Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue or any of the characters….

Thanks to the people who did review. Nice to know Penfan821 that this fic is among your favorites. Debby, it is such fun using Lisa for comic relief, and I'm glad you like the scenes between Gail and Holly.

It is always great to hear what readers think. I did get less of a response to the last chapter than I did for my new fic 'Elusive' so I'm feeling a bit like 'Breaking Through' is the neglected first born :)

Thanks to all who continue to follow, fav and read. Let me know what you think of this chapter – leave a review – they inspire and I love getting them :)

For those also reading Elusive, I'm now going to work on the next chapter.

Hope you enjoy.

…..

'You look like shit, Peck. The good doctor keep you up?' Frankie said by way of greeting as Gail wrenched the car door open. It was 6.20am and Gail barely had time for a shower and a quick coffee before she heard Frankie sounding the horn outside. Jeez, Gail thought grumpily as she had come down the porch steps, does Frankie need to wake the whole neighborhood. It was still so dark out it was practically night.

Now Gail regarded Frankie stonily. 'It's not even 7am, Anderson. You don't exactly look ecstatic to be at work at this hour.'

'Early bird and all that,' Frankie said as she eased the car away from the curb, 'I want to catch Gimlet before he leaves home. See if he acts differently out of the office.'

'Did you tell him about the threat?' Gail said, leaning over to turn up the car heater. A low of minus two was predicted for today and boy did it feel like it. She rubbed her gloved hands together to warn them up.

'Nope. Just said there had been a development in the case. I want to see his reaction because I think you're right. He is hiding something.'

'What about protection?'

'Yeah, Oliver's sending two uniforms to meet us at the apartment. Gimlet will have someone with him at all times.'

After that the two women lapsed into silence for a while. Gail yawned loudly and rubbed her eyes and Frankie smirked at her. 'What,' Gail said with annoyance and Frankie just shrugged.

The truth was Gail really hadn't had enough sleep and today would be a struggle because of it, even if the reason for her sleep deprivation was delightful and entirely, unquestionably worth it. Would she ever tire of sex with Holly, Gail wondered. She hoped not. If anything the sex kept getting better the longer they stayed together and the more familiar they became with one another.

It was never like this with anyone else, Gail reflected. Sometimes she felt like a cartographer mapping Holly's body with her fingers and lips and tongue. Tracing every contour, every mark and feature, memorizing every spot from which she could draw a reaction. Surprising even herself at her unstinting and selfless attention, wanting nothing more than to give Holly pleasure. The topography of Holly and every inch mesmerizing.

Gail remembered seeing a map in a museum from the 16th century where the world was represented as a heart shaped globe. If she were really a cartographer that's how she'd draw a map of Holly. Heart-shaped. Gail smiled reflexively as she savored that thought but stopped abruptly when she realized Frankie was looking at her knowingly.

'So how did Francine take the news about her second cousin?' Gail asked, as much to deflect Frankie's attention as to find out about Francine's reaction.

'We didn't get a chance to speak with her.'

'Oh,' Gail raised an eyebrow questioningly.

'Nothing sinister. Dr Hart had just gone into the OR for an emergency surgery, which was expected to take several hours. We sent Officer Moore to wait for her. He said she didn't finish until well after midnight but I asked her to call or come into the station as soon as was convenient.'

Gail nodded her head. 'She's unlikely to be a suspect.'

'Yeah, although Holly said the head was severed cleanly. Isn't that something a surgeon would know how to do?'

'I guess.'

By the time they drew up outside Frank Gimlet's apartment, the gloom of early morning had begun to lift. Still it looked as if it would be an overcast day, Gail decided, hating this time of year when the daylight hours shrunk. At least snow wasn't predicted.

The Gimlet residence was in one of the newly built apartments in Yorkville not far from where Lisa used to have a condo. Like Lisa's condo, it was floor after floor of glass and steel and large balconies with panoramic views of the city and no doubt a hefty price tag. The sort of place CEO's and investment bankers and corporate lawyers could afford. The sort of place where the doorman wouldn't let them take the lift to Gimlet's floor until the CEO gave the okay, even though Frankie and Gail flashed their badges.

