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"You little bitch," hissed Ray, venom dripping from every syllable.

Shaz scowled back, not bothering to shoot a pleading expression at Chris. She could see from the corner of her eye the disgust in his expression.

"How can you even suggest such a thing?" Ray asked rhetorically and Shaz rolled her eyes.

"Because I saw it, you idiotic son of a-"

"How could you be sure it was Langley?" Chris interrupted.

"I've studied his mug-shot in the file for nearly a year," Shaz retorted, her fists clenched to stop her hands from shaking. "I'm telling you, I know what I saw."

"Tell the Ma'am then," said Chris.

"Maybe I will, she has a right to know!"

"Don't you fucking dare," Ray shouted, just as Alex entered CID.

"Ray!" Alex chastised. She didn't miss the warning look he shot Shaz and looked between them suspiciously. If they were hiding something from her, she would find out about it.

"Sorry Ma'am," said Ray sulkily before planting himself at his desk and reaching forward for a stack of files. He haphazardly flung them open and shut, without really reading anything. Alex frowned and looked to Shaz. Shaz avoided her eye and stared at her typewriter.

XXX

Chris was on the steps leading into the station waiting for Shaz when Alex managed to catch him alone.

"Hiya," she said, injecting as much friendliness as she could into her voice, "Cold today, isn't it?"

Chris smiled and muttered his agreement. Alex took the plunge.

"Is Shaz OK? Has Ray been giving her any sort of trouble?"

Chris face clouded over and Alex backtracked quickly.

"I'm just concerned that's all. Firstly, we all work together, so it's imperative we get along. Secondly, if any of you are unhappy for whatever reason, it- it bothers me."

"Why don't you ask Shaz yourself?" said Chris bitterly.

"Do you think I should?"

Chris realised to late what he had said. "No! No you definitely shouldn't!" he exclaimed and Alex raised her eyebrows.

"You tell me then."

Chris looked miserably at the steps. "I can't."

"Who are you protecting, Chris? Shaz or me?" Alex paused. "Or someone else?"

Chris said nothing, but he looked up, frantically searching around for Shaz so he could make his excuses and get the hell out of there. But Shaz was nowhere around.

By now, Alex had reached the end of her patience, so she used the last weapon in her arsenal, "DC Skelton, I am your superior officer. When I ask you a question, you answer it. I ask you now, why was Ray shouting at Shaz?"

So Chris told her. As he did so, tears flowed down his cheeks and froze against his skin. His voice shook and his eyes looked straight at Alex with an intensity that made her uncomfortable. Finally, he stopped talking and Alex knew he was waiting for some kind of acknowledgment that she believed him.

"You're a fucking liar, Christopher Skelton," said Alex harshly, "This is what Shaz thinks? Is that girl insane?"

"Ask her yourself," said Chris quietly and Alex looked over her shoulder to see Shaz descending the stairs towards them. She stopped, still fairly near the top when she saw Alex's face and half turned as though she wanted to run back inside. But Alex turned from her and ran down the stairs and across the road into her flat.

She hated Shaz. Hated her, and yet was frightened of her too.