Authors Note: Apologies for the delay, hope you are still following along!
"Stephen, thanks for coming!" Michael smiled leading Stephen through to his dining room, which had inadvertently become their new office space. Michael had retrieved an old cork board from his attic which was now full of photographs and Stuart's projector was becoming a permanent fixture.
"so this is where you have been hiding!" Stephen smiled looking at Robbie and Stuart who both looked busy and slightly dishevelled.
"with our friends in C and D around, we needed our own space!" Michael responded.
"Would you like a coffee, Stephen?" Robbie asked, Stephen nodding in response. Stephen walked over to the board as Robbie disappeared into Michael's kitchen.
"that's our chap from the warehouse." Stephen pointed to the photograph on the board. "and that's our Jackie!" He smiled warmly, taking a deep breath looking at the photograph of Jackie as a child. Stuart pulled out a chair for Stephen, who sat down placing the files he had brought onto the table and handing Stuart a USB stick.
"I put them up as a reminder of why we are here!" Michael smiled placing his hand on Stephen's shoulder squeezing it slightly as he walked past him. "So, what have you been able to get on DI Skinner's death?" Michael sat down next to Stephen.
"Well, I have the autopsy report here!" He opened the file in front of him. "and photographs of the scene!" He pointed to the USB stick he had handed to Stuart. "but Michael, I was only able to get this unofficially and only because the pathologist up there owed me a favour!" Michael nodded.
"It is appreciated Stephen, and you know I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think it was related to Jackie's disappearance!" Stephen nodded knowing that was the case, that Michael was not one for going around the rules without good reason.
Robbie returned placing a coffee down on the table for Stephen and one for Michael. "Thanks Robbie." Stephen smiled and Michael nodded.
As Stephen opened the file, there was a knock at the door. Michael looked to the others before looking at his watch, it was late. "Are you expecting anyone else Mike?" Robbie asked. Michael shook his head not intending to answer the door but reluctantly got up when the knocking continued. He closed the door to the dining room behind him, he heading to his front door.
Michael took a deep breath before opening his front door surprised and slightly unnerved to see Brian Holmes stood at his doorstep. Michael closed the door slightly, his body blocking the entrance, his hand gripping the door "Mike, can I have a word?" Brian asked.
"Another interview DCS Holmes?" Michael asked, his hand gripping the door tighter.
"I need to speak to you, Can I come in?" Brian ignored the hostile response.
"Depends, do I need a solicitor?" Michael asked.
"Don't be like that! You are just making my job more difficult!" Brian stated, petulantly.
"Asking if I was intimate with your ex was YOUR Job, was it?" Michael lowered his voice aware the others could be listening.
"Look I'm sorry! DI Jamieson was insisting that you and Jackie were… close! And with CS Gordon wanting a full investigation into Jackie. I needed to know." Brian shrugged. Michael wasn't sure that was a professional or personal need to know, surmising it was probably a bit of both.
"Why are you here Brian?" Michael said exasperated.
"I'd rather not discuss it on the doorstep!" Michael paused for a second. "Please?"
"ok, ok" Michael reluctantly opened the door. "COME THROUGH TO THE LIVING ROOM!" Michael said slightly louder than he needed to! Brian followed Michael into his living room, looking around he noticed the picture he had admired in Michael's office was now reframed and sitting proudly on the mantle piece.
"have you heard about DI skinner?" Brian asked casually.
"Yes, I heard about it!" Michael admitted. Brian hadn't said anything, simply walked around the room placing his bag on the couch. "I hope you haven't come here to accuse me!" Michael scoffed.
"no!" Brian responded rolling his eyes.
"Then why are you here?"
"Any serious incident, complaint, and obviously any deaths relating to officers are supposed to come through me!"
"and?"
"I didn't know about it until two days ago!" Michael looked at him confused "and I only found out because Ross was asking questions!" Michael shrugged, he knew that was odd, but he was still unsure of Brian and was not willing to give anything away. "So.. I started looking through his record, Skinner's that is!" Michael walked away from Brian and closer to the mantle piece looking to their photograph. "about 6 months after your incident with him" Michael turned ready to interject but Brian held his hand up "3 women, 2 PCs and one DS made official complaints about sexual harassment, with one even accusing Skinner of rape!" Michael felt his jaw clench, he took a deep breath, knowing any discussion about Skinner was sure to anger him.
"go on!" Michael simply stated.
"There was no proper investigation into Skinner, he was simply reassigned, and DI Jamieson replaced him here!"
"that's not unusual, you and I both know that sexual harassment is still a problem in the force!" Michael shrugged.
"true, but the rape accusation would have merited an investigation, even 3 years ago!" Michael nodded conceding the point.
"ok, so what happened to the women?" Michael asked
"2 of the 3 women resigned from the force, and the other was transferred to Shetland!"
"Might as well be outer Mongolia!" Michael scoffed putting his hand in his pockets, still not wanting to give too much away.
"Exactly, so I tracked down the two women, and that's when I found out that one of them works at the rape crisis centre that Jackie helped set up. That is why I am here Mike. I can't speak to her without raising questions as to why I am looking" Michael nodded.
"Look I'd like to say I was surprised but Skinner was a creep. He had this black book, book of records I think he called it!"
"is that why you punched him?"
"Partially! And that is all I will say on the matter!" Michael said sternly.
"sorry" Brian looked down "professional habit!" Michael smirked.
"what exactly are you asking Brian?"
"Could Skinner's death be connected to Jackie's disappearance?" Brian stated
"I wouldn't know!" Michael stubbornly crossed his arm.
"Mike, I need your help here" Brian pleaded, Michael didn't respond. "…...I still care for Jackie." Brian sighed "I think that is pretty evident! I had hoped after she had cooled off, we would get back together, I still hope that…. But that can't happen if we don't find her" Michael shrugged, but still remained silent he could see Brian's frustration, his confident exterior all but gone. "Mike, I don't believe what Gordon said, I know my relationship with her was real, I just feel it."
"Do you think someone put pressure on those women to drop their complaints against skinner?" Michael asked. Brian nodded.
"Mike, I think that someone covered up the complaints back then and then tried to keep his death underwraps now! And if Jackie found out about these complaints and was trying to do something about it, it could explain her disappearance right?" Brian paced before stepping forward to Michael. "and perhaps that's where Chris came into it, maybe he was helping her? But then I don't know why Skinner was murdered. Or who would take Jackie to protect Skinner? Mike I can't think straight!" Brian shrugged. Michael stood stoic not really sure he could trust Brian. "I get that you don't trust me, but I need your help!" Brian swallowed hard moving to sit down on Michael's couch. Michael had never seen him so emotional.
"ok, ok!" Michael smiled "I'll help you!" Brian nodded taking a deep breath and leaned forward to open his bag, taking out a heap of files.
"this is the Skinner's autopsy report, the investigation files and copies of the complaints against Skinner!" Michael took the files, surprised that Brian had brought them to him, knowing that it wasn't following correct procedure. Michael briefly flicked through the files which looked like official copies.
"well you had better come through!" Brian looked puzzled, as Michael walked out of the room. Brian quickly stood up picking up his bag and followed him out.