Hi everyone and welcome back! Thanks to Emma for your continued support!

Just a word of warning - the case investigated by Sheelagh and Gabriel in this chapter can be triggering, so please read with caution. It might sound far-fetched and unbelievable but is based on the most notable of incidents which took place in the US between the late 90's and early 00's. It was made into a film in 2012 called Compliance and a Law and Order SUV episode called Authority, both of which are very well done but definitely not for the faint of heart.

Trust Smithy, Gabriel thought, yanking the zip on his stab vest with such ferocity, it got stuck. He cursed and eased it down, loosening it from the material. Trust Smithy to be like a dog with a bone, not letting it go. He was even more like a dog, when he was talking about Andrea with that lost-puppy look on his face. Sometimes he thought the brownie points he got weren't worth it; and wished he'd left him in that fire. Now Pearce had made a statement confirming Bruce's account of how Andrea's blood got onto his shoe. Not that it really made much of a difference; there wasn't any CCTV and Pearce couldn't be sure what shoes he was wearing on the day in question. So they still only had Malcolm's word that he was wearing those shoes at the time. He smiled when he thought of how Smithy's bubble must have burst when he realised that it still got him no closer to finding Andrea.

And, if he had his way, nothing ever would.

He got to the briefing room to find Sam lording it over. Typical CID, thinking they were all that. And to think he ever wanted to join. She clocked him in the doorway and smiled tightly.

"Ah. The man of the moment."

Everyone looked around at him and he crinkled his eyebrow in confusion.

"You were right," Sam went on. "Thanks for the tip."

"Right about what?"

"Brendan Moore was lying. We dragged him in for questioning this morning and eventually, he cracked."

"He killed Connie?"

"Yes. They were having an affair," she said, her lips white and tight. "Connie wanted to end it. Feeling guilty and a little less than pleased with Moore's drug taking and dealing. It seems his poor little ego couldn't take that Kieran had everything and he had nothing. His words, not mine. So he decided nobody else would have Connie if he couldn't. Just Kieran's bad luck that he chose that day to lend his so called friend his car."

"Accounts for his car being there. What about the phone calls?"

"Kieran's phone was in the car. He says he lent the car, not the phone, but Murphy decided that meant everything in the car."

"Huh. Nice guy."

"Yes. Who needs enemies? Anyway, thank you Gabriel. You probably saved us having our asses sued twelve ways to Sunday. Gina, I'll let you get on."

She left. Gina gave him the kind of tight smile she did when she didn't really want to give a compliment but knew she'd look like a dick in front of the rest of the relief if she didn't.

"Very good work, PC Kent," she said.

"Thank you Ma'am," he said, taking a seat with a feeling of great smugness.

He'd let Andrea know later that thanks to her, the case had been served in mere seconds but most unfortunately, he'd had to take the credit. But surely she'd understand that he couldn't tell them where the tip off had really come from. It might be worth keeping her around if that's how quickly he could help get cases solved. He'd had his eye on joining CID when he'd first rocked up in Sun Hill, maybe that could still be a possibility. He saw Smithy staring at him with his lip curled in contempt. If only soldier-boy knew that his precious journalist girlfriend had been giving him tips. It might be worth it, just to send him over the edge. He knew he wouldn't let it go, and if Andrea could piece everything together, surely someone else could too. Well, they hadn't so far, and that he had to be content about.

The call came in at nearly the end of the shift. An 'incident' at a fast food restaurant in Canley high street was about all the information he and Sheelagh were given. Probably someone didn't pay for their milkshake, Gabriel thought in irritation as he and Sheelagh approached the restaurant. He'd be late getting to the house, but oh well. Andrea would surely understand, knowing how the job worked and all. The restaurant was locked and deserted – unusual for the time of night. Gabriel exchanged a look with Sheelagh and he knocked hard on the glass. A member of staff, a young man appeared, and seeing them, hurried to unlock the door. He pulled it open, hands visibly shaking

"PC Kent, PC Murphy, Sun Hill," he said. "Want to tell us what all this is about?"

The kid was white-faced. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before walking towards the back, motioning to them to follow. He led them to an office where a plump, middle aged woman sat, drinking what looked like brandy from a glass, her face paler, if possible, than the kid's. In the corner of the room, a young girl, no older than eighteen sat, wrapped in a blanket and obviously little else. An older woman was crouched beside her, pushing a glass into the girl's hands.

"I don't drink," she said, her voice quivering.

"For the shock, love," she said. "Just sip. Slowly."

