Sandra Pullman was a Detective Superintendent in charge of the Unsolved Crime and Open case Squad. It was seen as a bit of a joke in the Metropolitan Police Force but Sandra had fought hard to create a respectable, successful team over the ten years she had been in charge. The unsolved crimes that had crossed her desk had remained so because of a lack of concrete evidence at the time or that every single line of investigation had already been expended. Occasionally new evidence was brought to light, but usually anything up to twenty years after the original crime and there was no telling what the ravages of time had done to it, not to mention recalling witnesses whose memories of events may not be as sharp as they had been immediately afterwards. UCOS was seen as a dead end job, not only because of the low success rate but because the team was made up of troublesome, retired police officers with 'old git' syndrome.' Sandra was a fair way off retirement, attractive, single and appeared to be distinctly out of place with the officers she managed. However, she had developed deep connections, friendships of a sort, with each of her team and they cared and looked out for each other. Not unlike Gill and her MIT syndicate or Julie's when she ran hers.
Sandra and Julie had met at New Scotland Yard as Julie had familiarised herself with Met protocol and her temporary superiors while she was seconded from Karen's jurisdiction. There had been an immediate connection between the two and Sandra had made it blatantly clear that she wanted to get to know Julie on a more personal level. Fortunately she had taken Julie's polite refusal well and had instead agreed to meet up as friends. They had managed lunch of some sort once a week ever since and Sandra had fast become a very good friend. Julie had explained her situation with Gill and Sandra had been wonderfully understanding and helpful when it came to advice. It was the sort of thing that she and Gill would have mulled over, had a laugh to ease the tension and then set the world to rights. Had the younger woman not been at the heart of the problem that was. Sandra wasn't quite Gill's replacement but if Gill didn't already have a different role to play in her life now, Julie could easily have seen her getting quite jealous over their growing friendship.
They had agreed to meet in a little cafe not far from Sandra's office in Camden. The deli style food was perfect as Julie was taking Gill out for dinner later and she hadn't wanted anything too heavy that would potentially spoil it. She and Gill shared a Greek salad with feta cheese and tomatoes with an olive oil and balsamic dressing. They also shared some hummus, pitta bread and olives between them. Sandra had a toasted roast lamb and vegetable pannini with a side salad. Gill had immediately taken to Sandra the moment they had been introduced. The blonde haired DSI was kind and gentle but had a weary air about her, as though she had been through some really tough times in her life that had made her wiser and older than her years. Gill understood exactly what that was like and wondered if it was pre-requisite of becoming a police officer. She remained slightly jealous as she could clearly see that Sandra and Julie had shared a lot as their friendship had grown over the last few weeks.
"So, what are you two lovebirds up to tonight?" Sandra asked her new friends cheerily. She had seen just how completely in love they were from the moment they had entered the cafe. Julie's absolute adoration for Gill had been apparent whenever they had spoken during their lunchtime get-togethers. It was only by seeing Gill for the first time that she could see it was reciprocated just as strongly. Of course, she was disappointed for herself, Julie was beautiful and intelligent and she still fancied her more than a little bit but she had absolutely no intention of getting in the way of their happiness.
"I've booked us tickets to see Phantom of the Opera." Gill had been delighted when Julie had told her. She loved musical theatre and had yet to see that particular show.
"You'll love it! I've seen it three times myself." Sandra's attention was momentarily diverted as something caught her eye just outside the cafe. "Oh no! He's not… You must be joking!" Gill followed her line of sight.
"What?" She asked curiously.
"Is that…?" Julie queried, having been through this rigmarole before.
"Gerry bloody Standing." The man himself walked in through the door in a faux-casual manner.
"Oh hello Sandra, fancy seeing you here?" He looked at Julie and smiled, recognising her from previous occasions although they had yet to be formally introduced. He then nodded at Gill and grinned childishly.
"Yes, fancy." Sandra remarked through gritted teeth. Gerry stood staring at her as though he were waiting for a cue. "What?"
