"What is it?" Mark repeated, once they were sitting in the living room with their drinks. Mark didn't like how Spliff had almost instantly made himself at home either. He was now lounging with his feet on the sofa, looking around the living room. Mark didn't trust him as far as he could throw him.

"Well," Spliff said, looking completely at ease. "As you've probably guessed, the boss called me and asked me to come over to see you this morning. As soon as possible was what he actually said. We have a… situation."

Mark felt his heart sink. This did not sound good. "What situation?" He asked, unsure whether he even wanted to hear the answer.

"Well you see," Spliff continued, his every word casual, unhurried, as though they were discussing where they were going to meet for lunch the next day. "It's to do with the man in SG who's undertaking some work for one of our clients. The one you visited. You know, your old school friend, I believe?"

Mark looked away. Damn. He'd hoped that wouldn't be common knowledge, his and Chancer's old school friendship. But if Spliff knew, then God knew how many more did. Spliff wasn't exactly known for keeping his mouth shut. Even if he only knew on a need to know basis. Mark looked back at him suspiciously. "Yes," he said reluctantly after a moment's pause. "My old school friend. In that case you must be referring to Derek Chancer."

"Unless you have any other killers as old school chums," Spliff chuckled. "Yes, one and the same."

Mark sighed again. "Just because I took him the iPod and we used; I repeat used to be friends at school why does that mean I have to go back in there? I already know that's what you're building up to asking me to do!"

"You are correct," Spliff nodded. "Well you see Tube, its business. Mr. Chancer of course knows you and the quacks in that nut house have no reason to distrust you. If we sent just anyone in there it would raise suspicion and issues around our client and security are rather…" he paused. "Tense at the moment."

"Let me guess," Mark rolled his eyes. "He screwed up, our client and now he's alerted the quacks to what Chancer was doing. Right?"

"Almost," Spliff said slowly, choosing his words carefully now. "It's actually more a case of…" he paused again. "Let's just say someone tried to enter SG to speak to our client's target and… did something he shouldn't."

"Who? Our client?"

"No, Tube. The man who went in at our client's request. He tried to warn the quacks about what was going on. Tried to protect our client's main target. As he actually has 2, but the one in SG is his main priority."

Mark whistled. "Jesus! So what happened?"

"Well let's just say this man had a little… accident when he left SG. He somehow encountered a hammer to the head on the highway back home. He was pulled out of his car and beaten to death."

Mark winced. What a horrible way to go. He remembered his own thoughts when Leach had first asked him to take the iPod in. Tricking a blind woman, causing her harm didn't sit well with him either. So he in part sympathised with the now dead stranger. He then remembered Leach's words to him that night. Ching-Ching! Had this unknown stranger heard those words in the last hours of his life? A promise of money beyond his dreams which made him walk to his death? Mark felt sick. "So why do I need to go back in there?" He asked after a moment. "What does our client want from me?"

"See Tube, this is why I had to come here. It's too dangerous to discuss this over the phone, sure you understand." Spliff smiled. "Great coffee, may I have another?"

Mark gritted his teeth but went and did as ask. The man was keeping him waiting, making it quite clear who was in control, in charge, even in Mark's own house. This was typical Leach and his men. He passed Spliff his fresh coffee, then retook his seat. Spliff took time sipping before he spoke again.

"Ok. Our client thinks our inside man your old friend is lying about the iPod. Or should I say he might be. He has told us and our client that it works everywhere apart from the target's cell."

Mark raised an eyebrow "Eh? So the technology within it works everywhere else just fine except for the target's cell? How can that be?"

"That is as yet unknown," Spliff said. "But I think the boss is working on something for our client who desperately wants to find out. He's a determined son of a bitch our client, I'll give him that. He must really hate the blind woman, that's for sure. He told the boss he isn't giving up. Crazy if you ask me not to mention fucking expensive, but…" Spliff shrugged. "His money, our pockets Tube."

"But I won't be able to get to her cell," Mark reminded him Spliff nodded. "I know, that's why our boss is working on something which can get to her cell. All you have to do is check the iPod is working. Our client wants to be sure your old chum isn't lying to him."

"Um, so let me get this straight. Mr. Leach wants me to go in there to check the iPod is working, to make sure Derek Chancer is telling him the truth? Why does that make any difference? I can check it works sure. But I can't get anywhere near her cell to prove it doesn't work there."

Spliff shrugged. "Fuck knows. Apparently the boss asked our client the very same question. Asked him if he wanted to give the iPod to someone as a Christmas present when this is over and Chancer's been fried," Spliff smirked. "What do you care? I say again, his money, our pockets."

Mark looked at him for a long moment. "So," he said at last. "Basically our client simply wants to know for a fact the iPod is definitely working, regardless. Right?"

"That's about the size of it," Spliff agreed.

"Pointless," Mark muttered. "What a fucking waste of time. It won't solve his problem."

Spliff shrugged again. "Not our problem, we just take the cash at the end of it. So will you do it?"