The older woman looked up and caught sight of Sheelagh and Gabriel in the doorway. She straightened up. The young girl looked up, her eyes widening and she crouched lower in her chair consciously. The dumpy woman jumped, her drink sloshing out of her glass.

"Someone want to explain what's going on?" Gabriel asked. "I'm PC Kent, this is PC Murphy, Sun Hill police."

"Where's Inspector Munroe?" demanded the dumpy woman. "I'd like him here, right now!"

Gabriel and Sheelagh exchanged a glance.

"And you are?" Sheelagh asked.

"Veronica Sutton," she said. "Please get Inspector Munroe here, immediately."

"Ms Sutton," said Sheelagh. "We don't have an Inspector Munroe at Sun Hill. Only an Inspector Gina Gold."

Veronica Sutton stilled.

"That's not possible."

"That's to say, we don't have an Inspector Munroe anymore. There was an Inspector Andrew Munroe once, but he was killed in the fire at the station almost three years ago. You might have heard about it."

And as her former lover had caused that fire, killing Munroe and five others, Gabriel thought she said that remarkably calmly.

"I told you!" the young man said accusingly. "I told you that the man was dead!"

"Munroe's not an uncommon name," mumbled Veronica, downing her drink in one.

Gabriel turned to the young man.

"And who are you?"

"Theo Dawson," he said, shaking with something Gabriel was sure was anger. "Veronica, where the hell are Crystal's clothes? She's freezing!"

"All right," Gabriel said. "Will someone please explain what's going on?"

"There was a call," Theo said angrily, glaring at Veronica and the woman who was crouched by the young girl he'd called Crystal. "From Inspector Munroe. Telling Veronica that a member of staff had stolen a purse from a customer and described Crystal." As he spoke, he took a heavy jacket from a hook and crossed the room to drape it over her shoulders.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"I asked if it was Crystal and he conformed the name," said Veronica. "He said I had to detain her in the office until he arrived."

"Amelia, I'm freezing," Crystal mumbled.

"Where are her clothes?" Sheelagh demanded. "If you were only asked to detain her, why is she naked?"

"Inspector Munroe…I mean, the man said he was held up and couldn't get here for hours and that he gave me the authority to…" Veronica blushed as if her own stupidity was only beginning to dawn on her. "Search her."

"So why is she undressed?" Sheelagh repeated, this time, forcefully.

"He said she might be…be hiding it and that I had to…search thoroughly."

"You strip searched her?" said Sheelagh, the disbelief evident in her voice. "For God's sake, that can only be done in a police station if someone was under arrest!"

"I told you!" Theo said, through gritted teeth.

"All right, let's step outside, give Crystal some space," said Gabriel, and Theo walked out scowling. "You as well Ms Sutton and Ms…"

"Wood," said the other woman, straightening up. "Amelia Wood. Shift supervisor."

"Let's step outside, let my colleague speak to Crystal." He stood back to let them all pass and said to Sheelagh; "You'd better get CID down here. I'll speak to these three."

He closed the door and walked behind Theo, Amelia and Veronica into the serving area. Theo immediately rounded on Veronica.

"You bloody idiot!" he hissed. "I told you it was a load of rubbish. I told you he was a fraud! I told you to call and check! But no. He says he's a copper, even a dead copper, and he must be real!"

"All right, all right," Gabriel said. "Let's all just calm down." He took out his notebook. "Ms Sutton, you're the manager here?"

"Assistant Manager," she said faintly wringing her hands. "Oh, what've I done? God, what've I done?"

"Sit down," Amelia said, dragging her over to one of the booths. "You've had a shock."

"Yeah and Crystal's only been subjected to hours of torment!" Theo said sarcastically.

"All right Theo!" hissed Amelia. "I think she feels guilty enough without you banging on!"

"And you are, Theo?" Gabriel said.

"Just the hired help," he said. "Working here part time whilst studying, like Crystal."

"Crystal…"

"Winter."

Gabriel wrote it down and looked back up at Theo.

"You know Crystal well?"

"Since we were kids. We go to the same university," he said. "We both got the job here at the same time, about six months ago. You know, wanting to be independent. Not wanting to rely on parents any more. Crystal's parents are on their way. They're bringing her a change of clothes. I told them hers got ruined by oil, I don't know what I was supposed to say."

"You're probably best leaving that to us. By the way, where are her clothes?"

"The officer…"

"He wasn't an officer!" Theo shouted at Veronica, who shrank back. "How many more times?"

"The man, he said I had to keep them until he came for them."

"Where did you put them, Ms Sutton?"

"The boot of my car," she said. "He told me he'd come and get them."

