"Ok so we've got a positive sighting of Hugh Wallis at five minutes to midnight, last night. He entered James King's house and searched through every draw and cupboard in the place before leaving, apparently with some papers which he appeared to be studying intently. Phil, any chance of visiting James again to see if he'll tell you what could be on those papers?" Sam waited for Phil to nod before continuing. "Terry, Suzie I want you checking out the CCTV from the surrounding area to see if we can get a clear picture of Hugh and any idea which way he was heading, if he had a vehicle or was on foot, if he is still with the men who helped him escape. Ramani, I want you to visit Lisa Carmichael, see if she knows anything about what Hugh might have been after, if he said anything while he was in prison. Mickey, Zain I need you to catch up on your paperwork for your other outstanding cases. I know it's not glamorous and I'm sure we'd all like to be working on making sure Hugh is back behind bars as soon as possible – but this isn't the only case we've got on our books at the moment. I don't want anyone saying that we're neglecting our duties because of this one case." Sam instructed the team under Jack's watchful eye, conscious of needing to appear in control and detached even as her mind worked overtime worrying in case details of Abi's whereabouts were contained on the papers Hugh had stolen. James King had known precisely where Abi would be and when, that sort of information did not come without some sort of intelligence or observation. She debated with herself silently as the team got to work; should she warn Abi and risk frightening her even more than she already was, or should she hold off and see what information they could gather before telling her daughter anything?
"What are you going to be doing today Sam?" Jack asked as he followed her into her office, surprising her as she hadn't been aware of his presence.
"I have my own mountain of paperwork to wade through and as much as I'd like to be the one to bring Hugh Wallis back to his prison cell, direct involvement could jeopardise any future conviction." Sam explained, raring to get her hands dirty in the investigation but knowing Jack would have none of it.
"Good, glad to see you're thinking sensibly. We want justice done, we don't want him getting off on a technicality." Jack concurred, knowing he would still have to keep a close eye on his DI such was her tendency to sneak off when his back was turned.
"No Sir, we don't." She muttered casting a glance towards her superior's retreating back.
Jo fidgeted restlessly as she wandered from the lounge to the kitchen to make herself another coffee.
"It's a wonder you sleep at night the amount of caffeine you drink in a day!" George grumbled light-heartedly.
"Ah but Dad, you know without it I'm a monster, so decide which you'd prefer: a well stocked caffeine addict who's pleasant, or a caffeine addict in withdrawal with none of the niceties." Jo smiled sweetly at him as she offered him the alternatives, rehashing an argument they had had many times over the years.
"You know I wouldn't change a thing about you for all the coffee in Kenya love, I'm only teasing." George patted her arm lovingly.
"I know Dad. Thanks, you know, for not treating me any differently. Mum's acting like I'm going to break in half at any moment, walking on egg shells all the time like she doesn't know what to say or what not to say. I know she's doing what she thinks is best but the only way I'm going to get through this is if people are open and honest with me. Will you promise me something?" Jo asked wrapping her hands around the steaming mug of her favourite beverage leaning against the work surface as she regarded her father over the top of the cup.
"If it was in my power to give it, I'd promise you the world." George answered, eliciting another sweet smile from his precious daughter albeit a more brief one before her face turned serious again.
"If I ever ask you questions about my past, about the months I have missing, will you answer me honestly, no matter how much it might hurt me to hear the truth?" Brow creased slightly, Jo locked her gaze with her father's, seeing a shadow of uncertainty flicker in his eyes before resignation dawned.
"If that's what you want sweetheart, I promise… and I promise to do everything I can to get your mum to do the same." George answered, pre-empting Jo's next question. "Mind me asking what's brought this on?" Jo took a sip of her coffee, grimacing as it scolded her tongue. She blew on the hot dark liquid for a moment, stalling for time as she fought to find the words to explain her 'dreams'.
"The last couple of days, I've been having these episodes, often when I'm sleeping but sometimes when I'm awake too." She paused, gathering her thoughts.