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your very attractive friends?" As quick as you like the Gerry Standing charm offensive was in full gear and Sandra rolled her eyes.
"DS Gerry Standing, this is Detective Superintendent Julie Dodson from Greater Manchester." Gerry reached for Julie's hand and went to kiss it but she turned tables and shook his hand very firmly instead. He raised his eyebrows in surprise before he recovered himself.
"A pleasure Ma'am." Sandra then turned to Gill.
"And this is her partner, Detective Chief Inspector Gill Murray." Gerry had learnt his lesson from the first time went in for a normal handshake as was usually befitting a senior officer.
"It's lovely to meet you." The term 'partner' had gone over Gerry's head but the significance of it hadn't been lost on both Gill and Julie. They looked intensely at each other and smiled bashfully. Well, they supposed it was now official, they were an item. Gerry hovered over the three women and grinned away like an idiot.
"Was there something you wanted Gerry or were you just following me as usual?" Gerry wore a look of mock-indignation and the suggestion he had been following her, despite the fact that he blatantly had been.
"Who me? I think you've got the wrong man." Sandra rolled her eyes yet again in exasperation at her subordinate.
"I wasn't born yesterday. Out with it!" She knew that he had seen her out with Julie before and she was in no doubt that he was curious to find out who she was and what was going on. Not that it was any of his business mind you.
"I was just looking out for a friend that's all." Gerry came across innocently enough to her guests but Sandra knew otherwise; he was just out and out nosy.
"I'll let you in on a secret Gerry, I'm big enough and ugly enough to look after myself. As you can see, I've made some new friends and I've been enjoying getting to know them better. So if you don't mind, this is a private lunch date." Gerry looked suitably chastised and scurried away back to the UCOS base to share the gossip with his colleagues. He had of course muttered hasty goodbyes to both Gill and Julie before making his unceremonious get away. Sandra burst out laughing the moment he had gone.
"What was all that about?" Julie asked her new friend, curious as to what Gerry's motive had been.
"Oh Gerry? He's a little over protective you could say."
"If I didn't know any better I'd say that he fancied you." That much had been plain to see and Julie didn't blame him. Who knows what might have happened between her and Sandra if things had been different?
"Probably. But then again he basically just fancies anyone female, or at least dressed female and the less said about that one the better!"
"Does he know?" At Sandra's confused look Julie raised her eyebrows at her in a knowing way.
"Oh no, none of them do, not really. If they bothered to read between the lines they might have figured it out by now but I don't think they have." Her mother didn't even know, not really, although she would probably just put her fingers in her ears and sing 'la, la, la" if Sandra tried to have a serious conversation about it. Cantankerous old biddy that she was. Sandra had a complex and distant relationship with her mother but over the years she had gained some insight and a level of understanding, if not mutual respect for the woman who had raised her.
"Would it be a problem if they did know?" Sandra thought about it for a few moments before she answered.
"They're not exactly from a progressive school of thought so there would be quite a lot of infantile comments and behaviour. However, saying that, they are a good bunch of lads, incredibly kind at times so I don't think I would have too much to worry about. It's just that I've never had a reason to be out so I just haven't bothered. What about you two, are you both out?"
"I am. I had a few problems years ago but not quite so much recently. People seem to forget about it if you're single. Of course the ones that will always have a problem with it will still be there no matter what but it's nothing I can't handle."
"You mean Dave?" Gill asked Julie, already knowing the answer.
"Yeah, him too. Sorry." Julie had always made a conscious effort not to badmouth Dave but it was difficult to find any redeeming qualities in someone who had treated Gill so badly for so very long.
"He's no longer any concern of mine. I'm just sorry you had to put up with his shit alone." At Sandra's questioning look Julie elaborated.
"Gill's ex. Homophobic git. Sorry Gill. He worked out how I felt about Gill a long time ago and made a point of winding me up over it whenever he could." Gill reached out and took Julie's hand in hers in a gesture of comfort.
