Comments make me happy and keep me going! Hope you all enjoy this and the complexities of these characters I am trying to portray. It is easy to see on screen, but a whole other game ij writing, especially with my own character thrown into the mix!
She was here. She was in the office.
Liz's head snaps up from where she sits beside Kate at the woman's desk as the lift doors open, revealing none other than Lindsay Denton.
She hears Kate practically growl as the woman smugly strides through the office, making her way over to where Hastings and Gill are standing by a meeting room. The room watches as she shakes the legal advisor's hand, Hastings not offering her the same courtesy. The three disappear into the meeting room, the office once again feeling as though it can breathe.
"What is she doing here?" Dot spits as he comes to stand behind them at Kate's desk, all still staring at the room, wondering what was being said.
"Some new initiative called 'Truth and Reconciliation'," Liz explains, a hint of mocking to her voice as she uses air quotes, the same way Hastings had done when he told her of the arrangement, "Following cases of 'miscarriage of justice' parties are invited to engage in dialogue to initiate the 'process of healing'."
"And Hastings has to take the full brunt of it?" Kate asks, incredulously.
Liz hums, sadly. She knows he can take it. He was a stubborn old man. But she would not want to be stuck in a room with that woman (and, quite honestly, Gill Biggeloe too) for more than a minute more than they had suffered already.
This was supposed to be over. Seems it was far from it.
Just then, the meeting room door opens, each officer sitting a little straighter as the Superintendent appears.
"God give me strength," he seems to mutter before lifting his head and looking over to where they sat, "Kate, Arnott."
Kate sighs as she stands, heading over to him.
Steve, a little flustered by the fact Hastings had once again referred to him by his surname - something Liz pointed out before he only did when he was angry - also stands from his desk, rolling up his sleeves to distract his nervous hands. Yes, he was anxious to confront Denton again. How could he not be? After all, this was mostly his own fault.
Feeling his throat begin to dry, he instinctively looks over to Lizzie, hoping she sends him some sort of encouraging look like she usually would, even despite their current situation. Instead, his chest aches as she only catches his eye for a second, feeling her sympathy for just a moment before Dot places a hand on her arm, gesturing for her to join him as he pulls up a spare chair at his desk. She follows without another look in his direction. His chest burns - again. He has pushed her away. Snapping his head to Hastings as he passes the older man, who sends him a tired but irritated glare, Steve inhales deeply before stepping into the room.
Of course, Liz feels sympathy for him. She feels it for anyone forced to be in that room with her. Her heart lurched when she saw the remorseful glance Steve had sent her way before disappearing into the room. But he has done this to himself. He needs to learn to deal with it. To face up to the consequences. She was tired of picking up the pieces after him.
If he has done something, as Lindsay accuses him of, then he needs to own up and sort it. If not, with any luck, this could all be ended with one final meeting. If Steve has been and is honest, this could all be over with. Denton would have nothing over them and, hopefully, they could put it behind them.
Sitting beside Dot at his desk, Liz taps her foot anxiously as she waits to hear something from the room. Dot tries to distract her with some forms, asking her to help him complete his admin as she has the spare time. It didn't work. Liz wants to know what is happening? Is Denton playing another game or finally letting them go? Why had she not been called into the room, after everything Denton accused her of? Lindsay had even made a point of glaring at her during the court case the other week, so why was she now being excluded?
After a few minutes, which felt to Liz like a lifetime, she turns eagerly as she hears the door to the meeting room open. Kate emerges, a sour look on her face as she storms over to her desk. Liz scoots the chair she is on toward her, looking up to the woman with a questioning brow.
What had happened?
Kate fixes her with a look. It tells her all she needs to know. It confirms what she was dreading.
Denton was still playing the strings. She had something incriminating on Steve.
Liz curses under her breath, rubbing her forehead disappointedly in an attempt to ease the ache growing there. Kate throws her pen onto the desk, slumping into her chair.
Was Lindsay telling the truth? Was Steve really that stupid?
A moment later, it is Denton who leaves the room next. She pauses after slamming the door behind her, Liz watching as she lets out a breath, a satisfied smirk appearing on her otherwise weary features.