"What sort of episodes? Like seizures?" George asked worriedly, knowing that any such development should be investigated immediately.
"No, more like dreams really. But so vivid and familiar in a strange way – it's like I remember these things but I don't really remember. I'm not sure whether it's my mind playing tricks on me or if they're memories trying to sneak back in." Jo struggled to put it into words, to accurately describe the periods when she found herself watching disjointed scenes, fragments of events unfold in her mind.
"What sort of things have you been remembering?" George asked gently, guiding Jo to sit at the breakfast bar, wondering when his wife would be back from the shops, preferring to stay out of the emotional stuff as much as he loved his daughter.
"One keeps recurring; I can't see anything, it's pitch black and the pain – it hurts so much I just want to go to sleep then it'll stop. I can't move my arms, I feel like I'm being pulled up by them, my shoulder doesn't feel too good. I can hear voices, muffled and distorted like they're miles away and I'm hearing them through water but I can feel someone nearby, telling me I'm going to be ok, that she's sorry. I think it's Sam, her voice is too quiet to be sure but I feel like it's her, like I can see her in my head standing beside me. That's all really, I just keep seeing it over and over again." Jo frowned part of her hoping the memory wasn't real but suspecting it might be given the scar she had discovered when undressing for bed the night before. "Was I attacked?"
Remembering his vow to be honest, George nodded, taking one of Jo's hands in his own. "Yes sweetheart, I'm afraid you were. I'm so sorry."
"And was I assaulted, sexually?" Jo's voice grew quieter, her eyes focused on the tabletop before her.
"No you weren't. Now let that be an end to it." Alice answered from the doorway, eyes flashing angrily at her husband. "You'll remember in your own time, you don't need us telling you what happened."
"How can I remember when I never know what's real and what's my imagination playing tricks on me? If I can't ask you to help me remember, who can I ask?" Jo pleaded tearfully, the cheer from her conversation with Sam replaced by a crushing feeling of loneliness.
"James, Hugh Wallis trashed your house last night. Why would he do that?" Phil asked again, getting the distinct impression that King would happily sit and answer the same questions all day if it meant keeping out of the way.
"Wouldn't you be pissed at the person who snatched your kid? Like I said, he was probably looking for me, to teach me a lesson." King answered cockily.
"Looks like someone beat him to it." Phil observed, taking in the numerous bruises visible on the scruffy young man's face and arms.
"These? Nah man, I fell in the shower. Can be right clumsy sometimes." The prisoner waved Phil's concern away.
"Onto someone's outstretched fist was it? Come on muppet, I can see the knuckle marks on yer face. What was he looking for?" The sergeant asked, exasperation threatening to get the better of him.
"Who?"
"Lord bloody Lucan! Who d'ya think? Hugh Wallis – what was he looking for in your house? What do you keep written down that he might be interested in?" It was the first time Phil had mentioned the paperwork Hugh had been seen taking from the house and he was thrilled to see a brief flash of fear cross King's face.
"Maybe he decided to steal my bank details, get his own back by nicking my money while I'm outta the way."
"Yeah and maybe Kermit and Miss Piggy were your parents! Stop wasting my time. If you help me, I can make sure you don't have any more 'falls' in the shower, ok?" Phil leaned forward closing the distance between himself and King, who was looking a little more rattled than previously. "What is it you're afraid of James?"
"I ain't afraid of nothing and you can't offer me anything. I want to go now." King suddenly propelled himself up from the chair and strode towards the door leading back on to the wing, hammering on it to draw the guards attention.
"I'll keep coming back until you talk, you know that don't you James?" Phil offered by way of a parting shot as King was escorted from the room.