Gimlet lived alone, which made the size of his apartment somewhat obscene. There must be rooms no one except the cleaner went into, Gail speculated, because no doubt Gimlet had a regular cleaner. Unlike his office, the furnishings were plain, utilitarian rather than funky, and the artwork conservative rather than edgy. There was no sign Gimlet's interior decorator wife had left her stamp here.

'I thought you said you were married?' Gail asked.

'Separated, my wife kept the house and the children,' Gimlet replied tersely.

'And you got the bachelor pad.' The dryness of Gail's tone left no doubt she was being sarcastic.

'I don't see how that is germane to your investigation.' Gimlet regarded Gal with disdain.

Gail shrugged. 'We like to get the facts straight.'

In fact Gimlet didn't seem to think very much was germane to the investigation. When they told him about the threat he looked annoyed rather than concerned and dismissed it as a prank.

'I very much doubt that, Mr Gimlet,' Frankie said, 'we haven't released any information about this case to the media. The only people apart from the police who know about the connection between the severed head and EquanimityPlus are you and Helen Marino, and Helen doesn't strike me as the prankster type.'

Still, Gimlet seemed strangely unenthusiastic about a police protection. 'It's totally unnecessary, he said, 'in any case, we have a security guard at work.'

'Until we can determine if the threat is credible, I'm afraid you're stuck with the uniforms,' Frankie said, exchanging a look with Gail.

The aforementioned security guard was overweight and stooped and looked positively ancient. Gail couldn't see him stopping someone walking through the front entrance let alone preventing a killer getting to Gimlet. The day before, when she and Frankie had arrived at EquanimityPlus, he was snoozing and seemed quite startled when Frankie nudged him with her foot.

Gimlet sighed elaborately. 'As you wish,' he said ungraciously, 'but I'm sure the resources of the Toronto Police force could be put to better use.'

Too right, Gail silently agreed.

Gimlet looked downright irritated. 'How much longer will this take? I'm normally at work by 7.30am.'

'Just a few more questions,' Frankie said evenly, 'I'm curious to know why you are resisting our help. A death threat is a serious thing.'

'Well clearly I don't believe it is serious,' Gimlet sighed again, making no attempt to contradict Frankie's assessment of his attitude. 'I think you're wasting your time.'

'Does EquanimityPlus experiment on animals?' Gail said then, careful to sound casual despite abruptly changing tack.

Gimlet turned slowly to look at her, his expression scornful. 'Of course. All the pharmaceuticals do.'

'So what kind of animals.'

'Mainly rats and mice, but also dogs, cats and primates.'

'And do they suffer?'

Gimlet threw out his hands as if to say what do you think. 'If we didn't test on animals, we wouldn't be able to develop safe, life-saving treatments for patients. Animal research allows us to discover and develop medicines that have the potential to benefit billions of people worldwide.'

'But it probably isn't much fun for the animals,' Gail said. Clearly Gimlet had been called on to defend the practices of EquanimityPlus before. To Gail's ears it sounded like a well-rehearsed script.

'Of course we'd like to see an end to medical research involving animals but, seeing as we can't test on humans, until someone comes up with a viable alternative, it's our only option,' Gimlet said testily.

'Would it be widely known that you conduct medical experiments on animals?' Frankie asked.

'Probably. PETA - you know People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,' Gimlet broke off for a moment and Gail and Frankie nodded to indicate they were familiar with the group. 'Well PETA and other animal rights groups routinely publish that information on the internet,' Gimlet continued.

'So is it possible someone got hold of that information and decided to go after your company?'

'Your guess is as good as mine,' Gimlet shrugged.

'So until now, you haven't received any threats related to your experimenting on animals?' Frankie prodded.

'Well, there was the protest.'

'Protest?'