Striding confidently to the exit, she scans the office, once again catching eyes with Liz as she had done in the courtroom. Liz sits a little straighter, unwilling to crumble under her gaze. The woman's smirk contorts into a gratified grin, as she walks into the lift and out of sight. Liz feels her stomach twist, uneasily. What was that all about?
It was obvious, really. Liz, deafened by her own irritation at the man, didn't want to hear it.
Denton was trying to turn Steve against them.
And, as far as Hastings, Dot, Kate and, now, herself too were concerned; it was working.
Freedom was not enough for a woman as emotionally unavailable and morally crooked as Lindsay Denton.
No, this was her revenge. To twist the truth. To tear them apart.
Liz would not let that happen. She would not allow her friends to play into Denton's hands. She would not allow Denton to win whatever game she was playing.
She waits for Hastings and Gill to leave the meeting room a few minutes later, the older man stalking to his office and slamming the door behind them as they discuss whatever had transpired.
Liz stands from the desk, pushing the chair back to head in the direction of the meeting room.
"Where are you going?" Dot asks, cautiously.
"To do my job."
"I think it's best if we stay out-"
"I am the assigned counsellor for this branch," she declares, proudly, "I have to listen, even if no one else will."
She moves away without another glance to Dot or Kate who watch her go, uneasily.
Approaching the meeting room, Liz sees Steve through the window. He sits in a chair, his elbows propped onto the table and his head in his hands. Liz sighs.
She just needs him to tell her the truth. She needs to know what happened. Not just for herself, but...how else can she help him?
He looks up at her, surprised when Liz enters the room. She was the last person he expected to walk through that door, if anyone. He shakes his head, rubbing between his brows with his hand.
"If you're coming in here to yell," he says, bitterly but quietly, as if tired, "Hastings beat you to it."
"I am not here to yell at you, Steve," Liz says, him flinching in surprise at how softly she says his name, "I am here to listen."
He stares at her, confused. He was sure she had been avoiding him the last few days since their argument. Well, probably since the trial last week. So why has she all of a sudden decided to 'listen' to him?
"Why?" he finds himself asking.
"Because it is my job," she offers, though he sends her an unimpressed, unconvinced glance, "Look, Hastings, Dot, Kate and the rest of the office may have made their minds up about you and all this. But I need to hear it from you, first."
He just looks at her.
She sighs, moving into the seat beside him, "I can't help if you don't tell me the truth."
"I thought you were mad at me," he raises a brow.
"Oh, I am," she admits, though exaggeratedly, "I warned you. And you still played into her hands. Now it is coming back to bite you in the arse."
Steve chuckles, humourlessly.
"But you're my friend," she confesses, willing him to believe her and open up, "I just want to help."
He continues to stare at her for a moment, disbelieving.
"What changed your mind?"
Liz tenses at his question, having hoped she would be the one to ask the difficult questions in this conversation, "I know you. And I know Denton. She plays games, she lies, she comes between us. You're just an arse."
She feels herself smile slightly as his eyes light up in bewildered amusement, then continues, "I know who I would rather trust."
He nods, gratefully, though still stays quiet.
"I need you to be honest with me," she pleads, prompting him to speak, "What has she got on you?"
Steve swallows. It had been bad enough the others working it out. But here, with Liz, it felt more shameful.
"Come on," Liz huffs, impatiently, a hint of her annoyance at him beginning to show despite her efforts, "I saw Kate's face when she walked out of here. That wasn't just any scowl, that was the one she exclusively reserves for you."
"A recording," he admits, mumbling. Liz strains to hear him.
"A recording of what?" Liz asks, though she dreads the answer.
He lets out a steadying breath, his eyes closing in fear of her reaction, "Of us. Me and Lindsay."
Steve's eyes snap open as he hears her huff, leaning back in her chair with an exasperated expression.
"We didn't have sex," he shouts, desperately, "We just did... things."
Liz gulps, shaking her head at the admission, "What things?"
"Does it matter?" Steve dejects, defensively and embarrassed. The tips of his ears redden in humiliation as Liz stares at him, gawking, her own cheeks heating in a blush.
