A/N: Of course I vow to update more.
Sitting quietly in CID didn't seem to be an option these days, Sam inwardly grumbled as Manson's voice rang loudly over the low hum of conversation to summon her to his office.
'What is it, Guv?' she asked when she'd shut the door.
'I think we've got an old investigation that needs reviewing.'
'What investigation?'
'Tony Stamp's abuse of children,' he said shortly.
'You must be joking.'
'I'm deadly serious, Samantha,' Manson answered.
'He was cleared of that,' Sam argued heatedly. 'It was the boy's father.'
'But why did he make the allegation against Stamp in the first place?'
'He was crying out for help!'
'Were you even here at the time of the allegation?'
Finally he'd got her. 'No.'
'Then I doubt you're qualified to have an opinion on the subject.'
'Then why am I here?'
'Exactly because of that,' he said cryptically.
'Pardon?'
'I'm going down to interview the kid Stamp just brought in.'
Sam just managed to keep her anger under wraps. 'On what basis?'
'Reasonable suspicion.'
'I don't think there's anything remotely suspicious about Tony bringing some kid in, it's his job.'
'He had his arm round the boy, Sam!' Manson said. 'I was watching the whole thing.'
'Isn't that called spying?' Sam countered angrily.
He chose to ignore that comment. 'I want you in on the interview.'
Oh, right, what a nice job! 'Why me?'
'Would you rather I chose Debbie or Phil Hunter?'
'But a DI and a DS!' Sam argued. 'The boy'll be terrified.'
'We're not the one's hurting him,' Manson declared.
'Now, wait a minute, you've got no proof of that.'
'That boy's been abused, call it intuition if you want to, Samantha, but I know.'
Jim was walking through the canteen doors intent on grabbing himself a sandwich when he spotted June heading towards him- with a face like thunder.
She pulled him violently out of the canteen attracting stares from every level of officer then dragged him into an empty room. She was angrier than he'd ever seen her, even when he'd announced his wedding to Marie.
'June, what's going on?' he asked.
'Do you remember when you proposed to me, Jim?' she said furiously. 'You were drunk! Maybe I was just too hopeful, perhaps I wanted you too much.'
'What are you talking about?'
'When you asked me out earlier you'd been drinking!'
'What?'
'I spoke to the DI before, he told me all about the obbo.'
The bastard. 'Alright, I had one drink, because he forced me.'
June scoffed. 'Forced you?'
'You don't understand what he's like, June,' he protested weakly.
'No, Jim,' she spat. 'I don't understand you.'
And with that she stormed out.
Adrian hadn't spoken at all since the little conversation at the playground and Tony was starting to get more than a bit worried.
Ramani had done her best to coax the boy out of his silent reflection but Adrian still sat close to Tony. There seemed little else Ramani could think of to say so Tony kneeled down in front of the lad.
'Adrian, listen to me,' he said quietly. 'Anything you tell us we're gonna believe. If someone's hurt you or threatened you, we can help. I can help.'
The boy's eyes filled with tears and Tony exchanged a glance with Ramani. She took the baton; 'I f you just want to talk to one of us, that can be arranged.'
'I wanna talk to him,' Adrian whispered.
Ramani smiled at the breakthrough. 'I'll wait outside.'
Manson was striding purposefully down the corridor towards CSU with Sam trying desperately to keep up. She figured she may be able to control the situation, twist it in Tony's favour, convince everyone the DI was bonkers.
The pair spotted Ramani waiting outside the small interview room, Manson charged up to her without so much as a second of hesitation.
'Where's Stamp?' he snapped.
Ramani looked perplexed. 'What?'
Sam saw past the woman into the interview room where Tony was kneeling on the floor talking to a boy. 'He's in here.'
Manson tried to push past Ramani. 'Let me in.'
'Hang on a minute!' she hissed holding him back. 'Tony's making progress with the boy.'
'I bet he is!'
'What are you trying to say?' Ramani asked.
'As your superior, I don't have to answer that question,' he said sharply. 'And I can interview the boy as I please.'
Without another word he barged through the door.