'About six months back. It was organized by one of those fringe groups, even more extreme than PETA. I don't even know if it had a name. About twenty of them turned up one morning and tried to block access to the facility. They were wearing animal masks and conducting mock executions. Your uniformed colleagues moved them on fairly smartly.'

'Wait, mock executions,' Gail said, 'what do you mean by that?'

'They rigged up a fake guillotine. You get the idea,' Gimlet said impatiently.

'And you didn't think this was worth mentioning because – ' Gail trailed off, the note of disbelief in her voice impossible to miss.

'The protest was over almost as soon as it began. The police moved them on. We all went back to work and that was the last we heard of them. They just seemed like a bunch of rat bags looking for a cause.'

'Severed head. Guillotine. You didn't see the connection.' Gail knew she was being blunt but jeez this man was a CEO and he missed that.

'Oh, well. Yes I see what you mean.' For the first time since Gail and Frankie had entered the apartment, Gimlet looked worried.

…

'Jeez,' Gail shook her head once she and Frankie were out of Gimlet's apartment and in the lift, 'he didn't think that was relevant.'

'Is it just arrogance or is he hiding something?' Frankie mused.

Gail shrugged.

'When we get back to the station, I want you and Dov to chase up that protest. Talk to the uniforms who shut it down. See if we can get a name for the group,' Frankie said.

Gail nodded.

'Chloe and I'll go interview Brierly's co-workers at EquanimityPlus.'

'You should ask them what they thought of the protest. Maybe the workers were a little more disturbed by it than Gimlet appears to have been,' Gail suggested as the elevator doors opened onto the lobby.

The doorman seemed to be waiting for them and quickly ushered them out of the building. Probably felt he needed to protect the residents from the riff raff. Crime levels in this neighborhood were low and a visit from the police was likely a reminder of a sordid side of life most of the apartment occupants wanted to pretend didn't exist.

'Who'd have thought the presence of two detectives would be so alarming,' Gail said scornfully once they were outside and on the sidewalk. Frankie sniggered.

When they reached the car, Gail's phone buzzed. Gail saw Holly's name flash up. Except it wasn't her name. It had been Doctor Nerd but Gail had recently changed it to Nerd Wrangler in honor of Holly's supervision of the two interns. 'You know I wear my nerd badge with pride,' Holly had pointed out at the time and Gail had laughed happily and kissed her and said, 'Of course, why else do you think I'd call you that?' Holly had smirked 'Because you secretly find it hot,' she said, which made Gail grin widely. 'Oh, there's nothing secret about that,' Gail leant in again for another kiss.

'Hey,' Gail now said softly into the phone but with a big smile so Frankie immediately guessed who was calling, 'you at work already?'

'Yeah. I got up not long after you left. The toxicology report is back. They found lethal amounts of monoacetylmorhine and morphine.'

'Heroin?' Gail said with some surprise.

'Yeah, you remembered,' Holly said. A while back she'd explained to Gail toxicologists couldn't test directly for heroin because almost as soon as it was injected it broke down into monoacetylmorphine and then into morphine. The presence of both indicated heroin.

'Oh course, I always listen to what you say,' Gail sassed,' so Brierly overdosed. I guess it's worth checking if he was a user.'

'Yeah, but he died very soon after he was injected, otherwise the heroin in his blood would have converted completely to morphine but that wasn't the case. I'd say he lost his head not long after he ODed.'

'So that means the killer either injected Breirly or was around when he died.'

'Yep.'

'Well, maybe our killer isn't completely heartless. At least Brierly wasn't beheaded while he was alive.'

'True, however given he was already dead, it suggests the beheading was done to make a point.'

'Are you referring to lab rats?' Gail asked thinking back to their conversation of the previous day when Holly had explained one method of euthanizing lab rats was to guillotine them. And then Gimlet had mentioned the mock guillotine at the protest. There had to be a connection. Gail made a note to find out how EquanimityPlus euthanized their lab rats.

'Makes sense, given the killer wants this company to stop animal testing.' As Holly finished speaking she yawned.

