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An answer?

Jack stared at the paperwork in front of him. What had seemed like a normal case was actually a mess. Someone had tried to kill his friends, Sandra was still insistent that she was fine and Gail Hughes was refusing to talk. Strickland picked up a photograph showing Gail, Paul and Mickey moments before the fatal punch had been thrown.

"Mickey and Paul looked quite friendly." Strickland stated.

"They were." Jack sighed. "Until Gail appeared."

"Two men in love with the same woman. One dies. Almost Shakespearean."

"Except our Juliet didn't seem that enthralled with either of them. But it was her evidence and the CCTV that led to Paul's conviction." Jack pinched the bridge of his nose as the doors to UCOS swung open.

"Sandra!" Strickland was on his feet. Gerry rolled an eye as he saw both men frown.

"Hi. Before you ask I am not going to sit at home while someone takes pit shots at my team. Sacha is still in A&E. Danny is staying with her. Steve has gone to see the ballistic guys with Brian."

"And we can deal with this." Strickland stated

"I never said you couldn't." Gerry waved a hand in resignation. Jack sighed, knowing his friend had tried but Sandra Pullman was more stubborn than anyone he had ever known.

"I'll talk to her." He sighed. "For all the good it will do." Gerry nodded as he made his way to the kettle in the corner.

Xxxxxx

"I'm ok." Sacha winced as the nurse applied the sticky dressing over her wound. Danny folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. "I am."

"If you say so." Danny sighed. "Come on."

He walked alongside her as he shoved his hands in his pockets before turning to face her.

"Gail is the common denominator."

"Excuse me?"

"She was there when Mickey died. She was there when we were targeted."

"You think Gail is involved?"

"I think she's scared. With respect your brother wasn't exactly the shy and retiring type. He liked the girls, cars, fags and a drink."

"He was an idiot. We established that."

"Who fancied Gail." Danny watched as she nodded. "So, who's to say he wasn't protecting her then? That someone isn't now?"

"I was shot because someone wanted to protect her? From what?"

"The police." Danny walked off as Sacha watched him go.

Xxxxx

"One dead medical student. One convicted killer. Dead. Strickland now tells me he's getting grief from the DCI of the old murder squad."

"Declan Morris? He's a nark." Jack huffed. "Murder squad were disbanded in 2006. Cuts."

"I'm gonna talk to him."

"He's retired."

"So? You did once." Sandra smiled.

"Yeah." Jack sighed as he followed her out of the office. "Look where that got me." Sandra smirked as he walked past her.

Cxxxxxxx

A/n more soon