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Send in the Clowns

Ray walked along the deserted street in the middle of Fenchurch; Chris was at his side babbling away. Ray was only half listening as Chris continued to go on and on. Ray was deep in thought; he was worried about Mia and Gemma and nearly jumped out of his skin as his mobile began ringing.

"Yeah" He spoke in to the small phone as Chris leant against the brick wall of the terraced house. Ray looked serious. Chris had no idea who he was talking to but hoped it was the Murder Squad detective ringing back. Ray had left at least a dozen messages on Mia's answer phone.

"Right Guv" He sighed as he flipped the phone shut. Chris waited as Ray turned to him.

"That was the Guv. No sign of Gemma Lane so far. Alex has had a phone call from her" He ran a hand over his face as he saw Chris staring at him expectantly. Chris was as worried as Ray was but he didn't know how to tell anyone. He was just thankful he knew Sharon was safe; she'd remained at the station going through files with Vic and Phyllis.

"So what do we do now?" Chris shrugged as Ray began to walk across the road.

"Back to the station." Ray kept walking as Chris began to jog to keep up.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gemma felt sick, she was still on the cold concrete floor of the basement where she was being held. Morgan hadn't been there for a couple of hours and Gemma could only assume he had gone to work as normal. Forcing herself in to a sitting position she blinked as she began to become accustomed to the dim light around her. She hugged her knees to her and thought about how she had come to be in the basement room. The burn from the tazer on her neck ached but she couldn't help but think that if she was in this state then if Morgan had got to Alex things were a whole lot worse for her former colleague. Coughing slightly she walked a few steps to the door opposite her and tried to open it. She cried in frustration as she realised the door was locked. Punching the door in temper Gemma sunk to her knees and sobbed.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Sammy boy" Gene sat in the driver's seat of the red Audi as Sam turned to him. He knew the Guv was tense. The ride from one side of London to the other had taken less than half the time it should have. Sam was still amazed how Gene had managed to avoid every speed camera in the Greater London area. "We go in there and find out what he is playing at" He went to open the door and paused as he realised Sam wasn't following him.

"How's Alex?" Sam watched as Gene closed the door.

"Stubborn, opinionated, mouthy, bloody gorgeous, same as ever Sam" Gene smiled slightly as he thought of his wife.

"Gene" Sam watched as Gene sighed.

"I dunno Sam. One minute she's determined to enjoy her leave, next minute her psycho ex guv is back in the picture. I just dunno. She says she had to leave Vice. Had to leave." He was worried. Sam nodded.

"She used to spend hours on the phone to Annie when she worked there. I only knew Alex through university and Annie but I never really knew why she left. I just glad we had a bloody good DI joining the team" Sam was worried about his friends. He knew Alex had been frightened during her time in Vice, he just didn't know why. Annie had been told a lot of things in confidence and had never betrayed them.

"Yeah, we thought she was barking though. I was beginning to think all my DI's were bloody insane. I mean you are as mad as a box of frogs sometimes" He narrowed his eyes as Sam laughed slightly.

"Thanks Guv" He opened the car door as Gene followed him.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sharon handed Viv a coffee as they opened another set of files. Viv smiled in thanks as he took the mug. Sharon sighed. They had wasted the morning as far as she was concerned. But as Alex said everything was significant. She tried to remember that as she opened yet another file that Viv had seconded from Vice.

"Anything?" Viv shook his head as the younger woman huffed.

"Not yet. Look we will find something Sharon, we will. Before you know if the whole team will be back at Luigi's or the Railway Arms like nothing has happened." He smiled kindly at the young woman as she nodded.

"Yeah 'ope so" She picked up a file and read the title - "June 2007. Investigating officers DCI George Morgan, DI Lloyd Atkins, DS Gemma Lane, and DS Alexandra Drake. Sex Trafficking" She opened the file and shook her head sadly as she read Gemma's statement.

"Those poor girls" She shook her head

"I know" Viv sighed, his stomach had churned with the things he had read in the last hour or so. He knew exactly why Alex had hated her time on the Vice Squad. "There are things missing from this one" He handed the file to Sharon.

"What?"

"Alex's report, page 5. Half of it seems to be missing. It's not written the way she writes. I've read enough of her reports to know." Viv picked up his coffee. He couldn't help but think someone had doctored the report Alex had put in. He didn't know why.