'Not enough sleep,' Gail said sympathetically.

'And whose fault is that?'

'You were a willing participant if I recall,' Gail chuckled.

'Geez Peck, stop with the flirting and tell me what Holly has for us,' Frankie cut in, a disgruntled expression on her face.

'Gotta go,' Gail said to Holly.

'What's got into Frankie? She sounds crabbier than usual.'

'Dunno.'

'Love you,' Holly said and Gail felt like she could feel Holly's smile through the phone.

'Um, yeah me too, I mean about you, not me, I think that too,' Gail felt herself reddening as she disconnected.

'Smooth as usual Peck,' Frankie said acerbically, 'just tell her you love her next time. It would be a lot less painful for all of us.'

'Man, what is eating you Anderson?'

Frankie shrugged non-committedly and peered straight ahead as if suddenly needing to give her full attention to the road. Something was definitely up with her, Gail realized. Was Frankie's brother causing her grief, Gail wondered? Although, by the sounds of it the two had been reasonably close since their mother died. Could it be Alannah? Had Frankie gone and messed that up. Whatever, Gail could tell from Frankie's mood now was not a good time to pry. So instead she relayed the information about the toxicology report.

'So Brierly was definitely dead before he was beheaded. Somehow that makes it slightly less grotesque,' Frankie said, 'still a helluva way to go.'

Gail wondered if the lab rats knew what was in store for them just before they were guillotined. She had heard rats were reasonably intelligent creatures, so did they sense the blade falling or was it a welcome relief after being subjected to experiments far more grotesque than the method of their death.

'Hey Frankie, when you see Helen Marino ask them how they euthanize their rats,' Gail said.

'Why?' The word came out so tetchily it confirmed Gail's feeling that something was off about Frankie.

'Guillotining is one way of euthanizing lab rats,' Gail explained evenly, deciding under the circumstances not to take offence at Frankie's tone.

'Oh,' Frankie sounded a tad contrite, 'yeah I'll definitely check.'

….

'So it wasn't a non-event?' Gail asked.

Andy shook her head. 'It was a little rowdy. There were about thirty protestors. They had a megaphone. They were mainly low-key but a couple of them were on the aggressive side. Plus they were wearing these crazy animals masks so you couldn't see their faces. I can understand why the EquanimityPlus employees were intimidated.'

It had taken Dov and Gail a little while to backtrack through the records to find the log detailing the protest. Turned out McNally and Anna Robinson were first on the scene.

'They were intimidated?' Gail asked.

'Mostly, yeah. Although there were a few hotheads among the employees who were angry. The protestors had linked arms so the employees couldn't get through to the entrance. Even the ones who got past the protestors couldn't access the building because the security guard had locked the doors. He's the one who called 911'

'The old one?'

'Yeah,' Andy nodded again, 'I got the feeling he was out of his depth and that's why he locked the door. But it felt like any minute we could have a riot on our hands, so that's why we called for back-up.'

'There were hot heads on both sides. Tempers were starting to flare. Plus it was hot. It was that day back in July when the temperature hit nearly 40 degrees. When we arrived around 8.30 it was already starting to bake,' Anna Robinson added.

'But once the other three other patrol cars turned up, the protestors dispersed fairly quickly and peaceably. The media had shown by then, so I think they felt they'd made their point.'

'Media?' Dov asked, 'do you remember who it was?'

'Just CTV news,' Anna said.

'I'll chase that up,' Dov looked across at Gail, 'see if they still have the footage or if a report made it to air.'

'I don't think it was on the news,' Anna said and blushed. Of course, Gail thought, being a rookie she would have checked. When you first started in the job it was exciting when something you'd been involved in made it to the news. You might even spot yourself doing crowd control. The novelty soon wore off though.

'Did you get names for any of the protestors? Gail asked hopefully.

'No. There didn't appear to be anyone in charge and technically no one had done anything illegal,' Andy shrugged, 'and once they dispersed there didn't seem to be any point.'

