I Can Still Feel You're Here – Part 4

"What the hell do you think you were playing at?" Gina stalked around in front of Smiffy as he sat in his living room, staring miserably into an open can of lager.

"Sorry Ma'am" He said quietly, staring at the television.

"Sorry?" Gina scoffed. "You could have broken his nose!"

Smiffy raised his gaze and shrugged slightly. "Like to have broken his neck."

"Dale." Gina sighed. "I understand he may have upset you-"

"Upset me!" Smiffy snapped and raised his voice. "He was attempting to insinuate that Charlie was cheating on me!"

"We both know she wouldn't." Gina leant forward and rested a hand on his arm in an attempt to calm him down. "She adored you."

Smiffy swallowed hard and looked away, standing as the sound of Rebecca's crying echoed through the baby monitor.

"S'cuse me, Gina." He said, heading up the stairs, walking through to Rebecca's room as Gina sighed and topped her glass of whiskey.

&&&

"Shhh…." Smiffy stood over the cot and looked down at Rebecca. "It's ok sweetheart, daddy's here…" he leant down and picked Rebecca up, holding her closely. "It's alright sweetheart…."

Rebecca screwed her eyes closed and balled loudly, clinging to his shirt as Smiffy bounced her, trying to calm her down.

"Shhh…" he kissed her forehead and walked round the room with her, rubbing her back gently. "What's wrong darling?" He checked her nappy and offered her a bottle, sighing as she pushed it away, screeching louder. "Hush little baby don't say a word…" he started softly, frowning as he couldn't remember the rest of the words. "Er, another one?" he asked as Rebecca calmed slightly and peered up at him. "What did mummy use to do?" he asked, staring back at her as her cries got louder. "Don't look at me like that, please…" he sighed. "I don't know any of the baby songs…."

Gina sighed as she heard it repeated through the baby monitor and stood up, moving to the stair doorway, walking up slowly.

"I don't know anymore…" Smiffy protested softly, sitting beside the window with Rebecca in his arms. He shifted her gently so she could see outside and pointed up at the stars. "Can you see your mummy?" he asked, helping her look out the window. "She's up there, watching us, looking after us…" he held his hand against Rebecca's as she calmed a little more and watched as she curled her fingers around one of his. "Don't look at me like that…" he repeated, smiling slightly. "I'm not singing you that song!"

Rebecca pouted and opened her mouth to cry again as Smiffy sighed and kissed her forehea. "You can understand everything I'm saying can't you?" he smirked slightly.

Rebecca grinned a toothless grin at him. "Ma!" She said quietly, staring up at him.

"You want the song don't you." He sighed and sat back in the seat with her. "You ever tell anyone…." He chuckled, stroking her fingers and cleared his throat, humming when he couldn't remember the words.

"Goodbye, my friend,

…I can still feel you're here,

It's not the end,

... into fear,

So glad we made it,

...will never change it..."

"And that's all I can remember…" he said, smiling at Rebecca as she clapped, not noticing Gina stood in the doorway to the room. "And that's your mums fault 'cos she'd never stop singing it." He watched as Rebecca smiled at him and lifted her up to his shoulder, rocking her gently till she fell asleep. "There's definitely a lot of your mum in there.." He whispered, lowering her into the cot. He kissed her forehead and stepped back, tucking her in and turned her mobile on, turning to leave the room, jumping as he saw Gina in the doorway.

"Nice voice." Gina smirked at him. "Just don't give up the day job."

Smiffy wriggled an eyebrow and returned her smirk, walking past her as Gina put a hand on his arm to stop him. "Nice to see you smile." She said quietly. "You're really good with her.

"I'm all she's got." He said, not looking at Gina. "And she's all I've got now…"

&&&

"You can't seriously be making a complaint about it!" Tony scoffed, glaring at Gabriel as he picked his cup up, carrying it over to the table.

"He assaulted me!" Gabriel insisted, sitting opposite him.

"He's just lost his wife!" Honey glared at him.

"He shouldn't have taken it out on me!" Gabriel sipped his drink, not making eye contact with anyone. "We all know he's got a temper…what if he was to loose it elsewhere?"

Gary looked up and scoffed. "As if!"

Gabriel smirked slightly, hiding it behind his cup and shrugged. "You never know."

