A/N: Just a little thing, Jim will be involved in this at some point but I figure Manson can only wreck two people's lives at a time, right? Hope you like this.

Monday morning and Sam was the first in as usual. After a few cups of coffee she was finally getting motivated but that didn't mean she was having any luck connecting Sean Cooper to any crime in Sun Hill. And that was bad.

Cooper was suspected of being involved with half the firearms in the district except there was nothing on him at all. Nobody seemed willing to grass him up, he was too smart to be caught out, the trail was coming to all sorts of dead ends and Sam had a feeling she'd be getting the blame for it.

Still, bright side? Failure to catch Cooper wasn't exactly going to show Manson in a good light, was it? And that was enough to put a smile on her face.

Unfortunately the doors swung open at that precise moment and DI Manson entered. Oh, great!

'Hope that smile means you've got something on Sean Cooper,' Manson said gruffly.

Somehow she managed to suppress a unproductive comment. 'No, Guv. Sorry.'

He walked past her without a glance. 'Sorry's not good enough. We need Cooper off the streets fast. Every moment he's out there is another moment he could be putting lives in danger by selling a gun.'

'Yeah, I am aware of that.'

'I hope you are, Samantha,' he said without turning around. 'As of today, I'll be heading the investigation.'

What?! 'Hang on a minute,' she said sharply. 'I'm the one in charge of the Cooper investigation.'

'Not any more,' he said turning back. 'You haven't got a result, it's time I stepped in.'

'You can't do that!'

'I just did,' he smirked before going into his office.

Great! What was the betting that a witness would suddenly come out of the woodwork or Cooper would become sloppy now that Manson was on board? Just to make her look damn incompetent.


Why were old women the worst for chattering? Tony had just spent an hour trying to ask a Mrs Hoskins if she'd noticed who'd nicked her neighbour's car. Instead of answers he'd got the full-length version of her holiday in Torquay and been force-fed homemade chocolate biscuits.

He was driving through the Larkmead estate on his way back to the station, extremely irritated that Gary had wriggled out of this one somehow. Yep, it was always good old Tony Stamp who got to deal with the doddering old women.

Ahead of him Tony saw a girl waving, obviously trying to get him to stop. He was happy to oblige, especially because he thought he recognised her as Abigail Nixon, DS Nixon's daughter.

Slowly he pulled the car alongside her. 'Can I help you?'

'My bag's been nicked,' she said breathlessly. 'Can you take me to Sun Hill station?'

'You're DS Nixon's daughter, aren't you?'

She nodded. 'She's gonna kill me.'

Tony smiled. 'Hop in, I'll give you a lift.'


Jim sat at his desk in CSU reviewing whether they could arrest Danny Cullum for threatening behaviour. The guy had repeatedly taunted a Mrs Gray about the colour of her skin, there was one slightly unreliable witness, probably not enough to bring a case. Still, he could have a word and shake him up a bit.

'Jim?'

'Hmm?' he glanced up to find June standing there. 'Hi, what can I do for you?' That came out a little more suggestive than he'd intended.

She handed him a file. 'I've just arrested Danny Cullum, I was told you were the one handling the case.'

'Yeah, I am,' he said. 'What's he gone and done now?'

'Moved up a level,' June sighed. 'Threw a brick through Marion Gray's window.'

'Great,' Jim muttered. 'Is she alright?'

'Just a few cuts and bruises,' June answered. 'Want me to sit in on the interview?'

'Sure.'


Tony walked Abigail up into CID. He scanned the large room but there was no sign of Samantha Nixon so he led the girl around the corner to DI Manson's office.

'Excuse me, Guv?' he tapped lightly on the door.

'Mmm?' Manson murmured then looked up, Tony watched his eyes dart over to Abigail, was that a slight indication of worry? 'Who's this?'

'DS Nixon's daughter,' Tony said, managing to keep his voice nice and calm. 'She's had her bag nicked, any idea where Samantha is?'

'She's checking something out,' he said. 'She should be back in half an hour or so.'

'Okay,' Tony forced a smile. 'I'll take Abigail down to the canteen.'

Manson stood up quickly. 'It's alright, PC Stamp, she can stay here.'

'It's no trouble,' Tony countered politely.

'You're probably needed,' Manson insisted smoothly. 'Go.'

'Fine,' Tony said shortly before turning and walking out of CID quickly.

What the hell did Manson think he was doing? Protecting Abigail Nixon from the evil child-abuser? Tony was sure that Samantha would be more bothered about her daughter spending time with her arch-enemy than him but it seemed Manson had things clear in his mind.

Well, good for him.