Which was fair enough, Gail realized. There was no way Andy or Anna could have know the protest would figure in an investigation six months down the track. What puzzled her though was this account of the protest didn't gel with Gimlet's description. He had brushed it off but from what Andy said it was significant enough to disrupt business at EquanimityPlus, although that could be down to the security guard locking the door and effectively locking the workforce out.

'You didn't see or speak to the EquanimityPlus CEO, Frank Gimlet, during the protest?' Gail asked and both officers shook their heads.

'I couldn't tell you if he was even in the building,' Andy made an apologetic face, 'once the protest was over we spoke to the security guard and,' Andy paused while she flicked through her note book, 'a Helen Marino. She gave the impression she was in charge.'

Interesting, thought Gail. Maybe Gimlet wasn't even on the premises during the protest. In which case had Helen Marino played it down so as not to alarm him? Or had he deliberately brushed it off as inconsequential?

'Do you recall seeing this guy?' Dov held out a photograph of John Brierly to Andy and Anna. Andy took it first and looked at it for a full minute before shaking her head and passing it to Anna.

'No,' Anna said, 'is he your severed head guy.'

'Yep,' Dov said, 'it would be nice if we could find a body.'

'Even nicer if we could find the killer,' Gail added.

…

'It's a mystery why the pharmaceuticals still experiment on animals. It's expensive, cruel and generally the results aren't applicable to humans. But the pharmaceuticals all drank the cool-aid on this one. Very few are looking at alternatives to animal experimentation,' Holly explained.

Gail was in Holly's office. When she arrived with lunch, Sally, Holly's personal assistant, had greeted Gail warmly and said approvingly, 'Dr Stewart needs a pick me up. She's looking very tired today.'

Gail knew she could have googled animal experimentation, but why do that when she could tap into the big nerd brain. Besides, when Holly was in college she had been arrested for protesting against vivisection. Gail figured that might give her some insight into the anti-animal testing camp.

'So there are alternatives?' Gail asked.

'Some pretty sophisticated tests using human cells and tissues have been developed recently, as well as advanced computer-modeling techniques. Then there are studies with human volunteers. Apparently these alternatives take less time and money to complete than animal experimentation. Plus you don't have the problem of species differences which often make the tests on animals meaningless.'

'So why keep testing on animals?'

'It may just be a case of changing the culture. On the other hand, breeding animals for experimentation is a lucrative business. I can't see those breeders being too keen on the pharmaceuticals using alternative methods.'

Gail bit her lip. 'Dov said EquanimityPlus conducts experiments on behalf of larger pharmaceuticals. Is it possible those companies are contracting EquanimityPlus to do their dirty work?'

'Entirely possible,' Holly agreed, 'keep it at arm's length. That way the pharmaceuticals can say they are not directly involved in animal testing. These days a lot of consumers prefer to buy products that haven't been tested on animals.'

'So how far do you think an animal rights activist would be prepared to go to make a point?'

'Oh definitely murder,' Holly said gravely, and then at the look of astonishment on Gail's face burst into laughter, 'you think I might know this why?'

'You protested against vivisection at college,' Gail explained, her look of surprise turning to consternation, 'it's a reasonable assumption.'

'Okay, that was a while ago and it was organized by a campus group. But yeah, I guess some of the animal rights activists can get very passionate. Understandably torturing animals – and that's what we're talking about in a lot of cases – is a very emotive issue. But would it drive someone to murder,' Holly shrugged, 'as we know from experience people have murdered for a lot less.'

'True,' Gail said, standing up from the couch where she was sitting with Holly, 'I should go. Frankie's on the warpath today, so I don't want to get shit for taking a long lunch.'

'What's up with her anyway,' Holly also stood and linked her arms around Gail's waist.

'Beats me,' Gail blew out a breath, 'but I'm gonna find out.'

