At Sun Hill Police station, at seven o'clock in the morning, DC Stevie Moss was working hard on a case where she already knew the outcome. The case was the missing daughter of the DCI, Sam Nixon, Danielle Jones. Sam had kept her maiden name for work. Danielle was adopted when she was 3 months old. The DC had been a sixth form mentor to a 7th year Danielle at secondary school and they had been best friends and confidants ever since. When Stevie had joined Sun Hill, she had been surprised that her best friend's mother, her second mother, was now her boss.
Stevie had texted Danielle a happy birthday, and good luck with her mother. Stevie had helped Danielle plan her mission.
Sam was in a severe bad mood today. It was her daughter's birthday and she had no idea where she was. She had texted and tried to call her to wish her a happy birthday, and she could not get through. Sam knew Stevie knew more than she was letting on, but she did not pressure her. Stevie had said that Danielle was OK, but today she would get her answer
'DC Moss,' the DCI screamed as she walked into the CID The rest of the officers jeered at her as she skulked to the office. She knew exactly what this is about. As she got in to Sam's office, she shut the door and stood there. 'I've been extremely patient with both of you,' Sam began, 'but today as it is Danielle's birthday, I'm not going to give you the choice, Stevie. WHERE IS SHE?!' 'She's gone to find her,' Stevie said relieved to tell the truth. 'Who,' Sam asked, needing clarification. 'Her locket mum.' Sam knew that her daughter wanted to find her biological mother, but she thought Danielle would tell her that she was off. Sam sighed sadly. 'You are a very good friend to her you know,' Sam continued to say, looking at Stevie, 'I'm not going to bring this up with the Super. However, do you know where she is?' 'Yes, Walford' 'Well, then, let's go and find her,' Sam stated determinedly.
Walking down to the car with the DCI was hard as Stevie knew Danielle would be upset with her for squealing. But she would also be happy that Sam cared about her. They had had a tumultuous relationship since Danielle had found out she was adopted. It seemed to Sam could never do right by the girl. 'You do know she loves you,' Stevie said in the car as they were driving on the motorway. 'I know, Stevie,' Sam began 'It's just so hard trying to fill an impossible hole in her heart' 'Do you regret telling her.' Sometimes,' she started, 'Not really. I just want to be able to be her mother.' 'You are. Locket mum is an ideal. But you've been there every day, every night, through every tantrum, every cold. Her first everything she experienced with you, not her.'
They arrived in Walford, at half past twelve. They pulled up by a market and a pub. Sam decided to go to the pub to start her investigation. They walked in and saw her. Danielle was behind the bar pulling pints, well trying to, with two blondes around her. All three smiling. Danielle's the biggest, she looked so carefree and relaxed. But Sam saw tear marks around her daughter's eyes. Stevie saw the smile and worked out that one the blondes had to be her mother. It had to be.
An older woman came up to them. 'Hello, she said,' haven't seen you two round here before. Peggy Mitchell.' Sam looked up at the surname. She had to be careful about the woman. She was Danielle's relative.
'Sam Nixon' Sam replied. 'I'm here to see my daughter, Danielle Jones, along with DC Moss.' 'You a cop. Not here any other reason.' Peggy said definitely. 'No worries, Ms Mitchell.' 'Do you know where she is?' 'She's the one who is falling to pull pints.' 'well then go and see her. My niece upset her earlier, but they seem to have it all sorted now.' 'good,' Sam said and walked over, pulling her warrant card out meaning business. She wanted the women to be scared. 'Gov,' Stevie started, scared for her friend. Sam pushed to the front of the crowd. 'DCI Samantha Nixon, Sun Hill CID' Sam announced to the pub.
Danielle looked up in shock that Sam was there, embarrassing her after she had just found her mum and was having a bonding section with her. 'Sam, what are you doing here?' 'Come to see you, not a crime now is it. Especially on your birthday.' 'Hi Dan,' Stevie started. Suddenly Stacey came over, sensing trouble. Danielle looked like a deer caught in headlights, especially after she'd just found her mum. 'Who's you' Stacey started stating the obvious. 'I've already said that,' Sam said defectively. 'DC Stevie Moss Sun Hill, Danielle's best friend,' Stevie said trying to defuse the situation. She'd noticed one of the blondes moving instinctively in between Sam and Danielle.
Ronnie was getting annoyed. A copper was getting in between her and her daughter's first bonding session. 'Who are you?' Sam said, defectively. 'Hi Stevie,' Danielle said, ignoring Sam, 'meet Ronnie.' 'Why is your DCI here,' Ronnie asked Stevie. Stevie understood immediately. Ronnie was her locket mum; the person Dan had tried to contact for almost a decade. She had to be careful here and dissuade Sam from making the situation worse. Sam could potentially lose Danielle here.
'Come to make sure Danni's OK,' Sam resaid, defensively. 'Who are you? You look very familiar.' 'Sam's the woman who adopted me,' Danielle said to Ronnie, answering the unasked question. Ronnie's face immediately went to kindness. This was the woman who raised her daughter. She was so incredibly thankful to the cop in front of her, no matter how jealous she might be. She also felt a bit awkward about the entire situation she was in. She had to work with her, this woman as she held all the cards to the life, she dreamed about for the past nineteen years.
'Sam,' Ronnie began, 'Ronnie Mitchell Danielle birth mother.' Sam looked at the woman in front of her. 'I can't thank you enough for raising her when I was unable to. I can explain the entire story later, in a more private location. Why don't the three of us: me, you and Dan, go down the road to my club where we can talk about everything.'