Mark sighed. He didn't want to do it, but he could feel himself getting dragged in to it whether he wanted to or not. "How much will I get paid?" He couldn't help himself but to ask. He needed money; he couldn't lie there.

"Considering the risks you'll be taking," Spliff replied. "The boss has said you'll get 700 bucks."

Mark whistled. 700 just for if he was lucky, an hour's work tops? In which case, he realised with a sinking feeling, he could not refuse. "Fine," he said at last, very reluctantly. "But just one thing, how will I get Chancer to give me the iPod? I can't exactly say "hey Derek, I'm here to check your iPod's working," can I? I'm not a fucking iPod maintenance man!"

Spliff grinned. "The boss is getting one of his men to programme the iPod today so it makes a high pitched buzzing sound and stops showing Derek his precious porn," he actually laughed now. "That'll make him hand it over, if he can't get his pussy on screen!"

"But won't it seem a bit suspicious if the day after that happens I suddenly appear asking him if it's working? He'll know I'm on it then!"

"That's the point." Spliff looked at Mark as if he were stupid. "Chancer will probably contact Leach on it immediately and tell him. So you being there so quickly will be perfect. The idiot will think you've been sent there purely to fix it. He won't be able to wait to get his pussy back!"

Mark nodded, unable to stop himself marvelling at Leach's thought processes and technical abilities. It made perfect sense. He looked back at Spliff. "So then what do I do?"

"Then all you have to do is listen with the iPod for a few seconds, verify it is indeed working and leave. When you confirm this to the boss, he'll get the buzzing and whatever jammer he's used taken off the iPod again. Bingo, working perfectly. Chancer will love you! That's all you have to do. Piece of cake!"

But as Spliff left the house a few minutes later and Sarcozi was alone, he began to think that a piece of cake was something it certainly would not be. It smelt very strongly of danger and risk as far as he was concerned. But the money. It was too good to refuse. With a groan, he went back to bed, knowing Leach had him just where he wanted him. Mark's plan had been to have a lie in that day as he didn't have work. But when he got back in to the bed he'd reluctantly left on Spliff's arrival, he knew sleep would not be coming back to him that day.

…

…

At first when Charlotte woke the next morning, she wasn't exactly sure where she was. She glanced around her. Was she staying in a hotel for some reason? Then it all started coming back. The letter, Adam, Danielle, Michael… Thinking of the latter 2 she smiled. She wondered what'd happened between them the night before. Maybe she'd ask Danielle when they met up. She had plans with her friend before she finally did drive home.

The previous evening, Dr Stark had been true to her word and given her as much time as she'd needed. It was 2 and a half hours before the Psychiatrist left her, during which Charlotte insisted on making her a hot drink. They'd sat and drank them, while Charlotte said everything she wanted to say. A couple of times during the session, Charlotte had stopped herself saying what she really wanted to, conscious of the Psychiatrist's need to get home to her own life. But both times Dr Stark had seemed to read her mind, given her that stern glare once more and Charlotte had surrendered. But she'd do something to say thank you, whatever Dr Stark said. As she got out of the huge bed and headed towards the shower, Charlotte found her mind going back over her session the night before.

…

"I don't really want to be in a refuge if I'm honest. Not for much longer."

"There's no shame in it you know," Dr Stark said.

"Yeah I know," Charlotte nodded. "But there's women out there who and I don't mean this the wrong way, I know abuse is abuse, just like you said earlier. But there are indeed women who are much worse off than me. They need my room and I'm taking up space which really should be theirs.

"But that's not your decision, is it." Charlotte knew it wasn't a question.

"Well, no," she admitted. "But I'm starting to question why I'm still there. Does someone want me to stay there until Adam is arrested?"

"I believe that's what judge Spinner said wasn't it?"

"I think…" Charlotte thought back. "I can't remember her exact orders, but it was either until Adam was in prison or there were sufficient security measures to protect me. If I'm honest, I'm still not completely sure what that means. Dr Clarkson is the one in charge of my case and she's the one who decides when I can leave."

"Have you spoken to her about how you're feeling?"

"Not yet. I was supposed to have a meeting with her yesterday before all this shit happened. I phoned her last night, the doctors don't finish until eleven each night and luckily she was still on duty. I told her the outcome of what'd happened and that Danielle was ok."

"Right," Dr Stark said slowly. "Did you discuss you and your situation? You're just as important in all this too, Charlotte. You seem to keep forgetting that."

Charlotte gave the older woman a genuine smile. "No, I don't forget it. I suppose I just can't let myself forget the fact Danielle did go through a lot worse than I did at Adam's hands, and that's just the truth. Her abuse was still worse than mine. But I promise not to say it in a derogatory way again," she smiled again. So anyway, Dr Clarkson said we would talk when I got back. I told her I was staying here last night."

"So when are you needed back for College?"

"Tuesday."

"Well, it's only Saturday now, so if you want to stay until Monday, you are more than welcome to do so. I am more than happy to authorise this and I'm sure Danielle will be over the moon too."

