buzzed. She went across to the armchair and read the message, it was from Charles.

I've watched and my deepest thoughts are with you xx

She held the phone to her chest and tried to smile.

She pulled herself together, texted back thanks and debated whether she had time for a hot bath before the Crimewatch Update started.

She did, so that's what she did.

XXX

It was snowing like mad outside. Molly looked out the flat window to see awash of white and car wheels spinning around and around and not getting anywhere in the carpark below.

January was a cruel month and the weather was crueller. She made herself breakfast and thought about how disappointed she was after the Crimewatch update last night. There had been no response to her appeal.

Nothing at all.

She sat in her PJs and watched morning TV. The door then rapped and she opened it to Lee.

"Hi...", he said. He sported the thickest bobble hat of all time. Molly ushered him inside, "Hi yourself...so did you see it?"

Lee nodded, "yeah...and I saw the update as well...I'm sorry Molls"

Molly tried too see the wood through the trees, "It's still early days...some people might sky+ Crimewatch dont they?"

Lee shrugged, "Course...yeah you right Molls...there's still hope and that"

Molly turned, "I was just going to pop the kettle on, do you wanna coffee or somefink?"

Lee wanted to know whether that was okay, "Yeah? I haven't seen you much lately and I still get visions of me launching myself at you"

"That's all forgotten, you narna...now just stay and have a coffee..."

Lee relaxed and sat on the couch, "So...I see that Charles is keeping his distance and that, gone back to his bird has he?"

Molly poured the coffees out, "Nah, he's split up with her...bout time, she's a right snotty cow her...looking down her nose at me"

She came and handed him the coffee and smiled, "We are still proper mates aren't we? I dont want you to feel like you cant come round anymore"

Lee nodded, "deffo"

She received another text and she smiled.

"Whose that from?"

She looked up, "Smurf...he's just sending me a smiley face...he does that"

She hadn't quite put the phone down when this time it sent out a calling tone, she answered, "Hello...yeah, hi...you wanna call round? Is this about last night? Is there any news and that...I'll see you then..."

"What is it?"

She looked up, "Sara, my liasion officer, she says she's got news..."

XXX

"This was emailed to me earlier from my chief inspector. It came in through the public network...it's an anonymous email so we can't trace the link...it's addressed to you"

Molly stared at the piece of folded over A4 paper in Sara's grasp, "me? well come on, let me read it..."

Sara handed it over to her with caution. Molly opened it out and looped her hair behind her ears. She began to read it silently.

Dear Molly Dawes,

I have sent this letter to the police in London because I knew that it might get to you. I have your daughter and she is safe and well.

She is such a beautiful well behaved child. Her name now is Helen.

What can I say? Sorry? But I am not sorry that your daughter was given to me. She wants for nothing and I am sure that a life here...is better than a life in a city that is choking on it's own fumes.

Now...Helen has been told that you have died and that she has come to live with us now because your family are too distressed over your death to take care of her. She is so young and she had adapted so well.

I just felt bad when I saw the case on Crimewatch last night. I saw how she meant to you and how her disappearence from your lives have effected you.

Time is a great healer.

And you will get over this Molly, I promise you.

But Helen is mine now and you wouldn't want to ruin the lovely little life she is having now. How I understand it, she came from a broken home. Single Mum, no father. She now has a full family to love and dote on her, please don't begrudge her of that.

Anyway, I must go...

Take care.

Molly let the letter slip from her fingers and stared at Sara, "It's from her, isn't it? The woman who took Esther from me"

Lee was standing nearby listening, "Moll? Do you want me to call your Nan or your Dad?"

She shook her head.

Sara leaned and picked up the email from the carpet, "we don't know whether this is real...or a hoax...but we will do all we can to investigate it's authenity, there are some very strange people out there who like to cash in on rewards and..."

Molly shook her head, "a ransom?"

"It doesn't state that...that letter reads as if your daughter will be brought up by somebody else"

"No way! She's gonna come back to me...so you best go and sort it out, I'm not having it!"

XXX

Molly sat on the train as the countryside speed past her like a blur. She had to get away from London. Away from Nan and Dads constant fussing.

She had been so relieved to hear that the snow hadn't closed any of the rail network, she couldn't deal with that as well.

She closed her eyes but couldn't sleep. Soon the tannoil was announcing her arrival at Bath.

Molly pulled her case behind her and walked up onto the street. Charles was waiting for her with a welcoming smile.

"I've missed you", he said softly.

She gave him a sad smile and accepted the warm embrace from him. They then walked along the curb to the waiting taxi and got in.

XXX

At his parents place, Charles let himself in and Molly followed him into the hall. She removed her snowy boots and looked at him, "I had to get away...I couldn't stand all the ohhh Molly...poor Molly no more"

Charles took her hand in his and led her into the lounge and positioned her infront of the fireplace, the open fire was burning up nicely.

"Warm yourself, I'll put the coffee on...Rosabaya not instant"

She managed a smile.

She eventually sat on the couch and Charles brought in the coffee on a silver tray. He sat and and pushed down on the plunger and sat back and looked at her with interest.

"So...how are you coping?"

Molly shrugged, "I dont know. Charles..and thats the honest truth. I dont know who I am, I dont know how to react and behave, I...I'm just lost...like my lifes in a limbo"

"You were telling me about this email that was sent to the police...my guess is that it is a crank...somebody fishing for a reward for finding her perhaps"

Molly watched him pull out the coffee, "thats what I was finking. Since that Manchester buisness I just dont have any hope in anyfink anymore..."

He placed a hand on her cheek, "Be positive", he urged softly.

Molly looked at him as his thumb gently rubbed soothingly under her eye, she placed her hand over his and he took it and kissed it.

She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. He took her hand and squeezed it, "lets just drink the coffee shall we, "he said all bashful.

XXX

The woman spat on her tissue and wiped the little girls mouth as they waited at the airport. The other woman text to her turned her head, "What a lovely little girl you have, what is her name?"

"Helen"

"ohhhhhhh what an adorable little girl, going somewhere nice are you?"

"Yeah...somewhere nice and warm...and far far away...isn't that right Helen"

The little girl looked at her and to the stranger, her brown eyes darted to and fro.

"Come on Helen...time to go...

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The final two chapters will go out at the weekend. Thank you so much for the review, thoughts, reviews, opinions are always welcomed, I love to hear from you.