Holly tilted her head to one side and gave Gail a lop-sided smile, this one warm and tender. Frankie and Gail might give each other shit, goad and sass and tease, but beneath all that there was a real and abiding affection. Entirely platonic of course. Holly knew that ship had sailed long ago. But nonetheless it was a friendship in which Gail and Frankie quietly, almost surreptitiously, looked out for one another. Where their similarities had made their brief relationship feel prickly and uncomfortable, as friends it allowed them to better understand each other, including the fact neither liked to admit the need for help or support from friends but were grateful when it came without fan fair.

'What?' Gail asked as Holly continued to smile.

'You are amazing,' Holly breathed, pulling Gail in closer and kissing her.

As the kiss intensified, Holly felt Gail's hand slip under her shirt to the small of her back, but did nothing to discourage the move. Instead she drew Gail closer still. It was like the more she got of Gail the more she wanted. Holly still felt deliciously stiff from their activities last night. She was sure she had exercised seldom-used muscles. As she began to feel her brain surrender to that haze of lust and desire that overtook her whenever Gail touched her like this, and which in that moment made her forget all other responsibilities, Holly forced herself to pull back.

'We don't have time for this,' she smiled.

Gail looked at Holly knowingly. She is completely aware of her affect on me, Holly realized, conscious it was something she found extraordinarily alluring and very hard to resist.

'Smug much,' Holly teased, partly to distract herself so she wouldn't give into Gail, and Gail chuckled, knowing exactly what she was referring to. 'Why do you keep trying to seduce me in my office,' Holly laughed good-naturedly, 'now go. Both of us have work to do.'

'Yeah, yeah,' Gail grumbled but she was smiling. 'Wait. Me seduce you? I could have sworn it was the other way round,' Gail said as she backed out of the office, Holly's laughter following her.

…..

Frankie was nowhere to be seen when Gail got back to the station. Nor where Dov or Chloe.

'I think she went with Chloe to get some lunch. Dov's gone over to the TV station.' Anna Robinson, who was on the desk, offered. 'But there is someone here about the Brierly case. Dr Francine Hart.'

Gail turned towards the two rows of plastic chairs opposite the desk and saw Francine immediately. Apart from a guy with a Mohawk and nose-ring fast asleep in the row behind her, Francine was the only one in the waiting area. She was sitting so her back was ramrod straight and her mouth was drawn in a grim line. Her gaze, as she regarded Gail and Anna, was unwavering. Without question she would have observed Gail come up to the desk and overheard Anna saying she was here for the case.

'Dr Hart,' Gail said taking a step towards her. Francine remained seated, her gaze still fixed on Anna and the desk. Where the fuck was Frankie, Gail thought, she was supposed to deal with this. 'Would you like to come through to somewhere more private.'

At this Francine shifted her gaze to Gail. 'You're on the investigation?' was all she said, but the hostility with which she said it made her displeasure clear.

'Uh yeah,' Gail said, 'if you'd prefer you can speak to one of the other detectives assigned to the case when they return from lunch.'

'No. Let's get this over with. I need to be back at the hospital.'

Was Francine always like this, thought Gail, as she led the doctor through to one of the interview rooms, or just around her? The doctor seemed to hold Gail entirely responsible for Holly's lack of interest in her. Now Gail would have happily taken the blame except, after Holly spent that one disastrous night with Francine, Holly had made it very clear she wasn't interested in taking things further even though Francine was beyond keen.

When Gail asked Holly why she had slept with Francine, Holly had said sheepishly, 'I was lonely and depressed and missing you and more than a little drunk.' All Gail could think to say in reply was 'Oh.' Holly made a rueful face and said 'Yeah oh. Not the smartest move I've made.' Still Gail had been secretly pleased when, on the night of Lisa's birthday, she overheard Holly telling Lisa the sex with Francine was lousy.

'I'm sorry for your loss,' Gail said as Francine sat down. Gail took a seat on the opposite side of the table.

'What's it to you. You don't know me. I barely knew John. I'm not interested in your platitudes.'

Well, okay then, that's how we're playing this, Gail thought. She may as well get right to it.

'So it sounds like you didn't know John well?'