"I suppose not," she shrugs, trying to rid herself of the thoughts of it.
"What really matters is you have got yourself into this mess and you need to get yourself out of it."
Her heart lurches as she sees him minutely nod, guilty. She was furious he had allowed himself to get into this position. That, despite all her warnings and advice during the Denton case, they had ended up here almost two years later. But, at least he had now been honest with her. Liz was no longer in the dark, allowing her mind to run free with the wild, out-rightly nauseating possibilities of what happened.
She wants to help. But this really was on him. He needed to learn that.
"I didn't lie to you, or the court," Steve pleads, despairingly, "I never had sex with Lindsay Denton."
Liz sits still, silently, as he looks over at her with wide, imploring eyes. It wasn't about that now. Now knowing the truth, that was something they could move past (though the ache in her stomach every time she thought about the two of them was excruciating).
"Like I said, it doesn't matter," she says, dismissively and desperate to move on. She tries not to laugh at how ridiculous that statement sounds after having spent so long angry at him for the possibility he did do it, "You have done enough for her to use it against you."
"So you believe me?"
"I know you. I believe you."
"No one else does."
"Well, unfortunately, they do know you. And they no doubt know of your track record with women, especially after that shit with the nurse," she teases, glad the air in the room feels lighter at her words.
"But you know me better," he states. Liz sends him a small, encouraging smile - one he had hoped to see since the courtroom.
Steve looks as though he might cry as he breathes a deep sigh of relief and leans back in his seat, gaping at her.
Liz takes his silence as a chance to continue, knowing now was as good a time as any to be truthful, "It is that whole thing of you thinking others underestimate you, but you are then underestimating others. You should have thought about how she could manipulate that situation to her benefit. You knew what Denton was like, even then."
"I know," he says, remorsefully, "I know. I'm an idiot."
"You're an arsehole sometimes," Liz smiles, "But you're not an idiot."
Steve chuckles, this time one full of relieved humour.
He meets her gaze, eyes crinkling with gratitude, "Thank you, Lizzie."
Liz inhales. This felt right. He had been honest. She can help. They could move on. All it had taken was a conversation. Yeah, sure, there was plenty more to be said. But this was a start. It meant a lot to her. The last week of them being at odds felt like hell, she never wanted them to go through that again. He was her friend, and she was his. That overruled everything.
"Don't thank me yet," she jokes, revelling in the thankfully light hearted atmosphere that had flooded the space, "We haven't convinced anyone else you actually have brain-cells, yet."
"I have brain-cells!" he defends, mouth opening wide in mock shock.
Liz hums, sceptical, "Not in your brain. That's the problem."
The pair laugh, indulging in the feeling.
"Come on," Liz says, standing from her chair and opening the door, waiting for him to follow. She wants to talk to him more, while he is clearly ripe to open up. They had a lot to catch up on.
Steve stands, though hesitates as he rounds the table to stand in the doorway. Liz reaches for his arm, reassuringly squeezing it below his elbow. He must be nervous to leave the room, and to have the eyes of the office undoubtedly on him. He wonders how much they all know, what they thought of him.
"Let's go get a coffee?" she offers, hoping to give him a way out of facing anyone so soon.
He looks at her, relieved, smiling gratefully with a nod.
"How is Sam?" she asks as they sit in their regular booth. Liz remembers how uncomfortable the woman had been when he gave his testimony to the court last week, and how she had stormed off as soon as it was over.
Steve looks fixated at his coffee cup, beginning to pick at the cover out of nervous habit, "Not great."
Liz blanches at his honest admission. Maybe Steve really was more willing to open up now, wanting to talk to her.
"In what way?" she pushes, gently.
Steve sighs, "She's ignoring me. Won't talk to me, always out, constant excuses…"
Liz drops her gaze from him, guiltily, knowing she had done the same to him.
"I've tried reassuring her it was nothing, that Denton lied," Steve exasperates, "Besides, it was before I even knew her."
"I know, but she clearly needs time," Liz attempts, understanding the woman's confused frustration with the man, having felt it herself.