"Oh my God" Sharon whispered as she read the report. "Alex didn't write this. This is nothing like all the other reports. That isn't even her signature on the bottom" Sharon placed the file on the desk.

"Exactly" Viv sighed as Phyllis entered the room. The older woman looked agitated and upset. But then that wasn't really out of character for his friend. "Phyl? What's wrong?" Viv smiled slightly.

"Morgan has phoned. He's looking for Alex" She looked at both officers as Sharon looked aghast. "He knows she's here, he knows she works at Fenchurch East"

"Where is she now?" Sharon picked up her mobile phone ready to ring Annie and Alex.

"I don't know"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Annie walked from the kitchen to the living room carrying Ruby in her arms. The baby was awake and enjoying the attention. Molly sat on the sofa reading a magazine as Alex sat on the other side. Molly didn't realise Annie was there to keep an eye on them.

"So there is no sign of her then?" Alex sighed as Molly raised her eyebrows.

"No sign of who Mum?"

"Oh just a missing person's case we're working on Molls" Annie smiled slightly; she didn't know how much Molly knew about what was happening. Molly rolled her eyes as Alex smiled.

"Would now be a good time for me to start my homework?" She glanced at her mother.

"Yes sweetheart. Thanks" Alex smiled slightly as Molly made a show of retrieving her school bag and heading off to her bedroom. Alex turned to Annie. "Gene thinks I should take them to Evan's until this is all over" She frowned as Annie nodded.

"It is an option" Annie knew Alex would never leave Gene. They were unbreakable. "And no there is no sign of Gemma. Mia has gone to her mum's for a few days. Apparently she is really upset; Ray has left her dozens of messages." She shrugged.

"I'm not going away Annie. I can't run anymore. I really can't. Anyway, who else is going to stop Gene from exploding when they catch up with him?" Alex picked up the remote control and flicked the TV to the music channels. Her heart nearly stopped as David Bowie's video for Ashes to Ashes appeared on screen. She hurriedly turned the channel as Annie looked on concerned. The clown was etched in Alex's mind as her coma dream sprang to the front of her mind.

"Alex?"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gene did not like to be kept waiting. He leant against the wall opposite the reception desk of the police station in West London. Sam spoke quietly to the young desk officer. He watched as the officer made a few phone calls.

"I'm sorry DCI Hunt. DCI Morgan isn't in today" She smiled sweetly.

"I bet he isn't" Gene glared.

"When will he be back? We really need to speak to him" Sam tried the charm offensive approach on the young police officer rather than just the offensive approach Gene had tried.

"I, er I don't know" She stammered as Gene continued to glare.

"Can you find out where he is today? That would be really helpful" Sam sighed as he tried to ignore Gene. She nodded and made a few more phone calls as Sam smiled slightly. Gene just grunted when she handed his DI a piece of paper. They left the station in silence as Gene took the paper from Sam.

"'ow do you do that? Wiv women?" Gene glared as Sam shrugged.

"Natural talent Guv. Now let's go and fetch Gemma and sort out Morgan"

"Good plan Sammy boy. C'mon" Gene marched towards the blood red Audi as Sam shook his head and followed.

Xxxxxxxxx

Alex sat back on the sofa as Annie took the chair in the corner. She didn't like the way Morgan's return affected her friend. She also wanted to be out looking for Gemma and turning over a few stones. She knew Alex would rather be anywhere else than stuck at home. But Molly and Ruby were the priority now. They had to be Annie reasoned. Both women were startled from their thoughts as Alex's mobile began to ring.

"Hello" Alex gripped the phone for dear life as Annie pulled her own mobile out and began to text Sam.

"Gemma Lane is alive. Call off Hunt and everything will be ok. I'm just clearing the streets of some scum"

"Morgan, what have you done to her? Let Gemma go." Alex stood as she spoke. Annie was aghast as she saw her friend stand and pace the room.

"Now now Alex. I think it's about time you and I settled some scores. You have the wrong impression of me." Morgan spoke calmly as Alex closed her eyes, willing her voice to remain steady.

"What do you want?" She could see Annie's mobile shaking as Sam answered his text.

"You, Victoria Street playground, by St Catherine's Parish Church. 1 hour or Gemma Lane meets the same fate as your precious drug dealer" The phone was dead before Alex could answer.

author's note. Just a filler chapter. More soon, please review.