Theo rolled his eyes and stalked to the coffee machine. He made four cups, one of which he handed to Gabriel, the other two he slammed in front of Amelia and Veronica, spilling most of the contents. Gabriel sipped his own coffee, staggered at the stupidity of some people. Who on earth would strip search someone just because a voice on the phone told them to?

"So, you strip searched Crystal?" he asked Veronica. "And just waited for him to arrive? When did you realise that he wasn't who he said he was?"

There was an ugly silence. Theo glared at Amelia and Veronica.

"Well if you two don't tell him, I will."

"It…didn't amount to just a strip-search," Amelia said. "He kept us on the phone for hours. We only have the one line, you see. When Crystal was…searched thoroughly and the alleged purse still wasn't found, he said that she had to…do things to prove she wasn't hiding them elsewhere."

Judging by the size of Crystal, he couldn't imagine there was any place where she could possibly hide them, but the giving of little information was beginning to get on Gabriel's nerves.

"Like?" he said impatiently.

"He said she'd been suspected of stealing before, and was dealing drugs at university. That they were at her house that that very minute, searching it. When I asked why it was taking so long for an officer to get here, he always had an excuse. Other cases take priority. Bad traffic. Speaking to other witnesses. He'd use a lot of police jargon, you know? It confused me. He said he was on the other line with the regional manager and that he was aware of what was going on."

How a gullible idiot like this ever got to be an assistant manager, he would never know. He sighed.

"What else has happened here, Ms Sutton?"

"At one point, I had to go back to the counter," she said. "Customer complaint. And he said I had to get someone else to watch her. I asked Theo."

"And I said no," said Theo "as soon as I saw her, I said no. I said it was a hoax and that no police officer would authorise her to do this. She just scoffed and told me to get back to work."

"I'm sorry Theo," Sutton said, through her fingers. "I should have listened to you."

"So did you get someone else to watch her?"

"He asked if I had a husband who could come in and watch her. I said no, I only had my fiancé." As she spoke, ripped a ring from her left hand with the first sign of anger he'd seen. "He told me to get him to come down here and watch her, but I had to stay until he got here. In case she tried to hide the money. He got here quickly. The rest I know from watching the office CCTV and what Crystal told me."

She blanched as if she was about to be sick and covered her mouth.

"Well go on," Theo said, his voice hard. "Tell PC Kent what your wonderful Anthony did to Crystal."

His mouth thinned when Sutton remained silent.

"Fine. We viewed the footage after Veronica finally wised up. That animal had her doing star jumps, standing on a chair and desk so he could look at her and put his fingers up her…"

He broke off and covered his mouth. His skin had gone a nasty shade of green.

"I called him," said Veronica shakily. "And asked what the hell he was playing at. He said that he – the officer – had told him he had to search her thoroughly, to make sure she wasn't hiding anything anywhere. At one point, kissed her and he said he had to do it to see if he could smell anything on her breath. On the video, whenever anyone came to the office door – he said we had to keep it locked – he'd give her back the apron. He'd always tell us not to tell anyone else."

He thought his head was going to explode with the stupidity he was hearing.

"Why didn't you do what Theo suggested?" he demanded. "Call or come to Sun Hill? It's not that far away. No officer would ever ask you to do this to an employee!"

"I thought he was legit," she whispered. "His voice…I mean, he talked like a policeman, authoritative, you know? He called the regional manager by name, he described Crystal right down to the necklace she was wearing."

"Where's your fiancé now, Ms Sutton?"

"He left," she said. "He rushed out and gave me the phone and said he had to go. I didn't know why until I watched the CCTV. Anyway, he said if I couldn't watch her, I had to find someone else to. Lewis came then."

"Who's he?"

"He does maintenance in the area. I asked him to watch her, but he came out soon after and told me that the man was telling him he had to…do things to her. Like sexual things. He refused to do it and he called Alec, the regional manager. I asked if he'd been speaking to Inspector Munroe on the other line. He didn't know what on earth I was talking about. That's when I hung up."

"I called 1471," said Theo and held out the piece of paper. "That's the number."

He took the bit of paper and stared in disbelief. This kid should have been the assistant manager, he seemed to have more sense than this idiot. There was a sharp rap on the door and he turned. Outside stood DC Perkins and DS Da Costa. They'd arrived at the same time as a couple he took to be Crystal's parents. Terry spread his arms in a what-the-hell gesture. Wait until they heard this. He told the three to wait and went to open the door.

"What's happened?" Crystal's mother asked. "Theo only said Crystal needed a change of clothes, she's not hurt, is she?"