Steve grits his teeth, "It is like she doesn't really know me. The fact she even believes that woman is what hurts."
Liz feels that guilty jolt in her gut again. There were moments where she had believed Denton. That was why they had been in their situation. But, as Liz reassured him, she knew him better.
While Liz may not get along famously with the other woman, she can sympathise. However, that little bit of bitterness towards Sam (because of the blatant dislike she held for Liz, for whatever reason) told her he was likely right. Of course, Sam had every right to be annoyed. But, if Liz could be sitting here now, having felt the same toward Steve's antics and actually having been involved in the Denton case, why could Sam, his own girlfriend, not give him the time to explain himself and listen?
Liz had tried to ignore him, to give Steve the cold shoulder. But that tactic only worked for so long before she grew irritated at their lack of communication thus understanding and thus reconciliation. If Sam really cared about this relationship, as Liz did for her friendship with Steve, the woman would have to make some sort of move toward forgiveness.
Liz feels bad for even thinking that. But it was true.
"What do you think will happen now?" Steve asks her, apprehensively.
Liz inhales deeply, thinking about what Hastings' next move might be and what Gill is likely feeding into his ear, "Ted won't allow the suspicions of you planting evidence. We all know that is a ridiculous accusation."
Steve lets himself relax slightly at that.
"But Gill is probably pushing for some sort of suspension," Liz says, hesitantly but not wanting to lie. She sees Steve tense again, "Any sort of relations with a suspect isn't something that can be overlooked."
Steve nods, Liz finding it assuring he was admitting guilt rather than pushing it down and being stubborn like he usually would.
"And Kate?" he asks, wincing.
"Give her time too. She is probably just disappointed that you pushed her out when it was all happening instead of you working together," Liz says, truthfully, remembering when he had decided to go undercover while excluding them from his plan, "Just don't expect her to be fine with you anytime soon. That woman can be more stubborn than you, sometimes."
"Dot?"
Liz sighs as he asks about the other man. Unlike with Kate, Liz is unsure why or what Steve is even asking. Steve never cared for Dot's opinion of him. The way he raises a brow at her, prompting, reminds her of why else she was mad at him; for how he had acted seeing the two of them being… friendly. It was childish. Then again, Liz had felt that jealous over people coming close to her friend plenty of time with Steve.
But, anyway, that was something she had already pondered over enough and Liz is sure she will do it again. She pushes the rising irritation down and ignores him.
"This is what Denton wants," she responds, instead, "To push us apart. She wants you to feel alone. You're not."
Steve is taken back by her sincerity. He swallows down the growing lump in his throat as he studies her kind, honest gaze.
"Do you want my advice?" she says, taking his silence as an invitation.
He nods, prompting her to continue, "Keep your head down. Focus on Waldron and Sands View. We can deal with Denton when that is all done."
"We?" he asks, focussing on her use of the word.
"I said I want to help," Liz insists, "And we will get through it. Together. Like we always do."
He nods, feeling a new surge of confidence erupt through his chest at that.
Liz takes a sip of her hot chocolate, hoping the warm liquid will calm the embarrassment pooling in her gut at her sentimentality. She did mean it, though. Liz was still frustrated at him, and likely would be for a long while to come until things start to calm. But what sort of counsellor would she be if she ignored her client when he clearly needed her? And what sort of friend would she be?
"How are you, anyway?" Steve asks her, then, taking a swig of his own drink.
Liz hesitates, sudden flashes bursting in her mind of everything she had wanted to tell him about but hadn't yet. The follower, the envelope, the- all of that.
The words clog her throat, almost causing her to choke. She swallows down the nauseating words. Perhaps, now was not the time.
"Uh, good."
Liz grimaces. Surely, that made her a hypocrite. To scold Steve for not opening up and being honest. Berating him for the disastrous consequences that will come between them because of it.
But, there was a lot on his mind. It was for his own good that she didn't load his already slumped shoulders with more of her bullshit, she convinces herself. Some over time, then.
"I'm going away for a week, actually," she tells, seeing Steve looking at her expectantly after her rather blunt answer.
