Disclaimer – Annie, Mike, Danny – mine. Everything else – not mine.

Max waited until the end of the day to retrieve the scrunched up photo from his pocket. He wasn't sure what it was and he didn't want to have to explain himself unless he had to. The CID offices were empty apart from him, Jo leaving early and the rest of the force leaving for the pub some 10 minutes ago all happy because they'd managed to crack some big case. Carefully pressing the photo out he studied it. He could make out Millie and Annie and he recognised the front of Millie's house. Noting the brown shawl wrapped around Annie's shoulders he deduced that this must have been taken the day Millie came to pick Annie up from the station. Flipping the photo round he read the message on the back and his face pulled into his usual frown. Pushing his chair back he looked at his watch and deciding that it wasn't to late to call round he hurried from the office the photo still clutched in his hand.

*

Millie turned over on the sofa the covers rustling. Annie was sleeping in her bed and the only thing that could be heard was the gently snoring of Millie's flat mate. Millie had spent the whole evening searching for the photo – she didn't want Annie to see it. She was scared enough as it was, and Millie was afraid this would tip her over the edge. She'd searched all her pockets on the jumper she'd been wearing and then all over the kitchen and hallway but she still hadn't been able to find it. When Annie had asked her what she was doing Millie decided to keep looking later – Annie was the most important thing at the moment and she needed something to distract her. They'd curled up on the sofa watching girly films and swooning over the hot men. Annie had expressed her liking for tall blonde men and Millie had said she preferred dark haired men herself. "And brooding, and closed off...." Annie had shut up at a quick glance from Millie but they had both dissolved in giggles Millie only briefly wondering if her crush was that obvious.

Mille threw her legs over the edge of the sofa and went to the kitchen with the idea of getting some water floating around when she saw a figure approaching her door. Throwing her dressing gown around herself she peered out the spy hole and signed when she saw Max.

"What the hell?" Max, who had just been about to knock couldn't stop his face registering surprise but he quickly covered it up and settled back into his usual frown. "Can I come in?"

"It's 11. At night."

"Yeah, sorry, just...." Max didn't like being made to feel stupid or have his wrong choices said aloud. He saw Millie glaring but she stepped back and he passed her, going to sit down in her kitchen. She turned her head away as he passed something he noticed.

"What's this about?"

"It's about Danny Carson."

"Yeah I guessed. What else could it...oh." As she remembered their earlier encounter she blushed and looked away.

"I found this earlier." He withdrew the photo and placed it on the kitchen counter. Millie gasped.

"Where did you get that? You had no right..."

"Millie, this is important. Why didn't you tell us about it?"

"Because it's nothing to do with you." She made to snatch the photo off the table but Max was to quick for her and grabbed her hand.

"Of course it's something to do with us. We're trying to find Danny Carson and you hide things like this from us."

"Oh and how do you know it's from Danny?" She was well aware of his hand on hers and finding it hard to concentrate on the conversation.

"Is it?"

"Yes." She pulled her hand away and brushed her hair back.

"What's he talking about? On the photo?"

"I thought you were the detective?" Max eyed her and she tried to keep eye contact but she dropped her gaze first.

"How much?" Millie's glare at the table top increased and Max knew he was down the right path.

"How much?" He repeated.

"It's got nothing to do with you. I think you should leave now." She made to stand up but Max was again to quick for her, blocking her way out of the door.

"Millie," his voice was so low now she had to concentrate to hear it. "We can help her, you know we can."

"She doesn't need your help. She has me."

"I'm sure you can do so much to help her." Mille opened her mouth to release a stream of abuse at him. What the hell was she thinking, liking someone who put her down every chance he got? The words were on the very tip of her mouth.

"Not again! Leave us alone cant you?" She felt the words die on her lips as she looked round Max's arm and saw Annie standing at the edge of the doorway, hair all messed up from just getting out of bed. She was staring at the back of Max's head with intense dislike. She felt Max's arm dropped as he turned to face Annie.

"Listen, Annie. I know you don't like me very much but I have an idea. It'll help you get Danny Carson off your back."

"Millie..." Annie turned her attention to her sister who just shook her head.

"She didn't tell me anything, it's my job. Look would you be willing to go along with a sting?"

"A what?" Annie's expression was confused. Millie couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"You arrange to meet up with Danny. Police officers will be there to arrest Danny as soon as we catch him with the drugs.

"What drugs?"

"You'll contact him to buy more drugs off him."

"Max..." Millie's voice was weak as she tried to break into the conversation.

"He wont give me any more. Not until I pay him."

"How much?"

"£2,000."

"Fine, we should be able to arrange that. When we arrest him we'll get the money back off him, we wouldn't go around paying off junkies debts."

"Wow, if that's the way you talk to everyone I'm amazed you get anything done."

"Will you do it?"

"No." Annie and Max's head whipped around to see Millie with the biggest glare on her face.

"Get Out." Her voice was icy cold and she was glaring as Max and trying hard to breathe normally.

"Millie...."

"Max, I meant it. Get out now." Max, remembering that they were in the kitchen were many shape objects were held decided to make him leave and come back at a more reasonable time. When she'd had sleep she's think differently. With a curt nod to the sisters he left the kitchen his mind on how he'd manage to talk Jo round.