A/N: And I'm doing well with this updates thing! I promise a little more action and intrigue coming up soon though.
There was a distinctly tense atmosphere around the station on Wednesday morning, Sam noted with curiosity as she made her way up to CID. It was as though everyone had taken a vow of silence, most people were looking stressed or embarrassed.
CID was just as quiet and, wondering if it was something to do with her, Sam walked over to Debbie McAllister. 'What's going on around here?'
'Don't you read the papers?' she smirked in her typical smile.
Well, no. What with Abi and everything she'd put off reading all the depressing drivel you got in the papers these days. 'No, why?'
'Very nice article in this morning,' Debbie answered. 'About a certain PC with a child abuse allegation behind him and how his superiors don't trust him around kids.'
'Tony,' Sam realised with a sinking feeling. 'Did they mention him by name?'
'Mmm, didn't mention who doesn't trust him though, I'd love to know. Who do you think? Inspector Gold? The Super?'
'Shut up, Debbie!' Sam said with disgust before storming over to her desk completely lost in her anger.
This was so wrong! What had Tony ever done to deserve what was happening to him? And just who had leaked the story?
Then her mind flipped back to the phone conversation she had overheard in the toilets. Andrea! But why would she bother? As a new officer surely she'd want to stay on the good side of her colleagues and selling a story about a long-serving officer wasn't really the way to go.
PC Dunbar had a lot of explaining to do.
'I have to ask,' Inspector Gold said quietly. 'Did you sell that story yourself?'
'No!' Tony burst out angrily. 'You think I wanted this dragging up again?'
'I had to ask,' she pacified him. 'Have you idea who would a story like that?'
He was quiet for a moment, ashamed to say that he was wondering whether this was Samantha Nixon's ploy to get Manson. 'No, I don't.'
Gina sighed. 'All the team are behind you on this, Tony.'
'Someone obviously isn't.'
'Have you talked to anyone about the allegation recently?'
'Not talked about it as such,' Tony said hesitantly. 'Ma'am, how much do you like the DI?'
She cleared her throat. 'He's a good police officer, you can't think he leaked it?'
'No, Ma'am,' Tony said. 'But he is involved.'
Gina stole a glance at the article. 'He's one of these superiors mistrusting you is he?
'It feels that way,' he admitted.
'Has he been saying things?' she asked.
'That's the problem, I've got nothing on him.'
'You'd be well advised to keep clear even if you had,' Gina said. 'Not only is he the DI here, he's also the DAC's son-in-law.'
'You think I should put up with it?'
'Tony, Neil wouldn't have leaked this which means someone else did. Any ideas?'
'No, Ma'am.'
'Come on! You must have talked to someone about it all.'
'Gary,' he admitted. 'And... Samantha Nixon.'
'Samantha?' Gina repeated. 'Why were you talking to a DS about the DI?'
'It's complicated, Ma'am.'
Gina leaned forward. 'I think you better explain it to me then.'
Jim felt sick when he read the article for the seventh time that morning. God knows how Tony would be dealing with it all and he'd probably be on the warpath trying to find out who was the station snitch.
Jim was intrigued about that himself actually, not to mention that he was wondering who mistrusted Tony. It certainly wouldn't be Inspector Gold and somehow he couldn't see it being the Super or the DCI.
Who did that leave? Just the slimy Neil Manson.
Jim really wouldn't put it past the guy who'd moved into the station changing everything he could get his hands on. The only reason he'd kept an open mind about him was because he was trying to prove to June that he was a perfect man, give or take the old alcohol problem.
June... she'd be fuming about all of this, the same as she had when the allegation had first been made. Perhaps this was a time when he could get mad, blow a fuse and still come out high up on June's list of friends.
Then again, rampaging around the station shouting wasn't going to help Tony, and this was all about him.
Still, it gave him a reason to talk to June.
Sam knocked lightly on Inspector Gold's office door. 'Have you any idea where PC Dunbar?'
Gina looked up. 'Come in a minute.'
'I really can't,' Sam answered starting to leave.
'I need to talk to you,' Gina insisted so Sam shrugged and moved into the office.
'What's the problem?'
'Oh, nothing,' Gina said. 'Just you trying to see off our DI.'
Sam bit her lip and sat down quickly. I'm not.'
'Then why do you look guilty as hell?'
'I didn't set out to bring him down,' Sam sighed.
'But you admit you are?' Gina asked carefully.
'Look at the mess he's causing!' Sam burst out. 'Someone has to.'
'Samantha,' Gina said patiently. 'He's your boss.'
'I do know that.'
'Sure this isn't just bitter feelings?'
'Abigail was shot because of him cutting corners,' Sam reminded her. 'And maybe he didn't call the papers on Tony but he's the guilty party here.'
'I think it's crossed Tony's mind that you may have leaked it,' Gina's tone softened slightly.
'Can see why he might think that,' Sam answered thoughtfully.
'You didn't did you?'
'You know me better than that, Gina,' Sam said.
'Yeah, well,' Gina said. 'I know how much you hate Manson.'
'I wouldn't have done that to Tony,' Sam pointed out.
'Any idea who did?'
'Some idea,' Sam answered vaguely. 'But I'd rather not tell you at the moment.'
'Alright,' Gina relented. 'But be careful, Sam and keep me informed.'
Sam smiled. 'I'll add you to my list.'
