A/N: I'm an evil little person aren't I?

'I'll drop Bel at Siobhan's on my way in,' Sam said as she swept into the kitchen, black coat already on.

Sheelagh looked up from her newspaper. 'Hey, hang on. Are you alright?'

'I'm late. I've got that meeting with the DCI about these guns, that case is driving me up the wall.'

'That's not what I meant.'

'Isn't it? Sorry, my mind's elsewhere.' Sam leaned down to kiss her. 'I'll see you tonight.'

Sheelagh kept hold of the hand on her shoulder. 'I'm sure she'll be in touch, she may even come round.'

Sam smiled stiffly. 'Well, we'll see. And call me if you need me.'

Hearing the front door close, Sheelagh leaned back in her seat, too much aware of her son squirming inside of her. Technically, he was overdue, if only by a few days. Siobhan had been severely overdue whereas the boys had wanted to change their surroundings as soon as possible. She'd assumed her third son would be the same. Apparently not. The strain was showing more on Sam in truth. Sam, who was phoning three times a day, cooking more than she was capable of and generally avoiding the fact her daughter had gone without speaking to her for a month. It was typical Samantha really but Sheelagh was still finding it hard to deal with.

It seemed Abi was still struggling with her confession. Ramani had visited her a few times, reporting she was unresponsive and didn't even bother asking after Belinda. That was worrying- it meant that, on release, she might disappear without her daughter, killing any chance Sheelagh might have of talking to the young woman. She was wanting to reassure her, she could hardly do that if she couldn't find her. Plus, it would devastate Sam.

'Two weeks and no leads!' Jack slammed the tabloid down on the desk as Sam exchanged a look with Terry. 'What are you playing at?'

'With respect, Guv,' said Sam. 'We picked up this case when the trail was cold. It's hardly surprising we haven't found anything.'

'That's an excuse, is it?'

'No, it's a realistic explanation. Until one of the pistols surfaces we've got nothing to go on.'

'Well, you're in luck,' Jack answered. 'There was an attempted armed robbery at a pub last night, shots were fired. Ballistics have matched the bullet to the store Lewis Graham surrendered when he reported the carjacking.'

'Any descriptions?' Terry questioned.

'The landlord found the gun a bit more interesting than the face if you know what I mean. It was the Horse and Groom on Waterton Road, that area's crowded with CCTV. Terry, could you get onto that?'

'Sure, Guv,' he replied before leaving.

Sam made to follow him but Jack quickly said, 'Hang on a minute, Samantha. Can I have a word?'

That struck her as a rhetorical question so she stood in front of him again, waiting for the tirade. 'Yes, Guv.'

'Are you alright?' he asked simply.

'Sorry?'

'You're obviously stressed. Is it Abi or Sheelagh and the baby?'

'There's not a problem, Guv. I'm investigating this case to the best of my abilities, my personal life has no bearing on it whatsoever.'

He shook his head. 'Who do you think you're fooling?'

'Is that all, Guv?'

'For now.'

Mid-morning, the telephone rang. Sheelagh answered with as much trepidation as she had every phone call since Abi had been sectioned. 'Hello?'

'Sheelagh? It's Ramani.'

Her throat continued its tightening. 'Is everything alright?'

'I've just spoken to a friend at the hospital. Apparently, Abigail left this morning, indicating she wasn't planning on staying in London. She asked for travel guides to the Lake District from what I can gather. Has that any significance?'

'I think that's where her father is now. I can't think why she'd go to him now, he's hardly even sent cards.'

'She might just need to escape for a while.'

'If she disappears to Glen we'll never see her, and Sam'll be heartbroken.'

'There's little you can do, Sheelagh,' warned Ramani. 'Especially in your condition.'

'I know, I know,' she sighed. 'Listen, thanks for keeping me informed.'

'No problem. Only sorry I couldn't do more.'

'Oi, I think I've got something.'

Sam looked over her shoulder to Terry's computer screen where he'd been perusing pictures for over an hour. 'What?'

'Alan Tricott, matches the CCTV footage plus he's got form for firearms offences. Only been out of nick a month.'

'So what are you thinking? Someone's selling them to the highest bidder?'

