I went back to my desk and called Maggie:

"Hello?"

"Maggie, its Claire, can you tell Peter he's going to have to feed the kids and put them to bed as I won't be home until at least midnight- I have to work"

"Yes of course I will love, bye"

I hung up and got on with my paperwork, I didn't want to leave the office because I knew if I did I be tempted to drive across Canley to Maggie's.

I was daydreaming when Kerry called me at five to six; I headed down to the unmarked van with Kerry and the rest of the office.

Once inside the van, I fitted a wire to my jacket and thought of John for good luck.

"Are you ready Claire?"

"Yep, lets do it" I replied. I hopped out of the van and strolled towards the Bear and Badger.

I glanced back quickly before entering the Pub but no one was watching. Inside the pub I looked around carefully to ascertain how many suspects there were and how many possible exits there were.

I sat at the bar and watched Kerry walk in before hailing Mike the barman.

"Heya Claire, haven't seen you for a while, is everything alright?"

"Yeah fine, just working on that gang over there"

"Ah, so where's that gorgeous guy of yours?"

"John? Oh he left to work in Scotland"

"How come I haven't seen you in here for a while, must be at least three years?"

"We've been frequenting the Askil and Canley Arms" I replied going red

I suddenly heard Don's voice in my earpiece:

"Claire, stop chatting up the barman"

"Very funny Don, I'm not into shagging my own brother" I shot back

"Claire? Guy in the black leather jacket, ginger hair, please tell me it's not John" Kerry said in my earpiece

I had noticed the ginger guy when I walked in but had not taken much notice.

"Kerry? It's Boulton alright" I saw Kerry give a slight nod.

I thought for a few minutes, how would I feel if I came face to face with John again after three years? What would I say to him?

I watched as the suspects began flashing the cash around- I focused on the man that seemed to be pocketing the cash. I suddenly noticed that John seemed to be handing out little packets of white powder.

I felt sick- the father of my children was a drug dealer.

"Stanton to Deakin"

"Go ahead Claire"

"The dealer is John Boulton, I repeat the dealer is John Boulton"

"Are you sure? Sorry stupid question"

"I'm sure Guv' I'm hoping he doesn't rumble us"

"I don't think he will"

I thought for a minute before putting in a request:

"Request to arrest Boulton"

I heard Deakin sigh before he replied:

"Alright, copy that all units- DS Stanton to arrest Boulton"

I hailed Mike and ordered another Orange for Kerry and another Coke for me. I looked up to see John stood talking to Mike.

Hailing Mike again I asked what he had said to John

"He's not called John, he said his name was Ricky... Ricky Stratton"

"Thanks Mike" I thought about what Mike had told me for a few moments- either John was undercover on our patch or he had a new life with an identity change.

I looked up at Kerry and then at John just as he looked my way... Our eyes met as he recognised me, now we were rumbled. John looked away and there were a few minutes of silence before:

"Cops... this place is filled with Pigs...Run!"

"Go go go !" I yelled as the gang scattered, I remained motionless keeping an eye on Boulton as I waited for the troops to appear. As soon as they appeared in the doorway I was off after Boulton.

I heard on gang member shout:

"Ricky... get 'er over 'ere"

I could see the man who had spoken behind a pillar holding a barstool.

I thought for a minute and hoped John wouldn't lead me that way- I felt sure he wouldn't endanger me.

Just as I thought John suddenly changed direction and sprinted the opposite way.

I found myself on one side of a pool table with John on the other.

"Get lost pig" he growled spitting in my face

I leapt the pool table and landed directly behind him, I reached out but John spun around and pushed me hard back into the pool table, before disappearing into a storeroom – I knew I had him trapped.