Francine looked at Gail with an expression that basically said 'duh, what did I just tell you', but she did, at least, answer the question.

'I probably met him a handful of times at family things when he was younger and he and his parents lived in the states. He wanted to catch up when I moved to Toronto but we didn't have a lot in common. He's a lab technician and I'm, well –'

'And you're a doctor,' Gail supplied.

'Exactly.'

No doubt Francine believed Holly was slumming it with Gail. It seemed like she was singing from the same songbook as Lisa, Gail observed wryly. Although to be fair, Lisa had mellowed a little, especially since she started dating Fiona Vincent.

'So did you have any contact with John after you moved here?' Gail asked.

'Other than a few emails and texts, none.'

'And do you mind telling me what was in those emails and texts?'

'They were short. Basically trying to set up a meeting time.'

'Nothing about work? He didn't mention if anything or anyone was worrying him?'

'No. He was rather persistent about the meeting. Didn't seem to get the hint when I said I was too busy.'

'So I'm guessing you wouldn't know if anyone would want to kill him.'

'No. He was basically a stranger,' Francine ostentatiously looked at her watch.

'Would you know if John used drugs?'

'Drugs?' The sullen expression Francine had sported throughout the interview morphed into disbelief.

'Heroin to be exact.'

Francine laughed derisively. 'John was dweeby, boring and cautious. I doubt he had ever even got drunk, except by accident, let alone taken drugs. Getting beheaded was probably the most exciting thing that ever happened to him.'

Gail fixed Francine with a look that was part quizzical, part incredulous. After a moment, Francine shifted uncomfortably. 'Look, will this take much longer? I need to get back to work,' she said.

That was the second time she'd been asked that question today, Gail noted. Why were both Gimlet and Francine so keen to be done speaking to the police? Surely, if someone you knew was murdered, your first instinct would be to help the police in whatever way you could.

What sort of surgeon are you Dr Hart?' Gail asked after waiting a beat.

'A General Surgeon.'

'A jack of all trades.' Gail savored the words, rolling them out and leaving them hanging so 'the master of none' was implied.

Francine screwed up her face and didn't respond.

'So would you have the skills to cleanly sever a head?'

'Are you accusing me of killing my cousin, Peck. Do I need a lawyer?'

'No. No. I'm just trying to work out how the killer might have got the job done.'

'I thought figuring that out was your girlfriend's job,' Francine sneered. She stood abruptly and looked steadily at Gail, her lip still curled scornfully. 'I'm required back at work. If I am needed for further questioning, I'd rather speak to one of your colleagues. Someone more professional.'

Childish and vindictive, Gail surmised, not in the least perturbed by Francine's parting shot. Man, Holly had dodged a bullet, she decided.

….

Gail had just escorted Francine back out to the reception area when she got the call from Mimi.

'Oh hello dear,' Mimi said when Gail answered, 'we've got something for you.'

What could Mimi and Elspeth have for her? A Darth Vader costume maybe. She liked that thought. Next time she interviewed Francine she could wear that. Except there probably wouldn't be a next time. Francine seemed as keen to avoid Gail, as Gail was to avoid her. The brief interval she spent with the doctor had left her downright disgruntled and feeling a little grubby.

'You do,' Gail said cautiously.

'We went back through our security footage and we've found something you should see.'

'Security footage?' Gail echoed.

'We had a few break-ins so we had cameras installed over the front and back entrances,' Mimi explained.

So much for the supposedly safe neighborhood, Gail thought.

'And there's something on the footage I should see,' she prompted when Mimi didn't continue.

'Oh yes, a man. On Christmas night. Carrying a box. It looks like he crossed the street to the vacant lot.'

'We'll be over to take a look shortly,' Gail promised before disconnecting. Could this be a break in the case? She tried not to be too hopeful. It would probably come to nothing.

….

When Frankie returned from lunch ten minutes later she was not impressed Gail had spoken to Francine alone.

'Don't you trust me to do my job,' Gail said, now feeling irritated with Frankie as well as Francine.