&&&

"He's taking it further?" Adam raised both eyebrows as Gina nodded at him. "What about the court case, that's coming up soon isn't it?"

"Starts next Tuesday." Gina confirmed. "He's still insisting he didn't stab her!"

Adam scoffed slightly. "The knife was covered in his fingerprints, he admitted himself he was carrying it for protection…"

Gina pursed her lips and nodded, frowning as Steve Hunter blundered into Adam's office without knocking.

"Sir!" He panted, having run up the stairs. "There's someone to see you in the front office….it's about Charlie's stabbing…."

Gina and Adam exchanged glances, before standing and following Steve downstairs.

&&&

"I wanna talk to the boss!"

"He'll be on his way." Marilyn repeated for the third time in as many minutes.

"Wot's keepin' 'im!" She glared.

"Superintendent Adam Okaro." Adam stood behind her with Gina. "How can I help?"

"You're the boss yeah?" The small, peroxide blonde stared up at him.

Adam nodded and gestured to Gina. "Inspector Gina Gold."

The blonde eyed Gina off and looked back to Adam. "It's 'bout that copper wot got stabbed."

"Marilyn." Gina turned to the SRO who was watching them with obvious interest. "Can you get Miss…"

"Burton." The blonde looked at Marilyn. "Kylie Burton."

"Can you get Miss Burton a drink please," she shooed Steve away and lead Adam and Kylie to the front interview room.

"Now," Adam gestured to a seat and sat down, frowning slightly. "Miss Burton, can you tell us-"

"It ain't that bloke you got in there wot done it!" Kylie insisted. "That 'uva copper who was there – 'e did it!"

Gina blinked and looked at Adam. "Pardon?"

"That 'uva copper – that bloke one who was there…."

Adam shot a look at Gina, knowing exactly who she meant. "Do continue."

"He was arguin' wiv 'er before'and!" Kylie said, obviously over-excited. "They were outside and 'e was tryin' to talk to 'er, but she shouted at 'im and sed she didn't wanna know and she was gonna go talk to you when she got back, 'cept she didn't – did she!"

"Quite." Gina pursed her lips and leant forward. "Did you hear what they were talking about?"

"Bit 'ard not to!" Kylie nodded. "He was tryin' to ask 'er out, but she din't want none of it!"

"Are you sure?" Adam frowned.

"I ain't makin' it up!" Kylie screeched. "'e was yellin' at 'er, and asked 'er for a drink and she sed she didn't wanna go nowhere wiv 'im, she went to walk away, and 'e pulled 'er back and slammed 'er against the car. Was dead 'ard too – cos she cried out!"

"And then what…?" Gina prompted.

"Then them 'uva two coppers turned up!" Kylie insisted. "Them two women ones, and 'e let 'er go – and she went 'ova to them women."

Gina nodded, having read the statements made by the three officers.

"I went in the pub just before they all did…and that man was kicking off, but it wasn't anyfing she couldn't 'ave 'andled on 'er own – but that copper went storming in and caused the scuffle – and I swear 'e had the knife!"

Gina and Adam exchanged glances and looked back at Kylie. "How are you so sure it wasn't-"

"Cos 'e turned away!" Kylie leant over the desk and stared at them. "That man you're blamin' – 'e turned away, 'e only turned back wen that girl fell to the floor! I'm not the only one who saw it!"

"How come nooone else-"

"The Askil Arms ain't exactly known for their love of the police are they!" Kylie scoffed. "They all fink she got what she deserved – but she 'elped me before, – she was dead nice!"

Adam frowned and looked Kylie in the eye. "Are you willing to make this into a statement?"

Kylie nodded and sat back. "Sooner that copper gets wot 'e deserves the better!"

&&&

"416 from Sierra Oscar." Dean's voice crackled through the radio, disrupting Gabriel's thoughts.

"Go ahead Sierra Oscar." He answered, sitting up in his seat.

"Can you return to Sierra Oscar please, there's a message for you."

Gabriel's eyebrows raised, but he lifted his radio to reply. "Any idea what it is?"

Dean looked at Gina as she shook her head and looked back at the computer. "Sorry, no….it's at front desk…."

"On way." Gabriel answered, and turned the car back round.