"Oh," Steve exclaims under his breath, "Where to?"
"Manchester," Liz explains, "I have some networking meetings. Nothing too exciting. Just some officers showing interest and wanting to see some of my research and results. But hopefully they could lead to an expansion of O.K. into that city, if all goes well."
Steve sits straighter, a smile beginning to light up his face and taking her by surprise.
"Nothing exciting?" he utters, eyes wide and crinkled from his grin, "Lizzie, that's great!"
She blushes, scoffing, "Steve-"
"No, really!" he asserts, cheerily, "When do you leave?"
"In two days," she reveals, bashfully endeared at his excitement for her.
"You're going to do great," Steve affirms.
His face suddenly falls, Liz's brow creasing concernedly, "What is it?"
"Nothing," he shakes his head dismissively.
She knows better. He is likely worried that with Liz, his seemingly only current ally, gone, he will have to face the wrath of Hastings and the office alone for all that time. Liz understands, they had just gotten themselves together again, and now she was going away. Her heart beats a little quicker in shared disappointment, but she knows she has no choice but to go. This could be good for her. And, even, for him. She wants to help, obviously, but Steve cannot rely on her. He needs to face up to what he has done and make things right himself.
"Just, don't make any contact with Denton until I can back and we work something out, ok?" she practically pleads, knowing that once Steve has an idea in his head about how he should handle things it will be difficult to dissuade him or pick up the pieces. Like what happened with Denton last time.
"Ok," he agrees, understanding her plea, "Thank you, Lizzie. For being here."
"Of course. Where else would I be?"
The next day, Hari Baines is sitting in the interview room with Hastings and Steve sitting across from him. The interview has just begun, Liz watching alongside Kate and Dot in the viewing room.
"For the tape, image 313 is a photograph of item reference NTW-7," she hears Steve say through the screen, "Said item is a rope found hanging from an overhead support."
"You see, Detective Inspector Dot Cottan has given a statement where you attempted to overpower him with the intent of causing death by hanging," Hastings explains, "The exact same means as PC Rod Kennedy."
Liz looks beside her to Dot, who is staring intently at Baines on the screens. She feels her heart lurch in sympathy for the man. That must have been horrible. She is just glad he is alright.
"I didn't murder Rod," Baines insists, "and I absolutely didn't attempt to murder DI Cottan. In fact, DI Cottan set me up."
Liz scoffs, once again turning to look at the man next to her. Her eyes specifically train on the healing bruise on his jawline, remembering how swollen it had been that day. No, the man had been beaten and bloodied. There was absolutely no way that made any sense.
"He set you up?" Hastings chuckled, clearly as sceptical as she was.
"Yes," Baines states, "Cottan smashed himself in the face to make it look like I hit him, but I didn't."
Dot looks at her then, responding to her incredulously raised brow and huffing in disbelieving agreement. Kate also shares a look with the pair, shaking her head, doubtfully.
"And as far as the rope goes, he must have planted it there beforehand," Baines argues.
"He'll say anything to save his own skin," Kate mutters.
Liz feels Dot shift in his seat just behind her, most likely bothered by the man's outrageous accusation.
"Why would an officer of mine do such a thing?" Hastings challenges.
"To frame me for Rod's murder," Baines says, confidently.
Liz sees Steve shake his head, scratching it like he often did when he was irritated.
"Do you have anything to support these claims against DI Cottan?" Hastings asks, "Anything at all?"
Baines remains quiet.
"For the tape," Ted quips, "the interviewee is offering no supporting evidence."
Dot lets out a deep breath. Liz's mouth twists, thinking of how offended he must be that this man could accuse him of such an outrageous crime.
"For the tape," Steve now begins, "image 291, item reference MR-3, and image 292, item reference MR-4. MR-3 and 4 are mobile phones. A section-18 search of your homes uncovered a pair of unregistered pay-as-you-go phones concealed in the garage-"
Liz turns around to Dot once again as the interview audio continues behind her. She studies his face for a moment while he isn't looking, eyes anxiously watching the screens. He is stressed. The most stressed she had ever seen him - and she met with Dot during a divorce and gambling rehabilitation scheme, so that counted for something.