"Sam, it's Phil. King took a beating at the prison but he won't talk. I think if we give him a day or so more, he might be more willing to co-operate. He got spooked when I mentioned the papers Hugh was interested in, clammed up completely and couldn't get out of the room fast enough. His behaviour got me thinking so I asked if they'd let me know if he made any phone calls. I hadn't got out the gate before they called me back – he went straight to the phone. I've traced the call to a Ciaran O'Rourke, thought you might want to run a check on him." The sergeant reported in as he drove back towards the station, not wanting to wait that long to get the ball rolling on finding out who O'Rourke was.
"Thanks Phil, I'll get onto it straight away." Sam hung up the phone, making her way out of her office to follow up the lead when Gina Gold accosted her.
"Sam, got any bodies spare to look into a suspected arson attack?" Out of the corner of her eye, Sam could see Mickey and Zain's ears prick up, a subtle shift in their posture making it painfully clear they were eaves dropping, hoping for any form of release from the tedium of paperwork.
"Yeah I think Zain and Mickey could do with some fresh air. What have you got?" Sam asked, ushering the Inspector over to the two men, neither of whom should ever take up poker, Sam mentally noted watching their overzealous efforts to appear nonchalant.
"Neighbours reported smoke coming from around the front door shortly after a man was seen posting something through the letterbox. We've reports of a young woman, early twenties at most and a baby trapped inside. The address is 19 Ampley Gardens." Gina watched, one eyebrow raised in question as the blood visibly drained from Sam's face.
"Get me down there… NOW! My daughter's staying there with a friend, it was supposed to be her safe house." Sam was racing through the station as she finished the sentence, not stopping to grab her coat or bag, her only thought of reaching the house.
"Abi, oh thank God you're ok!" Sam gushed as she saw her daughter standing with a small group of onlookers on the pavement a short distance up from the house. She drew the young girl into her arms, kissing her tear stained face frantically.
"Mum, Joey's in there!" Abi sobbed, her fragile grip on stability slipping in the presence of her mum.
"They're doing everything they can to get him out. Who was looking after him? Is it Sarah in there?" Sam asked, looking down the road to the inferno blazing inside the mid-terrace property.
"I only nipped out for a second, we needed some more milk. She said she'd watch him for me, save getting his pushchair out." Abi sniffled, hiccupping slightly as her tears subsided.
"You wait here, I'll find out everything I can and come and talk to you in a minute, ok?" Sam waited for confirmation from her daughter before marching over to the cordon uniform had set up.
"Mike Dean, this is Detective Inspector Nixon, also from Sun Hill." Gina introduced Sam to the Chief Fire Officer, flashing her a look that said 'play nice'.
"How long before you can get the two out who are trapped inside?" Sam cut to the chase as always. "That's my grandson in there." Mike looked a little startled, though Sam was in no mood to guess whether he was surprised she was a grandmother or at her directness.
"I have one crew trying to contain the fire and another are making preparations to enter the property via a back window, away from the seat of the fire itself. We know that is where the young lady has taken the baby – she's on the line to one of our operators now. Both her and the baby are uninjured and our priority is to get them out as quickly but as safely as possible." The fire-fighter outlined the plan of action before making his excuses to leave, needing to get back to the team of officers in his command.
"I want to talk to the neighbour who saw the person that did this. I want a full description circulated to the press in time for tonight's editions." Sam allowed the adrenaline to settle, knowing that help was at hand for Joey and Sarah. Gina placed a hand on Sam's forearm, stalling her from leaving.
"Go and reassure Abi, leave the interviewing to us. I'm sure you'll get a chance to grill the witness when she comes in to make a full statement. Your daughter needs you now, Sam, go to her." Sam looked back to where Abi stood, looking for all the world like a little girl lost, and knew Gina was right. Walking towards her daughter, Sam offered a tremulous smile, hoping to calm the frantic young mum, knowing how she had felt thinking Abi herself was caught in the fire. Before she had crossed the short distance between them, she felt a warm rush overtake her, a deep rumbling boom sounding from behind her as the ground disappeared from beneath her feet. The last thing she saw before the world faded to black was her daughter's horrified face watching her fall.