'Seems a safe bet. I mean, what does a carjacker want with a bootload of pistols? He sells 'em, makes some easy money and gets on the food chain at the same time.'

'It's worth a look,' Sam agreed. 'Have we got a current address?'

'Yup. Let's get down there.'

Sheelagh was dozing in her favourite when she heard the front door rattle. Thinking it was Sam on one of her irregular daytime visits, she didn't open her eyes until a voice said, 'You haven't had him yet then.'

'Abi! Are you alright?'

With her arms crossed over the chest the young woman looked anything but comfortable- nevertheless, she answered, 'Yeah, I'm fine. How about you? He's overdue now.'

'I'm surprised you rembered.'

'I don't see why you would be,' said Abi, wiping a hair from her face. 'I am interested, you know.'

The reference made Sheelagh's cheeks colour. 'Of course you are.'

'Look, I just came to collect some stuff. Then I'll be out of your hair.'

'Abi, that's not what you want, nor your mother and I.'

'Can you just not talk about you two like that?'

'Like what?'

'As a couple.'

'Well, that's what we are, Abi. You know that.'

'Whatever. It doesn't matter. Like I said, I won't be here long.'

As Abi turned to leave, Sheelagh said, 'She's fine. Belinda, I mean. She's with Siobhan, you could see her as soon as you wanted.'

The young woman swallowed. 'I'd rather not.'

'No sign of him.'

Sam gazed around the pristine living room. 'This is too neat. I've known a lot of flats like this, they're usually covers for something bigger. Alright, take a good look around, see if you can find any paperwork for any other addresses.'

Ten minutes later, Terry called her over. 'Hey, check this out. Junk mail addressed to 5 Capwell Lane. That's a posh housing complex off the river.'

'Surely he wouldn't bring junk mail from his secret house to his known abode?'

'Maybe Tricott's not as smart as we throught. Should we get round there?'

'Yeah… We should inform the DCI; get on that, I'll round up the troops.'

'Where are planning on going, Abi?' Sheelagh questioned when she finally made it up the stairs to the bedroom. The young mother was carefully separating her clothes from her daughter's, packing her own in a holdall. 'You must have an idea.'

'I don't have to tell you that.'

'You know, I can't believe you'd leave Belinda.'

'She'll be better off with you, raise her as your own. Least she'll be happy.'

'Now you don't really believe that.'

'Don't tell me what I believe, Sheelagh! I know my own mind.'

'Yeah, I think you do. Which is why you know this isn't the right thing to do.' Sheelagh sighed at the lack of response. 'Where are you going?'

'I thought I'd go see Glen. I wrote to him a couple of weeks ago, he wants to see me.'

So Ramani had been right. She contemplated her next words carefully. 'That's something I didn't expect. You haven't heard from him for quite a while.'

'He's still my father.'

'It's a shame you don't apply that principle to your mum.'

Abi shook out a particularly revealing top. 'I need to get on with this. I'll let you know when I leave.'

Before Sheelagh had a chance she felt a short sharp pain in her abdomen, one she knew all too well. 'Abi…'

'What?'

'I think the labour's started.'

'This looks better than that flat anyway,' Terry sniggered as they approached the luxury house. 'Bit more like the place of an armed robber. Maybe we'll find some cash under the floorboards.'

'All we want is that gun,' Sam reminded him. 'And Triscott if we're lucky. Get CO19 lined up.'

When they busted through the door the armed team rushed in. When the all-clear came Sam and Terry followed them in, he eye immediately caught by an open door which she assumed to be the cellar. 'Terry, down here!'

As they stepped down the dusty stairs, Sam found her senses completely alert. Everything from the musky smell coming from the walls to the gentle drip of water from somewhere penetrated her brain and stored itself for future reference. Stepping down onto the cellar floor with Terry on her heels she flicked on her pocket torch, pointing the beam far ahead. The cellar was an expensive one, probably stretching under the entire house. There were stone pillars dotted around, boxes piled everywhere. Spotting an upturned one towards the back of the room Sam made for it.

Walking past the second pillar she suddenly felt herself yanked sideways, something metal being pushed against the side of her head. 'Terry!'

'Don't move, either of you,' a whispered voice warned. 'You're not going anywhere.'