Drink
Sandra walked into the unfamiliar pub still angry at the way Robs had behaved in the prison. She knew the younger man was guilty but still wasn't sure they had the evidence to prove it.
"You want something a bit stronger than orange juice?" Gerry turned to see her shake her head.
"No. Thanks Gerry. I'm driving."
"Yeah, well. I can drive back. You need to have that arm looked at. Do you want me to drop you to A&E? See what the toerag did?"
"It's fine." She glanced at the red marks around her wrist. "It's just a bruise."
"Sandra."
"I said I'm fine, Gerry." She huffed as he raised an eyebrow.
"If you say so."
"I say so." She found a booth in the corner of the pub just as her mobile sprang to life. "Pullman. Slow down Brian. Brian?"
"What's wrong?" Gerry sat next to her with their drinks on the table in front of them.
"It's Brian." She mouthed as she tried to listen to the highly irate man on the other end of the line.
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"Are you sure about this?" Dewi asked as he watched Steve pace the office.
"Oh I'm sure alright." Steve turned to face the Welshman. "You've had the killer behind bars for years. Forensics should have been the first thing you looked at."
"Yeah." Jack nodded. "There's been some significant leaps in forensic science and pathology over the years. That's what ties the murder to Robs."
"Yeah." Gemma nodded. "I've been through that case file so many times I think I've memorised it. Poor kid, he was only out for a drink."
"Yeah, wrong place, wrong time." Jack agreed. "Look, we can charge him. We have enough to do it. Thanks to the forensics we can place him at the scene. That along with the CCTV footage."
"But he's been in prison for at least five years." Mair ran a hand through her hair as Sandra and Gerry walked back in to the room.
"Guv." Steve turned as Mair and Gemma looked towards the blonde woman.
"Hi. Brian tells me we have enough to charge this idiot."
"Yeah." Dewi sighed. "We have enough to go to the CPS."
"Good, right. Let's get the paperwork sorted and formally arrest the man. Jack? How about a trip back to Cardiff Prison? Dewi. You too?"
"Me?"
"Aye well." Steve nodded. "This is your patch. We were only ever here to help you with this case."
"Yes." Dewi grabbed his jacket. "Jack, Sandra." He walked out of the office as Gerry shook his head.
"I know it's wrong but I'll be glad to get out of here." Gerry sighed before smirking as Mair rolled her eyes.
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Lorraine swore under her breath as the detectives walked back in to her office. The last thing she needed was any more trouble.
"We're here to arrest Robs." Dewi stated.
"I thought as much. I've had the guard take him to the hard interview room."
"The what?" Jack frowned.
"This is Jack Halford. UCOS." Sandra explained. Lorraine nodded towards Jack.
"The interview room with audio, CCTV and guards. It's not the friendliest of rooms." She explained as she led them towards where he was waiting for them.
"Ladies first." Dewi stepped back and let Sandra and Lorraine walk in front of him into the room. Robs snarled before looking at the table in front of him. Sandra smirked.
"Morning. Remember me?"
"Mn."
"We know who killed Chris." Sandra stated calmly. There was no reaction from the man in front of her. She hadn't expected any. "We have enough evidence to make an arrest."
"Yeah." Lorraine sighed. "So I'd start listening to the officers if I were you."
"DCI Evans." Sandra looked to the balding Welshman. Dewi nodded before stepping forward and placing both hands on the table in front of the inmate.
"Michael Roberts. I am placing you under arrest on suspicion of the murder of Christopher Michael Jones. You have the right to remain silent..." He carried on the caution as Robs remained silent. Jack shook his head sadly before ushering the others out of the room. It was obvious Robs was not going to say another word.
"Oh Pullman." He called as Sandra reached the door.
"Detective Superintendent to you." Lorraine corrected him. Sandra turned to face him once more.
"Give my regards to that brother of yours. You sure you've only got the one? Only I heard Gordon wasn't exactly whiter than white." Sandra felt her pulse quicken in her chest as she heard the words. She knew he was only looking to rile her. She knew he wanted a reaction. Tom was Gordon's only other child. She narrowed her eyes as he glared at her, a self satisfied smirk on his face.
"Rot in Hell." She stepped out of the door as the guard slammed it shut behind her.
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The station was relatively quiet when Sandra walked back in. Dewi sat in his office talking quietly on the phone. She sighed as she began putting her things in her bag, ready to head back to the comfort of her own office. Despite being asked to help she had never really shaken the feeling that she had been resented by the other women on the team. She hoped she was being paranoid.
"Sandra." Dewi smiled as he walked out of the office.
"Dewi."
"Robert was just on the phone." He watched as she raised an eyebrow. "Strickland."
"I know who you meant." Sandra continued checking there was no remnants of her team forgotten around the office. She knew Brian would have been meticulous in removing his own belongings. Gerry and Steve less so.
"I told him how much you've helped us."
"We did your job for you. If you want a UCOS Cymru you really have to use all the resources you can get your hands on. You have to get the regular CID and SOCO on your side. You'll need their help at some point. Sending Mair to charm school would be a good start."
"She's tough."
"She's that alright. It doesn't always get you where you need to be."
"The voice of experience?"
"Maybe." Sandra nodded. "Good luck Dewi." She turned to walk out of the office, knowing that the others were waiting for her back at the B&B.
"Oh Sandra?"
"Yeah?"
"What about your dad? What he said about him?"
"Robs? He heard a name and ran with it." She lied. "My father was not whiter than white but then who is? He was a bloody good copper. That's the important thing."
"Yeah. So I heard."
Sandra nodded once more before walking out of the police station to head back to London.
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A/N Is Sandra really ok? PLease review. I'm not sure if anyone is reading this. Only one more chapter to go.