He didn't know best how to answer that and glanced at the CID officers.

"Officer?" Crystal's father demanded. "Is our daughter all right?"

"She's not hurt," he said. "Not physically. But it seems she's been caught up in a very sick prank."

"Gabriel, what the hell is going on?" Terry demanded.

"I think we should talk about it at the station," he said and held his hand out for the bag which Mrs Winter passed over, fear in her face. "I'll see that Crystal gets these. Mr and Mrs Winter, if you don't mind waiting in the car, you can follow us back to Sun Hill. We'll explain then."

He waited until the Winters got back into their car, before he glanced over his shoulder. Amelia and Veronica were staring at them, wide eyed in fear as if they expected to be arrested on the spot. Theo was nursing a cup of coffee, glowering at them both, as if he wished that exactly to happen. He stepped outside and told Terry and Ramani everything. When he was finished, Ramani's eyes were nearly popping out with indignation.

"She strip searched her employee just because a voice on a phone told her to?"

"Yeah, that's about the strength of it. And it appears her fiancé sexually assaulted her because said voice told him to. Or so he said. He's left the premises."

"We need to pick him up," Terry said, looking sickened. "And the names and details of everyone working this shift today."

Gabriel nodded.

"Would you like to get the manager and supervisor back to Sun Hill? Sheelagh and I can bring back Crystal and Theo. I think she might like to have him around, they're good friends."

"All right. Bring the CCTV when you come, will you?"

Gabriel nodded and pushed the door open.

"Ms Sutton, Ms Wood, this is DC Terry Perkins and DS Ramani Da Costa, if you'd like to go with them, they'll take you to Sun Hill to begin the preliminary interviews."

"But…I need to lock up…"

"I can do it," Theo said icily. "You've left me to do it enough times to run home to your precious Anthony."

"That settles that," said Terry. "Ms Sutton, Ms Wood, if you please?"

Slowly, they left. Theo clenched his fists angrily. Gabriel clapped the lad on the shoulder and knocked on the door of the office. Sheelagh opened it partway. He held up the bag of clothes and she took it.

"How is she?"

"Completely traumatised," she said. "I think we need to get her home as quickly as possible."

"Her parents are going to follow us to Sun Hill. Theo's going to ride with us."

"Okay. We'll let her change."

She turned and handed the bag to Crystal and stepped out to let her change alone. She shook her head.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing."

"I don't think anyone can or will." He nodded at Theo. "I let the kid stay. I think he might have blown a fuse if he'd had to ride with the other two."

"Too late," Theo said, without turning around.

They exchanged a glance and a smirk. Sheelagh sat opposite him at the table, taking her hat off.

"Did you know Inspector Munroe personally? Just, you were so adamant that he was dead."

"Not well," said Theo. "He lived on my road, but everyone knew who he was. It was such a shock when he…" Theo clenched his fist hard. "I wanted to, you know. Join to police. Be like him."

"What stopped you?"

"Epilepsy," Theo said bitterly. "You have to be seizure free for eighteen months before you can even apply." He laughed sourly. "Puts me right out of the picture."

"Unfortunate," Sheelagh said awkwardly.

The office door opened and Crystal came out, looking like a little doll. She looked up at Gabriel, a fearful look in her wide brown eyes. She swept back her wavy dark hair and his chest tightened. It was a passing resemblance but for a moment she almost could have been Andrea. The look on her face was way too familiar.

"Gabriel?" Sheelagh said, as he involuntarily backed away a step. "What is it?"

"Nothing. Sorry."

He turned away from Crystal who ran straight into Theo's arms. He breathed slowly as he stared at them. The reminder of Andrea faded slowly and as he calmed, the less likeness he saw. Mentally shaking himself, he led the way out of the building.

This wouldn't do. He couldn't have her hanging over him every time he clocked on for a shift, every time he saw someone with a superficial resemblance to her, every time he closed his eyes at night. Bruce Malcolm was all but sent down for life. Maybe it was time for her to go.

"You've got to be kidding me."

Gabriel and Sheelagh looked across at Terry, who was staring down the phone receiver as if he'd never seen one before. He put it back to his ear and his eyes locked with theirs.

"This has happened more than once?" he said, to both who he was talking to and them.

"No," Sheelagh said, stunned.

Terry talked a few minutes more than carefully placed the phone down. He sat silently for a few minutes.

"Terry?" Sheelagh said.

He looked up at them and rose slowly from his chair.

"Three weeks ago," he said. "A male manager strip searched a sixteen year old part time employee at a pizza restaurant in west London." His lips thinned. "Accused of stealing a customer's expensive engagement ring. At one point, he ordered her to perform a sexual act on him."