"That's awful! How did he react to the two of you getting together?"
"He doesn't know yet and I really don't want to think about it. He'll be a bloody nightmare." Although, at the back of her mind there was a small part of her that would be grateful to him for pointing her in the right direction the night of her abduction. Despite the immediate fallout she doubted that she would be sitting here, in a London café with Julie's hand in hers and feeling happier than she could recall being for a long time.
"So you're not yet out then Gill?"
"I suppose not. One of my DC's, Janet, is a very old friend and she knows. She's been really supportive but she's the only one. I'm not really sure what the big deal is to be honest." It suddenly occurred to her how that might have sounded. "No offence," she added to take away any misunderstanding.
"What do you mean?" Sandra asked, no offence taken and genuinely interested in understanding what her new friend had meant.
"You and Julie are both gay right? You've known for a long time, if not your whole lives? It's not been like that for me. I just love Julie and it's as simple as that. Does that make sense?" Sandra nodded and understood the concept exactly. She once had a friend who was in a similar position.
"I get that and you're right, it's different for everyone. You do realise that other people won't necessarily see it like that though? To them you're in a relationship with another woman and that makes you a lesbian in their eyes. You ought to prepare yourself for any fallout that might cause." Gill nodded thoughtfully, she had already considered that was the way things would go and she reckoned that she could handle it. "How's your son dealt with it?"
"Oh, he's brilliant. He loves Julie just as much as I do. I think he found it strange at first, it was unexpected you know? But he really wanted to push us back together after…well after I fucked up the first time." Gill looked over at Julie apologetically and squeezed the hand she held gently to give a little more reassurance that everything was now okay between them.
"Oh, that's lovely. He's the most important person in your life besides Julie so I'm glad he's been supportive and accepting of your relationship. I'm sure other people will be once they get used the idea." Sandra looked over at Julie and directed her next question at her. "Have you told her about Gordon yet?" Gill looked at the pair of them confusedly as they then appeared to have a conversation without words. Sandra looked mildly embarrassed as it became apparent that Julie hadn't told Gill whatever it was. "Oops, sorry!"
"What? What's going on?" Gill asked, more than a little intrigued.
"I'll tell you later, I promise." Julie placated her girlfriend. Sandra looked at her watch and made an apologetic gesture.
"I'm really sorry but I've got to get back, we've got an interview at three o'clock." It was only quarter to two but she needed some time to finish her preparation and round up the troops. Sandra stood up from her chair and grabbed her bag. Lunch had already been paid for when they ordered so all they had to do was get up and leave.
"That's alright, we should be making a move ourselves. It's been great to catch up with you Sandra." Both Julie and Gill stood up from their respective seats and Julie walked over to Sandra and wrapped her up in a hug.
"You too Julie." Sandra returned the hug and Gill appeared next to them. "I'm so pleased to have met you at last Gill. Julie told me so much about you I felt like I already knew you." They shook hands and she leaned in to give Gill a brief peck on the cheek. Sandra paused to look them over briefly. "You really are lovely together, I'm glad you've both worked through your fears and given things another go."
"It was lovely to meet you too Sandra and thank you." They followed each other out of the café and went their separate ways. Gill reached for Julie's hand once again as they took a slight detour to wander around Camden Lock before heading to the tube station.
"She's really lovely. I'm glad you made a friend down here, especially as you probably needed one right at the very beginning." Julie pulled them to a brief stop and placed a gentle kiss to Gill's lips.
"I can hear the regret in your voice Gill. It's all water under the bridge and look at us now! Although, you're right she has been a good friend. I hope she finds her own happiness soon, she deserves it after what she's been through." They took in the hustle and bustle of tourists shopping and eating along the canal for a few moments. Camden had a thriving 'alternative' scene where Goths, Punks and grunge ruled. They both felt a flicker of nostalgia as it was almost like stepping back in time to the eighties and university all over again.