What he endured at the warehouse with Baines must have been extremely distressing. If not, traumatic. To have been beaten, cuffed and nearly hanged while trying to detain the man for two murders. It was only valid he would feel apprehensive with that man in the other room. Let alone, offended Baines would have the gall to accuse him of trying to set him up and possibly killing Rod.
Dot turns to her then, as Baines is heard replying 'no comment' over the audio. They knew they had him at that point.
It almost scares her how intensely restless his eyes are as they flicker between each of hers. Not wanting to capture the attention of Kate and embarrass him by making a show of his clearly anxiously agitated state, she silently reaches out and opens her palm to him. Dot looks down at it for a moment, his eyes softening as he realises what she is offering.
Gently, he slips his hand into hers, moving to rest their entwined fingers on his knee closest to her. She shifts her seat a little nearer so it is not as much of a stretch. Looking away from their hands, Liz smiles up at him, the man immediately unwinding at her kind encouragement. He smiles back down at her, the pair turning back to the screens as to not arouse suspicion from Kate on the other side of the room. Though, Liz struggles to focus on the rest of the interview, instead far too distracted by the feeling of her small hand engulfed in his.
Dot squeezes her hand tighter when Hastings announces they are arresting Hari Baines for the murder of PC Rod Kennedy and PS Danny Waldron. Hastings also charges him with the attempted murder of DI Matthew Cottan.
"Well, we got the bastard," he says, slowly letting her hand go as Kate turns to smile at him.
Liz misses the contact as soon as it is gone. Dot seems to as well, sending her an apologetic glance.
"Yeah, they should throw away the key," Kate agrees.
Dot waits for the officers to pass, escorting Baines from the building, before leaving the room with one last small smile in Liz's direction.
His smile falls into a smirk as soon as he knows he is out of sight.
"What is it?" Liz asks as she approaches Steve's desk later that evening, having seen him sitting with his head in his hands, clearly stressed.
Steve looks up at her, sighing, "That was the closest we have gotten to finding who the connection is to organised crime."
Liz nods, understanding how frustrating that is. Whoever had been calling and messaging Baines on those phones would be the key - if Baines even knew who it was, something he claims he did not.
Steve turns back to his computer, rubbing a tired hand over his face.
"There is something else," Liz prompts, "What's wrong?"
He huffs, knowing he can't fool her. Liz follows his hand as he gestures to his screen, taking a seat in the spare office chair beside him.
On the screen is an open, unredacted file on Ronan Murphy, the suspect shot and killed by Danny Waldron. Steve has searched the documents for the keyword 'unsolved', a result appearing for a connection to an unsolved gangland murder, for which he was brought in for several interviews in previous years.
Liz's eyes catch onto the words in bold at the bottom of the result description. She sighs.
'MURDER SQUAD'
She looks to Steve, seeing him read the words over and over.
"Just talk to her."
He turns to look nervously at Liz as the woman continues, "She loves you. She wants to help."
Steve shakes his head, unsure.
"I do, too," Liz says, him snapping his gaze to her, shocked, "I want to help."
He relaxes at that, now understanding her meaning. But his chest aches. Likely out of nerves to face Sam, though.
"Are you really going to put your pride before this case? She could help you uncover something vital," Liz pushes, knowing that would hit a nerve, "Go on. Get home."
She was right, Steve grabs his jacket and stands from his chair.
"See you tomorrow, Lizzie," he says, waving goodbye and leaving the office.
He can't help but smile as he hears her call goodnight to him. He had reconciled with Lizzie. Things were good between them, again. She was there for him. And that meant so much.
He only hopes Sam can be as understanding as she is.
"Ronan Murphy was interviewed by the team investigating Tommy Hunter's murder," Steve informs the group in Hastings' office.
He can feel Dot and Kate glaring at him, Hastings raising a curious brow. Liz sends him a small smile from across the room when they meet eyes.
She is happy for him. He must have talked to Sam.
"And where did you get that from?" the Superintendent asks.