"We need to find out who's doing this," Sheelagh said. "What did you find out about the number Theo gave?"

"Pay as you go," he said. "Can be bought from any supermarket, and you don't have to give any details. Our best hope is a signal trace or a hit when and if the phone is topped up."

"How many times could he have done this before?" Sheelagh said. "How many victims?"

"I don't want to think about it," Terry said and caught Gabriel glancing at his watch. "Somewhere you need to be, Gabriel?"

"No," he said. "Sorry. How's the girl?"

"We let her parents take her home," said Terry. "I think she'd had enough trauma for one night, let's not make her relive it as well."

"What about Sutton and Wood?"

"They've gone home too. They've been charged with false imprisonment and bailed to return in the morning, and we're to expect Alec Clements, the regional manager in the morning. I've spoken to him in myself. Let's just say that I don't think his assistant manager and supervisors will have a job much longer."

"But if this has happened several times before," said Gabriel. "Why hasn't this come up on our radar? And shouldn't places have been given warnings about it?"

"Yes, ideally. But we'll have to look into this some more. Find out exactly how many times this has happened before. And if it turns out the fast food restaurant did have warnings, heads are going to roll. Look, why don't you two get home? You were supposed to leave hours ago. There's not much else you can do right now. I'll see you in the morning."

Sheelagh jerked her head at Gabriel and he followed her from CID, glancing at his watch again. Three in the morning. He should have been off at ten, should have been back at the house. This double life stuff was exhausting. Damn her. He'd warned her time and again to keep out of his way.

"You okay?" Sheelagh asked, looking at him in concern.

"Fine. Just tired."

"Want to come back to mine?"

He was ready to say no, say he had to go and check on the house, but the hopeful tone stopped him. He'd have to go back first thing tomorrow. She'd be hungry and dehydrated probably but it was her own fault.

"Sure," he said.

Graham glanced around Smithy's flat and slung his coat on the back of his chair.

"Nice place."

"Yeah," said Smithy casually. "Lived here for a few years now, ever since I came back to Sun Hill."

He crossed to the fridge and got out a can of larger. He held it out to Graham who shook his head.

"No thanks lad. Got any coffee?"

Smithy nodded, put the can back and went to boil the kettle. Graham took a seat and picked up a picture on the side table. Andrea and another girl, blonde and pretty.

"Who's she?"

Smithy turned and glanced at the picture. Turning back to pour water into the mugs, he said; "that's Kerry. Birthday party last summer."

"Oh," Graham said and looked back down at it. "She's pretty."

"Yeah," Smithy muttered. "She was."

"Andrea told me," Graham said. "That it was why you two had gotten close. That she…"

"What?"

"That she doesn't think you would have even looked twice at her if she hadn't died. Not that she ever wished that on her, don't get me wrong. But she…"

"She doubted how I felt about her?"

"I don't think it was that she ever doubted it. I mean, she was very happy. But I think it was just a case of wondering how different things had been. I guess we'll never know, will we?"

"No," Smithy said a little upset.

"I…uh….I might have to ask you to look after the cats for a bit."

"You're leaving?"

"Just for a few weeks. I was so worried, I left in such a hurry and kind of left my business partner in the lurch. I'll be gone a few weeks. No more."

Smithy nodded, surprised to find he was disappointed. Graham smiled at him faintly.

I said I'd be back lad, I meant it. I don't make promises I don't keep. I'm sorting out what I have to, then I'm going nowhere until my girl is found."

Andrea turned on the mattress and pulled her knees to her chest. It was all she had the strength to do. Despite the blanket she had, her very bones felt as if they were turning to ice. Where was he? Darkness had gone and the sky was already beginning to lighten. She was cold, and hungry and thirsty. Her head was spinning and every time she closed her eyes, she felt as if she were in a time warp. She didn't even have the strength to check if the chains were any looser. She closed her eyes again and drifted again, back to a time of early childhood. She was how old? Three? Four? She'd been woken up by the thunder, the crashes and flashes frightening her. She'd screamed and screamed. Then her father had come rushing in. She didn't know where her mother or Kirsten had been. Even then, she'd thought he'd just snap at her for waking him up, but he'd picked her up, holding her, and telling her it was just thunder; just the gods playing marbles in the sky. Nothing to be frightened of. He'd sat with her in her rocking chair until she'd fallen asleep, or so she imagined, because she'd had no memory of him putting her back in bed. Thunder rumbled in the distance and she closed her eyes, not even covering her ears. She had more things than thunder to be scared of.