"I couldn't ask…"

"You didn't," Dr Stark interrupted. "I offered."

Charlotte had quickly learnt that Dr Stark was not someone to argue with. "Thanks," she said quietly. "I did have the foresight to bring an overnight bag just in case, lucky for me I did then."

"Indeed," Dr Stark said. "So tell me Charlotte. What are you studying at College?"

Charlotte opened her mouth but again, Dr Stark spoke before she could. How the hell did she do that? "No, come on, I genuinely want to know."

Charlotte blushed. "I'm taking accounts, I want to learn banking. Ever since I was a child I loved banking. Dad bought me one of those digital money counting jars? You know the ones you put cash in and it counts it for you?" Dr Stark nodded. "Well I put all my pocket money in their most weeks and saved it," she grinned a little, seemingly embarrassed. "I also wrote down on paper every dollar I had. Whereas Colin would put his money in the jar and the thing would hardly have time to count it before it was gone again, spent!" Dr Stark chuckled. "Even before that when I had a good old fashioned piggy bank I'd write down what was in it. Finance, outgoings, living expenses, all that stuff has always interested me. When I grew older, mom and dad allowed me to help them manage theirs. Colin was always hopeless," she laughed. "You'd ask him to save for a week and he'd manage about 5 days before he'd buy something! Game for his play station, CD, video, whatever. There was always something he was buying. He's a lot better now but he still comes to me for money questions and help."

Dr Stark smiled. "It's good you're doing something you're interested in."

Charlotte nodded. "Yeah, Adam tried to do what he did to Danielle and get my money out of my account claiming it was his. But because I had too much bank knowledge I didn't let him. He hated that fact. He took my bank card, but by the time he tried to use it I'd already cancelled it. I put every security measure possible on my account and he got nowhere near my money. I even asked dad to have power of attorney. Not because I didn't trust myself or couldn't manage my cash, but because I didn't want that little shit getting my money. Adam was so angry," Charlotte smiled in satisfaction. "I started a paper round just for a bit extra and Adam got nowhere near it."

"What about Colin?" Dr Stark asked. "What's he doing now?"

"He's training to be a Lawyer," Charlotte smiled proudly. "He's doing really well too. He's a good guy, although I guess I would say that," she laughed. "But he's also fair. He'll make a damn good Lawyer.

Dr Stark smiled. "So you're hoping to get in to banking? Are you studying it for a lifelong career?"

"I hope so," Charlotte nodded. "I know there's a lot of training to do, but I'll feel top of the world when I get behind that bullet proof glass and help people with their finances. Even if I will be jealous if they're richer than me. But seriously, I'm not in this for the money, I'm in it because I love it. Mom's a taxi driver and dad works in government, civil servant. I'm glad though that the first thing I've been able to do is get Danielle's bank account protected. I know you guys have power of attorney for her because I set it up," she smiled. "I haven't taken dad off mine yet either. I don't intend to do that until Adam is locked up."

As Dr Stark finally made to leave, Charlotte spoke again. "Dr Stark, can I ask you something? There's something I really want to do for Danielle, but I need your permission to do it."

As she got out of the shower now, Charlotte smiled to herself. Dr Stark was a genuinely kind and caring person, not just in it for the money herself either. She genuinely cared about her patients, that much was obvious. If she was a patient here, Charlotte would want to be treated by her. Dr Clarkson was just as professional and caring as Dr Stark was. The latter had stayed with her a lot longer last night than Charlotte had ever planned or intended, and she'd really appreciated that. It'd been almost midnight when the Psychiatrist had finally left. Charlotte had slept like a log. It was the best night's sleep she'd got in weeks. Before leaving, the doctor had told her that Michael had guided Danielle back to her cell and was now inside with her. Charlotte had smiled with genuine happiness at hearing that. Now she just had to convince her friend to tell the killer the truth. That she loved him. Now, charlotte pulled on her change of clothes and pressed the green button beside her bed. There were 2. One green, one red. The green one alerted the guards on duty that she was about to come down and would need access back in to Danielle's part of the hospital. The red one brought guards immediately to her suite. It was a panic button just in case. Sure enough, 5 minutes later when she followed the path she and Dr Stark had taken the night before, one of the guards was waiting for her.

"Good morning charlotte," he greeted her with a friendly smile. "I'm Jack."

"Hey jack," she smiled back at him. "Danielle told me about you."

Jack groaned. "Oh god! I bet she did!"

Charlotte couldn't help it and started to laugh. "She told me about how you showed her your equipment and that she asked you if your wife's name was Jill!"

The guard rolled his eyes as he opened the first door for her. "I get that all the time."

Charlotte grinned and followed him through one beeping door after another.

"How did you sleep?" Jack asked.

"Like a log thanks," Charlotte said. "I was more tired than I thought. I didn't see you hear yesterday though?"

He nodded. "This is my first day back so you wouldn't have done. Joanne was on overtime yesterday. I'm on the team with Rick, Ryan, Joanne and a few others."

"Ah," Charlotte nodded back at him. "Got you."