'You know it's not that Gail.'

'I recorded it so you can listen to the interview if you want.'

'I might just do that,' Frankie said, 'meantime you and Chloe can go over to the costume store.'

'Any luck this morning?' Gail asked as she turned to leave.

'Nope. None of Brierly's colleagues had much to say at all. He wasn't close to anyone. Kept to himself. Not one person admitted to knowing anything about his personal life. Kinda sad really. Quite a few them admitted they were unsettled by the protest though. Oh and Helen Marino did confirm they euthanize the lab rats using a guillotine. Specially made for the job, apparently.'

….

'See, just there,' Elspeth pointed at the commuter screen with an arthritic finger. Again Gail wondered how she managed to sew such intricate costumes.

The security camera was positioned in the shop window to give a view of the entranceway and the sidewalk in front of the shop and part of the street itself.

Chloe and Gail watched as a man of medium height and build walked past the shop. He was wearing a hoodie, which hid his face, and was carrying a box that looked awfully like the one they'd found in the vacant lot with the severed head. From the way he held the box, slightly low and with arms extended, it seemed whatever was in it wasn't light.

'Why do they always wear hoodies,' Chloe said.

'Just wait for what happens next,' Elspeth said, practically vibrating with excitement. A regular Miss Marple and relishing every moment of it, Gail thought.

Even before Elspeth finished speaking, the man stopped at the curb and turned his head towards the shop so they could see half his face. Except they didn't see his face at all because he was wearing a mask. It was a mouse mask, exquisitely made with whiskers and what looked like fur.

'It's one of ours,' Mimi said.

'Sorry,' Gail said.

'The mask. We made five of them for an animal rights protest about six months ago.'

Gail looked across at Chloe. This was too big a coincidence not to mean something. Would it be too much to hope Elspeth and Mimi had a contact for the protestors who ordered the masks?

'Do you have a name and contact details for the people who brought the masks,' Gail asked.

'Oh yes.' With a shaky hand Elspeth passed Gail a piece of paper, 'Dominic Swartz. He was a nice young man. Very committed. From what he said, the experiments they do on those animals are really awful. Criminal.'

'Yes, we gave him a discount on the masks,' Mimi chimed in, 'Dominic said most of the protestors were making their own masks but he wanted some that were really spectacular.'

…..

Back at the station, Frankie just nodded when Gail informed her they had a good lead. Gail and Chloe had tried the cell phone number Elspeth and Mimi gave them but it have gone to one of those generic voice-mail messages.

'I'll break out the champagne when we make an arrest,' Frankie said to them grumpily, 'and yes of course follow up the guy who ordered the masks. See if you can get an address. In the meantime, Gail can I have a quick word.'

When Chloe left, Frankie spoke again. 'Francine Hart has made an official complaint about you.'

'About me?' Gail's face was creased in confusion.

'Yeah. She claims you harassed her. I listened to the recording of the interview. I don't think you have anything to worry about,' Frankie said, 'she was belligerent from the get-go.'

'Oh, good,' Gail breathed out a sigh of relief.

'Except, why'd you have to go and ask Francine if she'd know how to cleanly sever a head?'

'Because that's what you said in the car this morning.'

'I was just being contrary. You were right. There's no reason to think she's a suspect.'

'Oh,' Gail said, feeling foolish. Though, if she were really honest, she'd just needed an excuse to get under Francine's skin a little. Deep down Gail had known Frankie wasn't serious this morning.

'I'll have to pass this on to Fiona Vincent,' Frankie said apologetically, 'follow protocol.'

'Oh shit, that means my mother will find out,' Gail said. And probably Lisa too, Gail thought, now she's all cozy with Fiona Vincent. Last Gail heard the Staff Sergeant had practically moved into Lisa's place.

'I have a feeling the Superintendent already knows,' Frankie said, looking past Gail down the corridor. Gail followed her gaze. Walking towards them at a brisk clip and with a set expression on her face was Elaine Peck. Gail felt her heart sink.