He shifts where he stands, eyes once again flicking to Liz for encouragement before looking Hastings' in the eye, "I am not at liberty to say, sir."
Dot lets out an amused huff, Kate rolling her eyes. Liz eyes them, sadly.
"Here we go again," Kate mutters.
Steve sends them a disheartened glance, "Look, Tommy Hunter was involved in grooming underage girls and pimping them out. And he was about to turn informer. Now, the people who ordered his murder didn't want what he knew about child sexual exploitation to come out."
Liz can see Hastings standing taller from the corner of her eye, his interest evidently piqued.
Steve continues to explain himself, "And that's exactly the same motive as the motive of Danny Waldron."
Liz had been informed by Kate that the man Maneet had found who used to be at Sands View with Danny had identified Murphy as a man who often visited the home. There, the boys were exploited to sexual abuse by many adult men. It was likely the disappearance and destruction of all those files had not been coincidence, but a cover up.
"They are connected," Steve insists, pleading for the group of investigators to trust him again.
Liz watches as Kate steps forward, Dot remaining quiet, looking thoughtful.
"Sir," Kate says to Hastings, "We know Hunter's death was orchestrated by the Caddy and there's ample evidence someone was pulling on Hari Baines' strings."
Liz resists a smile, knowing that means Kate is supporting Steve's line of suspicion.
Steve, emboldened by her apparent support, continues, "They used the exact same methods as the Caddy. Voice contact only, multiple phones."
"Yeah, but…" Hastings says, considering it all, "How can this be the Caddy? DC Cole is dead."
"Well, the Caddy is my inquiry, sir," Dot pipes up, "So, maybe I should be the one to look into it?"
"Yeah, I'd be grateful," Hastings nods.
"Sir," Steve says, going to protest. He clearly hopes this new lead would hand the investigation over to himself.
"What? Something to say?" Hastings bites as he moves to the door, pointedly opening it with a glare at Steve, "Or are you not at liberty?"
Liz sighs at that, disappointed. Though she understood their frustrations, she had hoped this breakthrough from Steve would help fix what had been broken between them all. Evidently not. At least, not yet.
Steve takes the hint, stepping out of the office first with Dot and Kate following behind him. Liz slowly moves to the door herself, sending a borderline-pleading look to Hastings before walking over to the desks the three officers had made their way to. Hastings watches Beth walk away with a sigh, shutting the door behind her.
"Well, I know exactly who we should speak to first," Liz hears Kate say, grabbing her jacket off her chair.
"Who?" Steve asks, reaching for his own.
"We'll be fine, thanks, Steve," Kate bites, turning away from him, fiercely.
Liz watches as Steve deflates, dropping his coat back down.
Dot garbs his coat and moves over to the man, who looks up at him, dejectedly, "See, the thing is, mate. Not one likes a partner holding out on them."
Steve furrows his brow at the man's accusation, glaring up at the taller man. Dot's eyes flick over to Kate, then to Liz where they linger for a longer moment, before turning back down to Steve with a smirk.
Steve drops his gaze, surrendering to the guilt. Dot moves away to where Kate stands near Liz by his desk.
"Where are we going?" he asks Kate.
"To the lying bastard who told us the Caddy was dead," Kate states, turning to head out of the office.
Dot nods in acknowledgement to Liz as he moves past her, the woman sending him a sheepish smile goodbye.
As they leave, Liz moves toward Steve who is now sitting at his desk, staring distractedly at his desktop.
Liz reaches for his elbow, the touch seeming to ground him and pull his attention up to her. She sends him a hopefully assuring smile, "Like I said, just give them time."
Steve nods, far too aware of the heat from her palm seeping through his sleeve. He suppresses a shudder when she retracts it, feeling a juxtaposing chill replace it.
"I should go and pack," Liz declares, taking a small step backward away from him, not wanting to give the impression she was storming away to leave him alone as the others had done.
"Yeah, uh, see you tomorrow," Steve says, trying to sound indifferent. Admittedly, he wishes she could stay. Stop him from feeling so sorry for himself.
Instead, she sends him a small wave and makes her way for her office, leaving him to sit alone. Just like he felt.