Chapter 8

It hadn't taken long for rumours to fly around the nick, much like they would any building where people worked so closely together. Smithy had taken Gina's advice and had taken time off, spending his days holed up in the house, admittedly a little stare-crazy, showering his time and affection on Rebecca, who'd become more than a little withdrawn in the past month.

Accusations had been flying around, Gina attempting her best to curb them, before they got out of hand.

"You heard the latest?" Amber looked decidedly miffed as she sat next to Dan and Leela, having taken her latest piece of information from a snatch of conversation she'd just overheard from Gina and Adam, putting two and two together to come up with five. "They think it was one of us!"

"…What?" Dan blinked, "Think what's one of us?"

"Who stabbed Charlie!" Amber sighed. "I hope they don't think-"

"You were no where near her." Leela pursed her lips, looking thoughtfully over the rim of cup, her gaze settling on where Gabriel sat a couple of tables over, reading the newspaper. "The only one who was was-"

"Gabriel." Dan finished in a low voice, glancing over.

Gabriel frowned as he shifted uncomfortably, glancing up as he felt aware of someone watching him. He looked over to the other table as the three occupants tried to look occupied, all talking at once. Gabriel pursed his lips and looked suspiciously at them, before standing up, tucking his paper under his arm, heading towards the door.

"We can't just sit around much longer, Adam!" Gina paced Adam's office, "The longer we keep him out there, the longer there is a chance of him doing it again!"

"We don't have the evidence to arrest him Gina!" Adam sighed. "Hear' say is not going to stand up in court, especially not when the witness knew Charlie from before and helped her win her case! They'll say we put her up to it to get-"

"She has been dead a month!" Gina snapped. "Smithy is sat at home, with their daughter, sure he knows who killed his wife! If we don't do anything about it, it's only a matter of days before he does!" She lowered her voice and looked over the desk at Adam. "Can you put your hand on your heart and say 100 that you completely trust Gabriel Kent? Do you honestly believe that he isn't capable, given what has happened in the past, of killing another person?"

"We're all capable, Gina."

"Don't be so pedantic!" Gina frowned, before wearily rubbing her forehead. "I'll find the evidence, Adam." She assured him. "I just need to bring him in, have him in one place."

Adam sighed, before slowly nodding. "Go on." He said, looking to Gina. "But if this backfires-"

"It won't." Gina assured him, "I'll get him."

Gabriel sat back in the drivers seat of his panda, waiting for Sheelagh. He sighed to himself, wondering what was taking her so long as he squinted further up the ramp in the direction of the door leading to custody, glancing away as he saw Tony and Roger walking down, followed by Gina.

"Gabriel?" Gina motioned to him. "A word?"

"Sorry ma'am." Gabriel moved to start up the car as Sheelagh appeared, walking down the ramp. "Sheelagh-" He trailed off as Tony opened the door, taking the keys from his hand. "What's going on?" He asked.

"Gabriel Kent," Gina stood in front of him looking up. "I'm arresting you for the murder of Charlotte Smith, you do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence."

"Ma'am!" Gabriel tried to struggle as Roger and Tony each took an arm, frogmarching him up the ramp. "I didn't kill her! It was-"

"Get him inside." Gina cut him off, looking round the yard at the other gawping officers. "This is a police station, not a circus." She reprimanded them. "Get on with your jobs!" She glared round, the other officers having no choice but to get on with their jobs. "I give it five minutes." Gina sighed, going back inside, watching as June booked a protesting Gabriel in, before going back up to Adam.

"If this is about the complaint." Gabriel said to Tony as he was pushed towards a cell. "I'll drop it. If she's so bothered about her golden boy-"

"Get in there." Tony pushed harder, sending Gabriel flying back against the wall, having to stumble to avoid not falling to the floor.

"Tony!" Gabriel hurried over to the grille as the door slammed closed. "You have to believe me. I haven't-" He stopped as the grille closed, before punching the door, yelping in pain as he cradled his hand.

"We only have 36 hours." Gina frowned, glancing at June. "And I want to speak to him before he's taken to Barton Street.

"Ma'am." June sighed, already in edge, unsure if Gabriel would reveal her part in knowing his identity, sure that he wouldn't think twice about dropping her in it if he was in trouble.

"They'd be on their way now. I need to talk to him."

"Is that wise, Ma'am." June looked slightly uncomfortable. "I mean, if they-"

"I'm simply trying to glean some information." Gina glanced at the cells. "Otherwise we'll be completely shut out." She frowned, picking the keys up.

Once settled in the interview room, Gina leant forward, a half smirk curling across her lips. "PC Kent…" She said quietly. "Or is it just Gabriel now?"

"I haven't done anything ma'am," Gabriel said coolly. "I don't understand-"

"We have evidence to show otherwise." Gina narrowed her eyes, sitting back as Tony walked through. She nodded at him, before waiting for him to start the tape, reeling off the formalities which start each interview.