It's All About You – Part 13

"What's his name?" Vicky glanced across, watching Tony pin a struggling suspect to the wall.

"Martin Jacques." Reg read from the paper in his hand. "The last one."

"I don't see how this is going to work." Vicky frowned.

"They tried showing Charlie the mug shots." Cass added. "She didn't recognise any of them…"

"So what's the DI playing at?" Sam Harker frowned, appearing almost protectively beside the two women. "All this is going to do is look bad in court."

"Unless one of them confesses." Cass shrugged, trying to appear cheerful as Vicky scoffed darkly.

"Thank you DI Manson." Jonathan smiled, nodding at Neil.

"No further questions your honour." The defence barrister stood up, acknowledging the judge.

"You may step down, DI Manson." The judge nodded, gesturing with one hand.

Neil returned to his seat, settling beside Nick and Gina, glancing across at where Smithy and Charlie had their heads bowed together, talking quietly. "How do you think its going?" He murmured under his breath to Gina.

"Jonathan seems hopeful." Gina whispered back. "Charlie's outburst appears to have had an effect on the jury, the DNA evidence is conclusive alone."

Neil nodded, sitting back. "Should have some extra information soon…"

Mickey sat outside the court room, fidgeting nervously with Styrofoam cup in his hands, watching Claire pace in front of him. "Sarge!"

Claire glanced down, startled out of her own daydream. "Mickey?"

"Stop pacing, you're making me nervous!"

"Sorry." Claire sighed and dropped into a chair beside Mickey. "It's different when it's another officer, isn't it…" She said awkwardly, wringing her hands.

Mickey sighed and nodded. "If she don't get this conviction…" He trailed off, and shrugged, not wanting to make the situation worse.

"You can't interfere, Mickey." Claire turned her head and looked at him. "No matter what happens, you can't go looking for trouble."

"I didn't do nothing!" Jacques scoffed, being pushed ahead into an interview room.

"Save it for the tape," Tony glared, watching Reg fiddle with the equipment.

"You ain't pinning nowt on me." Jacques smirked nastily. "Not like you did Craig."

"We had the evidence." Tony smirked.

"Planted."

"You can't plant DNA." Reg said calmly, sitting beside Tony. "Not someone elses, not without contaminating it."

"You didn't find anything." Jacques rolled his eyes. "You're making it up."

Tony and Reg exchanged glances, Tony nodding for Reg to start the tape, before reeling off the formalities that start each interview.

"You think Becca'll forgive us?" Charlie stood in front of Smithy, her arms around his neck as her forehead rested on his.

"For leaving her with me mam?" Smithy smirked. "I'd never forgive you for leaving me with her either."

"Your mum scares me." She chuckled. "She hates me."

"S'cos I'm her little boy ain't it!" He grinned.

"Little? That can't be right…"

"Easy tiger."

"Poor mummy's boy!" Charlie tweaked his cheek, giggling.

"I'll tell her you're picking on me." Smithy pouted.

"My poor baby!" Charlie smirked, tilting her head up, closing her eyes as she kissed him slowly and lovingly, melting gently and carefully against him.

"Er, Smit-" The door opened and Gina stepped through, blinking as she saw Smithy and Charlie in the corner. "Ahem…" She rolled her eyes as they both ignored her, Smithy's hand falling over Charlie's hip to her backside. "Sergeant Smith!"

Smithy jumped, pulling his head back as he looked at Gina, before grinning coyly, slowly letting go. "Ma'am?"

Charlie blushed and turned into Smithy's shoulder, giggling softly, as Gina raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Charlie, there's something I need you to do for me."

Charlie looked up, looking inquisitively at Gina. "Ok…?"

"Uniform have pulled in several of the known associates of Craig Benson." Gina explained, sighing as Charlie's expression immediately fell. "They've taped brief interviews with each of them, before court resumes, I'd like you to listen to-"

"No!" Smithy glared, shaking his head. "You can't ask her to do that!"

"It's the best way of helping us catch these men," Gina explained, moving forward. "If Charlie recognises the voices-"

"She's not doing it! How they gonna prove who did what anyway!"

"Gentle persuasion." Gina folded her arms. "When faced with the revelation that they have been identified, and the names of the others, if it –"

"I'll do it." Charlie whispered quietly, holding on to Smithy.